Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
I pondered on how the Jews must have felt to hear these words. They had been practicing the law of Moses for almost 1,500 years. The time for it to be fulfilled had arrived. How different this must have all felt to them. Some would not accept Jesus as the promised Messiah, nor his gospel. Yet those that did had to have extreme faith and belief. I know it's hard for me to comprehend how they must have felt. It is fitting that the gospel begins with the baptism of Jesus Christ. The only perfect man to walk the earth, that did not need repentance, yet to not be baptized would not have fulfilled all righteousness. He set the ultimate example.
Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 101:2 "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."
This morning I was watching a video of Elder Bednar. He was explaining what the word "perfect" really means. I've pondered on that all day. I'm sure that is why this verse stood out to me tonight. Behave wisely in a more complete way, with a complete heart turned to God.
"In modern language we think "perfect' means "perform without errors". That's not what it means in scriptural context. Brothers and sisters we are delighted to be here with all of you tonight. Elder Gerard talked about the commandment to "be ye therefore perfect". This causes remarkable anxiety among the members of the Church. And it's a misinterpretation. In modern language we think the word "perfect" means "perform without errors." That's not what it means in the scriptural context. It means "be ye therefore [complete], as your Father in heaven..is [complete]."
Here's how I think about "complete" - if you look at an apple tree in the spring, it has blossoms, no apples. The blossom if there's sunlight and water and other nutrients, turns it into a little tiny bud and a little tiny apple during the course of the spring and summer will continue to grow and mature. In the fall it's now complete. And you pick the apple and you have a delicious fruit. But who's the gardener? The Father and the Son. And we're connect by covenant. That's the source of the nutrients. What are we to become? Like them. Never in this life. Never through our own works alone. Do we have to work at it? Absolutely. Is that enough? Never. And we stress out, thinking, "Oh, I'm never going to do that quite right. I'm never." No, you're not. Neither am I. None of us are. But with His grace and with His help, incrementally and gradually, there's very steady growth. Just like the bud that becomes an apple over time."
Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 22:19-20
"Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you."
The Lord will only accept an offering without blemish. It cannot be blind, broken, maimed, wen (wart), scurvy, or scabbed. At first that looks like a prejudice against anyone flawed in any way. Then I pondered on how this sacrifice was in a similitude of the Savior. He was without flaw or blemish, he gave an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrew 9:14)
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:19)
Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 56:14 "Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people—you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways."
This is really good counsel, to not counsel the Lord, and to take the counsel given. The Lord's house is a house of order and if man just disregarded or disobeyed counsel it would be anything but a house of order. Now is man perfect? No, and neither do we expect others are either. We are all learning, growing and in need of repentance. The road to repentance is better than the road to apostasy. The other day someone was talking to me and mentioned something questionable that a former bishop was doing. It wasn't really grievous. It was more they were expecting perfection. They couldn't believe this man had been a bishop. I tried to turn the conversation around and began with describing the mantle of a bishop. How I've seen changes in men that are called, and they are stronger and able to carry the load when that mantle in upon them. Then when they eventually are released it is no longer there. I would not question the Lord's choice for he qualifies and strengthen his servants. It has no bearing on the person's actions today. This lead us to a wonderful conversation on how we have witness this change that comes upon those called and serving. We don't need to question the Lord's ways.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
"Some actually question God’s capacity, this in the face of His assurance to us: “I am able to do my own work.” Therefore, murmuring can be another form of mocking God’s plan of salvation. Yes, such individuals say, God has an overall general plan, but we don’t care for His specific timing. Yet the scriptures specifically advise us that “all things must come to pass in their time. "Yes, such individuals may acknowledge God, but they criticize His ways. We want things to be done in our ways, even though our ways are much lower ways. " (Neal A. Maxwell, "Murmur Not", Oct 1989 General Conference)
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.'
Does peace only come if we are perfect? Being perfect is not obtainable in this life. What is obtainable is being made perfect through the atonement of Jesus Christ. When one seeks to repent perfectly, and daily, the heart is more willing to be of one mind and live in peace and love with others.
"Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God."
(Deuteronomy 18:13)
I also think Paul was not saying for them to be perfect individually, but being perfectly joined together.
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
I can appreciate what Paul is saying but I cannot go to the depths of glorying or taking pleasure in my infirmities. Maybe in time I can, but for now I am satisfied to appreciate my trials and what I have learned from them. I have come to see "enduring to the end" as the best part of the gospel. Where we come to have a personal relationship with the Lord as we walk with him through the fire. How he makes me strong when I am weak. How He teaches me patience and trust that all will be overcome through His mercy, and according to His will and time.
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."
I've had occasion a couple times recently to want to relate a story I read years ago in some type of question and answer page for members. This one sister related how they heard a wonderful talk given by a young man in sacrament meeting. They felt the spirit so strong. Yet, while driving home from church they were surprised to see this same young man walking home smoking a cigarette. They were so confused as to how they could have felt the spirit as he spoke while he was obviously breaking the word of wisdom. Whomever answered explained that regardless of the messenger, the message they heard was spiritual truth and the spirit bore witness to them of it. What they needed to focus on was their own worthiness to receive the spirit. I wish I could find that article again, its probably 30 years old now.
My father years ago told me to not base my testimony on others, and that has withstood the test of time, and not shaken it by the actions of others. I can feel disappointed or sadden for them, but we will never know their full story, and it isn't ours to judge. I've had those that have left the church tell me they left because so and so did this or that, thinking that because of their calling they should have known or done better. Totally forgetting the fact we are all being tried and tested. Just because they are called a leader doesn't mean they are perfect. Even though we wish they were. I remember a wise stake president once telling me that bishops are called for two reasons. One, is they are great spiritual leaders, the other is because they have a lot to learn. My stake president then asked me to help my bishop learn. Doesn't matter what calling a person has or not, we are all here to learn. The purposes will reveal themselves in time. Nothing is hidden from the Lord.
"God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect."
The words that stood out to me were strength, power and perfect. Though I know I am hopelessly flawed and of myself will never be perfect, I can be made perfect through Christ. The Savior's atonement allows me to lean on Him as I repent and grow. I want to be like Him. He is my strength. He helps me to be strong in doing what is right, even though others might mock and try to tear me down for my faith, and trying to be obedient. He gives me strength to say what he wants me to say. His power is a protective shield He gives me. It is the power to overcome the fiery darts of the adversary, and stay the course ahead towards Him.
"I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and children, upon some subject or other - and behold what is that subject? it is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they nor we be may perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times."
In this epistle from Joseph Smith he lays out the whole purpose and need for baptism for the dead. "For we without them cannot be made perfect." I know being involved in family history work has refined me. I love this chapter. It is hard to pick just one verse to ponder on. What made me stop and pause was this part of the verse "but those things which never had been revealed from the foundation of the world". It is only since President Russell M. Nelson became prophet that I have become aware that the restoration is not complete. I always thought it had been fully restored. There are things that have never been revealed since the world began that will only be made known in this dispensation. I wonder what I shall see come in my lifetime? Whatever it is, I hope and pray my heart will be ready.
"Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected."
As I have observed the reactions of people over the course of this pandemic I have come to be more convinced than ever that patience is a divine attribute. As I pondered on what patience can lead to, the ministering of angels and abiding the presence of God, I am more convinced of its means of perfecting us.
"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
"For verily I say unto you, I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you.
But all things must come to pass in their time."
I love how the Lord has compassion on us while we learn of him. You don't need to be perfect today. It's something that comes with time. Repent every day, grow every day.
"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to the rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both the quick and dead. Amen.
The End"
I just finished the closing chapter of the Book of Mormon. I always think of Moroni 10 as the invitation to pray and ask God in the name of Jesus Christ if these words are true. This is an invitation that I have already taken and know for myself these are the words of God. I cherish them, love them, and am strengthened by them.
So, I asked myself what message is there for someone that already knows it is true? That is when I realized my favorite verse for today is becoming perfected in Christ. The key is perfection will never happen if I try to do it alone. Trying to do that will lead to discouragement, depression and hopelessness, for I have been there. It is only when I realized perfection comes through Christ, that I realized how much I really needed Him. I am good enough, and He will make me better.
As I watched what will be the final Book of Mormon video, I was struck with how alone Moroni was. On some level what a relief that must have been after all the carnage that he witnessed. But, then you are a prisoner to your thoughts. What a blessing it must have been to keep himself occupied by reading the scriptures he carried, and pondering them in his heart. What he read is what I am reading. What a power these words have to heal the broken heart, simply because you come to know the Christ.
Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 12:44, 48
"But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;
Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."
One of the first sermons that Jesus gives to the people in the Americas is a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes found in the Bible. He is the embodiment of them all. I love what Harold B. Lee said of it.
"Christ came not only into the world to make an atonement for the sins of mankind but to set an example before the world of the standard of perfection of God's law and of obedience to the Father. In his Sermon on the Mount the Master has given us somewhat of a revelation of his own character, which was perfect, or what might be said to be 'an autobiography, every syllable of which he had written down in deeds,' and in so doing has given us a blueprint for our own lives."
(President Harold B. Lee, "Decisions for Successful Living" [1973], 55-67)
Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 82:6
"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."
Immediately I thought of the primary song "I am a child of God." Which we also sang at church today.
Then I reflected on being made in God's image.
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"
(Genesis 1:26)
I am also commanded to be perfect like Him.
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
(Matthew 5:48)
I think God is telling me I have divine potential, someday I can become like Him. Thankfully it comes line upon line, precept upon precept, and not something expected of me all at once. There is beauty in the journey for it can only come as I yoke myself to Him.
"Be patient with yourself. Perfection comes not in this life but in the next life. Don't demand things that are unreasonable. But demand of yourself improvement. As you let the Lord help you through that, He will make the difference."
(President Russell M. Nelson)
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
(Ether 12:27)
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Right now I am weak, but someday I will be strong. I am on a beautiful journey and I am so grateful for every step as I learn to walk in my Savior's footsteps. Being humble as a little child, having faith in my Father's plan for me, will make me everything he knows I can be.
I am a Child of God
I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.
I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.
I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will,
I’ll live with him once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.
I am a child of God.
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine
If I can but endure.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.
Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 18:32
"It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."
I am so hopelessly flawed. I need my Savior. Only through Him can I be redeemed and made perfect. I have felt myself made stronger than I am physically able, in order to accomplish what He would have me do. Any good that I do is not of myself. I am told to never compare my weakness against another's strength. I think instead I need to recognize strength comes from the Lord, for his purposes. If another is made stronger in an area I have to look at the source of where that comes. I need to rejoice for the talent and ability they have been given. For the Lord gives me exactly what is needful to complete my mission here on earth.
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
(Matthew 7:11)
