Attending Church Meetings

This is one of the first insights in Messages from the Scriptures. It was originally posted at my publisher's blog (and of course, it can be found in the book itself).

Attending our church meetings allows us to strengthen each other, as well as to increase our resolve to live the gospel.

And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls. And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. (Moroni 6:5–6)

Church attendance is an important part of our worship. Speaking of the first few generations after Christ’s appearance in the Americas, Mormon explained that the people “did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord” (4 Nephi 1:12). “Meeting together oft” is an important part of following the Savior’s commandments. In our church meetings, we learn more about God and our relationship with Him—an essential element in obtaining exaltation (see D&C 18:25). We also strengthen each other in our resolve to live the gospel, which invites the Lord to help us. We read in 3 Nephi 24:16: “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard.” And according to President Anthon H. Lund, “Unless the saints attend their meetings, it will be hard for them to keep alive in the gospel” (Anthon H. Lund, in Conference Report, Oct. 1907, 9).

Giving and Taking Life

This is one of the first insights in Messages from the Scriptures. It was originally posted at my publisher's blog (and of course, it can be found in the book itself).

God’s commandments pertaining to the giving and taking of life are of tremendous importance.

God that made the world and all things therein, . . . he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. (Acts 17:25)

God is the one who has given life to all, and it is He who appoints when men should die. Perhaps one of the most obvious examples of this power is the Flood, when God eliminated nearly everyone, but preserved the lives of Noah’s family (see 1 Peter 3:20). Also interesting are the first two commandments that the Lord reiterated immediately after the Flood: “For man shall not shed the blood of man. For a commandment I give, that every man’s brother shall preserve the life of man, for in mine own image have I made man. And a commandment I give unto you, Be ye fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly on the earth, and multiply therein” (Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 9:12–14). This dual commandment is echoed in countless instances. Truly the commandments that pertain to the giving of life and the taking of it are among the most important of all. Why? Alma taught that “this life [is] a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God” (Alma 12:24). This life has eternal significance, and certain acts we perform have everlasting consequences. It should come as no surprise that two of the weightiest commandments deal with the creation and destruction of life (see Alma 39:4–5). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained: “Clearly among [God’s] greatest concerns regarding mortality are how one gets into this world and how one gets out of it” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Personal Purity,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 76).

Blessings of the Temple

This is one of the first insights in Messages from the Scriptures. It was originally posted at my publisher's blog (and of course, it can be found in the book itself).

By attending the temple, we receive great blessings of peace and assistance from the Lord.

Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house. (D&C 110:9)

The temple is a holy place where God’s people can go to worship and find spiritual renewal. When the temple of Solomon was built, the Lord promised: “Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually” (2 Chronicles 7:15–16). Of the temple, the Lord declared, “I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house” (D&C 110:7). In the temple, we can obtain spiritual blessings and fortification. Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “When we keep the temple covenants we have made and when we live righteously in order to maintain the blessings promised by those ordinances, then come what may, we have no reason to worry or to feel despondent” (Richard G. Scott, “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” Ensign, May 2009, 45).

The Test of Mortality

This is one of the first insights in Messages from the Scriptures. It was originally posted at my publisher's blog (and of course, it can be found in the book itself).

The test of mortality is to see if we will use our will to keep God’s commandments.

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. (Abraham 3:25)

Sacrifice was a very important part of the Mosaic law (see Exodus 29, for example). Yet, even with so many directions and decrees concerning the law of sacrifice, God said, “If ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will” (Leviticus 19:5). God does not force us to obey His commandments; rather, He asks us to obey out of our love for Him, and He promises us blessings for obedience (see D&C 130:20–21). When the Lord told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 2:16–17), He didn’t stop them from partaking. Obviously, He could have set cherubim to guard that tree just as He later did with the tree of life (see Genesis 3:24). God is not interested in forced obedience. He has placed us in this life of trials and adversity, as He told the Israelites, to humble us and see if we will keep his commandments (see Deuteronomy 8:2). As President Ezra Taft Benson explained, “The great test of life is obedience to God” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Great Commandment—Love the Lord,” Ensign, May 1988, 4).

The CTR Pumpkin

Here is a picture of a pumpkin I carved two years ago. I am still quite proud of it, if I say so myself.

The Lord's Children

Here is another sample. Again, this is one that was taken out of the book before publication, so it isn't actually a part of the book. But it's a good example of what to expect.

Our children are not our own—they are the Lord’s.

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. (Psalms 82:6)

Molech was one of the false gods worshipped by Israel’s neighbors, often by making a child “pass through the fire,” a rite which the Lord specifically warned against (Deuteronomy 18:10). Worship of Molech among the children of Israel was present at least in the days of Solomon (1 Kings 11:7) until the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 23:10). Jeremiah reminded the Israelites that worship of Molech by the perverse ceremony of passing through fire was forbidden (Jeremiah 7:31). His fellow-prophet, Ezekiel, also condemned it. But Ezekiel’s passage adds something that makes it more meaningful. In all other passages condemning Molech worship, God warned the people not to involve their children in the rite. But through His prophet Ezekiel, He said, “thou hast slain my children and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire” (Ezekiel 16:21, emphasis added). The Lord reminded the Israelites that the children really weren’t theirs—they were His. Elder H. Bryan Richards explained, “We are stewards of those sons [and daughters] held in reserve for this day. The Lord has entrusted them to us, and we will be held accountable for them” (H. Bryan Richards, “As For Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord,” Ensign [Nov. 1998], 43).

Eternity - Poem

Eternity

There they are—
The pages filled in earthly books
About great men of old,
Those who fought in battles large,
Or gave grand speeches bold—
Slowly turning,
Simply turning:
Life’s great stories told.

But I wonder—
What’s off in a far eternity,
The future without end,
When all is said and done and been,
No other acts to lend?
Who can say it?
Who can know it?
Nothing more to mend.

Isn’t there more?
The pages flash before my eyes
Of some infinity—
Children of a heavenly Being
In plain felicity:
“Thank you so much;
I owe you so much;
Thanks for helping me.”

So it’s true then—
The simple things we do each day,
Amid the tears and strife,
To help and build, assist all else,
The music of the fife.
So important,
Simply meaning
The purpose of our life.