Thursday, December 30, 2010

Families in the Book of Mormon and Families Today


So once in awhile I have these moments while I am reading the Book of Mormon where I realize that there is a teaching that is totally reminiscent of basic gospel concepts that prophets and leaders today have taught. Of course this shouldn't really come as a surprise to me as I know that the Book of Mormon and latter-day prophets reflect each other through their same devotion to Christ, but I love it when I can see it so blatantly. And you shall love it as I share. Brace yourselves.
Today I was reading chapter two of Mosiah. Basically the context is this: King Benjamin is speaking to the people of his kingdom. People travel to hear him and even set up tents so that they're family can relax and appreciate the king's words. Verses five and six really stuck out to me.
"They pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters and their sons and their daughters. ...every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them."
Ok I know this is a lot, but it is rich with gospel truths. Right off the bat the man is mentioned and then the rest of his family; we see that it is his responsibility to encourage his family to live the gospel and listen to righteous leaders. The man's daughter and her children are mentioned giving a sense that the family is supposed to be tight-nit and that the tradition of living righteously is passed on from generation to generation and that they support each other in these values.
The door turned towards the temple is reminiscent of where the family's heart is. The door is not towards their friends who are also attending or towards where they came from, but it is towards a righteous leader. This indicates that they have the desire to gain knowledge. I believe that one of the most important ways in which we grow to become Christ-like is by taking those small steps like listening and desiring and then choosing to act on those things. The tent acts as a safe-haven for the family; they can sit comfortably and still have a strong desire to become more Christ-like. This is what we should strive for in our own homes.
I could go on and on about this (perhaps I already did?) but the point I want to make is this: "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" teaches these same concepts. Parents are responsibility for the welfare of their children, home should be a safe-haven, we follow the prophet.
Similar to those visiting King Benjamin speaking, we listen to and watch General Conference. We are taught similar things that King Benjamin teaches. We are to learn and grow in the gospel as families. When I more thoroughly study the Book of Mormon, I come to realize how relevant it is today.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Faith and Fear

One of my biggest fears in life is complacency. I am so scared of being so happy with myself that I will stop trying in whatever is important in life. With this fear, comes a tendency to have a hard time being happy with myself and always feeling discouraged that I am not good enough. Good enough for what? That is the question.
I just finished reading a conference talk by Elder Richard G. Scott. It is entitled, "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character." Throughout the entire thing, I couldn't help but think about my own character and where exactly it is going.
The article has a few points and a few quotes that I want to address specifically. "Faith in the power of obedience to the commandments of God will forge strength of character available to you in times of urgent need." What I notice first here is that faith is not just a belief but is something that will compel someone have strength of character. They may know that a decision is difficult but with a deep belief in Christ and the atonement, they will know they can follow the promptings of the Spirit.
Elder Scott quotes President Hugh B. Brown, "Man cannot live without faith, because in life’s adventure the central problem is character-building—which is not a product of logic, but of faith in ideals and sacrificial devotion to them." Brown explains that faith is inherit to living. If we rely solely on logic we miss the ideals of godliness. Sacrifice and following the gospel is not necessarily logical but is key to eternal life. If I were to approach every problem as being character building, I would be practicing the first step of faith necessary for relying on my Savior. If I choose to not let my character be led by the Spirit, I am choosing a more painful route to life's promlems.
I heard this quote used by my Bishop but I am guessing that he got it from Elder Scott. It reads: "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." Written so simply, it is obvious that that is the best way we become who we want to be. Inherent to this quote is choice and action. If I choose something and act according to my goals, I will become more of what I want to be. If I act against my goals, or I do not act at all (which we all know in reality is a choice and an action) I move against where I want to be and I can feel the disappointment.
So who do I want to be? I want to be someone who is kind to everybody and attracts all people with my good attitude. I want to be someone that people can rely on (this automatically suggests that I take responsibility- a difficult task for me). I want to be someone that others can see as a friend because I can be honest without being hurtful to them. I want to be funny. I want to go to bed each day knowing that I did my very best for what that day allotted. I want to be someone that others can rely on for being Christlike. That I speak like a disciple of Christ. That I turn off things that are offensive to the Spirit. That when I have a question I turn to God's wisdom rather than my own. That I am not afraid of being good even when I have fallen short before and when others around me may not think it is a big deal. Sure these are ideals, but they are ideals of the Spirit and ideals that will only be logical when logic tells me that to be that way, I got to choose and act that way.


Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Serving with the Spirit


I am currently making my way through studying all of the talks from this last General Conference. General Conference is a biannual event, where members of the LDS church watch, listen to, read, etc. talks given from the prophet and apostles. This morning I read one article that really spoke to me as it holds a few key truths about the Gospel and a few truths that mean a lot to me personally.
The article was called, "Serving with the Spirit" by Henry B. Eyring. Something that I love about the Church is how boys receive the priesthood, the power and authority to act in God's name, at the age of 12. I feel this is very important as we know that by the age of 12 Christ himself was teaching teachers of the Jewish community. What makes this more special is that President Eyring talks about how although 12 and 13 year old boys' priesthood duties are limited, they are still able to get revelation for those they are to "warn, exhort, and teach." He tells them that the fears to talk to those who may be struggling will be calmed through prayer, that they will know what and how to speak to them, and that they will feel the approval of the Lord.
When I read that, it comes at no surprise to me; I have believed that my entire life. But when I really think about what that means, I learn that it is amazing that there is a God somewhere who really cares about His children and will lead them through every step of their responsibilities, especially when it comes to serving His other children. I also learn that God wants to give us revelation and that it is a natural process like any other process. I do not mean to undermine the miraculousness of God giving revelation, but I mean to say that it follows a natural, God- created order like many of his other natural processes.
We are asked to work. A young man might think before-hand how the person is struggling and wonders how it is that he can personally help. He may come up with some ideas; he may not. He prays to know. He finds the faith to see that perhaps his idea of what to say may not be correct but he is still going to fulfill his calling. He opens his mouth and God, recognizing the importance of this young man and the person he is supposed to bless, teaches this man what to say. It may be exactly what he thought; it may not be. Either way, God knows the importance of the each of His children.