There is so much good in the worst of us
and so much bad in the best of us,
that is becomes none of us to judge and talk about the rest of us.
Various forms of this quote has been attributed to a bunch of different people including Edward Hoch, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Abraham Lincoln.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Notes on Lectures On Faith
Some points from the Lectures on Faith
First Lecture- What faith is, the assurance of things hoped for, and how it is the motivating power of all creation and thus it is the first principle of the gospel
Second Lecture- The object on which faith rests is God. Knowledge and evidence, in the way of personal visitation by Him, was made manifest into the world through chosen vessels such as Joseph Smith; the first chosen vessel was Adam. It shows from Adam to Abraham how many hundreds of years each father and son lived. For example, it shows how Lamech, who was Noah’s father, was 56 years old when Adam died. Eight of the men mentioned in the Old Testament who were living at the time of Noah were also alive when Adam was. Why is this important? They heard Adam’s testimony first-hand. Adam walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. When he was cast out of the Garden he still had knowledge of God which he shared with his children and their children. They were responsible for believing the testimony of Adam, who spoke with God face to face. In our dispensation, we are responsible for believing the testimony of Joseph Smith, who spoke with God face to face. Every dispensation has its’ own chosen witness. This is the way evidence is presented from God into the world while still allowing everyone to develop faith. If God appeared to everyone, they could not have faith, they would have knowledge.
Third Lecture- Three things are necessary that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith.
First, the idea that He actually exists. It is difficult to place confidence in someone who does not even exist.
Secondly, a correct idea of His character, perfections and attributes. Trust is a firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness or genuineness of someone. It would be difficult to have faith and trust in someone who does not posses these attributes:
He is God over all before and after the creation. With this knowledge, we can have faith knowing that no one above Him can usurp his power or keep Him from keeping promises to us.
He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and He was so from everlasting to everlasting. With the knowledge, we can have faith that He will be merciful with us.
He changes not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. With this knowledge, we can have faith that He won’t change His mind on which commandments he wants us to keep.
He is a God of truth and cannot lie. We could not trust God if he lied.
He is no respecter of persons. In every nation, he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.
God is love.
Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which one is pursuing is according to His will. This knowledge helps us to endure the trials to our faith and the ups and downs in life which might dampen our courage, cause doubts and weaken our faith.
Fourth Lecture- More revelation from God to man through the written word about His attributes that enable us to have sufficient faith.
God has all knowledge.
God works through faith
God works by justice
God works by mercy
God has the power to judge
God is a God of truth.
Fifth Lecture- Teaches of the Godhead and how they are of one heart and one mind.
Sixth Lecture- Explains how the idea that one is pursuing the course in life that is agreeable to the will of God gives someone the strength and desire to sacrifice all for God. Only those who are willing to sacrifice everything are worthy to live with God. This knowledge of pursuing the right course in life is how the early saints were able to endure the loss of everything they did.
Seventh Lecture- The fruits of faith- need for greater faith, creation, power to endure trials, knowledge of God, spiritual confidence, mental exertion, being one with Christ, and salvation is the end of faith.
Notes from the Treatise on Faith by Orson Pratt
How is faith a gift but also dependent on our exercise, free will and agency? Faith is a gift but we can only have it in the Lord’s appointed way. The way we receive this gift is to hear the testimony by those called and inspired by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.
Through this medium man makes himself acquainted with the evidence in favor of the divinity of the word, the evidence being of divine origin as well as the word. This evidence begets faith in the mind and this faith though it be obtained through the exercise of the free will and agency of man, is still the gift of God, granted through the evidence accompanying the preached word.
When the honest humble souls either hears or reads that which is given him by the Spirit, the light which is in him witnesseth that it is of God; for light cleaves to light and truth to truth; the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world, and if he loves that light which is in himself, he will love all other light that is presented to his mind and embrace it. Light cannot be presented to the mind of a candid honest person without being perceived as light, but if he receives it not, he extinguishes in a degree the light that is in him and darkness still greater ensues.
The only way to receive additional light is to practice according to the light which we have, and if we do this, we have the promise of God that the same shall grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
First Lecture- What faith is, the assurance of things hoped for, and how it is the motivating power of all creation and thus it is the first principle of the gospel
Second Lecture- The object on which faith rests is God. Knowledge and evidence, in the way of personal visitation by Him, was made manifest into the world through chosen vessels such as Joseph Smith; the first chosen vessel was Adam. It shows from Adam to Abraham how many hundreds of years each father and son lived. For example, it shows how Lamech, who was Noah’s father, was 56 years old when Adam died. Eight of the men mentioned in the Old Testament who were living at the time of Noah were also alive when Adam was. Why is this important? They heard Adam’s testimony first-hand. Adam walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. When he was cast out of the Garden he still had knowledge of God which he shared with his children and their children. They were responsible for believing the testimony of Adam, who spoke with God face to face. In our dispensation, we are responsible for believing the testimony of Joseph Smith, who spoke with God face to face. Every dispensation has its’ own chosen witness. This is the way evidence is presented from God into the world while still allowing everyone to develop faith. If God appeared to everyone, they could not have faith, they would have knowledge.
Third Lecture- Three things are necessary that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith.
First, the idea that He actually exists. It is difficult to place confidence in someone who does not even exist.
Secondly, a correct idea of His character, perfections and attributes. Trust is a firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness or genuineness of someone. It would be difficult to have faith and trust in someone who does not posses these attributes:
He is God over all before and after the creation. With this knowledge, we can have faith knowing that no one above Him can usurp his power or keep Him from keeping promises to us.
He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and He was so from everlasting to everlasting. With the knowledge, we can have faith that He will be merciful with us.
He changes not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. With this knowledge, we can have faith that He won’t change His mind on which commandments he wants us to keep.
He is a God of truth and cannot lie. We could not trust God if he lied.
He is no respecter of persons. In every nation, he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.
God is love.
Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which one is pursuing is according to His will. This knowledge helps us to endure the trials to our faith and the ups and downs in life which might dampen our courage, cause doubts and weaken our faith.
Fourth Lecture- More revelation from God to man through the written word about His attributes that enable us to have sufficient faith.
God has all knowledge.
God works through faith
God works by justice
God works by mercy
God has the power to judge
God is a God of truth.
Fifth Lecture- Teaches of the Godhead and how they are of one heart and one mind.
Sixth Lecture- Explains how the idea that one is pursuing the course in life that is agreeable to the will of God gives someone the strength and desire to sacrifice all for God. Only those who are willing to sacrifice everything are worthy to live with God. This knowledge of pursuing the right course in life is how the early saints were able to endure the loss of everything they did.
Seventh Lecture- The fruits of faith- need for greater faith, creation, power to endure trials, knowledge of God, spiritual confidence, mental exertion, being one with Christ, and salvation is the end of faith.
Notes from the Treatise on Faith by Orson Pratt
How is faith a gift but also dependent on our exercise, free will and agency? Faith is a gift but we can only have it in the Lord’s appointed way. The way we receive this gift is to hear the testimony by those called and inspired by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.
Through this medium man makes himself acquainted with the evidence in favor of the divinity of the word, the evidence being of divine origin as well as the word. This evidence begets faith in the mind and this faith though it be obtained through the exercise of the free will and agency of man, is still the gift of God, granted through the evidence accompanying the preached word.
When the honest humble souls either hears or reads that which is given him by the Spirit, the light which is in him witnesseth that it is of God; for light cleaves to light and truth to truth; the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world, and if he loves that light which is in himself, he will love all other light that is presented to his mind and embrace it. Light cannot be presented to the mind of a candid honest person without being perceived as light, but if he receives it not, he extinguishes in a degree the light that is in him and darkness still greater ensues.
The only way to receive additional light is to practice according to the light which we have, and if we do this, we have the promise of God that the same shall grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Today I made a plan, a promise in my mind, that I'd begin this very day to let my light so shine.
The early morning dawn revealed my mother's face, reminding me that my own home was my beginning place.
With a happy heart I sang and helped in little ways to bring a ray of loving light into my family's day.
Then out into the world I went with watchful eye. I saw a woman old and bent and could not pass her by.
With gentle voice I spoke, then listened for a while and saw her sad expression change into a grateful smile.
As time went quickly by I said a silent prayer and asked to bring the light of love to someone in despair.
Outside my circle of friends I saw a lonely one, a person often ridiculed and left to walk alone.
With courage I reached out and drew her in with me. The joy I saw will ever be a cherished memory.
As evening time approached I had a chance to share a priceless gift that I hold dear with someone who would care.
In faith I gave a friend the sacred book of life and testified that it contained the purest gospel light.
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."
This song from the Young Women's themes by Janice Kapp Perry changed my life for the better when I was a teen. I pictured some girl going around trying to brighten everyone's day and I tried to be that girl. I don't know how effective my efforts were, but at least it got me to stop thinking about myself so much and focus on other's people needs. It was great therapy for a bad mood!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
RS lesson December 2008
"Testimony" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks Ensign May 2008
taught by Alison Jaehne
I have had a wonderful Christmas preparing for this lesson. All month I have been reading and thinking about testimonies. It added to the spirit of Christmas for me! I have felt closer to the Lord and to the Spirit as I have only read church magazines and the scriptures this month. I have thought about what I know, and how I know it. I have experienced my personal testimony-building events all over again as I reread my journal and relived the memories of my 'special experiences'.
In the same conference issue as our lesson, Elder Ronald Rasband gave a talk called 'Special Experiences'. He said, "Our personal journey through life provides us with many special experiences that become building blocks of faith and testimony. As experiences accumulate in our lives, they add strength and support to each other. Just as the building blocks of our homes support the rest of the structure, so too do our personal life experiences become building blocks for our testimonies..."
A pivotal personal experience for me was when I was at Rick's college, ahem, 21 years ago, I had a bishop who said from the pulpit in Sacrament Meeting, "I know there is a Garden and a Grove. Those are the two most important testimonies." Wow! What does that mean? I have thought about it a lot over the years. The Grove is the Sacred Grove, where Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith. For a long time, I thought that the Garden he referred to was the Garden Tomb, where Jesus was resurrected and saved us all from physical death. A testimony that Jesus has risen is certainly important and a testimony of the First Vision sort of covers that. I really think that he meant the most important testimony was of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus paid for our sins and saved those will repent and have faith in him.
In this January Ensign 2009 each of the apostles witness of the prophet Joseph Smith. Elder Quentin L. Cook testifies, "The foundation for every important decision and choice you will make is your testimony of Jesus Christ, (I know there is a Garden) and the restoration of His gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith." (I know there is a Grove)
Sister Gillespie's Sacrament Talk was wonderful! The symbol of the olive tree and the olive press and what the Savior did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane is the greatest miracle in our lives! I made extra pictures of an olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane for anyone who would like one, to remind us of what happened there and to feel close to it.
In the same May 2008 Ensign issue as our lesson, Elder Steuer quotes President Spencer W. Kimball, "The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them...Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one's life."
Doctrines covered in the lesson:
Definition of testimony and what it is not- a travelogue, health log or an expression of love for family members or preaching to others. If we stick to saying what we know, then as we share our special experiences, we will be bearing pure testimony.
The differences between three different kinds of knowledge- I know the church is true vs. I know it is cold outside vs. I know I love my wife and how we know them: scientific measures, personal subjective ways (which although not scientific, are very important) and through the Holy Ghost.
A scripture mentioned in the lesson and three times in the April 2008 conference must be important for us to study: 1 Cor 2:14 "the natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolish unto him: neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned" What is the "natural man"? The "natural" man is linked in the footnotes of Mosiah 3:19 as a worldly man, not spiritually reborn. Of course we are born our pure; our natures are divine! The world tries to get us to forget that!
Those who have a testimony of the restored gospel also have a duty to share it. Those who have the gift to know have an obvious duty to bear their witness so that those who have the gift to believe on their words might also have eternal life. D&C 46: 13-14
We should bear our testimonies often. We should strengthen our children by encouraging them to define themselves by their growing testimonies, not just by their recognitions in scholarships, sports, or other school activities. We can help them to recognize their own special experiences that can become building blocks of testimony.
How can we know that we are following the right church? By their fruits ye shall know them. The May 2008 Ensign has a talk which tells of the disaster relief the saints have given so willingly and efficiently.
Each of us two different channels to God. We have a channel of governance through our prophet and other leaders. This channel has to do with doctrine, ordinances, and commandments, results in obedience. We also have a channel of personal testimony which is direct to God. This channel results in knowledge. Knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge.
Why would someone not desire to know or refuse to acknowledge that they do know or have felt the Spirit? Once a person knows, then they feel obligated to obey. Obedience requires sacrifice. Sometimes a person is afraid to sacrifice. They don't know the joy and the freedom they will feel through obedience and sacrifice and the wonderful happiness of helping God in His work.
When geese fly in a v formation, because of the loss of wind resistance, they are 75% more productive in flight. When a goose falls out the formation, it instantly feels the drag and the incredible effort it takes to fly alone. When a goose is shot, two other geese follow it down to the ground and stay with it until it dies, then they catch another v formation to catch up to their flock. The goose in the front of the v flies works the hardest against the wind and when it tires, it falls back into the v and another goose takes over. The other geese honk to cheer the leaders on. Like the geese flying together, getting together and sharing our testimonies help each of us along.
My Testimony:
I, myself know that there is a Garden and a Grove. I wish I had the time and the room to explain all the details of the special experiences of how I came to know. I have been to the Sacred Grove and I have been to the Garden of Gethsemane. These are building blocks of my testimony. I know that a person doesn't have to go there to gain a testimony, so why is it so important to me and such a part of my testimony that I have been there? This month, I realized that I gained my testimony, not in those places, but thinking about the significance of what happened in those places. Having been there made the events seem so very real and tangible to me.
I had the same 'real' experience when I put myself with the Nephites in Bountiful when the Savior visited them. In my mind, I stood in line to feel the prints in His hands and to worship Him. That experience is very real and very special to me. It is as if I was there.
My testimony has largely come through songs. When I thoughtfully sing, 'Oh How Lovely Was the Morning' 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives' 'I Stand All Amazed' or 'I Believe In Christ' the Holy Ghost witnesses to me that it is true! I know it is! And I am so grateful! I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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