Don't dwindle in unbelief

A friend said he was struck by the phrase while he was reading the Book of Mormon on the treadmill (he has a sweat-stained, dog eared copy of the Book of Mormon that he reads while he is on the treadmill). The phrase was “dwindled in unbelief.” He said he thought about that phrase for a couple of miles. And among other things, he said he thought about some friends and loved ones who he was afraid were dwindling in unbelief. How does one dwindle in unbelief? I can’t judge another, but I know in my own case, when I stop reading the scriptures or when my prayers become mechanical or less frequent or when I don’t make time to serve that my faith dwindles.

Elder Neil A. Anderson spoke of the fruit of the tree of life in his most recent (Oct. 2019) Conference talk. He said that the fruit—the love of God “symbolizes the wondrous blessings of the Savior’s incomparable Atonement.” Later in his talk he reminded us of the importance of keeping “our eyes and hearts centered on the Savior Jesus Christ” so that we may be able to continue to partake of the precious fruit of the tree of life throughout our lives.

I think most missionaries experience the promptings of the Spirit and feel the love of God to a greater extent while they are on their mission. That was certainly the case with me. I felt the Spirit confirm to me the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. My companions and I were guided by the Spirit as we sought to find ways to bring souls to Christ. And I felt the Spirit more strongly as I prayed and as I studied the scriptures. I also felt God’s love for me, for my companions, and for those we taught and served. I loved feeling God’s love and His spirit. And when I came home it became quickly apparent that I would need to continue to read, pray, serve, and strive to keep my covenants if I wanted to continue to feel the Spirit in my life.

Some time later, as I thought about it, I realized that for me, the feeling I felt when I felt the Spirit and the feelings I felt when I felt God’s love were the same. That made sense as I thought of it. Certainly, God sheds His love upon us when He sends His Spirit and the Spirit is the vehicle by which His love is manifest to us.

Later I learned from Elder Henry B. Eyring that when we feel the Spirit, we can know that the Atonement is working in our life.

These things came together as I thought about them this morning as I walked. I thought of those individuals in Lehi’s dream who tasted the fruit of the tree of Life, but then became ashamed and fell away. There are a lot of different ways and reasons by which individuals might step away from the tree of life. Lehi’s dream mentions some of these things briefly. But more importantly, we learn from Lehi’s dream that if we hold to the rod and stay on the covenant path then we can taste the sweet fruit of the tree of life throughout our lives.

Elder Anderson gave an enlightening talk on this subject a few years ago in a devotional at BYU. He said that he pictured the iron rod as a cable—a steel cable with three interwoven strands. Of course, the iron rod represents the word of God. In his talk he taught that the word of God is found in the scriptures, in the words of the Lord’s prophets, and in the direction we personally receive from the Holy Ghost.

I think it is pretty plain here, and elsewhere in the scriptures that the Lord is teaching us how we can stay true to Him and not dwindle in unbelief—hold to the rod of iron and stay on the covenant path.

A Dented Boat with Peeling Paint.

In January 2019 Elder and Sister Renlund spoke in a Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults that they titled “Doubt Not, but Be Believing.” They shared an important message that is worth a listen. Here’s the link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-devotionals/2019/01/11renlund?lang=eng

To begin their talk, they told a parable that compared the Church and its leaders to a kind old fisherman in a weather-beaten and well used boat who picked up a man whose boat had sunk and who was floating in the ocean. At first the man was grateful to be rescued. But then he began to notice the imperfections of the fisherman who rescued him, of the food and water the fisherman had given him, and of the fisherman’s boat with its dents and peeling paint. Finally, he became so bothered by these imperfections that he asked the fisherman to throw him back in the water.

Years ago, a friend and colleague shared an article with me that told the story of a man who had taken his first college teaching job in the Midwest in an area where there were few members of the Church. He and his wife ended up in a small struggling Branch where they were put to work. He said that earlier in his life he had heard people say that the Church was true, but the people who served in the Church were imperfect. He said because of his experience in this small Branch he came to believe that one of the important characteristics of the true Church was that it was staffed by imperfect individuals. From his experience in this small Branch, he learned that by serving in the Church with imperfect people, we have the opportunity to learn patience, kindness, and charity. And in the process, we have the opportunity to become more like the Savior.

D&C 1: 19 teaches that with the Restoration of the Gospel, an ancient prophecy is fulfilled that declares that the weak things of the world will be sent to break down the strong and mighty. This will help us grow in faith (v. 21).

D&C 107:21 teaches that the leaders of the Church are to be appointed from among those who are ordained. In other words, one of the Deacons will become the Deacon’s president and one of the Teachers will become the Teacher’s president. The same is true of the Young Women’s classes, the Elder’s Quorum, the Relief Society, and of everywhere we might serve in the Wards, Branches, and Stake in the Church. Those who called to lead are chosen from among those whom they have the opportunity to serve. Thus we know one another and have the opportunity to learn from one another in important ways.

D&C 72:2, 5 teaches that a Bishop is to be “appointed ... of you” and that he will be “appointed of me.” Here again, Bishops are called from among the members of the ward (“of you”).  And, as declared in the 5th Articles of Faith, they are called of God by revelation ("of me"). So, they are called by God from among those whom they will serve. They also are a member of the ward, and like all of us who serve in the church, they who serve will have imperfections (dents and pealing paint).

Moroni worried about his own imperfections when he worried that the authors of the Book of Mormon would be mocked because of their “weakness in writing” (Ether 12:23).  The Lord responded, “Fools mock” and that “[His] grace was sufficient for the meek” (Ether 12:26).

That’s the other thing. As we face the challenge of serving, knowing our weakness, and turn to the Lord, we find that He is able to accomplish much more through us, by His grace, than we could ever have done on our own.

All of this is by design. It is part of the test of life. It is one of the ways that we are to learn and to exercise our faith. D&C 76:53 says that those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom will have “overcome by faith.” In order for us to do this (and to learn to do this) there need to be challenges in mortality that the only way we can deal with them is with faith.

And with mortality to accomplish what it needs to accomplish, with the veil firmly in place, we will always be led by those who have imperfections, and we ourselves will have the opportunity to serve with our own imperfections.

At the same time, I need to say that over the years I have been impressed with the remarkable individuals in the church whom the Lord has called to serve. I have been impressed with how He has prepared them to serve, and how He has magnified them as they have served.

I am grateful for the blessing to be taught, served, and to serve with wonderful Saints, who like me try to serve to the best of their ability, in spite of their imperfections, and who have the opportunity to be magnified by the Lord in their service to Him.

I can know for myself

I am always grateful when I am taught while I read the scriptures. One way this happens is when I am taught how different scriptures (or Conference talks) relate to one another and how they illustrate, amplify, clarify, or otherwise help me understand what the other is saying.

It happened again yesterday.

Yesterday morning, while doing my back-stretching exercises, I listened to Elder Bednar’s recent Conference talk where he talked about the purpose and “implications of home-centered and Church-supported” gospel learning. He used the example of how Joseph Smith came to know for himself gospel truths and that each of us have an opportunity to come to know for ourselves. I think this is the hope of every Latter-day Saint parent or grandparent—that their children/grandchildren will come to know for themselves. This is certainly one of the aims of the Come Follow Me program.

Then I was reading 1 Nephi 15 where Nephi asks his brothers if they have inquired of the Lord (so they could know the answers to some gospel questions). They said they had not, “for God maketh no such thing known unto us.” Nephi encouraged them and tried to help them have faith that God could let them know for themselves if they would pay the price.

As I thought about it further, I realized that this principle was also taught in the reading mom (Dedie) and I did in the 1 Corinthians 1-7, in the Come Follow Me lesson we read together last Sunday. Here Paul teaches that we learn things of the Spirit when we are taught by the Spirit.

When we are confirmed members of the Church we are told, “Receive the Holy Ghost.” This is a blessing we can receive throughout our lives. It is how we are taught the mind and will of the Lord. It can bring us comfort, peace, guidance, and help us figure out what to do in our life, and it is how we come to "know for ourselves."

I am grateful to my Father for this marvelous gift.

The bread of life

It has been some time since I have written in this blog. I’m not going to promise anything (looking at the blog history, it looks like my pattern has been one post a year for awhile), but I thought I might like to start posting a few thoughts here again.

Years ago, when Jackie was in the second grade she told me she was one of the better readers in her class, then she asked me if I knew why this was the case. I didn’t. She said she thought it was because we read the Book of Mormon together as a family.

I continue to plug away at trying to learn how to speak Spanish. I have learned the temple ordinances (that we speak) in Spanish and have been having a weekly tutoring session with an RM from the MTC. And I am reading Spanish short stories and practicing speaking in Spanish and I attend a Spanish Sunday School class in the Flushing Branch and I work on grammar and flip 3x5 cards or listen to Spanish lessons when I go on my daily walk. But I have also been reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish every day since we were in Paraguay a year and a half ago. I think it is helping.

It has been interesting to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish. It forces me to think about every word.

I think it is important to pray before we read from the Book of Mormon. President Oaks, in talking about this, said this doesn’t need to be a big formal prayer (nor on our knees), but more like a prayer we would offer on food we are about to eat, because, as he pointed out, it is spiritual food.

I am always grateful for when I am taught by the Spirit as I read from the Scriptures. They are a wonderful gift—certainly the bread and water of life.

Receiving the mysteries that are sealed

Sometimes when I am taught by the Spirit when I read and think about what I have read I feel the need to write down my thoughts so I will remember them. This past Friday I had that experience. In the morning I read Ether 4 where Moroni explains that he has included on the plates all of the things the Brother of Jared was taught, but that they are sealed and not to be translated until when the Lord determines that we are ready to receive them. 

Throughout the day I thought of this chapter and also was thinking about President Russell M. Nelson’s talk on receiving revelation in our lives that he gave in last April’s Conference. The Spirit helped me to see how they are related. Sometimes when you are taught spiritual truths it is hard to express them or to write them down but I will try.

In his talk President Nelson said the Spirit had prompted him to talk about the precious gift of receiving revelation in our lives. He said it was one of the greatest gifts of God. He asked “how can we become the men and women … the Lord needs us to be?” We need to receive revelation in our lives. He counseled us to “Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.” And he gave us a simple pattern to follow.

“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ … And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day … you will ‘grow into the principle of revelation.’ Does God really want to speak to you? Yes.” Then President Nelson gave this heartfelt plea, “I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation.”

President Nelson gave this formula to receiving revelation: “Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”

President Nelson said further, “we must learn to receive revelation … in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost … I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.”

The Spirit helped me see how this counsel from the prophet is related to the experiences of the Brother of Jared. Jared and his brother were living at the Tower of Babel when the Lord confounded the languages. The brother of Jared prayed about specific things and he, Jared and some of their friends and their families were blessed accordingly. The Lord did not confound their language and said he would lead them to a promised land. They were on their way to the promised land but stopped for a time at a place they called Moriancumr. They may have gotten too comfortable. They stayed there four years. Then the Lord talked to the Brother of Jared in a cloud and chastised him for not remembering to call upon the name of the Lord. The brother of Jared repented and the Lord forgave him but warned him that it was a dangerous thing to forget to pray. It can cut us off from the presence of the Lord. The Lord taught the Brother of Jared about the boats He wanted him to make to cross the “great deep” to the promised land and said that they could not cross the “great deep” unless the Lord prepared the way for them and He asked what the Brother of Jared would like Him to do so they could have light in their boats.

The Brother of Jared made clear stones and asked the Lord to touch them. And the Lord did and the brother of Jared saw and learned much more than he expected. He was brought into the presence of the Lord where he saw and heard amazing truths of the eternities. Then he was told to seal up these truths so they could not be read unless the Lord allowed it to happen, which He did for the Nephites during their 200 years of peace and righteousness. Moroni said he included these things on the plates but that they were sealed again until the due time of the Lord. But we are promised that in a day when the Gentiles (that’s us) will exercise faith like the Brother of Jared that the things the Brother of Jared saw will be made manifest to us as the Lord unfolds to us all of His revelations. (Ether 4:5-7)

The Lord promises, “But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. … Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge of which is hid up because of unbelief. … when he shall rend the veil of unbelief … then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world [be revealed to you].” (Ether 4:13-15)

I have thought (and taught) that one of the places we are taught these “greater things” that are hid from the world is in the temple. And of course another, as taught by President Nelson, is in the individual revelation that we can receive for guidance and instruction in our lives. Some talk about “mysteries” and wonder when things will happen, such as when the Second Coming will occur, but our prophets don’t talk about these things. Instead they teach us how to prepare to meet God. And as we pray specifically, like the Brother of Jared did, and especially when we seek revelation as we are trying to serve our family and others we will be taught from heaven and will receive these “greater things” the Lord has promised to reveal to us. President Nelson included this important verse in his talk:

D&C 42:61

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock

A few weeks ago I taught the lesson in Sunday School about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. As part of the lesson we read some verses in D&C 10 which was given to Joseph Smith after Martin Harris lost the 116 pages. In the revelation Joseph was told not to re-translate  the part that was lost. Joseph was assured that the plates of Nephi (the “small plates” that Mormon was inspired to include) did a better job of teaching the Savior’s gospel than the part that was lost (see D&C 10:45). Then the Lord taught that the ancient prophets had prayed that the Savior’s gospel would be preserved and brought forth by the Book of Mormon so that the Savior’s church could come forth in the Latter days. The phrases “my gospel” and “my doctrine” are repeated several times in D&C 10:48-67. In verse 67 the Savior teaches that His doctrine is to repent, be baptized, and come unto Him and that those who do these things are His church. Then in verse 69 He teaches that those in His church who endure [in faith] will be established upon His rock and the gates of hell will not prevail against them.

The footnote with “rock” sends us to D&C 11:24 where the Savior says, “Build upon  my rock, which is my gospel.” The Savior used this same image in 3 Nephi 11:39 where He taught that if we build on His doctrine (to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost) we will be built upon His rock. Of course when we do these things and come unto Him we are building our life upon the Savior who said of Himself, “I am the good shepherd, the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall” (D&C 50:44).

The Savior in the scriptures has used “rock” and “stone” to indicate strength and stability. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount the Savior taught that if we live according to His teachings we will be like the man who built his house upon a rock that is able to withstand the storms of life (see Matthew 7:24-25). On another occasion the Savior was with His disciples near Caesarea Philippi where a large spring gushes forth beneath a huge rock/cliff when He asked them “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matt 16:13) Peter responded, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told Peter that He knew this truth because Heavenly Father had revealed it to him and promised that upon this rock He would build His church. This promise means a couple of things. For one thing it is connected to Jesus’ promise to Peter that He would give Peter the “keys of the kingdom” so that Peter could preside as the head of the Savior’s church. Today we have prophets who hold those keys and they are an important part of the foundation of the Lord’s church (see Ephesians 2:19-20). In addition, Joseph Smith was asked what the rock was that the Savior’s church would be built upon and he responded that the rock was revelation. And thankfully the revelation that “Jesus is the Christ” can come to each of us. This rock of individual testimony is an important foundation stone in each of our lives.

The Topical Guide and the Index (from the Triple Combination) are great resources to search topics such as Rock, Stone and Jesus Christ, Rock. In addition, the Guide to the Scriptures (available in English in the Gospel Library app or at lds.org) often gives a nice clear definition and a concise list of related scriptures.

ROCK (Guide to the Scriptures)

See also Gospel; Jesus Christ; Revelation

Figuratively, Jesus Christ and his gospel, which are a strong foundation and support (D&C 11:24; 33:12–13). Rock can also refer to revelation, by which God makes his gospel known to man (Matt. 16:15–18).

He is the rock, his work is perfect: Deut. 32:4;

The Lord is my rock; in him will I trust:2 Sam. 22:2–3;

A stone was cut out without hands: Dan. 2:34–35;

It was founded upon a rock: Matt. 7:25; ( 3 Ne. 14:25; )

Jesus Christ is the stone that was set at nought: Acts 4:10–11;

That rock was Christ: 1 Cor. 10:1–4; ( Ex. 17:6; )

He that is built upon the rock receiveth the truth:2 Ne. 28:28;

The Jews will reject the stone [Christ] upon which they might build: Jacob 4:15–17;

It is upon the rock of our Redeemer that we must build our foundation: Hel. 5:12;

Whoso builds on Christ’s doctrines builds upon his rock and will not fall when the floods come: 3 Ne. 11:39–40; ( Matt. 7:24–27; 3 Ne. 18:12–13; )

A wise man built his house upon a rock: 3 Ne. 14:24;

If ye are built upon my rock, earth and hell cannot prevail: D&C 6:34;

He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall: D&C 50:44;

I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven: Moses 7:53;

Thinking about rocks and stones as symbols of the Savior and His gospel reminded me that King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream where he saw “a stone cut out of the mountain without hands” which rolled forth and eventually destroyed and replaced all other worldly kingdoms, with the promise that it (God’s kingdom) would “stand forever.” (see Daniel 2:44-45) I had not thought about this connection before. I knew that this stone represented the restoration of the gospel (see D&C 65) and the establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth. But I had not thought about this stone that was cut out of a mountain without [human hands] as being connected with the gospel, revelation and the Savior.

About this time I read 2 Nephi 21:11-12 (Isaiah 11:11-12) where we are promised that “the Lord shall set his hand the second time” to recover/gather Israel from the four corners of the earth. As with the stone that is cut out of the mountain without human hands, the Lord is intimately involved in the gathering of His saints to the church in the last days.

Then in family scripture reading we read a promise in Mormon 8 where Moroni says prophets have prayed in behalf of him by whom the Book of Mormon would come forth (v. 25) and then Moroni declares, “And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord had spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and it shall come in a day when …” (v. 26)and then he gives a long list of conditions in the last days when the Book of Mormon will come forth.

The Book of Mormon contains “the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (D&C 20:9). It is the keystone of our religion, a critical foundation stone of our testimony, and the principle means by which we come unto Christ (see 1 Nephi 6:4; Omni 1:26; Moroni 10:32-33). And it came forth “out of the earth” (Mormon 8:26) or, as Isaiah prophesied, “out of the dust” (2 Nephi 26:16; Isaiah 29:4). It was preserved in Cumorah until it was brought forth by the hand of God. It is a remarkable and significant part of the fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the stone cut out of the mountain without [human] hands (but by the hand of the Lord). And it is at the foundation of my own testimony of the Savior. I’m grateful for its miraculous coming forth.

"He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me."

This morning I was reading in John 13 and read the following verse.

John 13:20
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

This truth is taught elsewhere in the scriptures and I have been thinking about it recently, so it stood out to me when I read it. Here are a couple of other places it is taught.

D&C 84:36-38 The oath and covenant of the priesthood includes this truth--that if we receive His servants we receive the Savior, the Father, and will receive eternal life.
Matthew 10:40-41 Jesus taught the Twelve that those who received them would receive Him and the Father who had sent Him, and that a person who received a prophet would receive a prophet's reward, which of course is eternal life.

The leaders of the Church (the apostles and prophets) recently updated Handbook 1 (the handbook for Bishops, Stake Presidents, and other priesthood leaders). These changes were leaked to the media and were presented in such a way that resulted in some interesting conversation in various media formats. I won't debate those issues here. But I will confirm what I said in a previous post (Will Ye Also Go Away), that I sustain those who lead us and have chosen to trust them and the things they teach and do as they lead the Church. This is not to say that I follow them "blindly." I believe in them and follow them because the Spirit has confirmed to me the reality of their call and has over and over again confirmed to me the truthfulness of what they teach.

When Jesus was among the Nephites He chose twelve disciples to lead the church and said to the Nephites, "Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you" (3 Nephi 12:1). On the day the Church was organized the Savior renewed this charge when He taught that we should receive the words from the prophet as if from the Savior's own mouth, in all patience and faith. And that if we did the gates of hell would not prevail against us [and our families]. (see D&C 21:4-6). In verse one of this section the Savior identified Joseph Smith as "an apostle of Jesus Christ." This means to me that the Savior chose him. And since Jesus has asked me to receive their words "as if from [His] own mouth," I believe that the Savior holds Himself responsible to make sure that we are always led by those we can trust to represent the Savior as true apostles and prophets. One of the tenets of our faith is that men and women in positions of leadership are called by prophecy (see Article of Faith 5), that they, Aaron-like, are chosen by God (Hebrews 5:4; see also John 15:16) to serve Him and to teach us.

This has never meant that these servants of the Lord were perfect (or infallible). Nor has it meant that they would be without their critics. In fact one evidence of their calling is that they will (as Christ did) suffer abuse, persecution, and rejection (see for example Matthew 5:10-12; 10:22; 24:9; JSH 1:33). The Savior said, "it must be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom [they come]" (Matthew 18:7).

So one of the tests of life is if we will sustain, support, trust, and believe the words that come from those who have been chosen to lead us. To do so may require patience and faith. I think this is by design. Our perspective is not the same as God's. Our perspective will not be the same as the perspective of apostles and prophets. One of the tests of life is to see if we will trust in their words when they go counter to our pre-conceived ideas.

Paul taught the Hebrews that Jesus was "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). A couple of verses later Paul counsels, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord ... For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth ... If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons ..." Compared to God I am a child. I can't know all that He knows. I want Him to correct and guide me. My life has been blessed when I have been corrected by those who love me. I hope my thoughts and ideas are in harmony with God's but when they are not I want Him to let me know.

In my experience, this correction has often come to me through the Lord's servants (and my parents). As a final thought, here are a couple of favorite verses from the Book of Mormon.

Mosiah 8:17-18

 17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.

 18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he [the prophet] becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.

I'm grateful to be led by prophets and apostles, who I believe were called by the Savior. I hope I can always have the faith to find out for myself the truthfulness of their words when they go counter to my ideas and feelings.