So for my Comp Lit homework this weekend I had to read Moses 6:26-37. This happens to be one of my favorite sections in the entirety of the Standard Works. Why? Because Enoch is literally the coolest. He's bammin' slammin' spiritualicious, and he was but a wee laddie of ~65 when he became prophet and he STILL managed to create the coolest, most awesome, most spiritual city in the history ever, to the point where the Lord was like, "yep y'all need to come live with me immediately."
Enoch was actually really similar to Moses. They both sucked at the whole talking thing (the poor babs) and no one really liked either them at first. However the difference lies in each of their responses to the Lord promising that He'd help them become great prophets. Moses was very hesitant, but Enoch was more willing to just go with it and trust the Lord. Enoch did voice his concerns, saying,
"Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?" (Moses 6:31)
or in layman's terms,
"Listen, in this cruel world of chicken tenders, I am but a smol chicken nugget, a chicken tenderling, and my speaking is not of the good variety, so pls to explain why you want me to be prophet?????"
The Lord reassured Enoch in these tenderling worries, and promised him that "I will do as seemeth me good." (6:32) Enoch trusted the Lord to help him overcome his weaknesses, and because he did everything he could to be a good servant to the Lord, he ended up being one of the greatest prophets, creating Zion and inspiring countless people to come unto the Lord.
It doesn't matter how weak we are in any aspect of life. We can be deaf, autistic, unathletic, or faint of heart, but not even the worst of these can prevent us from becoming who the Lord wants us to be if we just trust in Him. He loves us and wants us to reach the great heights that are our birthright. This gives me great joy and motivation, for we can become the greatest of chicken tenders even if we, like Enoch or Joseph Smith, begin as the smallest of nuggets.
Sunday, 30 October 2016
Sunday, 23 October 2016
Monseigneur Bienvenu
President Spencer W. Kimball once said that the most important book other than the Standard Works is Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. This, among many other reasons, has driven me to slowly work my way through the ridiculously long novel. As I've done so, I can concur with President Kimball that there are multitudes of wonderful Christlike wisdom within its pages. There is one in particular that I'd like to discuss.
"Do not ask the name of him who asks you for a bed. It is precisely he whose name is a burden to him who most needs sanctuary."
I love this quote, and it reminds me very much of King Benjamin's admonition in Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
In Les Miserables, Monseigneur Bienvenu -- the Bishop -- is almost certainly an allegorical parallel to Christ, or at the very least, a representative of the goodness of God. He is the only one who will take in Valjean, and he extends him nothing but kindness. Valjean is struck by this and vows to live a virtuous, Christlike life thereafter. I love this because at once we are all both Bienvenu and Valjean. All those who are tired, poor, and yearning for any sort of kindness deserve that from us. To serve the Lord, we must serve his struggling children. On the other hand, however, we are also His struggling children. We are also beaten down by the endless breakers of life, and we sometimes need the helping hand of a Bienvenu; a servant of the Lord who brings good morning. None of us are exempt from either role, and in embracing both, we become greater, kinder, and more loving individuals who further the work of the Lord.
"Do not ask the name of him who asks you for a bed. It is precisely he whose name is a burden to him who most needs sanctuary."
I love this quote, and it reminds me very much of King Benjamin's admonition in Mosiah 2:17 "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
In Les Miserables, Monseigneur Bienvenu -- the Bishop -- is almost certainly an allegorical parallel to Christ, or at the very least, a representative of the goodness of God. He is the only one who will take in Valjean, and he extends him nothing but kindness. Valjean is struck by this and vows to live a virtuous, Christlike life thereafter. I love this because at once we are all both Bienvenu and Valjean. All those who are tired, poor, and yearning for any sort of kindness deserve that from us. To serve the Lord, we must serve his struggling children. On the other hand, however, we are also His struggling children. We are also beaten down by the endless breakers of life, and we sometimes need the helping hand of a Bienvenu; a servant of the Lord who brings good morning. None of us are exempt from either role, and in embracing both, we become greater, kinder, and more loving individuals who further the work of the Lord.
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Walk With Me
One of my favorite scriptures in the entire Standard Works is Moses 6:34:
"Behold, my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me."
I was curious as to what "walking" with God actually meant, so I looked through cross-references to see if there were any other verses that clarified things. I eventually came across Hebrews 11:5, which indicated that walking with God is centering your faith in Christ. I really love this because it really showcases the power of our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We are children of the Almighty God, an infinitely powerful divine being, and through Him, we can do anything. When we walk with God, when we align ourselves with His will, we become a part of His awesome force for good, and to me, that is amazing.
"Behold, my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me."
I was curious as to what "walking" with God actually meant, so I looked through cross-references to see if there were any other verses that clarified things. I eventually came across Hebrews 11:5, which indicated that walking with God is centering your faith in Christ. I really love this because it really showcases the power of our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We are children of the Almighty God, an infinitely powerful divine being, and through Him, we can do anything. When we walk with God, when we align ourselves with His will, we become a part of His awesome force for good, and to me, that is amazing.
Monday, 10 October 2016
On Being Prepared for Going Out into the World
Over the years, I've been pondering deeply about a fundamental worry that surfaces in nearly every youth nearing the end of adolescence: am I really prepared for the adult world?
People constantly talk about how the world is scary and full of wickedness, and for someone who’s just about to plunge headfirst into the deep end of that pool, that’s a really terrifying thought! Pile that on top of the stressors of the present, it’s no wonder that approximately 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood. Even for those of us who are lucky enough to not have to deal with depression during adolescence, the stress and worrying about what lies ahead can be anywhere from a gnawing ache to nearly debilitating. It is this feeling, this monster under the bed, that causes much of my grief for those without the truths of this blessed Gospel.
During my research on how the Lord recommends we prepare for the future, I came across a verse that I feel is the keystone to gaining the preparation we need. In Proverbs 4:7 we read, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” But understanding of what? In the September 2007 edition of the New Era, President Gordon B Hinckley answers this, “Understanding of what? Understanding of ourselves, of the purposes of life, of our relationship to God who is our Father, of the great divinely given principles that for centuries have provided the sinew of man’s real progress! As we pursue our secular studies, let us also add to our lives the cultivation of the Spirit. If we do so, God will bless us with that peace and those blessings which come from Him alone.”
So here we have a lovely formula. To be prepared and have peace with our level of preparedness, we must pursue knowledge and wisdom in both temporal and spiritual matters. However, the question still remains: how exactly do we do that? Well, as I was studying this topic, I was reminded of Stephen R Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly People--or more specifically, Sean Covey’s adaptation for teenagers--because these habits are essentially the doctrine of the gospel put into a secular setting and designed to help everyone feel as if they have a better handle on their life. I won’t go into them all, but I feel the first three--the private victory--are key to being prepared for what the world has in store.
Habit 1: Be proactive. This is the ultimate first step. As Sean Covey put it, being proactive is saying, “I am the force. I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I’m responsible for my own happiness or unhappiness. I am in the driver’s seat of my destiny, not just a passenger.” Proactivity is exactly the same thing as the Young Women’s value of Choice and Accountability. It is not only understanding our gift of agency, it is using it and taking responsibility for using it. We cannot be prepared if we don’t put our own lives in our own hands. It’s difficult, yes, and sometimes all we want to do is scream and hit and cry about all the injustices done to us. Sometimes we need that emotional release. I know I do. But ultimately, the words of Nephi to Jacob in 2 Nephi 2:27 ring true, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. Whether you’re LDS or not, any journey must be begun with an idea where you want to end up. In my humble opinion, the best way to do that is receiving your patriarchal blessing if you don’t already have it. It’s such a wonderful thing to have and not only does it guide in spiritual matters, it helps so much in the temporal sphere as well. To quote the words of President Monson in the October 1986 General Conference, “Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers. Unlike the struggling bomber of yesteryear, lost in the desert wastes, the sands and storms of life will not destroy you on your eternal flight. Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way.” I know mine has helped me get back on the path I need to be whenever I feel lost or confused or even down in the depths of a self-deprecating whirlpool. Understanding where I need to be relative to where I’m at is such a powerful thing, because as the saying goes, “the road to anywhere is really a life to nowhere.” I know so many people who honestly just have no idea who, what, or where they want to be. Expectations from parents, teachers and society weigh upon their shoulders until they feel like Atlas, too busy carrying the world on his back to go anywhere himself. For those who identify with that situation, I call upon the words of Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” For me, that thing is music and teaching, so I’m pursuing a degree in music education. This path is obvious to me, because music has been such an integral part of me my whole life, but many people aren’t blessed with that. So for you, I say, remember the parable of the gardener and the currant bush. The Lord is the gardener here. He knows you and knows what he wants you to be. He knows what will bring you joy, and He will guide you through answers to your heartfelt prayers and through your patriarchal blessing.
There is so little time in our busy lives, and things seem to be rushing at us at a million miles per minute, especially as a new adult. So much so that it seems as if there is no way we could ever be prepared for what lies ahead. How do we manage to follow President Hinckley’s counsel and become wise both temporally and spiritually, if we can barely even learn what we need for our American Heritage midterm tomorrow? Habit 3: put first things first, is the answer. Procrastinating less, saying no to unimportant activities that feel important but really aren’t, cutting down on excessive relaxation, all these help to place us back in relaxed control of our life, where we really want to be. Comedian Steven Wright summed up this habit amazingly well when he said, “I watched the Indy 500, and I was thinking that if they left earlier they wouldn’t have to go so fast.” By putting the really important things first, we suddenly have time to do the things we really want to do. By doing the things that are necessary, but not necessarily enjoyable, we put ourselves in a place that is far better prepared and infinitely less stressful than had we not. It works the same in all things, be it temporal or spiritual. The Primary answers are the important ones. Reading the scriptures and praying daily, going to church every Sunday, frequently visiting the temple; all these bring us closer to the Lord and as a direct result, bring us greater peace. By putting first things first, we can give ourselves adequate time and means to fulfill our potential and gain as much secular and spiritual learning as we can. Time is precious in in our mortal existence and it must be used so carefully, as this poem illustrates
People constantly talk about how the world is scary and full of wickedness, and for someone who’s just about to plunge headfirst into the deep end of that pool, that’s a really terrifying thought! Pile that on top of the stressors of the present, it’s no wonder that approximately 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood. Even for those of us who are lucky enough to not have to deal with depression during adolescence, the stress and worrying about what lies ahead can be anywhere from a gnawing ache to nearly debilitating. It is this feeling, this monster under the bed, that causes much of my grief for those without the truths of this blessed Gospel.
During my research on how the Lord recommends we prepare for the future, I came across a verse that I feel is the keystone to gaining the preparation we need. In Proverbs 4:7 we read, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” But understanding of what? In the September 2007 edition of the New Era, President Gordon B Hinckley answers this, “Understanding of what? Understanding of ourselves, of the purposes of life, of our relationship to God who is our Father, of the great divinely given principles that for centuries have provided the sinew of man’s real progress! As we pursue our secular studies, let us also add to our lives the cultivation of the Spirit. If we do so, God will bless us with that peace and those blessings which come from Him alone.”
So here we have a lovely formula. To be prepared and have peace with our level of preparedness, we must pursue knowledge and wisdom in both temporal and spiritual matters. However, the question still remains: how exactly do we do that? Well, as I was studying this topic, I was reminded of Stephen R Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly People--or more specifically, Sean Covey’s adaptation for teenagers--because these habits are essentially the doctrine of the gospel put into a secular setting and designed to help everyone feel as if they have a better handle on their life. I won’t go into them all, but I feel the first three--the private victory--are key to being prepared for what the world has in store.
Habit 1: Be proactive. This is the ultimate first step. As Sean Covey put it, being proactive is saying, “I am the force. I am the captain of my life. I can choose my attitude. I’m responsible for my own happiness or unhappiness. I am in the driver’s seat of my destiny, not just a passenger.” Proactivity is exactly the same thing as the Young Women’s value of Choice and Accountability. It is not only understanding our gift of agency, it is using it and taking responsibility for using it. We cannot be prepared if we don’t put our own lives in our own hands. It’s difficult, yes, and sometimes all we want to do is scream and hit and cry about all the injustices done to us. Sometimes we need that emotional release. I know I do. But ultimately, the words of Nephi to Jacob in 2 Nephi 2:27 ring true, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. Whether you’re LDS or not, any journey must be begun with an idea where you want to end up. In my humble opinion, the best way to do that is receiving your patriarchal blessing if you don’t already have it. It’s such a wonderful thing to have and not only does it guide in spiritual matters, it helps so much in the temporal sphere as well. To quote the words of President Monson in the October 1986 General Conference, “Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers. Unlike the struggling bomber of yesteryear, lost in the desert wastes, the sands and storms of life will not destroy you on your eternal flight. Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way.” I know mine has helped me get back on the path I need to be whenever I feel lost or confused or even down in the depths of a self-deprecating whirlpool. Understanding where I need to be relative to where I’m at is such a powerful thing, because as the saying goes, “the road to anywhere is really a life to nowhere.” I know so many people who honestly just have no idea who, what, or where they want to be. Expectations from parents, teachers and society weigh upon their shoulders until they feel like Atlas, too busy carrying the world on his back to go anywhere himself. For those who identify with that situation, I call upon the words of Howard Thurman, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” For me, that thing is music and teaching, so I’m pursuing a degree in music education. This path is obvious to me, because music has been such an integral part of me my whole life, but many people aren’t blessed with that. So for you, I say, remember the parable of the gardener and the currant bush. The Lord is the gardener here. He knows you and knows what he wants you to be. He knows what will bring you joy, and He will guide you through answers to your heartfelt prayers and through your patriarchal blessing.
There is so little time in our busy lives, and things seem to be rushing at us at a million miles per minute, especially as a new adult. So much so that it seems as if there is no way we could ever be prepared for what lies ahead. How do we manage to follow President Hinckley’s counsel and become wise both temporally and spiritually, if we can barely even learn what we need for our American Heritage midterm tomorrow? Habit 3: put first things first, is the answer. Procrastinating less, saying no to unimportant activities that feel important but really aren’t, cutting down on excessive relaxation, all these help to place us back in relaxed control of our life, where we really want to be. Comedian Steven Wright summed up this habit amazingly well when he said, “I watched the Indy 500, and I was thinking that if they left earlier they wouldn’t have to go so fast.” By putting the really important things first, we suddenly have time to do the things we really want to do. By doing the things that are necessary, but not necessarily enjoyable, we put ourselves in a place that is far better prepared and infinitely less stressful than had we not. It works the same in all things, be it temporal or spiritual. The Primary answers are the important ones. Reading the scriptures and praying daily, going to church every Sunday, frequently visiting the temple; all these bring us closer to the Lord and as a direct result, bring us greater peace. By putting first things first, we can give ourselves adequate time and means to fulfill our potential and gain as much secular and spiritual learning as we can. Time is precious in in our mortal existence and it must be used so carefully, as this poem illustrates
To realize the value of one year,
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of one month,
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week,
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of one hour,
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of one minute;
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of one second,
Ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of one millisecond,
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of one month,
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week,
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of one hour,
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of one minute;
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of one second,
Ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of one millisecond,
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
How do we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead? The answer is by learning, gaining experience and bettering ourselves in every aspect both temporal and spiritual. If we can strengthen ourselves and our relationship with the Lord, no obstacle nor trial nor confusing tax form can stand in our way and impede us from becoming the shining individual he knows we can become.
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Elohim, Gods on High
On Wednesday, Professor Griffin mentioned that the Hebrew word "Elohim" is plural, thus denoting a plurality of Gods, or in other words, Heavenly Father and Mother our Queen. This, as usual, got Kathryn and me thinking. How much of the references to God in the scriptures also include the Mother as well as the Father? So, we came up with a hypothesis: perhaps when the scriptures say "God" they mean both Mother and Father, and when they say "Lord God" they solely mean the Father.
This hypothesis seemed to hold up, but then we decided to look at the Hebrew version of the creation of the Earth in Genesis 2. Where it says "Lord God," there's two Hebrew words that's translated from: "Jehovah Elohim." We know that Jehovah is Christ, and Elohim is the Mother and Father, so this could imply a couple things. It could either be that "Lord God" is Christ and Elohim (the Father and Mother) in unity, or it could be Christ, one of the Elohim. Kathryn and I feel it depends on the context.
Throughout Genesis 1 during the creation of the universe, Elohim is used exclusively. This and the fact leads us to believe that Elohim may be a general term for supernatural spirits as well as being the term for the Father and Mother. If this is true, then it coincides with the doctrine that Christ was the primary creator, but we also know he did it under the direction of God and with the help from Michael. In other words, "In the beginning, [the Elohim] created the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1) together, led by Christ (the Elohim), directed by Heavenly Father and Mother our Queen (the Elohim), with help from the Heavenly Host (the Elohim). A family project, if you will. It wasn't just the Father and Christ as we typically think of it -- though they were the leaders of the project -- others were involved, most importantly our Mother the Queen.
However, when researching the thoughts on this from Hebrew linguists, it appears that the pluralizing of Elo'ah denotes more of an honorific, i.e. "God of gods," rather than there literally being plural gods. Nevertheless, since the Bible is, in fact, divinely inspired, it is incredibly likely that the Lord intended the secondary meaning of plurality to remain. Therefore, even though the writers of the Bible may not have intended it to denote both Father and Mother as the one true Elohim together, we all know God works in mysterious ways and will use His prophets to further His work and truth despite their limited mortal understanding. (Read: He loves puns. Fight me.)
The doctrine of the Mother our Queen is critical, though it isn't widely talked about. It's central to understanding the place of women in the Church and their relation to men. Men and women together are equals, for "neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord," (1 Cor 11:11) and we can see that in the Father and Mother ruling side by side.
This hypothesis seemed to hold up, but then we decided to look at the Hebrew version of the creation of the Earth in Genesis 2. Where it says "Lord God," there's two Hebrew words that's translated from: "Jehovah Elohim." We know that Jehovah is Christ, and Elohim is the Mother and Father, so this could imply a couple things. It could either be that "Lord God" is Christ and Elohim (the Father and Mother) in unity, or it could be Christ, one of the Elohim. Kathryn and I feel it depends on the context.
Throughout Genesis 1 during the creation of the universe, Elohim is used exclusively. This and the fact leads us to believe that Elohim may be a general term for supernatural spirits as well as being the term for the Father and Mother. If this is true, then it coincides with the doctrine that Christ was the primary creator, but we also know he did it under the direction of God and with the help from Michael. In other words, "In the beginning, [the Elohim] created the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1) together, led by Christ (the Elohim), directed by Heavenly Father and Mother our Queen (the Elohim), with help from the Heavenly Host (the Elohim). A family project, if you will. It wasn't just the Father and Christ as we typically think of it -- though they were the leaders of the project -- others were involved, most importantly our Mother the Queen.
However, when researching the thoughts on this from Hebrew linguists, it appears that the pluralizing of Elo'ah denotes more of an honorific, i.e. "God of gods," rather than there literally being plural gods. Nevertheless, since the Bible is, in fact, divinely inspired, it is incredibly likely that the Lord intended the secondary meaning of plurality to remain. Therefore, even though the writers of the Bible may not have intended it to denote both Father and Mother as the one true Elohim together, we all know God works in mysterious ways and will use His prophets to further His work and truth despite their limited mortal understanding. (Read: He loves puns. Fight me.)
The doctrine of the Mother our Queen is critical, though it isn't widely talked about. It's central to understanding the place of women in the Church and their relation to men. Men and women together are equals, for "neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord," (1 Cor 11:11) and we can see that in the Father and Mother ruling side by side.
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