Priesthood

So, I've been thinking about the Priesthood a lot recently. There's the "Women in the Priesthood" movement who think women should receive the Priesthood and I've met those who resent the Church for denying the Priesthood to Blacks for a time. I'm going to start with definitions and then back track to the Old Testament and work my way forward in time.

Priesthood definition according to lds.org, "The word priesthood has two meanings. First, priesthood is the power and authority of God. ... Through the priesthood, God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power, He exalts His obedient children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man” ( Moses 1:39; see also D&C 84:35–38).

Second, in mortality, priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children. The blessings of the priesthood are available to all who receive the gospel. (“Priesthood Authority,” Handbook 2, Administering the Church)" (https://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood?lang=eng)

To me that means that the Priesthood is the power of God and permission and authority to use God's power. The Priesthood is required in order to perform any saving ordinance, like baptism or the Sacrament.

Now, back to the Old Testament. I'm going to talk mostly about the Levitical/Aaronic Priesthood and not the Melchizedek Priesthood. Jacob or Israel had 12 sons. The first was Reuben. Reuben had the birthright until he "uncovered the nakedness of his father". Then the second born was Simeon and third born was Levi. Simeon and Levi slaughtered a whole group of people because one of them had defiled their sister and then tried to make it right by marrying her, but Simeon and Levi wouldn't let it go and slaughtered a whole tribe/nation/town of people. The birthright is then passed on to Judah. Reuben, Simeon and Levi are all chastened when Jacob/Israel is giving blessings to his sons and decides to claim Ephraim and Manasseh (of Joseph) as his own. Later, after they have left Egypt by following Moses, all are given an inheritance except.... Levi. Levi is to be scattered throughout Israel and is to be servants to the rest of Israel. Granted Israel is supposed to take care of them but technically good slave owners took care of their slaves so they would be able to perform what their masters wanted of them, so I believe the Levites were in a similar position. They were to be taken care of, but that does not mean they have a lofty position and means to make money, but merely to be able to live and fulfill their purpose. So, this is the beginnings of the Priesthood. To me it comes across as more of a punishment. They had nothing to their name except by generosity of the tribes they lived among. They were to serve others. I feel Levi was given the Priesthood so they would learn to serve others. In other words, they needed to learn something from their assigned, humble position. 

Jump forward to the mid 1800s. Blacks were denied the Priesthood. Actually I'm going to backtrack just for a moment. The Church was restored in 1820. Why? Didn't the people who lived between when the Apostles were on the Earth and 1820 deserve the Gospel and blessings of it? There was a speech called "Why 1820?" by I think Franklin R Covey that speculates as to why the Lord didn't restore His Church sooner. Without reading it too recently, what I remember is that the Church needed a country to establish religious freedom in order for it to survive a restoration. And the Church wasn't immediately restored after religious freedom was gained here, and even when it was restored, the Church struggled at first to survive. The Church was not popular and was persecuted. It was persecuted for its beliefs but also for polygamy. The Civil War was fought and before that Blacks were not recognized by this country as even a full person. How much more would the country have persecuted the Church if Blacks had the Priesthood? And even after the Civil War, things did not magically get better for the Blacks. They were persecuted for several more years before they had other rights. When the Black finally received the Priesthood they at least officially had the same rights as their White counterparts (even if there is still racism- which is a different matter, legally they should have the same rights now). I believe that the Lord has a purpose to His timing, and I believe that the conditions relating to Blacks in this country at least played a part in why the Lord waited. Just like the Lord waited to restore His Church, the Lord waited to give the Priesthood to all men.

Now, on to women and the Priesthood. Let's consider the nature of men and women. How many married women who step up and take over things in their marriage have spouses who try to fight them for leadership? How many men gladly take the back seat and allow the wife to lead in things when they want to? I know my husband would gladly let me be in charge of all household duties. If I took over making all the money he would gladly step back (and likely play video games in his new spare time, instead of doing what I do with our kids and around the house). Now, this is not true of all men, some will fight for the ability to lead, but most men need a responsibility in order to take charge. Giving men the Priesthood gives them something they feel responsible for. It is that responsibility that often will motivate them to work and become better. The Priesthood is meant to serve and many women are conscious of others and are willing to serve without having the responsibility of the Priesthood. I don't know if I'm explaining this part well, but I feel men need the Priesthood to become better people and active members in the Church and to help them be aware of the needs of others. The Priesthood teaches them to be kind and forgiving of others.

Now back to the definition. The Priesthood is the power of God. Well what can God do? We know that with the Priesthood God created the world. What office in the Priesthood allows men to create? None of them. Men and women can create--life, buildings, roads, computers, furniture, a home... For some of those, both a man and a woman is needed and for others, one can do it based on their talents. God can do other things as well. The Priesthood callings given to men revolve around the power to perform ordinances and to speak for God and lead His Church. Lets analyze those backwards.

Lead His Church. A Prophet is called. This is a man. Why? I don't know. Maybe because He symbolizes Christ (a man). Maybe because He can perform any saving ordinance. Maybe because men need to learn how to lead. Maybe so that by becoming responsible for so many, their hearts grow. Maybe women don't need that. But for whatever reason, the Prophet is a man. But the Prophet calls a General Relief Society Board and Young Womens Board and Primary which is usually full of women. So women are needed to lead, in local branches all the way up to the top. But the man is the head- whether it's because they need to grow the most, because they perform any saving ordinance or because they represent Christ or another reason, this is the case.

To speak for God. This kind of goes hand in hand with the previous statement. Any woman (or man) can speak for God in reference to those for whom she is responsible as designated by her family or calling.

The power to perform ordinances. Men perform baptisms and confirmations. They bless and pass the Sacrament. They can perform temple ordinances (including initiatories and endowments). But wait a second.... I'm a woman. I worked in the temple. I was not given the Priesthood. I was set apart, but the same as I am when I become a teacher or ward greeter. Yet, as a temple worker I performed initiatories and endowments for women. How is this possible unless I have the Priesthood? It isn't.

My conclusion: Women have the Priesthood. I may never be a deacon, teacher, priest or elder. I do not know what my calling within the Priesthood is called, but I have the power of God in me. And it's not just about bearing children. Perhaps I am capable of all that a man is. Perhaps I am not allowed to do certain things because just as men need to learn to serve, I need to learn to depend on them. But I am allowed to do a great many things, and just because it is different or not publicly recognized (welcome to motherhood) does not mean that I do not have the power of God in me. But everyone needs to learn to step up and become the best they can be. Perhaps if women were to claim the Priesthood- the same Priesthood that men have, the men would not step up... or not enough would... and then there would be 80 women to 20 men in the Celestial Kingdom....

One last thing to consider- in the world we have doctors. Doctors can save lives and perform surgeries on others. They cannot perform surgeries on themselves (yes I've seen shows where they take a bullet out themselves or sew themselves up or direct someone else but they cannot perform in depth surgeries on themselves alone.) In the world is it more important that everyone becomes a doctor or that everyone has access to a good doctor that their lives may be saved and they can receive proper care and be healthy? I think it's the same with the Priesthood. I may have some of the power of God within me, but regardless of that, it is not as important who the doctor is (who holds the Priesthood) as it is important for everyone to be able to be blessed by the doctors (Priesthood). Just as doctors cannot perform surgery on themselves, neither can the Priesthood be used by oneself for their personal gain. And unlike doctors, there is no money or prestige to be made by holding the Priesthood. It may seem like there's prestige because we honor and know who holds the Priesthood, but I would argue that we only know them so we know where to turn for help and blessings and so that the Church stays a Church of order. Matthew 23:11, "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."

Questions

I am a growing person. As I experience different things in life and continue to learn, sometimes my opinions and views change or are refined. With this said, if you read something I have posted previously, it may or may not be my current view, but I don't have time presently to find and delete posts that have become outdated.

With this post however I want to address questions. I like questions. Questions give you something to study in seeking an answer. I think questions can be good. Some people who sign petitions or are vocal about their questions against things that are happening in the LDS Church use this to prove they are correct in questioning things. While I think questions are good, I don't think ALL questions are good. If you are taking an academic class- a stupid question (there are such a thing) would be a completely off-base question for the topic of the class. (For example, don't ask your Calculus teacher for their analysis of why the Roman Empire fell). And then on top of stupid questions there are rude questions. For example- let's say you're a music major and talking to someone who wrote a nationally used textbook for Physics. Don't ask the physics expert a question and phrase it in a way that implies that you somehow, studying music, know more about their life's work than they do.  With these things said- I feel that questions are good, so long as they are not stupid or rude.

Now, let's start applying this to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The whole basis of this church is founded on the principle that we believe that God has once again called Prophets to be His mouthpiece. We are told in the Bible to judge between a true and false prophet by their fruits- so the fruits of Joseph Smith are the Book of Mormon and this Church. There are break-offs of the Church who believe that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet but that the succeeding prophets were not called of God. If you believe the current prophet is not called of God or that Joseph Smith and the first few prophets set up a faulty Church then perhaps you do not belong in this Church but a break off. If you do still believe that things are for the most part good and led by God then I just think you need to be aware of how you word your questions, and hold onto your faith whilst waiting for answers to your questions.

Prophets. They are men and still capable of making mistakes. They are human after all and to say they are incapable of making mistakes would be blasphemy since we believe Christ is the only perfect person to walk this Earth. I hold to this scripture, in Deuteronomy 18:20, "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die." And D&C 1:38, "What I the Lord I have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."  These scriptures mean that the Lord will not allow His prophets to lead the Church astray. Does this mean that everything will be right? No. But we will be blessed for obedience and proper questions. Hold onto your faith that the Lord still leads and guides this Church and that any policy that may have faults in it will change (for policies of the Church CAN and do sometimes change). If the policy was made with a doctrine in mind, the doctrine will not change, but depending on the world and men, policies can change and hopefully will become better and better.

So let's talk about proper questions. If you truly believe that God leads the Church then you believe that whether it is by the Lord's voice or His servants it is the same. To question the Prophet in a way that challenges his authority, you are in essence saying that you know better than an all-knowing and perfect God and His choice to pick an appropriate mouthpiece. Be careful how you word your questions. Your same concerns can be addressed without challenging a perfect God's authority and choice in servants.

So what is the proper way to phrase a question? Think about your concern or problem with an issue. Ponder it and pray for understanding as to why the Prophets (in at least trying to do what is right) might have felt this was the right path. Pray for personal understanding and acceptance and to strengthen your testimony. Because of the faults of man, there are times when a mistake can be made and so even in your attempt to understand your concern may not vanish. But if you hold onto your faith that God leads this Church and will not allow the Prophet to lead the Church astray (this is different than a Prophet putting a bump in the path that may not need to be there) then you can trust that they at least had good intent in making any decision or policy. If you successfully complete this step and still have a question/concern, you should be able to at least phrase your concern in a way that doesn't challenge God as well as the Prophet/leader whom you disagree with.

Consider outside circumstances. For example, doctrinally we know there is nothing against blacks holding the Priesthood, yet there was a policy in place for a time that didn't allow them to hold the Priesthood. Was this a mistake? My theory is that it was not a mistake or fault of the Prophets. David O McKay wanted to change the policy long before he got the approval to do so. This tells me that it was in place for a reason, even if there was nothing doctrinally wrong with it. So here's the theory of me: maybe the world was not ready for it to happen. Let's take a different scenario. Why did people in the 1700s not have the blessing of the gospel? Was there something wrong with everyone living at the time? The answer is no. But the Lord was preparing the way for a time in which the Church could survive. He was working on a country that established religious freedoms. It was not a perfect country (as can be seen from the Civil War and many changes, amendments and extra laws to ensure the proper freedoms are indeed granted to all). I think the Lord waited long enough so that the Church could survive. Yet they were still persecuted because of religious beliefs. My theory on blacks and the Priesthood was that God was still working on the country, through the Civil War and Civil Rights issues with Martin Luther King, Jr and Rosa Parks to prepare them to accept what doctrinally was known- Blacks are equal to Whites. Perhaps if the Church had been granting Blacks the Priesthood before when they did it might have started persecution against the Church again. He did not wait til things were perfect to grant Blacks the Priesthood (as can be seen by ongoing racist problems) but perhaps He waited long enough that the Church would not suffer as a result. So, with your question, consider if there could be things outside of the Church that may justify making a policy that seems to postpone blessings of the gospel that doctrinally belong to all eventually. (For example, the new policy concerning children of homosexual parents- they are not permanently denied baptism. Children are not eternally condemned, if we believed this then there would be no purpose in doing baptisms for the dead for people who had encountered the Church in life. Agree with it or not, but the policy does not eternally condemn any.)

Third, the proper way to go about things. Let's briefly address the wrong way. The wrong way to go about displaying your disagreement is to shout loudly at conference "NO" when sustaining your leaders. There are many who disagree with things the Church is doing. Not all can come to the Conference Center. Even if everyone with concerns could come to the Conference Center to shout no, the Prophet and apostles would not have time to address each concern. All it does is disrupt the mood of conference. I'm sure someone would say, 'But if I don't shout, they won't know that I have a concern in such a big crowd'. True, but even with hearing you they direct you to talk to your local leaders. Might I suggest skip coming to Saturday afternoon's conference with the only intent of shouting no and going straight to your local leaders. It has to go through local leaders because the Church is too big for the people at top to one on one address every concern and still lead the rest of the Church. Sometimes local leaders don't pass on every concern because you have not phrased it as a genuine concern but more as a lack of faith in God to choose appropriate servants. This is why you should take time for my first two steps.

I loved my Mission President. He once told me a story about his Stake President and how he didn't think he was doing something right. He prayed for understanding and still felt uneasy. He was friends with the Stake President and so went to him and said, look, I know you're trying to do your best, and if you don't change your policy I will still follow it but I see possible problems with________. I learned from him that you can show that you trust in God to call proper servants. Because even local servants are called of God. If you have faith that God calls His prophet, then you have faith that he chose the right person to call lower leaders who are the right people to call others and others down to a Relief Society President. Granted you may not like everyone called for every calling but perhaps it is the right thing to do to give the person a chance to grow because God cares about every single individual. But you can trust in your leaders and still bring possible problems to their mind. Then they can pray to know what is right, knowing all the proper information and sometimes (not always) things will change.

I feel I have said everything I wanted to. Please remember the faith you do have and seek to understand "the other side" to either change your own opinion or understand it well enough so that your questions do not challenge authority but only the problems at hand.

Syrian Refugees

I've been reflecting on what this time of year means to me. It's the time when I celebrate Jesus Christ's birth. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, maybe you can agree with some of what I may share.

Christ was born in Bethlehem. King Herod heard rumors of a Savior, King of the Jews, being born. King Herod saw this new "king" as a threat to him and was afraid. So what did he do? He killed every baby under 2. Hundreds or thousands of innocent babies in search of one threat. All on a rumor. If you're Christian, you don't see it as a rumor, you see it as truth, but Jews say it was just a rumor. So it still can't be proven.

Granted, a terrorist is threat to more than one person's throne. We're talking about rumors of a Messiah versus a terrorist (to masses ). But both are fear punishing thousands of innocents for rumors of one.

So you say it's been confirmed, one of the terrorists entered Paris disguised as a refugee? Do we know he is still using the same disguise? Do we have no physical description of him to look for him? (If not then how do we know he was disguised as a refugee? If we know his name we can find a photo of him.) Do we know that he is still living? If he's still living and disguised as a refugee, I have no problem searching for him among the refugees, but let those who pass inspection come find refuge.

We, Americans, were not attacked this time. Paris was. What did Paris do after the attacks? They opened their doors to strangers. They let people find refuge. Did they know if they were letting a killer in? Or a terrorist? No. But they did not let what happened to them and fear take away their humanity.

And who are we kidding? Are we saved from tragedy for keeping one rumored terrorist out and thousands of refugees? I suppose, if we keep this terrorist out there will be no more murders in this country, no more serial killers, no more school shootings, no more mall shootings. Because terror and tragedy can only be caused by a terrorist from another country. And those terrorists from another country couldn't have possibly already sent terrorists to and America in disguise. If you say, but we know of this one. Then let's find him and stop punishing the masses for the one. If he is not to be found among them, then chances are he's dead or changed disguise (in which case we are focusing on the wrong group and punishing innocents).

And if you say, but these refugees are from Syria. They could be aligned with ISIS and still under disguise as a refugee until they reach America. So we're punishing them twice. Once for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and once for not helping when we had the chance. I suppose in WWII, Nazi's could've disguised themselves to start slowly killing Jews in other places. Because everyone from Germany could be a Nazi. I guess this is true. Any one could've been. If we're sticking to WWII examples, out of fear we sent several Japanese to camps because one could've been a spy. That was racism. This is racism. It's just being blanketed as "fighting against terrorism". We obviously know something about the rumored terrorist among the refugees, otherwise we wouldn't be able to confirm anything. So let's use what we know, find the one, or find that he's not among the refugees anymore and stop using it as an excuse to not help innocent people.

And Christ said, "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Bible, KJV, Matthew 25:35-40)

At this time, when we remember Christ, it is His birthday we celebrate. What gift can we give Him? We can serve those in need- like the refugees.

When Christ was born, Mary gave birth in a smelly stable with animals (any women who have experienced a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy- how would you like to smell that during labor? ) because there was no room for them in the inn.

There is room in my heart for humanity. There is room in our country. The terrorists will not win, if I have any say, by killing 147 by gun and thousands by fear and hunger. If we do not help, we in essence help the terrorist succeed in killing more innocent people and we become an accomplice to their terrorism. I will not act in terror. I will not withhold because of terror. If I do, then terrorism has won by making choices according to terror. Let us be our own people. Seek out the terrorists, but let us not live by terror. Let us keep our humanity. Let us help those in need. Let them in.

Prophets

I'm a Mormon. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What exactly does this mean? Well it means several things, one of which is I believe the Lord has always, and will always call prophets (Old Testament, Amos 3:7) and that the Lord has called a prophet in the latter days.

So what is a prophet? A prophet speaks for God. "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken... whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:38). The prophets speak for God and God's laws do not change due to peer pressure, petitions or a vote. God will remove a prophet if He is no longer saying what God wants us to hear. They are human (we believe Christ was the only perfect being to come to earth) and can make mistakes, but if something is brought to their attention and they pray about it, the prophet will know what is right.

I'm going to go on what may seem to be a tangent. What if we have questions? Good. We are supposed to question things and gain a personal testimony of things. If, through what seems like human error, we see something that looks amiss we have the right to address it. So what if women want the Priesthood? Say someone gets the attention of the First Presidency with this matter? Well then it's their turn to pray and seek an answer. They did. They told an individual not to publicly protest. Instead she publicly protested and put out a petition for Pele to sign.

Here's the problem. We know God is perfect, this is perfect in all things. He has perfect love for us, and has a perfect knowledge of what is right for us. And if God is perfect, then we shouldn't petition Him to change to be less perfect (He already is perfect and can't be more perfect). Do we presume to know more than God? You may say, she was petitioning the prophets, not God. But we believe the prophets are called of God and speak and act for God. A public protest shows we do not believe they are prophets any more. A petition mocks both their calling and even God Himself. If they are not prophets any more, then we do not believe this Church is led by God any more. And if this Church is not led by God, why would we want to be a member of it? She was excommunicated. She pretends like she cares about that but why should she? The whole basis of this Church depends on believing in living prophets. Her actions show that she did not believe in the prophets. After the matter was brought to their attention, things still did not change. If we believe this Church, then we must believe in living prophets which means we believe they speak for God. So in essence,  God says women will not be ordained to the Priesthood. Are we going to persist in knowing better than God with His perfect knowledge and His perfect love for us? And if we believe the prophets are no longer prophets, then this living Church is no longer true, and we shouldn't care if we are members still or not.

This being said, God through His prophets (and I believe they are prophets) has said,  "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Men and women are created equally in God's image, but our gender is divine and we have different but equal roles in life. To use race as an example of being different yet equal. A black person is equal to a white person, but they are still different. A white person does not need to tan to try to become black in order to be equal. A black person does not need to bleach their skin to try to be equal, we are different but equal. As for different roles, people pursue different careers based on our characteristics of what we're good at and what we're interested in. I was not meant to be a doctor, I feel sympathy pains too easily for me to be any good in that line of work. But that does not mean I'm less than a doctor in value or purpose to God and the world. I will reiterate, God through His prophets had told us, "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Gender is a characteristic. It helps determine our roles based on different talents, not because one is better than the other.

We should be proud to be women. We don't need to dress like men to prove we're equal, this would be like a man trying to change the color of his skin to become equal, but he is already equal and changing the color of our skin does not change that. I wear a skirt to church to show God that I am proud to be a woman and do not feel the need to change my gender to feel His love for me or to feel equal to men. (I also believe that pants, in the every day world are not exclusively men's clothing anymore.) I believe that me being a woman gives me unique characteristics, which give me a certain role and purpose.

So what if I will not be ordained to the Priesthood? I believe in some ways, I already have it. There are different callings within the Priesthood. I will never be a deacon, priest or elder but maybe I do have a different calling. One definition of the Priesthood is the power of God given to man, or permission to act in His name. With this permission, ordinances are performed. In the temple, women perform the ordinances for other women. I have been a temple worker, and although I was set apart, I was not ordained to the Priesthood, therefore, I must have already had some level of it. We also know that the power of God created this earth, therefore creation is a power of God. We receive God's permission to create life (with a man) when we get married. In addition to creating life, women have a knack for creating things, and I'm not just talking about crafts (not my strong point). Women are good at creating a peaceful environment. They are good at making a house into a home with a 'woman's touch'. This all falls under the ability to create and serves others, which is the purpose of God's power. Also women are good at leading by example. There may not be as many women mentored in the scriptures as men, but if you read the Old Testament looking for the women you will find them.  You will also find that when a woman is righteous, those she has influence over are also righteous. When she is wicked, those she had influence over are also wicked. Women can lead with their influence. Don't we associate the Priesthood with leadership? A Bishop must be married, doesn't his wife have some influence over him? Maybe it's recognition then that people want. Maybe women don't like being a mere influence and leading by example. Are we seeking worldly recognition but claiming to be following God? The whole point of the Priesthood is to serve God's will. His will is not to pursue man's recognition. Women have power given to them/us. We have a role to play, whether it's actually the Priesthood or not, or role is not less than a man's duty in the Priesthood. We are not less because we're different. They don't talk of the importance of mothers at home with kids because we are not capable in the work place, but because we have a natural talent to influence children and create a home. In my marriage, I was the bread winner for a year. My husband gained a better understanding of how much work is done at home. The work done at home is not meant to belittle women because it's not bringing in the paycheck. If a woman's different role is belittled, it is not God's way. Not every woman stays at home, or is able to, but our differing roles in the church are different because of our talents, not because we are less than men with the Priesthood. Women are equal to men in the church and to God, despite having different purposes and sometimes different callings which enable us to grow.

(And as one final side note. Women do not go to the Priesthood session, because it's for men. It is not secret-it's messages are recorded and we can read them. Men are not also, in like manner, not invited to enrichment nights, RS book clubs, the general women's meeting, and other such activities. But you don't see them standing outside saying is unfair that they weren't invited and demand to be let in. The one exception is when a Priesthood member is asked to preside our attend a meeting, just in case the Priesthood is needed. Or to speak fondly of us as is done in the general women's meeting.)

Promised Blessings for participating in Missionary Work

1. You shall receive strength such as is not known among men (D&C 24:12)
2. He Himself will go with you and be in your midst.  Nothing shall prevail against you (D&C 32:3)
3. The Lord will stand by you (D&C 68:6)
4. Your tongue shall be loosed, and you will have the power of God unto the convincing of me (D&C 11:21)
5. Your mouth shall be filled and you shall become as Nephi of old (D&C 33:8)
6. You shall stand blameless before God (D&C 4:2)
7. You shall be lifted up at the last day (D&C 17:8)
8. You will be given a testimony of the words of the prophets (D&C 21:9)
9. You shall have revelations (D&C 28:8)
10. Your sins will be forgiven (D&C 31:5, 36:1, 60:7, 62:3, 84:61)
11. You shall have great faith (D&C 39:12)
12. You shall have blessings greater than the treasures of the earth (D&C 19:37-38)
13. He will take care of your flocks (D&C 88:72), and your back shall be laden with sheaves (D&C 31:5, 33:9)
14. You shall not be weary in mind, body, limb, or joint, and you shall not go hungry or thirsty.  A hair from your head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed (D&C 84:80, 116)
15. Your joy shall be great (D&C 18:14-15)
16. He will send upon you the Comforter, which shall teach you the truth and the way whither you shall go (D7C 79:2)
17. He will go before your face.  He will be on your right hand and on your left; His Spirit shall be in your hearts, and His angels round about you, to bear you up (D&C 84:88)
18. He will make you holy (D&C 60:7)

Clayton M. Christensen, The Power of Everyday Missionaries, p. 7-9

Elder Neil L. Andersen has witnessed, "If you're not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart-painted, as Paul said, 'not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.'

...I promise you, as you pray to know with whom to speak, names and faces will come into your mind.  Words to speak will be given in the very moment you need them.  Opportunities will open to you.  Faith will overcome doubt, and the Lord will bless you with your very own miracles." (Ensign, May 2013, 77)

Missionary Work- 1 hour more (talk)

Commandment:

54 years ago, President David O McKay called on every member to be a missionary.  At baptism we covenant “to stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) Many of us have also covenanted to consecrate our time, talents, etc, to the building up of the kingdom.  Elder L. Tom Perry recently said, “The bishop holds the keys to preside over his ward mission.” (“Missionary Work in the Digital Age”)  With that said, our Bishop has asked us to give one more hour a month than we are currently doing to missionary work.  This is not in addition to our other covenants but will help us meet our covenants.  In Bishop’s talk, he emphasized some of the blessings that will come from missionary work, and I found it very moving.  How many of us don’t like being blessed?

So we have been commanded to be missionaries and help build the kingdom and stand as a witness of God.  This commandment is not easy and I have struggled with it in my own life because sometimes it just seems really hard.  But in 1 Nephi 3:7 we read, “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”  God will prepare a way for us too.

In Elder L. Tom Perry’s talk, “Missionary Work in the Digital Age” he tells us to become one with the missionaries in missionary work.  For this we need a common goal and purpose or role to play.  Our goal as a ward is to have every member do one hour a month of missionary work.

 

I would suggest that our purpose as member missionaries is the same as the full-time missionaries.  In Preach My Gospel we can learn our purpose is “to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.”  We can invite anyone and everyone, member or non-member to come closer to Jesus Christ.

 

We need Charity and Humility which will bring the Spirit:

In missionary work we need charity and humility which will bring the Spirit. 

To have charity we need to recognize what Christ and His Atonement has done for us.  What blessings have come into our lives because of the gospel?  Then we can have the desire for our friends to be equally blessed.  Don’t we want the best for our friends?  We need to remember that what we have is the most precious gift we can give to our friends.  So when we invite our friends we don’t have to be pushy- we just need to show we are inviting out of love.  We love this Church, it’s a part of our lives and we want to share it. 

President Benson gave a definition for humility in his talk, “Keys to Successful Member-Missionary Work”, “Humility is the recognition of our dependence upon a higher power, a constant need for the Lord’s support in His work.”  When we have humility, we depend on the Lord and have His Spirit with us more fully.  And the Spirit is the only thing that can convert a person. 

I grew up very shy.  I wanted to serve a mission but I really didn’t know how I was going to talk to people.  When I turned 21, I left to serve in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana mission and I was terrified of speaking to people.  I prayed every day.  I knew I wanted to be a missionary, but I knew I could not do it alone.  To the end of my mission, I said silent prayers before knocking on every door.  But the Lord helped me and I saw success.  Elder Neil L. Andersen said, “Our desire to share the gospel takes all of us to our knees, and it should, because we need the Lord’s help.” (Elder Neil L. Andersen “It’s a Miracle)

 

Importance of You:

The Lord needs every one of us.  There are people that only you can touch.  Elder Neil L. Andersen said, and I quote “Brothers and sisters, as surely as the Lord has inspired more missionaries to serve, He is also awakening the minds and opening the hearts of more good and honest people to receive His missionaries. You already know them or will know them. They are in your family and live in your neighborhood. They walk past you on the street, sit by you in school, and connect with you online. You too are an important part of this unfolding miracle.  If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, ‘not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.’” End quote.  (It’s a Miracle, Ensign May 2013)

 

People are Ready:

People are being prepared for us to find.  President Benson said, “People are hungry for an anchor, for something that will give them inner peace and a feeling of security.  They can’t find it in the churches of the world today.  They cannot find it in our uncertain economic system.” (President Benson “Keys to Successful Member-Missionary Work”)

 He also said, “Don’t worry about being successful.  We are going to be successful- there is no doubt about it.  The Lord has sent us to earth at the time of harvest.  He does not expect us to fail.  He has called no one to this work to fail.  He expects us to succeed.”  And in D&C 4:4 it reads, “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;”

On my mission I met a man who found us.  He had started his journey for truth and a friend at work was willing to open his mouth and share what he believed.  Then he met an inactive girl that he wanted to marry.  He came to the Church with her for his first time and found us and set up an appointment with us.  He had been prepared.  He started his search on his own.  Then a member was willing to share and it led to us teaching him and him getting baptized.  People are being prepared all around us.  Sometimes they don’t even realize it because they aren’t always looking for a new church, sometimes they are just looking for peace or answers and if they find out that we have them it can open doors.

Ideas:

Elder Neil L Andersen said, quote, “The Savior taught us how to share the gospel.  I like the story of Andrew, who asked, “Master, where dwellest thou?”  Jesus could have responded with the location of where He lived.  But instead He said to Andrew, “Come and see.”  I like to think that the Savior was saying, “Come and see not only where I live but how I live.  Come and see who I am.  Come and feel the Spirit.”  We don’t know everything about that day, but we do know that when Andrew found his brother Simon, he declared, “We have found… the Christ.”  To those who show an interest in our conversations, we can follow the Savior’s example by inviting them to “come and see.”  Some will accept our invitation, and others will not.  We all know someone who has been invited several times before accepting an invitation to “come and see.”  Let’s also think about those who once were with us but who now we rarely see, inviting them to come back and see once more.” End quote.  (“It’s a Miracle” Neil L. Andersen)

I have a close friend who is Catholic and after years of trying, she is still not a member, but in high school she came to seminary with me one morning.  I invited her so she could see what I do so early in the morning.  I invited her to a stake dance so she could see the fun I had there.  She may not be a member yet, but because of my invitations she grew to respect our Church.  She went to a Catholic University and because she had learned to trust what I learned in Church, she turned to me for help on her religion papers.  She got A’s on all the ones I helped her with. J 

We can also invite people to Mutual activities, Church, the Family History center, Ward activities, Primary activities, Scouting programs, Relief Society activities- including book club or play group, or invite people into our homes for Family Home Evening.  Invite people to come and see.  Invite people to come closer to our Savior by attending these uplifting activities with you.

Even with members, we can invite them to attend Church more regularly or prepare to go to the temple.  If we are not currently doing home or visiting teaching, then setting aside an hour to visit the people assigned to us, especially those less-active, I think counts if we invite them to come back.  If we are doing visiting teaching already, then our hour “more” should be going to the next level.

We can invite people to come over for dinner when we feed the missionaries, or to meet with the missionaries or to read the Book of Mormon.  Another way we can help fulfill our hour a month is to host a missionary lesson.  The Mission President here wants to emphasize getting investigators into the members’ homes.  Offer to host a lesson with someone the missionaries already know.  This can be very valuable in missionary work, even if you don’t know the person ahead of time.  When an investigator has a lesson in your home, the Spirit is magnified because they feel both the spirit brought from the lesson the missionaries teach and the Spirit we create as families in our home.  It also helps investigators see how the Church has blessed your life.  One of the most powerful lessons I had on my mission was in a member’s home.  The Spirit was so strong that it made 2 full-grown men cry- one of whom I never would have expected to cry ever- he was a tough motorcycle guy- the kind that can come across as kinda scary when with the rest of their crew.  The Spirit was so strong that our investigator went from constantly pushing against our messages to committing to baptism.  He has now been married and sealed in the temple and is still active today.

Another way to do missionary work is through service.  Service softens the hearts of people and allows them to witness, first-hand, Christ-like behavior.  If you want to do service as a means of missionary work, I would suggest wearing a Church shirt- like an EFY shirt or a BYU one.  It identifies us as representatives of our Church and of Jesus Christ and can open doors for people wanting to know more.

Even full-time missionary work is in the process of changing.  Missionaries will soon be on facebook and we are invited to become “Facebook friends with the missionaries in [our] area on [our] own computers and [share] their gospel messages online and [become] involved in missionary work [ourselves].” (“Missionary Work in the Digital Age”)  We can also use other websites or blogs to invite others to come closer to Christ or to “come and see”.

 

Elder L Tom Perry tells us, “While the full-time missionaries are responsible for teaching investigators, they can and should be accompanied by ward council members, ward missionaries, or members who have a personal connection with the investigators.  Members who accompany the missionaries should bear their testimony of the principles taught in the missionary lessons and reinforce these principles between missionary appointments.”  Everyone needs a friend.  If you go out with the missionaries, make friends with the people you go see.  Try to keep in touch with them on your own, without the missionaries.  And if an appointment falls through, be willing to go with them on their backup plans.  The other day I was asked to go to an appointment with the missionaries.  Unfortunately he was sick and cancelled on us.  So I went with them as they went to a few back-up options and got to meet some great people, and even were able to share a brief gospel message with one of them. 

Elder Neil Andersen says,". . .I promise you, as you pray to know with whom to speak, names and faces will come into your mind. Words to speak will be given in the very moment you need them. Opportunities will open to you. Faith will overcome doubt, and the Lord will bless you with your very own miracles.”  If we choose to fulfill our hour on our own, the Lord will help us know who to invite into our homes or to Church or have over with the missionaries. 

 Elder Neil L Andersen also said, “Pray to your Heavenly Father.  This is His sacred work.  He will guide you in what to do.  He will open doors, remove roadblocks, and help you overcome obstacles.  The Lord declared, “The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, … and none shall stay them.” (Neil L Andersen “It’s a Miracle”)  Missionary work does not come naturally to us all, but as this quote promises, God will open doors, remove roadblocks and help you overcome obstacles.  I mentioned that I was very shy before going on my mission.  As I relied on the Lord, He helped me overcome that obstacle.  It still doesn’t come naturally to me, but I am now no longer the same shy girl I was before.  Towards the end of my mission I got to know a family.  I told them how I used to be very shy and the father said, “What?!  Now we can’t get you to shut up!”  Of course he said it with a big smile on his face.  For those of us who aren’t as outgoing I would recommend contacting the missionaries to help you fulfill your hour.  Host a lesson where the missionaries are responsible for teaching, or go with them and just bear a simple testimony of what they teach.  On my mission we had a member who wanted to be a better missionary but felt anxiety in opening her mouth.  So she started offering to give us rides to our appointments and as time went on she started opening her mouth more to bear simple testimony at our meetings and by the time we left that area, she was starting to talk to her friends on her own.

I know that this Church is true and I am grateful for the blessings it has brought into my life.  I want to share it, and sometimes I’m better at it than at other times.  The easiest way to get involved is by contacting the missionaries.  Be willing to go out with them, or host a lesson for them, or invite friends over when you have the missionaries over for dinner.  I know that we can and will see miracles when we devote time to missionary work.  Miracles are real, they happen today, they happen here and they can happen to each of us.  I have a personal testimony of how the Lord helps us when we rely on Him, no matter how impossible the task at hand may seem.  He will strengthen us and help us become better missionaries.  Talking to our friends is NOT always easy, but He will help us.  The more we have to rely on Him, the more we pray earnestly for His Spirit and the more miracles we will see.  I know Jesus Christ lives and He loves me and He loves my friends and wants us all to know the blessings of this gospel.  I know this Church is true.  I know that there is a special Spirit that comes with the Book of Mormon and that it is true.  I am thankful for the Prophet Joseph Smith and for translating the Book of Mormon and restoring Christ’s Church.  I am thankful for the prophets and apostles who lead and guide this Church today and for the guidance they give.  I know we can rely on the promises they give and that following what they ask will bring great blessings into our lives.  I know that as we strive to become better missionaries and follow the Lord’s commandments given through his prophets, apostles and our Bishop, that the Lord will help us.  I know God loves me and all of us.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Faith is a Decision

So, recently, someone close to me is doubting their faith.  They found "proofs" that certain things are not true and it got me to thinking. 

The thing is, there isn't a lot of proof.  God doesn't come down and physically show Himself and His power to prove He is there.  There also isn't proof that He isn't there.  Just enough proof to create doubt in those who do not have faith.

In my life, I was raised religious.  I was entering High School and talked to a religious (seminary) teacher and asked what I could do to prepare for my seminary class.  She told me to read the Book of Mormon.  So I did.  It was my first time.  And I got to the end and it tells you to pray about if these things are not true.  All my life I leaned on my parents' testimony and did things simply because that was what we did in my family- not because of a real personal belief.  So I started reflecting on things- more than just the Book of Mormon.  What if the things I had been taught were not true?  Well, if Joseph Smith wasn't a prophet, then the scriptural comforts found in the Book of Mormon are not true.  What if God doesn't exist and life ends after we leave this mortal existence?  What if there is no one greater than us who cares?  And I realized- if there is nothing after this life, then what purpose is there in living?  What really defines good behavior?  Sure we can leave a legacy, and do something that will write our names in history...  But what will we care once we're gone if we're truly gone?  And how many, of the millions of us on earth, do enough to truly be remembered well enough to make it worth it if there isn't something more?  So I made a decision and I felt right about it.

I decided to have faith.  I decided to have hope.  And most importantly- I decided I wanted to be happy.  Believing in an afterlife brings happiness to my life.  And if I'm wrong?  Well, then I still lived a good life and at least my friends will remember me and I don't see any harm done.  IF I lived a life not knowing the truth (assuming for a moment that there is no God) what does it really matter when I'm gone?  I suppose God cares that I didn't believe in Him... oh wait, nope, no God, just a big vast nothingness.  So, now back to my real beliefs- God does exist.

From that day when I decided to have faith and seek happiness, my faith has grown.  I continued reading the scriptures and finished the whole Bible as well.  And my faith has continued to grow.  It makes so much sense to me.  And no, I don't have any physical proof that God exists, but my life is full of miracles that are attributed to God.

And as for the Spirit- the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit.  It's the way God talks to us.  So, when we pray about a choice, or reflect upon a choice- if we pay attention to our feelings we can listen to the Spirit.  And if you don't believe in the Spirit, stop and think about what you're doing.  Seek lasting happiness instead of temporary happiness and won't your life be blessed whether it's the Spirit or your own logic?  If something brings peace into your life- seek after it- whether you believe it's the Spirit or not.

The thing is: do you want to be happy?  Do you want to have hope?  Is it worth believing in something that you can't find physical proof for, if it brings you the hope and happiness you desire?  Why else do you think people seek religion?  

Going on a Mission and the Sabbath Day

I realize these two topics aren't exactly tied together but I went to an Enrichment night this week for Relief Society and we watched a clip about a rugby player- destined for great things. At a major point in his career he decided to serve a mission. He shocked rugby fans with his decision. The clip draws attention to the fact that every missionary leaves something behind, but those who choose to serve see it as a way to give back to the Lord and a worthwhile choice. The prophets and apostles have counseled that EVERY WORTHY young man should serve a mission. Not every bored young man with nothing better to do. Not every young man who finds it convenient. As one who has served a mission- it is NOT convenient. Ever. And I didn't have anything "major" in my life.
 

Then I think of the Archuleta boy (forgive me I can't remember his name... David, Jared?) who at one point said he was too famous to serve a mission. That he was afraid that if he served a mission and people joined the Church it might be for the wrong reason. The world is a large place. I served in a country where a Mormon (Romney) was running for President and there were still doors I knocked on where people said they had no idea what a Mormon was or what our Church was. Once again the mandate is EVERY WORTHY young man should serve a mission. Not every obscure young man who won't be recognized. Not just unknown young men who haven't received awards or acclaim for things they've done. Now, I will say that even though I served and had wanted to serve a mission since Primary, I went through a phase where I doubted and tried to rationalize a mission away. I believe the Archuleta boy was going through a similar phase because he did decide to go and I know he is being blessed for it.
 

As far as careers go, or life paths and a mission getting in the way. I know a person who was amazing in football. He decided to stay home and play and did amazing things in football. He no longer can play, but he also decided to go late for a mission- and I know he doesn't regret choosing to serve. I know another man who was amazing in music and thought he would miss out on chances if he served a mission. He didn't serve and he can't play professionally anymore. I know a man who pursued hockey and was good. He wasn't active from age 16 til after the age of 21. But when he became active he decided he did want to serve and loved his mission. I know a man who was pursuing a career in a sport. He has decided not to serve. He still gets awards in college sports events but he's not good enough to make a career of it. I don't know if these people would've been able to continue had they served a mission at 19, because sometimes the Lord just has different plans for us than we have for ourselves, but I know they would've been blessed for serving.
 

If the Lord wants what's best for us, and that best thing is to be great in a certain area, do you think he would punish you for your efforts to be obedient in serving a mission? If you are meant to be a star athlete the Lord will help you more if you put your trust in Him instead of yourself, some college or program or agency. And if you choose not to do what the Lord has asked of you, well then, you're on your own. If you achieve greatness, then imagine how much greater you could've been with the Lord's help.
 

And now to address those who are or feel unworthy.  We are supposed to always do our best to live worthy.  When we slip or fail, the Atonement is there to help us become worthy once again.  Our Bishops are also there when extra help is needed.  If we are not living worthy, we cannot make it into the Celestial Kingdom with our families, so if we want Exaltation, then feeling unworthy isn't really an excuse- the answer is GET WORTHY!  Sometimes it is really hard, but I promise, if you have faith in Jesus Christ, He can help you through.  If you doubt the Atonement applying to you, I would recommend seeing your Bishop, even if it's not for anything serious.  The Atonement is infinite and complete.  Jesus Christ is perfect- that includes loving everyone unconditionally, to say He doesn't care about you, diminishes His perfection, so if you feel that way, know that it is Satan and that Jesus Christ DOES care and is always there for you and you can find COMPLETE repentance for anything you may have done.  Some things can be repented of completely but still hold you back from serving a mission- if that's the case, then just do your best to live worthily and you will receive every blessing you want and deserve.
 

Now, for how the Sabbath Day fits in: the rugby player who left to serve a mission came back and made it into the professionals.  But he refused to play on Sunday and most of the games were on Sunday.  Here's the thing: God wants what's best for us and He wants us to be happy.  All of His commandments are to help us achieve the most happiness.  He told us to keep the Sabbath Day Holy for OUR benefit.  He gives us promises of what happens when we keep the Sabbath Day Holy.  First off, the Sacrament is an essential ordinance for us.  It is part of the repentance process and we cannot become whole without partaking of the Sacrament- it is the final step to repentance.  Also, we are blessed when we keep the Sabbath Day Holy. 

So now, let's say you get an opportunity to do something big.  But some of the people involved tell you, you won't be able to compete with others if you don't do stuff on Sundays.  You pray about it and you feel that this opportunity is right for you.  Does that mean that it is right to do stuff on Sundays?  Here's the thing, you weren't told you couldn't keep the Sabbath Day Holy, but some worldly person told you HE didn't think you'd be able to compete unless you broke the Sabbath Day and did stuff.  But, God obviously wants this for you, otherwise when you prayed you wouldn't have felt right about it.  So, who do you trust more?  God or some guy who doesn't really know what he's talking about or know the blessings of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy?  If you are meant to do this, won't the Lord continue helping you and even magnify your talents when you listen to Him and keep His commandments?  When we do what He asks, we have His help and His blessings.  Now, I know someone who decided the opportunity was worth more than attending Church (forget about the rest of the Sabbath Day).  She did well, but I guarantee that the Lord would've helped her go farther had she put the Lord first.  If we want His blessings, we do what He asks- knowing that He wants what is best for us and our happiness. 

If you or your child is destined for greatness, I promise that you or your child will go farther with the Lord's help than they can do by themselves.  Seek the Lord's help and His blessings by trusting Him first.  The extra sports game on Sunday is not going to make a world of difference if the Lord withdraws his help from it.  And if  your child decides not to play on Sundays and keep the Sabbath Day Holy and he doesn't end up being an all-star, know that the new route is his best chance for happiness- more than pursuing the sport would've ever brought.  It takes a lot of faith- but who do you trust?  God- or some worldly sports coach who has no vision beyond that season, or maybe just to getting your sons into the major leagues.  What about the rest of his life?  I promise that if you trust in God, He will never fail you.  If you sacrifice the sports or activities on Sundays to fulfill your part of keeping the Sabbath Day Holy- I promise your life will be blessed more than it can ever be by pursuing worldly goals without the Lord's help.  Part of D&C 82:10, "...when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."  Do what he says and keep the Sabbath Day Holy and you will have the Lord on your side.

 

Polygamy and the Last Days

So, here's my thing.  I believe polygamy is a celestial law.  For those not members, or recent members of the LDS Church that means I believe it will exist in heaven.  But just because it exists there and is approved there does not mean that everyone will practice it.  But how else will Jacob be with Rachel and Leah?  Some may say, but he loved Rachel... but does Leah deserve to be left out?  Or will God separate that famous family- with the 12 tribes of Israel directly coming from the multiple wives of Jacob?

I always thought that IF I was asked, by God, to practice polygamy, that my husband would have more than one wife, that I would be ok with it.  Now, with being married- I'm not sure I could deal with it.  I want to feel like I'm the only one that matters to my husband and like I am enough for him.  That I, alone, can fulfill his needs.  I don't want to feel in competition for my husband's love like Rachel and Leah- trying to have more sons, so maybe my husband will love me more, or come to me more.  My husband has quoted a scripture a few times when polygamy has come up in public and it bothered me.  So we discussed it, and he stays silent now and tries to be as attentive as possible to me and my needs.  I want to clarify here that my husband is AWESOME!  He doesn't hope for more wives than just me, it just made me feel weird BEFORE we discussed things.  I think we have similar views on polygamy even if he doesn't completely agree with this post. :)  So back on track: the scripture he used is found in both Isaiah 4 and 2 Nephi 14- quoting Isaiah.

So I'm going to quote Isaiah 4:1, "And in that day seven women shall take hold on one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach."  First off, the first verse of the chapter is "And"...  so most people assume it is continuing the thoughts of the previous chapter.  Before this chapter it is talking about wars that will happen in the last days, so they assume that 7 women are going after one man because there will be a scarcity of men due to wars in the last days.  Then the second part of that verse says that they will eat their own bread and wear their own apparel...  I looked up a few things and apparently that is contrary to the Lord's order of marriage (D&C 132:61 says the first wife gives her consent and Exodus 21:10-11, says that the man is responsible for those things if he marries more than one wife.)  With the last part- 'to take away our reproach' there are 2 verses that talk about how it was considered a disgrace in Ancient Israel to be unmarried and/or childless.  (Genesis 30:23 and Luke 1:25) (see Institute Student Manual for the Old Testament, Kings-Malachi)

Before this morning I told my husband that it doesn't say that every 7 women will take hold of every individual man.  That even though I believe that scripture will come true (as all scriptures must), it doesn't mean HE will be the one man to fulfill it.  In the LDS Church, when polygamy was practiced, not every man had multiple wives.  They had to be righteous enough and wealthy enough to support the extra wives.  And they weren't allowed to personally decide whether they were qualified.  I believe strongly in the scripture in Jacob 2:27-28 and 30, "Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women.... For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things."  First off, I feel like the Lord is on MY side in verse 27 and 28.  Verse 30 designates the exception, when polygamy is ok.  In the Old Testament with Abraham and Jacob taking more than one wife and others- they were trying to raise up a seed unto the Lord.  All nations would be blessed through Abraham, and then through Jacob/Israel, why not expand the family and multiply?  In the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons- when there were no other break-offs that also went by that same nickname) they also practiced polygamy.  In the first days, the people in the Church were persecuted and men were killed for their beliefs.  Then war came and more men were killed.  This left many righteous women and few righteous men.  And women at that time, did not yet have rights to own land, to work, to sustain themselves.  Some practiced polygamy I think to raise up seed, and others I think was more to take care of the women and children's temporal needs, who otherwise would've been destitute.  But the important thing is, men were selected and the first wife got to give consent.  Polygamy was stopped in the LDS Church because there was no more need to raise up seed unto the Lord.  The LDS Church has MANY members and is thriving.  Widows or divorced parents are at least allowed these days to own a house, to work to provide for their families and they do not need a husband to let them survive.

Before today I have recently started thinking about the verse in Isaiah....  Isaiah isn't very clear to most of us.  And sometimes he jumps back and forth between Christ's time, the Last Days and the Millenium.  I have thought a few times- maybe this scripture has already been fulfilled when the Church first started in these Last Days.  There was a shortage of men, and I'm sure some of the women said, "please let us have your name".  But then today, reading the verse again where it says they will provide their own bread and apparel, if only they can take their name....  well, back then, they couldn't provide their own bread.  They did depend on the men they married.  I've also thought, that in this verse it says 7 women will come to one man begging to be married to him so their reproach is taken away...  But this doesn't mean that it is right for the man to take on the 7 women, or that he will, just says that the women will beg for it.  Kinda like the 10 virgins, the 5 foolish ones didn't bring enough oil, and when they finally get to the wedding, they beg to come in, but they aren't allowed.

But this morning my husband and I were reading in 3 Nephi 22 which parallels Isaiah 54, and I started to think more on this and I have another possible interpretation for the verse in Isaiah.  I'll quote what I read this morning and then try to explain it, as best as possible.  I'm going to explain as I go but the quotes will be from 3 Nephi 22:1-                     , "And then shall that which is written come to pass:  Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord."  So here we have a married woman who has no or few children and then women that are not married with children.  Let's say 7 desolate women with children and 1 married woman.  "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes;"  Let the desolate come in.  If we are paralleling it with Isaiah 4, then this would be the 7 women taking on the man's name.  This would be one married man taking on 7 more wives.  "...Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of they widowhood any more."  Here, now married, the 7 desolate/widowed women's reproach is taken away.  "For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel--the God of the whole earth shall he be called."  This reminded me of a parable of Christ being the Bridegroom.  Are all these scriptures tied together?  Salvation only comes in and through Christ.  When we are baptized, we take upon us the name of Christ.  It is the only name under heaven, whereby we can be saved.  Are these 7 women, desolate, unmarried, widowed, are they all not members of Christ's Church?  In the Last Days, they come to realize the truth of His Church and desire to be called by his name?  The scripture in Isaiah 4 says, "We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel", and suggests- we will take care of ourselves, "only let us be called by thy name".  Are these women aware of the truth and willing to do anything to just be baptized in Christ's name, the metaphorical Bridegroom?  To abide the Day of His Coming, isn't it Christ's name that will save us and take away our reproach? 

In Isaiah 4:2 it continues, "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious..."  The day when the 7 women grab hold of the one man, is a day where righteous seed does not need to be raised up unto the Lord.  I don't know exactly what to make of this verse- because it does seem to be tied to the chapter before and I haven't looked at that in detail.  But I do now wonder if it is all some poetic metaphor for taking on Christ's name and becoming as He is.

OPINION: Atonement and the Blood Atonement

So, I happened to say something to my husband recently about the Atonement and he asked if I believed in the "Blood Atonement".  I told him I didn't know what that was.  But I looked it up and essentially, it says that some sins are too great that they can only be forgiven by the shedding of the sinner's blood.  Meaning, if I committed some awful sin, that I can be forgiven if I am killed in a type of sacrifice.  I realized that I do not agree with this, but I understand now how my husband thought that I might.

My views of the Atonement are in line with scriptural phrases of  an "infinite atonement" (one reference for infinite atonement is in 2 Nephi 9:7).  Here is my thing: the Savior was perfect.  Everything He did was perfect.  His Atonement was infinite.  And when I think of the word infinite I think of "no end".  So I believe I shouldn't put any limits on what the Atonement CAN or CANNOT cover.  I believe there is nothing we can do that cannot be covered by the Atonement.  With that said, we have to turn to Him in order for the Atonement to work. 

To me, the Sons of Perdition are those who fully know what the Atonement can do for them, yet refuse to let it work in them.  To me, this fits.  The Sons of Perdition are the most evil people you could imagine, so I imagine Satan, with no veil, willfully choosing that he wanted no part in this life, or chance at salvation.  He knows He will never gain heaven, but only seeks to make others miserable, he is not misguided in his evil designs, just evil.  So, a Son of Perdition is someone who fully knowing, refuses the Atonement.  To put it another way, the Sons of Perdition are those who receive a full light and knowledge and deny the Holy Ghost.  From things I have read, the Holy Ghost is the member of the Godhead that allows us to be cleansed from sins through the Atonement- we call it the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, and to deny the Holy Ghost the ability to sanctify and cleanse you, to me is to deny the Atonement.

Then there are the sins of murder and chastity sins which the scriptures say are VERY serious.  They both concern the giving and taking of life- which is a power of God.  To take that into our hands without God's permission is a mockery of His power and very serious.  Now here is where my husband thought I might believe in the Blood Atonement.  I was taught that there are "ABC's" of repentance.  In order to repent and be cleansed through the Atonement we have to first Admit we have done something wrong.  Let's take murder as an example, because this will lead to the matter at hand.  I have to admit that murdering someone was wrong.  B- Be Sorry.  I'd have to be sorry for what I did and feel remorse.  C- Confess AND Correct.  We also say to make amends where possible.  If I murdered someone, I can confess easily and go to jail (or at least I assume the person would go to jail) but correct it?  How can I make any attempts to correct it?  Now to compare it with chastity sins- it's hard to correct those too, but at least you can go to the person with whom you sinned with and apologize.  Maybe help them feel better about themselves, even if you can't give them back their virginity if you stole it.  But you can make amends with the person you wronged.  With murder, sure, you could go to the family and try to be supportive, but what about the actual person?  You stole their life.  And you can't even ask their forgiveness because they are no longer here.  I don't believe that by being killed, a murderer's blood helps them atone from their sin, but once they are dead, I believe it is then possible to go to the spirit of the person you harmed and ask their forgiveness.  But the actual shedding of blood part of the Blood Atonement, I don't agree with at all.  I simply believe that cold-blooded murder cannot be forgiven in this life.  I don't think I believe that the person should kill themselves just to go talk to the person either.  I believe they should do everything in their power to serve out a just sentence in prison and make the most of their life in doing good.  Then when they do die, however they die, then they can work on asking the person's forgiveness on the other side.  Maybe some will be forgiven, I do not know.  Here is where I come back to- I am not going to put a limit on the Atonement.

Christ's love is perfect.  His life was perfect.  His Atonement was perfect.  And with that perfect love I can't see Him not being able to love someone, no matter what their sin.  The difference to me is, does the sinner love Jesus?  Does the sinner turn to Jesus?  Do we turn to Jesus and allow the infinite Atonement to work in our lives?  Do we put limits on Jesus' perfect love and perfect and infinite Atonement?  Everyone sins, great or small- let us turn to Christ and be perfected in Him.

Motherhood

So, today is Mother's Day and I was actually asked by my Dad to give a talk in Church for it.  My talk seemed to go well enough, but I didn't get to say everything I wanted to, so I'm going to take the time to share what I shared and share the thoughts I was unable to share today.

I introduced myself- despite the fact that it is my home ward, there were many people that didn't know me, so I will give a brief introduction here, or at least the parts that tied in later in my talk.  I am recently married, but nothing about my husband really had much to do with my thoughts on Motherhood today.  I grew up in the same area, and I was VERY shy as a child.  My first Primary talk was given by my Mom while I hid behind her.  It was on my favorite Book of Mormon story- the 2,000 Stripling Warriors, and she started whispering in my ear the words we had prepared and I wasn't repeating them into the microphone.  I whispered back to her, "If you know it, why don't you give it?"  And so she did.  I stood hiding behind her leg and she gave my first talk.  Years later I prepared to serve a mission.  My farewell talk in the single's ward didn't go so well...  I was very nervous, and the nerves that day were just a bit too much.  I felt like I was going to pass out, and so I actually leaned down and gripped the pulpit and said, "I need to excuse myself" and walked out of the Chapel.  I drank some water and relaxed a bit and ended up coming back in and bore a brief testimony, but I never gave the talk I had prepared.  I served my mission in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 6 months after Katrina hit and then after I was home I was called to be Relief Society President.  Now that my Dad is the scary person who asks people to give talks I am now capable of speaking in front of others, even if I do still get nervous at times.

As I was preparing my talk, I read several other talks by prophets and apostles talking about women and motherhood.  I found one story (possibly by Elder M Russell Ballard) about a man who was in the Bishopric and sat on the stand while his wife got all the kids ready for church and kept them silent through the meeting.  Then over time, he was released and his wife was in a choir one Sunday and he sat in the audience by himself trying to keep all the kids silent.  He said he never fully appreciated what his wife had done all those years by herself until that Sunday.  There have been times when my Mother has said that we don't fully understand or appreciate all she does, and I think that part of that is because it's hard to fully understand things we haven't gone through ourselves.  Then, my husband and I were lucky to be able to visit with his Mom and grandma yesterday, and at this restaurant the tv was on.  On it, was some sort of Women's Body-building contest, and at first I thought, 'good for them'.  But then I got thinking a little more and thinking about how the world doesn't fully appreciate Motherhood either.  In the world today, many women feel like they have to prove they are equal to men, by being just as strong, or just as successful in the work-force.  I'm not saying that being a female body-builder is wrong, or being successful in a job is wrong, but Motherhood is not about that.  In Heavenly Father's eyes we do not have to prove we are equal to men, because we are already equal to men.  But our roles are different and the role of a Mother is different than just being a strong woman, or a rich woman, or a well-known woman.  Being a Mother is all about nurturing, teaching, guiding and lifting up those around us.

Julie B Beck said, “Female roles did not begin on earth, and they do not end here. A woman who treasures motherhood on earth will treasure motherhood in the world to come, and ‘where [her] treasure is, there will [her] heart be also’ (Matthew 6:21). By developing a mother heart, each girl and woman prepares for her divine, eternal mission of motherhood.” (Julie B. Beck, “A Mother Heart,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2004, 76.)   My Mother has been a wonderful example of treasuring motherhood.  She was blessed to stay at home with us and took joy in our successes as her children.  She was always a great support to me.  I talked briefly about being shy when I was younger- because of my Mom she was able to encourage me to audition for solos at school.  She made me feel like people wanted to hear what I had to say.  Because of her, and of course the Lord’s help, I was able to open my mouth on my mission and share the gospel with others. 

I have had many other great examples in my life of Motherhood, but there was one lady in my life who meant a lot to me.  She was very much for women’s rights and being equal to men and there were some things she did that may have seemed she was proving to the world that she was equal to men.  But despite all that, there was a part of her that was a Mother to me and my siblings.  She was my Mom’s 6^th grade softball coach, and never had children of her own, but she was close to my Mom and my siblings.  In her own way, she nurtured us and believed in us.  She always encouraged us to go after our dreams and be the best we could be.  At her funeral I sang “The Wind Beneath My Wings”- it described her very well, but it also describes a little bit of the role of Motherhood.  It tells of a person who was in the shadows- an inspiration to one in the spotlight.  A Mother is one who guides her children, who lifts them up.  She is strong, and uplifting and nurtures others- the wind beneath her children’s wings.  Norma was a Mother to me.

Every woman has talents to help her in motherhood and every woman has different challenges.  Elder M Russell Ballard in April of 2008 said, “…some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work.  [But] What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else” (Daughters of God).  In the world today there are many challenges.  Some women don’t have children, others have to work, some are single parents, but all women can be mothers and what matters is our influence and nurturing others.

 

I believe strongly in the influence women have and its importance.  On my mission I read through the scriptures looking for the examples of women.  I noted more than 100 women in the Bible alone with at least a few details on them and through my study I found something interesting.  When the woman was righteous, those whose lives she touched were righteous.  The same went for when a woman was wicked, those around her were wicked.  There were righteous women who in turn uplifted those around her and taught good works, and the wicked women used their talents and influence to tempt men and bring them down, or taught evil teachings.  Always remember your influence as a woman and a mother in nurturing those around you.

In these last days all of us have a responsibility to prepare spiritually for the Second Coming- and one of the best ways to help others prepare is through Motherhood and nurturing those around us.  One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is that of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors.  These boys were inexperienced in war, but they knew the importance of covenants, and decided to help fight in a war so that their parents would not have to break a promise they had made to God.  Helaman tells us of them in Alma 56:47-48, “Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.  And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”  These boys had great mothers for examples of faith and relying on the Lord.  They went to battle and as the record tells us, not one of them died.  Today, we can teach as those mothers did, we can be examples of faith and relying on the Lord.  In these Last Days, we are at war spiritually and the importance of mothers and the influence of women is needed. 

As Spencer W Kimball said concerning the importance of Motherhood, “Motherhood thus becomes a holy calling, a sacred dedication for carrying out the Lord’s plans, a consecration of devotion to the uprearing and fostering, the nurturing in body, mind, and spirit, of those who kept their first estate and who come to this earth for their second estate ‘to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.’ (Abr. 3:25.) To lead them to keep their second estate is the work of motherhood, and ‘they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.’…..Motherhood is near to Divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels. To you mothers in Israel we say, God bless and protect you, and give you the strength and courage, the faith and knowledge, the holy love and consecration to duty, that shall enable you to fill to the fullest measure the sacred calling which is yours. To you mothers and mothers-to-be we say: Be chaste, keep pure, live righteously, that your posterity to the last generation may call you blessed.” (“Message of the First Presidency,” Deseret News Weekly Church Edition, October 1942, p. 5.)” (Guidelines to Carry Forth the Work of God in Cleanliness, April 1974).

 In a world that often forgets the importance and nobility of motherhood we need to remember that Motherhood is important and being a good Mother IS success.  When it feels like no one else notices what you do remember what Elder M Russell Ballard once said, “…recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments… amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.” (Daughters of God, April 2008).  I am glad Heavenly Father has blessed us with Mothers and women who can nurture, teach, lift and inspire us.  I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to nurture kids around me, and hope to one day be a good Mother to kids of my own.  I’m grateful for all the Mothers in our ward and for the things they do.  I’m thankful for this Church and its prophets and apostles who support families and mothers.  And I'm thankful for the examples of Mothers we have in the scriptures.

May we all remember our Mothers and try to appreciate all they have done for us and try to be Mothers to others around us.  Let us, as women, nurture, teach, uplift and inspire those around us.

Extras:
A talk by Sheri Dew titled, "Are We Not All Mothers?"