Owing our happiness to the way we read the scriptures

Alma 44:5
“And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us--”

We owe our happiness to the maintenance of the word of God!  I see that (catch that really; for the first time in my life--after having read it dozens and hundreds of times!) and need to ask myself: How well am I maintaining the word of God in my life?  How well am I infusing the doctrine of Christ into my soul?  How else can I learn to become like God better than I am now (because really that's what the scriptures are: a guidebook to becoming like Jesus Christ)?  

Think of President Nelson and all of his self-assessed projects (and we only have the ones he's mentioned in a general conference talk...).  Do I read the scriptures like he does?  No?  Good thing he is telling is some ways that he is doing it.  I suppose I should not feel bad about piggy-back-riding on the prophet to become better...

I suppose I should pray about that until I receive an answer...

JPS

Lessons from "Unbreakable"

A few years ago I had told my eldest son, Addison, that I would't buy him Airpods because I would be afraid that he would "cut-himself off" entirely from the Spirit of God and cut him off from the people around him--mostly from his classmates at school.  Funny enough, after time and questions that have made me trust him more (in that regard), we bought him airpods last Christmas...

Last LDS General Conference, the same or a similar issue was raised by Bonnie L. Oscarson, the President of the wold-wide LDS Young Women's program when she delivered her talk, "Who Needs Me Now?"  She says, "We are touched when we see the suffering and great needs of those halfway around the world, but we may fail to see there is a person who needs our friendship sitting right next to us in class."  Or seeing the needs of someone walking down the hallway, literally right in front of us!

However, we can look to a lesson from the movie, Unbreakable, starring Bruce Willis ("David") and Samuel L. Jackson ("Elijah").  David feels an emptiness in his life, maybe always has felt that emptiness.   David has some sort of super-power that makes his body impenetrable.  His cells are "unbreakable."  He is also strong, in an undetermined way or amount.   He was a super-star football player in high school but decided to use the car accident that he was involved in (where his then-girlfriend, now-wife was almost killed) with the girl that would become his wife.

Elijah tells him, after David performs his fist superhero-esque feat of saving a houseful of children that have been kidnapped by a house-napper and killer:

Go to where people are. You won't have to look very long. It's all right to be afraid David. Because this part won't be like a comic book. Real life doesn't fit into little boxes that were drawn for it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMjBw3mz3Y).

David has to be that superhero that he was born to be if he doesn't want to feel that emptiness and not fulfill his destiny!

Likewise, Addison and all the hearers-of-Who Needs Me Now?", (including my entire family--that means you too, Quentin!) just like David, needs to pay attention to the Spirit whispering to them (all of us!) to help those who stand in need.  Imagine, you're walking down the hallway at school and someone does need you.  Imagine that you're listening to your favorite steaming station or your new favorite album using your bluetooth connection through your new airpods.  You might have heard the whispering of the Spirit say to you to help or why or in what way you should help, but you are busy focusing on your music or even a broadcast (wouldn't it have been absolutely ironic if you were even listening to "'Good, Better, Best' by Elder Dallin H. Oaks when you ignore that prompting to reach-out and talk to your fellow student?) and can't hear the Holy Ghost whisper to you to help your fellow classmate.

So, who needs us now?  Listen, and you'll hear!  Elder Boyd Kenneth Packer, of the quorum of the twelve apostles, said to the youth of the church:

The gift of the Holy Ghost, if you consent, will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought or a feeling put into your heart. … It is not expected that you go through life without making mistakes, but you will not make a major mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Spirit. This promise applies to all members of the Church. (President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 17–18.)

JPS

see Learning to Hear and Understand the Spirit, Obeying the Whisperings of the Holy Ghost, 

The Whisperings of the Spirit, Helping Others recognize the Whisperings..., & Acting on Promptings ("It is the privilege of every Latter-day Saint to receive daily inspiration through the Spirit. By being worthy of and willing to heed spiritual promptings, we can obtain the guidance Heavenly Father wishes to bless us with. Below, three members share how they listened and responded to promptings of the Spirit and, in turn, received abundant blessings.").

Lessons from "Babe"

Movies can sometimes teach us new things, but mostly they can remind us of truths that we already have learned or know.  That's why I love watching movies--they show us new (maybe unique) ways in which a truth can apply in a certain situation!

For example, Babe--I was watching the movie with my kiddeos and paused to think about what was going on and what my youngest son and daughter might learn (tacitly and probably even unconsciously [that's right, UNCONSCIOUSLY, like how your heart beats without you thinking about it or how an involuntary reflex is triggered without you thinking about it or choosing to move...]).

The truths that I saw being taught in the movie, "Babe":

1) Anyone can accomplish almost anything if you believe in yourself (have a correct idea of who you are and what you can do!).

2) Anyone can accomplish almost anything if someone believes in you (buoys you up with correct ideas of who you are and what you can do!).

3) It's infinitely better to lead by example than to coerce or force (see D&C 121:41-43 "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— 43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;"), and follow Jesus Christ's example!

4) Love can conquer almost anything (as God is Love 1 John 4:8 "He that liveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.")!  God can conquer or achieve or do anything that He sets His mind to!

5) YOU can accomplish almost anything since someone loves you (and all you need to do is realize that God loves you, infinitely!).

JPS

Doctrinal Concept of Light

The Doctrinal concept of Light

Also truth

And spirit

From the Doctrine & Covenants section 88, verse 45, we read:

"For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

Then President Uctforf gave this talk:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/bearers-of-heavenly-light?lang=eng

If we can experience more and more light, until we have banished darkness from our mind and lives, that doesn’t mean that Satan cannot tempt us, does it?  He tempted Christ, but was that only because Christ needed to be tempted and allowed Satan to tempt him?  Or, because Satan is a free agent, can he always tempt us?  If so, then how will he be “bound” during the millennium?  And, can’t we have our own personal millennium or can’t we bind Satan personally?  Don’t think we can...  we can make him have no power over us or make us spiritually impenetrable, but that doesn’t mean that we need to do anything to or with him...  what is meant when it says, bound, is that the people, we, will not be impressionable...  kind of like how God the Father and Jesus Christ are un-impressionable by Satan!

"Light and truth forsake that evil one", Doctrine and Covenants 93:37.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-7 & 40

6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;

7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

40 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

Doctrine and Covenants 84:45

45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:31-32

31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.

32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.

33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

Light shown allows us to discern between truth and error.

His light will cause dormant things to spring to life.

In any given day, 24-hours, we all experience darkness—as darkness is the absence of light and we don’t all experience the same radiance coming from the sun.  Often we experience darkness as we are turned away from that source of light or it is being blocked.

And, even on the darkest of nights, even a total eclipse of the sun, does not erase the heavenly Light that is always and continually pouring down upon us!  Darkness is in no way an indication that there is no light, but usually only means that we are not in the right place to receive the light.

Are we creating our own eclipse or have we allowed ourselves to be beguiled into a cavern we otherwise would never enter?  What is going on?

Don’t we want to be in the light?  Don’t we want to bring our families to that light and partake of the fruit—the most delicious and desirable fruit to make one happy—that is always being offered to everyone?!?

Spiritual darkness can draw a veil of forgetfulness around, even those, who once walked in the light and rejoiced in the Lord.

Sin prevents us from having access to divine light?  Darkness reduces our ability to see clearly and dims our vision—we may stub our toe (which may make us angry!) or miss the exit (frustration ensues?), but if we will just keep pressing forward, making righteous choices from past memories, we could find ourselves in the light again.  When we are in the light, we see our spiritual and temporal trials clearly because we see them from an eternal perspective!  We need to move ourselves to a place where we have access or can see the light!

The ultimate remedy for spiritual darkness is the spiritual light that is always available to every soul—you will never be forced to accept it, though...

When we are already in the light, we can make righteous choices based on true principles.  We have a perfect brightness of hope because we can see our mortal trials from an eternal perspective!

The more apply the doctrinal concept of light, the more we can guard against Spiritual sicknesses that can afflict is on every hand and we will be able to more fully serve Christ and raise-up His kingdom!

As a holder of the priesthood of God, both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood of God, keep doing those things that will nurture this divine light—hold-up your light and let it shine before men!

JPS

Choosing your own path?

Alma 41, verse seven says:

These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.

It looks, like, from this verse, that the only souls who are going to be their own judges are going to be those who have chosen righteousness--those who choose wickedness are consigned to torment and have no part in their own judgment--only Celestial Bodies judge themselves...

So, you're your own judge, and you're righteous, so you have the mind of Christ, so who is going to be your judge?  Christ--"Christ in se" or Christ's judgement coming through you...  

The image that comes to mind, though, is of those latter-day-saints who are too hard on themselves or who sound like they are being too hard on themselves (whether or not they actually are or whether their words/attitude is actually that which the think or believe); is it really an affect?  Is it actually righteous?  And, the point of being judged of yourself, with the same judgment that Christ gives?  Wouldn't that mean that the affect is disingenuous?

Or, whosoever is righteous can walk wherever they want WITHIN the path and be saved (see vs 8)...  some choose to walk on the path of exaltation, others won't, but walking on the path will take you to the Celestial Kingdom!  Once you're in the Celestial Kingdom and have been resurrected with a Celestial Body, then, except for an exalted body, couldn't you choose different paths?

JPS

Eternal Law of Conservation?

In Alma 37:27, we read:

"And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed."

Why not, though, simply destroy them all?  Destroy all of the records that have those covenants or agreements.  Why not get-rid of any and all copies of Satan's work?  Satan could just reveal the same thing to each of his followers--there could literally be millions or billions of copies of his works all over this world.

Well, maybe Satan has a ‘conservation of resources’ law, keeping him from making more if one already exists...?  As when the Lord reveals Himself or His words, He works a little differently:

"The Lord conserves His spiritual power in not duplicating things that He has already done before (i.e. He doesn't reveal the same scripture for the first time, over and over, but simply has it kept safe or conserved and then revealed or translated).

For example, in the Book of Mormon, in the Book of 1 Nephi, chapter four, verses 14 and 15 and 16, we read about how Nephi was commanded to return with his brothers to the land of Jerusalem and to retrieve the Brass Plates.  We read:

"14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.
15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass."

And so, instead of re-revealing the same Law of Moses to Lehi and his family, the Lord conserves His power and they retrieve the plates from Laban, thus conserving God's energy.  It's not that God is afraid that He'll run out or run low of His power, because He can't.  He won't.  Don't be silly!  God, though, is perfect.  He also is perfectly efficient and effective in the way that He does things.

Another case-in-point, instead of re-revealing the words and revelations of the Brother of Jared (Mahonri Moriancumer), the Lord simply had Mosiah translate the engravings from Adamic--the pure language of God that all the world spoke before the confusing of the languages at the Tower of Babel-- the original language, into reformed Egyptian and from there, had Moroni add them to the end of his record before his few final words (see Mosiah 28:12)." (The Lord's Conservation of Energy)

It might just be that one of or the biggest reason why or the biggest reason why Satan's plans are not overrunning the Earth is that he has to live or operate by the same law or principle--it may be that he can't.  It may be that he has to operate under God's laws (duh!  all of His children do!)..

JPS

Liahona/Spirit

Almost seems arbitrary that the Liahona had two spindles to point Lehi and Nephi to the promised land (except that it was 1-made by God & and 2-made for that exact purpose), but all it happened to be was a physical manifestation of the Holy Ghost—to prevent them from misinterpreting the direction or to allow the entire family to see what the direction the compass was directing them on the smartest, quickest route to the Promised Land (and avoid dissension from what Lehi/Nephi said from the other brothers and party)...

Alma 37:44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

So, now, we've gotten rid of the arbitrary commas spindles and we are guided by the Spirit and the voice of God's prophet's--not so easy as following a compass, or is it?  

If and when we have become obedient to what it is that God is telling us to do or following the ways that He is prompting us to go, then it is as easy as following spindles on the compass.  In fact, now you don't even have to rely on your orienteering skills to navigate the map that will lead you back to the Celestial Kingdom, and in fact, you don't have to do it yourself...  You have a family, God the Father, Jesus Christ, a ward family, the prophet and the apostles and the rest of the General Authorities...  You're never alone!

JPS

Does God have faith in us?

Joseph Smith said, in his Lectures on Faith, second lecture:

2 We here observe that God is the only supreme governor, and independent being, in whom all fulness and perfection dwells; who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient; without beginning of days or end of life; and that in him every good gift, and every good principle dwells; and that he is the Father of lights: In him the principle of faith dwells independently; and he is the object in whom the faith of all other rational and accountable beings centers, for life and salvation.

And He has seen the end from the beginning (seen us do it!), so, why don’t we believe Him?  The perfect, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God of the entire Universe has absolute and total knowledge and faith (because we haven't chosen to act, yet...) that we will do the things that He has told us we'll do, and yet we still don't believe him.  Why would we be so obstinate, so unbelieving, so untrusting, or so faithless in Him, the Father of Lights and the One being in whom all perfection dwells?  Why not be energized that He has seen us do it (in His minds eye) and trust that He knows what He's talking about?  Why doesn't that just spur us on to do the thing that He knows we can do?  Are we claiming to be smarter than Him?  Or, do we just not believe Him?  Either way, that doesn't seem very wise of us... does it?

I love you,

Josh