Alma 55:12
And Laman said unto them: You may do according to your desires.
I know it's a short one but I think there are some pretty powerful concepts hidden in here. Agency. To choose which road we will take. Our Father in Heaven has given us agency to choose for ourselves according to our desires. What are our desires?
"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions" -Dallin H. Oaks
we will act according to our desires. What do we want the most? Are our conscious desires the same as our unconscious desires? Are they in line with each other? Or do we think we want something but our actions are saying another? Sometimes the only way to figure out what your desires are is to work backward. What are you doing? how are you spending your time? WHO are you spending time with? Are these things helping you to achieve what you really want? If not, perhaps it's time to make some changes. We are free to do according to our desires- but we are not free to choose the outcome of those actions.
Showing posts with label Obedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obedience. Show all posts
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
By Degrees
Alma 47:
Referencing verses 10-18
The scriptures contain many types and shadows of Christ, and my conviction is that the story of Amalickiah provides us with the opposite – a type and shadow of Satan. Think of the parallels! Amalickiah wanted to be king, he was cast out, and he took his followers with him. Similarly, Satan wanted to “exalt [his] throne above the stars of God (2 Nephi 24:13), was cast out, and took his followers with him. Amalickiah is described as cunning, flattering, and a murderer. Satan is also described as cunning, flattering, and a murderer. Amalickiah poisoned Lehonti “by degrees.” Satan leads us “carefully” or “by degrees” down to hell (2 Nephi 28:21). Amalickiah did “not care for the blood of his people” (Alma 49:10). Satan will “not support his children at the last day (Alma 30:60). Amalickiah succeeded in persuading the king of the Lamanites to attack the Nephites, but a large part of the Lamanite army refused to fight the Nephites. They found refuge on top of the mount Antipas and appointed Lehonti to be their leader. Three different times, Amalickiah invited Lehonti to come down from the mountain. Lehonti refused each time. Eventually, Amalickiah went up, nearly to the camp of Lehonti, and persuaded Lehonti to come down “just a little.” Amalickiah convinced Lehonti that he was not really an enemy, but a friend who only wanted to be second in command. Eventually, Lehonti agreed to Amalickiah’s scheme, and was unknowingly poisoned “by degrees” until he died. As Latter-day Saints, we have gone up to the “mountain of the Lord” and made covenants. Satan continually invites us to come down. We refuse. So he invites us to come down just a little. If we do, we subject ourselves to his power where we will eventually be poisoned by degrees. If we are wounded by a gunshot, or a sword, we know about it! But if we are slowly poisoned, we might not even realize it’s happening. Poison is a perfect metaphor for Satan’s tactics, because a victim of poison may not even realize what’s happening, and may still believe he’s in control up until the moment he dies. The spiritual message is powerful and chilling – Don’t come down from your mountain! Keep your covenants!
Satan wants us to come down so he can poison us by degrees. (It’s interesting to note that Jesus was invited to come down three times from the pinnacle of the temple, but he never did. See Matthew 4:1-11). -John Bytheway
36 Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.
Joseph Smith:
“Strange as it may appear at first thought, yet it is no less strange than true, that…apostates after turning from the faith of Christ, unless they have speedily repented, have sooner or later fallen into the snares of the wicked one, and have been left destitute of the Spirit of God, to manifest their wickedness in the eyes of multitudes…When once that light which was in them is taken from them, they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 67)
Referencing verses 10-18
The scriptures contain many types and shadows of Christ, and my conviction is that the story of Amalickiah provides us with the opposite – a type and shadow of Satan. Think of the parallels! Amalickiah wanted to be king, he was cast out, and he took his followers with him. Similarly, Satan wanted to “exalt [his] throne above the stars of God (2 Nephi 24:13), was cast out, and took his followers with him. Amalickiah is described as cunning, flattering, and a murderer. Satan is also described as cunning, flattering, and a murderer. Amalickiah poisoned Lehonti “by degrees.” Satan leads us “carefully” or “by degrees” down to hell (2 Nephi 28:21). Amalickiah did “not care for the blood of his people” (Alma 49:10). Satan will “not support his children at the last day (Alma 30:60). Amalickiah succeeded in persuading the king of the Lamanites to attack the Nephites, but a large part of the Lamanite army refused to fight the Nephites. They found refuge on top of the mount Antipas and appointed Lehonti to be their leader. Three different times, Amalickiah invited Lehonti to come down from the mountain. Lehonti refused each time. Eventually, Amalickiah went up, nearly to the camp of Lehonti, and persuaded Lehonti to come down “just a little.” Amalickiah convinced Lehonti that he was not really an enemy, but a friend who only wanted to be second in command. Eventually, Lehonti agreed to Amalickiah’s scheme, and was unknowingly poisoned “by degrees” until he died. As Latter-day Saints, we have gone up to the “mountain of the Lord” and made covenants. Satan continually invites us to come down. We refuse. So he invites us to come down just a little. If we do, we subject ourselves to his power where we will eventually be poisoned by degrees. If we are wounded by a gunshot, or a sword, we know about it! But if we are slowly poisoned, we might not even realize it’s happening. Poison is a perfect metaphor for Satan’s tactics, because a victim of poison may not even realize what’s happening, and may still believe he’s in control up until the moment he dies. The spiritual message is powerful and chilling – Don’t come down from your mountain! Keep your covenants!
Satan wants us to come down so he can poison us by degrees. (It’s interesting to note that Jesus was invited to come down three times from the pinnacle of the temple, but he never did. See Matthew 4:1-11). -John Bytheway
36 Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.
Joseph Smith:
“Strange as it may appear at first thought, yet it is no less strange than true, that…apostates after turning from the faith of Christ, unless they have speedily repented, have sooner or later fallen into the snares of the wicked one, and have been left destitute of the Spirit of God, to manifest their wickedness in the eyes of multitudes…When once that light which was in them is taken from them, they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 67)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
His Arm is Extended to All...
Alma 18:
10: Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them.
I hope to one day be that kind of servant, to remember ALL the commandments of God. Some days are better than others but I am not perfect yet. I can remember the big ones but the smaller ones are much harder- "have charity" "be of good cheer" "fear not"...those are the ones that I forget.
32: And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.
I love all reminders that we were created by God, in his image and that he knows each of us individually. He knows our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. He knows our joys and our pains and he is always there for his children.
Alma 19
36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.
Those who chose to hear the words of Ammon and King Lamoni were blessed with the knowledge of their Savior. Again we see a true conversion of a king who killed his servants because someone else scattered their flock...this man really had no regard for human life, and yet the Lord loved him enough to send Ammon to teach him. The king repents and is forgiven. Everyone can repent and be forgiven. Not one person I know is unworthy of speaking with their Father in Heaven, confessing their sins, and starting with a clean slate. The word ALL means ALL. Not most or some but anyone.
10: Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them.
I hope to one day be that kind of servant, to remember ALL the commandments of God. Some days are better than others but I am not perfect yet. I can remember the big ones but the smaller ones are much harder- "have charity" "be of good cheer" "fear not"...those are the ones that I forget.
32: And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.
I love all reminders that we were created by God, in his image and that he knows each of us individually. He knows our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. He knows our joys and our pains and he is always there for his children.
Alma 19
36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.
Those who chose to hear the words of Ammon and King Lamoni were blessed with the knowledge of their Savior. Again we see a true conversion of a king who killed his servants because someone else scattered their flock...this man really had no regard for human life, and yet the Lord loved him enough to send Ammon to teach him. The king repents and is forgiven. Everyone can repent and be forgiven. Not one person I know is unworthy of speaking with their Father in Heaven, confessing their sins, and starting with a clean slate. The word ALL means ALL. Not most or some but anyone.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Unprofitable Servants
Mosiah 2:21-22
I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another-I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.
I love these verses because King Benjamin really illustrates our relationship with God and also shows us the nature of our Heavenly Father. It makes me feel awful for ever complaining.
1. we are given life and a body
2. we are given our agency to choose for ourselves
3. we are supported in our trials and in the things that we need
4. God always follows through-he never falls short on his promises
we are given so much and all he asks in return is that we follow his commandments. And then when we do- we are blessed again with prosperity, peace, and happiness. So no matter how much we try and repay him by serving and keeping the commandments we are still in his debt. It just made me realize just how good I have things. I should be grateful for the blessings in my life and for a loving Father in Heaven who gives and gives and really doesn't ask for much in return.
Benjamin tells us that God does not vary from what he says...so if he says he will bless us for our obedience then he will. Makes me wonder why we all fight so hard against being obedient. If we truly believe that God keeps his promises, then why do we not strive to receive those promised blessings?
Ezra Taft Benson once said, "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, at that moment God will endow us with power"
Goal: to have faith in the nature of God and to be obedient to his commandments
I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another-I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.
I love these verses because King Benjamin really illustrates our relationship with God and also shows us the nature of our Heavenly Father. It makes me feel awful for ever complaining.
1. we are given life and a body
2. we are given our agency to choose for ourselves
3. we are supported in our trials and in the things that we need
4. God always follows through-he never falls short on his promises
we are given so much and all he asks in return is that we follow his commandments. And then when we do- we are blessed again with prosperity, peace, and happiness. So no matter how much we try and repay him by serving and keeping the commandments we are still in his debt. It just made me realize just how good I have things. I should be grateful for the blessings in my life and for a loving Father in Heaven who gives and gives and really doesn't ask for much in return.
Benjamin tells us that God does not vary from what he says...so if he says he will bless us for our obedience then he will. Makes me wonder why we all fight so hard against being obedient. If we truly believe that God keeps his promises, then why do we not strive to receive those promised blessings?
Ezra Taft Benson once said, "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, at that moment God will endow us with power"
Goal: to have faith in the nature of God and to be obedient to his commandments
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