If you love Me

John 14:15  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Prophet Joseph Smith taught

"Obedience is the first law of heaven… without obedience there could be no union or order, and chaos and confusion would prevail…for it is on this principle that the designs and purposes of God are accomplished.”  (Journal of Discourses)

Cecil B. DeMille, director of the epic biblical film The Ten Commandments, told the student body at Brigham Young University:

“We are too inclined to think of law as something merely restrictive—something hemming us in. We sometimes think of law as the opposite of liberty. But that is a false conception. That is not the way that God’s inspired prophets and lawgivers looked upon the law. Law has a twofold purpose. It is meant to govern. It is also meant to educate . .

“. . . And so it is with all the Commandments.

“We must look beneath the literal, the surface meaning of the words. We must take the trouble to understand them; for how can we obey commands that we do not understand? But the Commandments too have an educative function—which you can see in the life of anyone who keeps them. They produce good character. The Ten Commandments are not rules to obey as a personal favor to God. They are the fundamental principles without which mankind cannot live together. They make of those who keep them faithfully, strong, wholesome, confident, dedicated men and women. This is so because the Commandments come from the same Divine Hand that fashioned our human nature.

“God does not contradict Himself. He did not create man and then, as an afterthought, impose upon him a set of arbitrary, irritating, restrictive rules. He made man free—and then gave him the Commandments to keep him free” (“Commencement Address,” in Commencement Exercises, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [31 May 1957], 4–5).

Obedience is the first law of heaven.

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. D&C 130:20-21.

When the Plan of Salvation was presented we shouted with joy and volunteered to come to earth to prove our willingness to obey our Heavenly Father.

But obedience must be voluntary.

Helaman 14:30–31

And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.

He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

“Half obedience will be rejected as readily as full violation, and maybe quicker, for half rejection and half acceptance is but a sham, an admission of lack of character, a lack of love for Him. It is actually an effort to live on both sides of the line.” (Mark E. Petersen, in Conference Report, Apr. 1982, 21; or Ensign, May 1982, 16).

Commandments where given to us because God loves us and wants us to become like Him. Our obedience to God’s commandments is an expression of our love for Him.

“There is not a man of us but what is willing to acknowledge at once that God demands strict obedience to his requirements. But in rendering that strict obedience, are we made slaves? No, it [strict obedience to God’s commandments] is the only way on the face of the earth for you and me to become free, and we shall become slaves of our own passions, and of the wicked one, and servants to the Devil, if we take any other course” (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, 225).

The Lord chastens us because He loves us. He wants us to return back to Him, He wants us to be successful, to have joy.  He wants us to reunited back with our Father in Heaven.  The Lord promises temporal and spiritual blessings to those who obey His commandments. He promises peace, hope, and His spirit. The Lord provides a way for us to obey all His commandments because obedience to divine law makes us free. This is the purpose of the Plan of Salvation, this is the reason He came to earth, this is the reason He suffered in Gethsemane and the reason He hung on the cross.

Matthew 18: 1-6

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

In dealing with our faults, short comings, and addictions we must first above all be honest.

Always remember that there is hope; no matter how bad we think it is because with God all things are possible.

Trust in god.  We must trust God because if we could overcome the issue by ourselves it would have been done already. Realizing we cannot do it alone is a step in the right direction.

Be truthful about your problems when you talk to God.  You can lie to your spouse, boss, and church leaders, you can even lie to God but He knows. He looks straight into your heart; He knows.  Be truthful and honest.

If the sin is of a serious nature or one that you just cannot shake seek out the assistance of the Bishop.  He cannot forgive you but he can guide you.

Become as a child; become humble and seek the Lord in forgiveness. Don’t let your bull headedness and adult attitude stand between you and peace.  Be humble and admit to God that you need His help.

As part of the forgiveness process we must make amends for our sins and seek reconciliation.  This is hard. This is part of being humble. To admit to someone you made a mistake and to try to repair the damage is not easy.  Depending on the issue restitution and reconciliation could take a long time.  When you break trust, confidences, and damage relationships it is not just a matter of admitting a mistake.  It takes work.  Breaking trust and discarding covenants is a serious matter. We are commanded to forgive all people if they ask but repairing damage takes effort and unconditional love. Sins are never committed alone. Everyone connected with us is impacted.

Next is daily accountability – this means prayer and checking in with you sponsor; your wife, bishop or counselor.  Nothing is worse than the same problem happening day after day. You need to “kill” the problem so that they do not come back. You must forsake the sin and fix it but on this journey must you must also improve your overall righteousness. Nothing is ever separate it is all intertwined.

Mark 9: 43-48

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The Lord does not want us to maim ourselves but He does want us to do whatever is necessary to rid ourselves of our addictions and our sins. If that means disconnecting the internet, then do it.  If it means cancelling cable or satellite then do it.  Stay out of bars, don’t sit in a room alone in the dark, and maybe you have to change friends.  Whatever it takes the Lord expects us to do it.

 

Finally a day will come when you realize that you have been forgiven.  It will come through personal revelation.  What a joy. What a lifting of burdens and sorrows and cares.  You will cry.  You will cry again each time you partake of the sacrament. Elder Packer taught that you may never be fully free from the temptations. You may have to submit to them till the day you die. But being tempted does not mean you have to give in to the temptation.  You must stay humble. You must maintain daily accountability.  You must be honest.  You must stay clean. The best way to assure this is to serve others.  Lose yourself in the service of your fellowmen.

In closing I would like to quote from Hebrews 12: 1-5;

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Given in the Rincon Ward July 8, 2012

Church and Government

Our nation has begun the process for selecting presidential candidates for the upcoming election.  This ritual happens every four years, but elections are held every year but we seem to get real worked up for presidential campaigns.  And as I read the news and review the candidates I asked myself the question: What is the relationship of the church with governments?

We must understand that the church does not support or endorse any parties or candidates. Although the church does from time to time publish position papers, such as the ones on pornography, gambling, and the family, the church does not support or endorse candidates or political parties.

Elections are left to us as individuals to make your own individual choices.  It is our responsibility as citizens to exercise our civil duties.  We have the right to participate and we need to exercise our rights as citizens to vote.  We should pray, study the issues and choose the best candidate that fits our particular needs.   We should elect good men and women who hold the same principles as us and whom we believe will represent us in the government.

Do not forget that the church is global; it is not a church only here in the United States.  Being global means that there are members of the church living in countries with all kinds and types of governments; some countries might be a republic or a democracy.  Or it could be a kingdom, ruled by King or Queen or a principality run by other royal families.  The government could be communist, socialist, a country with a state religion, a theocracy, or an atheist state.  The country could be ruled by dictator, tyrant, or criminal gangs and thugs.   In each of these countries the rights of citizens varies and what you can and cannot do as citizens varies in every country.

There are almost 29,000 congregations like ours meeting in the world today with a membership of just over 14 million, most living outside the United States, in 184 countries with 170 languages.  The language spoken by the majority of Mormons is now Spanish. There are over 52,000 people serving missions, with 134 operational temples with another 32 in some stage of construction.    A chapel is built every other day.

The 12th Article of Faith states - We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Doctrine and Convents Section 134 discusses the role of governments and their relationship to God.  In verse 5 it states; “We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.”

One of the interesting things about governments and the church is that they both share the same core element; they both share the same smallest unit of government – the family.

In a recent publication the First Presidency stated –“The family is ordained of God. It is the most important unit in time and in eternity. Even before we were born on the earth, we were part of a family. Each of us “is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents” with “a divine nature and destiny”. God is our Heavenly Father, and we lived in His presence as part of His family in the premortal life. There we learned our first lessons and were prepared for mortality.”

Adam exercised his rights as a father and as recorded in the Doctrine and Convents Section 107 three years before he died he called together his family to the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman and gave them a blessing. 

Noah was called by God to build an ark and the only ones saved during the flood were Noah and his family.

Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, whose name was change to Israel, who had 12 sons, today known as the 12 tribes of Israel; were great leaders of the church but these are families. 

Father's rule their families as patriarchs.  Fathers, with other men who hold the priesthood, provide the ordinances the sacraments needed for families.  Many times these are the same man, as in the examples of Adam and Noah.  Abraham for example, even though he is was the great patriarch paid his tithes and offerings to the great high priest Melchizedek. 

Worthy fathers have the right to the priesthood. As Abraham states in Abraham 1:3 “It (the priesthood) was conferred upon me from the fathers; it came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundation of the earth, down to the present time, even the right of the firstborn, or the first man, who is Adam, or first father, through the fathers unto me.”

Lehi and Nephi and others are examples in the Scriptures.  God worked with these fathers, warning them and helping them lead their families to safety and the security of the gospel.  And it still happens today as fathers join the church, receive the Melchizedek priesthood, take their families to the temple to be sealed.   These fathers are taking their families out of Babylon, out of the world.  They lead their family as the patriarch and a priesthood leader of their homes to create a sacred and spiritual refuge within the walls of their homes. 

The family is the core elemental unit of both government and the church. The church exists to provide sacraments and ordinances but the family is the key organization.  The auxiliaries and classes are here only to support the growth and development of families.  The work in the temples is sacred but homes are to be as sacred and holy as temples, with fathers and mothers ruling, homes being a place of solace and refuge from the world, a place of comfort filled with the spirit of God, safe from the evils of the world. 

When the children of Israel left Egypt and went into the Sinai they were taken away from a government structure that had been provided by Pharaoh.  Even though it was an oppressive government it was an organization that provided structure and when they found themselves in the desert they found themselves without the structure.  Moses attempted to rule the people.  One day, as recorded in Exodus chapter 18, Moses father-in-law, Jethro, said to him “The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.”  So Jethro taught Moses how to organize the children of Israel. So the tribes were divided and within the tribes there was an organization established an organization built based on families, priesthood and judges.

Many years later the prophet Samuel was approached by the children of Israel and asked for the system to be replaced by a king.  When Samuel asked why they told him they wanted to be like their neighbors.  Samuel was unhappy but he went to the Lord and asked for guidance. In 1 Samuel Chapter 8 Samuel gives the people a warning from God.  

“And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 

And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”

But the people insisted that they have a King.  “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”

This was not the first time the children of Israel had reject the Lord as their King.  The first time is recorded in Exodus while Moses was on the mount receiving the commandments of God, then as God sent prophets to Israel to warn and teach, they killed them.  Finally when Christ was himself among the Jews He sat on the Mount and as recorded in Luke 13 Christ states “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”

Christ was taken to Pontius Pilate and the people asked for him to be crucified. Pontius Pilate realized that the Jews were crucifying their King.  Pontius Pilate had a plaque nailed to the cross that, in three languages, read ‘King of the Jews’. Jesus was King of the Jews, not only in this physical world through royal linage of Mary and Joseph but also in the spiritual aspect as their Lord and Savior. 

Jesus Christ will return and we are told that in that second coming every individual, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is their Savior and mediator, and King.   Not only will individuals confess and submit to His rule but governments must also yield to the power of Jesus Christ as King of this world.  Those governments that will not yield will be destroyed.

And in that day there will be two great cities erected; Jerusalem and New Jerusalem.   And in these two cities there will be two great temples and there will be a great gathering as recorded in Revelations chapter 7  “I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

Brother Nibley notes that “politics as practiced on Earth, belongs to the ways of men; it is the essential activity of the city – the city of man, not the city of God. The governments of men and their laws are completely different from those of God.” 

President John Tyler said “earthly rulers exercise their authority illegitimately; that the only legitimate authority upon the earth is that which is founded and recognized by God, whose right it is to rule. It is the priesthood that should rule.”

The righteousness of God's people is a blessing to their community.  We need to do everything we can to ensure our community adheres to God's laws even if were the only ones to do it.  We need to elect men and women and enact laws which help us keep the commands of God and become a spiritual people.  Our righteousness is extremely important to our community

In Genesis chapter 8 the Lord confides to Abraham that He is going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the great plain. 

“And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.  

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:  Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.  

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.   

And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.  

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.”

But the Lord’s servants did not find 50, or 45, 40, 30, or 20.  Nor did they find 10. Even Lot’s family was not righteous but God did warn Lot and he fled with his family and the cities were destroyed.

We see that the righteous, even if they are a great minority within a community, are extremely important.  These righteous men and women bring blessings and safety to their communities.

So in summary what is the relationship between God and governments?  Governments are man-made and they all fall short of the ideal government which God would want us to create and have on this earth but we need to exercise our rights as members of our nation.

But remember that government should be based on the priesthood, centered on the family with mothers and fathers leading their families in righteousness, with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and as our King.

Families are the key.  With mothers and fathers ruling together, sealed in the Temple, worthy.  Having kneeled at the alter and making vows to God and each other; having common principles, trust, purity and love through this life and eternity.  Having their homes a heaven on earth with their homes being equal in sanctity and sacredness and in peace and love as the Temple, raising righteous sons and daughters in Zion.

In Isaiah Chapter 33 it reads “Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord will be For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.”

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Rincon Ward, Savannah Stake

Present

Present

Present but unseen
observing people and things
isolated
alone
watching
Present but apart

Pizza and Flowers

I was standing in line at the check when a lady says “I am coming over your house! Pizza and flowers. It doesn’t get better than that.” Yes I had a frozen pizza and lying on top were flowers. “Is it her birthday?” “No” I replied. “A special occasion?” Again I answered “No.” She stood there for a moment or two then said “You’re buying flowers just because?” I shook my head yes. She took a deep breathe and said “My husband is in the car will you go out and talk to him?” I smiled.


It occurs to me that her husband buying her flowers just because was not her real issue. She was in the store alone, shopping for food, with a half full buggy, standing in line while her husband was in the car.

Yes the flowers were for Deb but the pizza was for me.

Microsoft is Evil

Microsoft is evil – planned obsolescence. At work we have already spent over $2,000 and 3 days replacing equipment and software from a lightning strike.


I went and purchased a computer and this is where the fun began. They only have 64 bit systems now and they are all Windows 7. So I decided to get another computer two replace the second damaged one (it only had a video card fried). Made things easier for workgroup setup but they had no Office software.

I got out the 2007 Office disks and was told they do not work because they were upgrade disks. Off I went and dug the 2003 Office disk – an upgrade; 2000 Office an upgrade and 98 Office yep an upgrade – all upgrade disks. So we had to buy a full Office disk and of course it is Office 2010!

Installed Office 2010 – oh did they forget to tell me that transferring old Outlook to Outlook 2010 took a miracle and a transfer program? And that anyone you send 2010 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files need a conversion file from the Microsoft website?

And did they forget to tell you that 32 bit software does not always run on 64 bit machines? So I do not know if it is Windows 7 or 64 bit machines but we had to download new printer drivers for all the printers.

Hey! Don’t forget that QuickBooks will not work with Windows 7 unless you have the 2010 version!

So finally I get the new modem and routers all set up and the workgroups are now sharing files and printers.

I installed the Blackberry desktop manager and guess what! Blackberry’s will not sync with Outlook 2010 especially on a 64 bit machine! Blackberry says they will have the new software ready early 2011.

Of course we have no copier (which is also our scanner and fax). We have been given estimates for damage for this equipment that will push repairs to over $8,000. (Yes every thing was on a surge protector – it came in through the telephone system.)

When I called to report our copier was damaged they wanted me to scan our insurance forms and e-mail them to them. I almost cried. No - I have no scanner. Well then just fax it over. No - I have no fax. Well then just make a copy and bring it over. How about I bring it to you and you make a copy, scan it, and fax it to where ever yiou need to to go because the machine is toast!

I hope it all gets done soon. (Is it my imagination or is Office 2010 slow?)

Guyton Food Bank

Today our church delivered 711 pounds of food to the Guyton food bank - The Filling Station.
We had been discussing this project with the Effingham County United Way and they suggested delivering the food to Guyton instead of Rincon. It was a good suggestion.  We had 57 adults and children and worked for a bit shy of 3 hours total. 

Moral Courage

I recently read an article about how God provides us helps to have moral courage. The helps are: the Atonement, spiritual gifts, the Holy Ghost, and the holy priesthood. Knowing Jesus is the Christ, our Savior; knowing that God has given us gifts for our walk through life; understanding that the a Holy Ghost is with us in times we need him the most; and having the priesthood so we can provide service to others; all these things are extremely comforting when we must call upon our own moral courage.

As I thought about the message of the article I began to ask myself what are the morals that I should be courageous in? How do I define the morals that God has given us the tools to use?

I decided to start with defining the word moral. The word moral originates from the root word for custom; principles of right and wrong, the standard by which you measures things. Morals are not tangible, they are perceptual. Custom is also the root for the word mores (mawr-eyz).

The word mores is not in common use today but it should be. Mores are the traditional accepted customs of a group. It is the group’s attitude toward things. It is the manner or the proper way to do things.

So where do groups get their principles and customs? They usually express themselves as laws, commandments, rules, and regulations. They are codified, passed down through generations, honored revered, and held in extreme sacredness. They are the beliefs and the convictions of the group. It is what the group puts value on.

So what is a value? We see values frequently along with the corporate mission. Covey in his ‘Seven Habits’ or his ‘Principle Centered Leadership’ books suggests that we all should have values and some should be designated our core values; those principles that our life is based on; things that embody ourselves.

Value is based on the root word for valor. Values are those things we hold important; it is the vision of how we want to be; these are the things that guide our conduct. Valor is to be of worth and strong. In today’s English valor is also to have courage.

So we come full circle in this discussion of moral courage. Courage is that quality of mind and of spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, and such. Moral courage then is that inner strength to live our lives by the values we hold even when it is not popular, when it is hard to or places us in danger.

God provided to us through His prophets the laws and commandments. He provided us His Son who is our example of how to live. The word my call these customs but they are deeper than that. They are the word of God and since the first principle of heaven is obedience we should live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

There is a word for this and the word is ethics. Ethics comes from the root word ethos, the character or disposition of the group and the individual. Ethics are values in action; it is what is right or wrong. You act in accordance with your values.

It takes time to develop our courage. It takes time to understand our values. God has supplied us with the tools we need here on Earth. We are not alone, even in the times when we are the lowest. Christ as an our example of how to live suffered all things. It is comforting to know that He understands our needs because He experienced them. Our courage when we need it the most comes from deity.

(The article Moral Courage, by Elder Henry B Eyring, can be found in the March 2010 edition of the Ensign.)

Men don’t know how to wear a dress.

Six nurses – one putting in an IV, one asking questions, one holding medications, and two untying my shoes. The sixth was taking my cell phone out of my hands. “It’s time go,” she said as she put my phone into the bag with my clothes.

I had yet another brush with the health care delivery system; this time it was the heart cath lab. On the way to work I was not feeling very good so I decided to go to see my primary care doctor, Dr. K. Her staff did an EKG and she looked up at me and said “You don’t belong here. You are going to the ER. NOW!” Okay my EKG was abnormal so I complied; sat in the wheelchair and let one of the nurses drive me in her car over to the ER (It’s about 500 feet away.)

They were waiting. It started out okay, just one nurse and then the X-ray Tech. Then it happened. I think I might have looked like a road kill deer with group of vultures all pecking at the poor creatures bones.

Then the lights are flashing over head, just like in the movies. The movies however do not let you experience the cold and wind as it rushs over your poor semi clothed body and the sheet is no protection.

The cath lab looked; well I really cannot tell you what it looked like. Some of the meds were kicking in and I was shivering. The betadine was so very cold. Then I felt warm blankets and Dr. S asking if I wanted something to relax me. “Yes, please.”

I opened my eyes in observation. Folk came in and out. I know Beth was there for a bit, Sarah got my keys to go get my stuff secured out of my truck; Brethren came by and gave me a blessing. Dr S came by. It is all groggy and barely in my memory.

I got a room a few hours later, complete with pressure cup, heart monitor, a second gown ( on backwards over the first). When they took me for a walk the nurse looked at me, shook her head, “Men don’t know how to wear a dress.”

My heart is great. Dr S said it is really good for a man my age. He found nothing, not even any blockages, my arteries are all clear. What ever cause the abnormal EKG was a mystery but it was not a heart attack. My heart monitor was clean and one nurse commented that at times my blood pressure was like a teenagers. But it does not stay that way, it fluxates. They changed my blood pressure medicine and I have some follow-up visits scheduled.

What is next?

Faith and Hope

I have been asked to speak today about the Savior. We have heard a lot of talks this month about Him. We have just celebrated His birth and in a few months we will remember His death and His resurrection. Each Sunday during Sacrament Meeting we partake of the Sacrament, emblems and symbols of our Lord, and a renewing of the convents that we took upon us at baptism, where we took upon us the name of Jesus Christ and promising to obey His commandments. These emblems are blessed and passed by Brethren who hold the priesthood, God’s power to perform the Gospel’s saving ordinances here on Earth so we, if we live worthily, can return to Him, all performed through the name of Jesus Christ, our mediator with our Father in Heaven.

I would like to speak today about a few groups of people that have very different reactions to the same events and same information about our Savior. I know that the titles I have given these groups are broad and do not fit exactly but the titles are not as important as the reactions of these groups to truth.

The first group is the logic and reason group. This is the group that needs proof and relies on physical evidence; science and philosophy are their mantra. They say that they are enlightened, that it is the 21st Century. They declare that we have moved beyond the myths and legends of our ancestors.

Science is man’s interpretation of what is around us. Science can only be true as long as it is in alignment with the revelations and teaching of God. Science must align with God or it is not true. But if you do not believe in God then a theory is good enough for proof. Joseph Fielding Smith states that “Revelation is superior to Science.” Truth has to firm and solid, it cannot be changeable. Science, as taught by man, is ever changing. It never stays the same. Man’s knowledge is incomplete and often wrong. Man has to restate scientific true over and over again; frequently.

Yet man, in His rejection of God, uses science to be his proof. But man’s proof is flawed. I find it humorous that man will accept the theory that the world was touched by visitors from another far off world or a spore on the back of a meteorite or something similar, and life sprang up but they will not believe that there is a God. They do everything they can to attempt to reason that there is no God. By denying God’s existence they deny the divinity of our nature. They deny the Savior. Without God there is no need for a savoir or any need for commandments. Without God there is no sin, man is just a creature of nature without a soul.

If evolution is true then the gospel is false. If the gospel is false then there was no creation, no garden, no Adam and Eve, and therefore no fall. If there is no fall then there is no need for salvation and no need for a Christ, and no resurrection. Evolution of man from a lower form of life rejects God.

A testimony of the gospel and the Savior cannot be sustained by logic, reason, science or philosophy. The gospel requires the use of faith and hope.

In the Book of Mormon there is a discussion between Alma and Korihor about the existence of God. In Chapter 30 of Alma, Alma says to Korihor:
“…. Believest thou that there is a God? And he (Korihor) answered, Nay. Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true;

And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words. But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses?”

In Joseph Fielding Smith’s book, Doctrines of Salvation Volume II, he says; “Let it be uppermost in our minds, now and at all times, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to lay down his life that we might live. That is the truth and is fundamental. Upon that our faith is built. It cannot be destroyed.”

“We must adhere to this teaching in spite of the teachings of the world and the notions of men, for this is paramount, this is essential to our salvation. The Lord redeemed us with his blood: he gave us salvation, provided – and there is this condition which we must not forget – that we will keep his commandments and always remember him. If we will do that, then we shall be saved, while the ideas and the foolishness of men shall perish from the earth.”

The reason that there is a lack of spirit and force in the religious teachings of the world is in part because they have tried to harmonize the Christian faith with the foolishness of men; and, of course, it will not harmonize with falsehood and the doctrine of men. But we have received the light of the everlasting gospel. It is our salvation. Let us adhere to it and worship the Lord and keep his commandments, as we have been instructed to do, in the name of his Son.” (This comment is from a talk President Smith gave in conference in October of 1921.)

In Colossians chapter 2 Paul warns us “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. “

This brings us to the second group I would like to talk about. Let me first start with some quotes from the scriptures.

Ephesians chapter 4 “….henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; “

2 Timothy Chapter 4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. “

1 Nephi chapter 13 reads: “….for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men. “

Or this group could be like the people Zachariah was preaching to as “they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”

There are well meaning men and women who are preaching the gospel – as they understand it – but the gospel has been changed; there was an apostasy. The gospel was changed by those who came before our time, many years ago. It has been handled down flawed and lacking the authority and power necessary to properly perform the saving ordinances. But men and women still have within them the spirit of Christ and they seek the truth.

In 2 Nephi chapter 26 we are warned about preistcraft; “priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.”

This gospel is called legend, common memory, stories, or oral tradition by those who say they are ministers of Christ. They claim that the Bible is not to be taken literally. Ministers even preach that the resurrection did not happen. The teachings of many the churches today are not even the same as the teachings of their founding leaders when they were first established. We talk about the great apostasy but this apostasy continues today. The church as set up by Christ in the meridian of time was changed and the changes still continue. We read daily of churches that are splitting, disagreeing over doctrine and the nature of Christ. The apostasy is real.

In the Doctrine and Convents Section 123 we read: “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—“

So we have the second group - seekers, asking God for guidance and looking for the gospel because the spirit of Christ that is within them witnesses to them that there is something more. Eventually all men will bow before the Lord and acknowledge Him as Savior and King but for today there are thousands seeking truth but have not yet found it. We need to be aware of our fellow brothers and sisters and their seeking. As individuals we need to be an example to the world and available to share our testimonies. As parents we need to teach our children the mission of Christ and prepare our young men for missions and fatherhood and our daughters for motherhood. As a congregation we need to welcome new members and help them grow their testimonies and prepare them for greater light by attending the temple.

One thing the world has seen and will continue to see is false Christs and those that claim they know when and where Christ will return. Many times in my own life I have seen friends and neighbors go off, leaving their home, jobs, and school, hoping to meet a returning Messiah only to return disappointed. Christ will return. He has too; the prophets and scriptures say He will.

In Matthew chapter 24 Christ himself warns us by saying: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”

I am not sure how much clearer the Lord could be when He states – Believe them not. When He returns everyone everywhere will know.

Then there is the third group I would like to touch on – those of us that depend on faith and hope, or at least we should. We waiver, we are weak and sometimes we falter. We should be like the wise men who built his house on a rock so when the storms came it stood firm. A house built upon a foundation of apostles, prophets, and teachers; with Jesus Christ being the corner stone.

In the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi chapter 8 Lehi describes his vision of the tree of life and in part of the vision he says; “And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.”

Matthew chapter 8 there is a story about the Lord and His disciples. “And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

It is scary out in the world. The rains fall, the wind is like a hurricane, the waves are high and wolves are everywhere. There are a lot voices; all claiming to know the truth or the way to Christ. We sometimes may feel weak and unable to stand firm. Our testimony must be strong; we must stand strong even in the face of the storm. We have to reach a spot where we are comfortable with our testimonies. We cannot be influenced by the scoffers and unbelievers or seduced by the silver tongue philosophers. If we follow the Savior, obey His commandments, He will take care of us. This is not to say we will not have problems and trials, but He will take care of us. Remember Him and keep His commandments – sounds like the sacrament prayers.

I have said a lot today and I do not want to end without making sure I am clear in what message I want to leave with you.

God lives and there is a Christ. Any teaching that denies there is a God or Christ is a false teaching. Any teaching that denies our divine nature is a false teaching. If teachings deny God, play down the importance of the Savior as the Son of God and make Him no more than a man, if our divine nature is rejected, if any of the teachings run contrary to the gospel then they are not true. We should not fret about this. Men have been teaching false doctrine since the time of Adam and Eve. It will continue until Christ returns.

We should always keep the Spirit near us. We do this through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. We continue our journey through obedience, magnifying our callings, study, fasting, and prayer; but I have found that the most important of all is – listening.

1 Kings chapter 19 “And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

And finally Brothers and Sister I would like to end with Psalms 46 where the Lord says;”Be still, and know that I am God.”

My Christmas Gift List

Okay some of you said that my wish list was - unrealistic - that I should not expect to see any of my wish list this Christmas.

So here is a more realistic gift list.

A router (with plunge capability please).
A router table (workbench type would be great).
Router bits
A pressure washer (or similar)
HO scale steam locomotives
Wind chimes
A post hole digger
An edger
A halogen work bench light

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What did I read in 2009

What did I read in 2009?

Man - His Origin and Destiny by Joseph F Smith
Beautiful Evidence by Edward Tufte
Community by Peter Block
Why are some people healthy and others not? by Robert Evans
Purchasing Population Health by David Kindig

Papa's Present List

Okay this year I am posting my gift wish list - no excuses for not knowing what I want.

1. A Painter
2. A Carpenter
3. A plumber
4. An Electrician

The painter needs a 20 foot ladder and a couple of days to paint the foyer, dining room, and living room.

The carpenter needs a miter saw and skill with crown molding and building fences. Then the painter can paint the molding.

The plumber will be laying a line to the back of the yard for my pond.

The electrician needs to run a line to the back of the yard for my pond.

Count your blessings

Count your blessings - name them one by one.

A friend today was very somber. His unit has just had it's 10th death this year in operations overseas.

Another friend was heading up the highway - to visit his son who is in a rehab center and has been there for over a year for drug addictions and related crimes.

A friends husband has a mass in his brain that is totally inoperable. Luckily is is indolent and grows very slowly.

Two colleagues last week were given unfortunate news - one has already had surgery and is starting chemo this week for breast cancer and the other has a mass in her panaceas and has to have surgery.

My daughter has been experiencing pain for weeks in her jaw and finally went to see a doctor. Being uninsured she went to a federal health clinic, waited 8 hours, and was given Motrin.

My other daughter has just had her husband deploy to Iraq - for the fourth time. And his father has recently started having seizures.

A lady I know is willing to suffer the emotional rollar coaster, massive vomiting, and all the rest of the side effects of pregnancy to bring a child into her family.

There is no one who is without needs.
We need each other.
I cannot imagine travelling through this life alone.

I count my blessings.
And there names are Debbie, Kristen, James, Dad, Mom, Linda, Melanie, ....
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She Knew

I was walking into a pharmacy to pickup some prescriptions. As I approached the front door I saw an elderly couple. He was pushing his wife, who was in a wheelchair, through the parking lot to their car.

I walked in the front door and stopped. A small voice said that I was supposed to be outside helping that couple. Of course that small voice was right so I turned around and went back outside.

As I approached the couple, who were now at their car, the lady looked at me and smiled. "I knew you would be back."
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They would not let me help them. As I talked to her while she got into the chair he had taken the wheelchair to the back, had it folded and was putting it in before I could get back there. "We have this down," he said smiling.

I waved and wished them well as they drove away.
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Why was I to go back? How did she know I was coming back?
Someday I will find out.
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No e-mail program with Windows 7

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There is no support for Outlook in Windows 7.

You will have to use another program.
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It's a good thing

I was at a meeting today where they were giving out door prizes. I had supplied a few totes with some goodies inside. When one of the ladies won one of the totes I had supplied eveyone was anxious to see what was in it. As she went through the bag one of the other ladies said "Money? It has money in it?"

No I had not put money in it. The lady who had won had just take some bills out of her wallet and they were between her fingers. It just looked like she had taken it out of the tote.

But I made a big mental note; money is a good door prize. I will remember that.
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It's that time of the year - again

Yes - it's that time of the year again; Halloween. It has become a source of great angst to our community over this 'holiday'. And if everyone would be honest about it - this 'holiday' has been a source of angst for a very long time.

I am not an expert but this goes to the point of the matter. An examination of the roots of the holiday and the very name of the 'holiday' show us what this holiday was and demonstrates what we have been warned about by the scriptures. It does not take an expert to seek out the simple basic truths of a matter.

Hallow, by definition is something set apart to be holy and sacred. the ending 'een' changed over time but it comes from a root meaning evening. The definition is easy to find; an holy evening.

In Germany I experienced All Hallows Eve in a way I had never seen before. A night devoted to Mass and visits to the local cemeteries where candles and luminaries are placed on the graves of beloved friends and relatives who had past on. There are similar traditions in China and in Japan. The tradition crosses all boundaries and cultures. There is a reverence and devotion to our ancestors that is sometimes expressed on special nights.

So where does this tradition come from, what is the source. I am not sure and I am sure most experts are not sure either. Traditions seldom have a clear source. We do know in the Bible, in Matthew Chapter 27 verse 52 an amazing event occurs.

"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. "

I am not saying this is the source of the tradition but I am saying that this had to be a frighting event. But it became an event that demonstrated the power of God and sealed the testimony of many of the Saints.

It seems to be in America we tend to take customs and traditions and distort them. We have this uncanny ability to strip off all the spiritual elements and leave the baser elements and even add more. Halloween is an excellent example. In America this night has become a celebration of all that our spiritual leaders, of many sects, have warned their members to avoid. But this side of the holiday only exists in America.

We can choose what we do this night. Is it a fun night of candy and costumes or a celebration of the darkness.
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