This is a test.
Monday, October 29, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
The Gift of Discernment Part 9: Why Your Judgmentalism Blocks You from Discerning God and His Voice
In the article (here), Dr. Jana Reiss summarizes survey results of Early Returning Missionaries (ERMs). In one study, “a third of millennial Mormons who went out on a mission came home before their assigned time.” With 67,049 full-time LDS missionaries serving as of today, that would mean we’re talking about 22,126 ERMs.
Why did they return home? A second study conducted by the University of Utah (U of U) found that among ERMs, 36% returned for mental health reasons, 34% for physical health reasons, 12% for previously undisclosed transgressions and 11% for disobeying mission rules.
Upon returning home, most ERMs felt that people assumed they were returning for issues related to transgressions. “They feel stigmatized and ashamed, whether or not there was sin involved.” The U of U study found:
- Nearly six in 10 respondents said their wards were unfriendly or indifferent about their ERM status.
- Nearly half said their local church leaders treated them poorly.
- Fewer than a third reported a chilly reception in their own families.
- 73% said they had feelings of failure. In fact, the majority of ERMs had feelings of failure regardless of the reason they returned, regardless of whether their early return was related to personal conduct.
- 66% felt uncomfortable in social settings.
- 44% felt uncomfortable answering questions about their missions.
“Because a mission is voluntary service, the phenomenon of being culturally stigmatized and feeling like a failure for returning early is incongruent with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (U of U study)
NOTHINGNESS
Over the decades, I've personally observed:
- A commonly-held belief that if you're nice to a sinner, you're perceived as tacitly accepting of the sin. So conversely, we are expected to disdain the sin and withhold love and support to the sinner as a demonstration of our doctrinal or lifestyle disagreement.
- Many members fly like pieces whenever they’re faced with some circumstance they've never personally encountered. And because it’s new, different or “is contrary to their traditions,” we automatically consider it uninspired at best and evil at worst.
- To avoid judging, many instead “offer their opinion” while still insinuating, “I’m right and that's it, no compromise.”
- Many shun the different, the outcast, the people who smell like smoke, have bloodshot eyes, maybe haven’t bathed in two days, the mentally ill, as well as those who haven’t been to church in half a year or don’t have a temple recommend. And heaven forbid they've ever had church discipline! That’s spiritual leprosy!
“We can so clearly and easily see the harmful results that come when others judge and hold grudges. And we certainly don’t like it when people judge us.
But when it comes to our own prejudices and grievances, we too often justify our anger as righteous and our judgment as reliable and only appropriate. Though we cannot look into another’s heart, we assume that we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel that, in our case, we have all the information we need to hold someone else in contempt.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, said that those who pass judgment on others are “inexcusable.” The moment we judge someone else, he explained, we condemn ourselves, for none is without sin. Refusing to forgive is a grievous sin—one the Savior warned against. Jesus’s own disciples had “sought occasion against [each other] and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.” (“The Merciful Obtain Mercy”, April 2012 General Conference)The aforementioned statistics and statements are a harsh reality that we have become a people who cut down others in God’s name, despite the fact that the sword was never ours to swing.
Are these behaviors -- by church members -- truly indicative of "The Lord's Chosen People?" "A Righteous Generation" with "Noble Birthright?" "The Elect of God?" A “Royal Priesthood?” A “Chosen Generation?” Even "The Anointed?"
How can we, collectively, consider ourselves God’s people when our collective judgmentalism ruins and destroys those who are generationally destined to help lead the church and the families that comprise it?
Is “eating our young” something we are proud of?
It’s no wonder that "there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 14:1; 53:1-3). It’s because “man is nothing” (Moses 1:10) to the extent that we “are less than the dust of the earth." (Helaman 12:7). Additionally,
"It is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18)When you judge another, you only deepen the spiritual depths in which you live. It increases your disharmony with the Lord, His characteristics, His attributes, His personality and His doctrines. The Lord has told us members of the church what will happen to such members very soon:
“Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.” (D&C 112:24-26; emphasis mine)
“...LEST YE BE JUDGED”
I believe there is only one way to rise above the spiritual death and decay of judgmentalism: Jesus Christ. I can tell you by direct, personal experience that He, the greatest of all of us, is also the least judgmental of all of us. The amount of love He has for us is incomprehensible.
1. You must quit fooling yourself by believing that you are somehow better, and more righteous, more chosen than you really are.
“Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” (Psalm 138:6)
“Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” (Proverbs 3:34)2. You must acknowledge that there is a direct correlation between your judging others, and how you are (and will continue to be) judged. In other words, you never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1–5)
“EVEN AS I AM”...
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to dig yourself out of the pit of judgmentalism is to passionately study the Savior. I mean, make not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him, a primary focus of your life. Then emulate what you read about Him.
Jesus’ counsel to the Nephite Twelve illuminates this concept:
“Ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).Once you come to really know Jesus -- His characteristics, His personality, His overwhelming love for all of us and His mercy, you discover something beautiful about Him. For example, when the apostles James and John were infuriated when the people of a Samaritan village treated the Savior disrespectfully (Luke 9:51–54), Jesus’ response effectively put them in their place:
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (verses 54–56).Wow, what a concept. Look at that again. Jesus came not to destroy others. Not to tear them down. Not to demean them. Not to guilt trip them. Not to prove that He was somehow smarter and better than the rest of us.
No. He came to save us. And He beautifully, magnificently did so with just four little letters.
L-O-V-E.
SAVING LIVES WITH LOVE
In a previous post, I asked, “Pop quiz: During His mortal life, who did Jesus hang out with?"
His disciples? Yes, of course. But if you go back and read your scriptures, you'll see that
"as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:15-17)Jesus not only hung out with, but actually sought out the company of and invited into His house, the publicans (tax collectors -- the most despised people in society) as well as the sinners (the prostitute, the adulterer). I can only surmise the list of invitees could have included the formerly blind/lame/leper, the Samaritan, the poor, the sick, as well as other outcast/despised/dejected/rejected classes. In other words, the lowest of the low in society. THAT is where you’d find Jesus.
Who would Christ be dining with tonight?
For example, in John 4, when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He didn't open with, "Hi there, you sexually immoral person! Do you know that sleeping with that man who is not your husband is sin? And because you’re not a Christian, you’re eternally damned?" There was no “Hey, if you didn't like your first husband, then you could only have left him if X, Y or Z happened. And if they didn't, then you're a sinner. Ewww, go away!”
Of course not! He simply asked, “Will you give me a drink?"
He opened a dialogue with her. He was nice! He was cool. He was friendly (or as missionaries are trained, He “established a relationship of trust”).
When He did go on to talk about her situation, He first listened to her. Then when He finally spoke with her, it was in truth, sensitivity and love...and not a molecule of judgmentalism. And because of that, her life was changed.
I love the story of the woman at the well, because to be perfectly frank, all of us could easily replace her. True, maybe you haven’t sinned like she did. In fact, maybe you’re a recommend-holding, scripture-reading, monthly-fasting, calling-magnifying latter-day saint. Terrific! But that still doesn't negate your mortal status (as the "Nothingness" section of this post above clearly summarized).
In reality, Jesus operates on a higher wavelength -- in forgiveness and grace. Just look at when He judged. More often than not, it was with hypocritical leaders or those defiling the temple. You’d be hard pressed to find Him being anything but loving and sensitive to all other sinners.
TO BE AS HE IS
He knew -- and wishes you to know -- that if someone is doing something you know is wrong, the only way you'll reach them is through understanding and love.
“We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” (Madeleine L'Engle)
How is this relevant to discernment?
Because God reveals things not to inform you,
but to enable you to intercede in a Godlike way.
Additionally, God never reveals something
for the purpose of judgment, but for healing.
Not for defeat, but for victory.
As a Christian, it is not your duty to pass judgment on others, hold grudges because of your differences, gossip about those who disagree with you or blatantly shame someone for their beliefs. When you do so, you imperil your own salvation:
Above everything, we are to pour out God's love to others in the same way He does for us. Yes, constructive criticism is a part of loving someone and supporting God's Word in all circumstances, but quickly, summarily, loudly shaming those who disagree with us (or whom we find disagreeable) isn't the answer.
It is love that is going to transform ourselves, others and the world. Nothing more, nothing less. God has given us the tools to make it a reality throughout the world.
Ask God to open your eyes to the world at the end of your pointing fingers. This does NOT mean that you are seeking to sacrifice your beliefs or compromise your morals. You’ll never see an instance where Jesus endorsed prostitution or other sins. But He sure did let those sinners -- and everyone -- know He sincerely loved them.
“Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? Why can’t all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us?” (Pres. Gordon B Hinckley, “The Need for Greater Kindness”, April 2006 General Conference)Let’s take a test and see how well you’re able to do just that:
- A person doesn't take the Sacrament. Do you wonder, “Is she excommunicated? Disfellowshipped? I wonder what she did. Ewwww, an apostate! I should avoid her. After all, I might be called into the Bishop’s office too if they see me talking to her.” Or do you think, “Wow, they could probably use a friend right now. I wonder who else I could introduce them to.”
- A person confides that they’re divorcing. Do you ask, “Who filed?”, “Who’s fault is it?” How about the ever-popular “How can you do that to your kids?”, “What happened?” or you opine/preach about what are the justifiable grounds for divorce? Or do you ask, “How are you holding up?” “How is your support base?” or just spend an hour with them, listening?
- A person confides they are homosexual or lesbian. What would Jesus do -- Kick them out the door, ostracize them and let them discover what it feels like to be in disharmony with Church teachings? Preach and condemn them? Or hug them and tell them that even though you disagree with their lifestyle, no matter what they do, you’ll always love them?
- A priest sits with his family during sacrament meeting instead of blessing the sacrament because of his addiction to porn. How do you encourage this young man and build -- rather than destroy -- his faith?
- You minister to a person struggling with mental health or substance abuse problems. Do you conveniently ignore them? Just go in, give a brief lesson then bolt for the door, or spend an hour and listen to them?
- A co-worker is depressed. Is it best to just tell them to just “buck up”?
- Oh, and that beggar on the street corner? Do you look the other way, leave it to someone else to consider them, or hand them something to benefit their lives?
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)I’ll be honest with you. I have a long way to go to being truly non-judgmental. As I consider the times when I've been judgmental, I’m ashamed and embarrassed. I feel like I am the dirty, muddy prodigal son.
Yet I am one of those who can testify that I know the Savior. I have looked into His eyes, seen His smile, and have blessed with Him with treasures I’ll never be able to repay through all generations of time. In my opinion, He is far, far too eager to forgive and forget than I will ever be able to comprehend.
Please seek Him out. You’ll find him in your scriptures. You’ll find Him in your mind’s eye, as you visualize the events of His life. You’ll find Him as you seek Him, no matter if you’re at home, at work, or even in your car. You may soon discover that wherever you walk, He is there also...every step of the way...beckoning you to walk beside Him straight to the Father’s throne of power and grace.
It’s my prayer that you will rise above the bottomless pit of judgmentalism by heeding the words He speaks to you every day. As you do so, I have no doubt that He will transform your life, and others, with understanding and love.
When you cast that beam from your own eye,
you’ll hear and see God a whole lot clearer.
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Monday, October 15, 2018
IOHANNI WOLFGRAMM - THE CALL OF REPENTANCE AND THE SCALES OF TIME
IOHANNI WOLFGRAMM - THE CALL OF REPENTANCE AND THE SCALES OF TIME
http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com/2018/10/iohanni-wolfgramm-call-of-repentance.html
I am filled with the Spirit when I read this. Iohanni stood approved and had the Second Comforter minister to him and the "Third Comforter". I have read accounts where the faithful is given the privilege of the "Fourth Comforter", where-in they are introduced to the mother of their Spirit. As I have said before, this has to be one of the most sublime events a mortal can experience.
I am intrigued about the Scale of Time mentioned in Iohanni's account:
If you ever have had doubts about President Kimball being a Prophet of God, this testimony of Iohanni should lay that to rest. I would say the same thing about President Nelson, though I lack anecdotal backing for him that this event provides:
Pres. Kimball went on to say that I should take with me my genealogy to Tonga and teach even the Royal family, and bring the Scale of Time to show them how short the time is for them to go to the temple and redeem their dead. Before we left the prophet told us that two days after arriving in Tonga I would be visited by Christ and he would let me know of my mission to the Tongan people.
We went to Provo for missionary training and eventually arrived in Tonga. In the training center we were very popular and every time there was a break missionaries came into our room and wanted to hear more and more of what I had to say.
But today I want to let all my family know what happened to me. From here I will explain to you why I was sick, but in reality I was not sick. Rather it was the vision that I saw with my eyes that caused me to feel like that. It was during the night that I saw the vision before I retired to bed.
There were two personages that stood inside our living room. Their feet did touch the ground and I didn't know where they came from. They said to me, "Stand up, we have come to take you with us and would like you to see the dwelling place of the Lord." I took a deep breath and we were on our way. We went on a very speedy trip. I was frightened and thought they were going to destroy my life. As we traveled we passed many planets and other celestial bodies. I asked them where they were taking me, and they told me to where the Lord resides.
I was taken to a place unknown to me. I didn't understand where we were. In a short time I heard the thunder and saw lightning and rain. It looked like we were facing the west as the sun went down-then it was all dark. At that time it seemed to me like 8:00 p.m. but it was after midnight when I was getting ready to retire. We saw the light, though it was raining and saw the lightning hit and then saw another lightning hit, and one of the men said, "See, in a few moments you will see a vision from the heavens and the appearance of Christ in his glory." Everything was so light and beautiful and shining. While I was standing there I felt the rain, the lightning hit me and the darkness disappeared and everything was light. That light never disappeared. Then I saw the rainbow and the rainbow encircled the light and there was no end of the brightness-brighter than noonday sun.
Then the voice spoke to me and asked if I understood about the rainbow. I said, "Yes, that was the covenant that was made between Noah and Father in Heaven that he would never again destroy the earth by water."
Then the voice said, "Iohani, have you repented enough?" Then the voice spoke of this world, "Have all mankind repented enough? Indeed it is true, I will not destroy this earth again by water, but I will destroy it with fire if they will not come unto me." Then I saw the light circle around the rainbow. He told me to look and see what was written. What I saw was:
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
written in gold. Again the voice spoke to me, "See." The writing was full of lights and very brilliant. I heard a voice speaking from that light saying, "Iohani, go and call repentance unto your people. Call them to repent and to repent and to repent. Go and call everyone that lives on these islands to repent and repent and repent. The time is so short that they must repent and repent and repent. Let the people know that you will meet in this life know that the time is so short that they must repent and come unto Christ. You must go and call repentant unto your people in Tonga, including the royal house of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Mata'aho and the Crown Prince Tupou To'a. The Lord told me that a few months after Salote and I touch the American soil, a destruction will come to Tonga-not to destroy them completely, but as a warning to let them know that he, Jesus Christ, rules on earth and in the heavens. I was sent to Tonga by God so I could be an instrument or a mouthpiece for him so I could cry repentance unto my people and if they hardened their hearts to the words of God, and repented not of their iniquities, a tidal wave would come to their beaches and it would cause damage to their crops and plantations. Some of their homes, power lines, and trees, would be uprooted. Floods would come to some places. Rocks and coral would be tossed like feathers in the air. But this problem will only come if they fail to hearken to voice of his servants and repent not. I was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and I started my mission where Christ told me to begin at Ha'atafu in the western district, then all the way up to Niutoua in the eastern district. "In my anger I will send destruction to them because they have not listened to my servants nor repented of their iniquities. Because they will not listen to my voice, they will destroyed and no one will be left." In his loud voice Christ spoke and said to me that I must go and teach them, to speak to them with kindness but not hurt them and for them to repent.. No one will live when I send my destruction upon the islands of the sea, even those who are not members of the Church that have not listened to my servants will be destroyed. Christ spoke to me and used the word repentance 16 times.
This was shown to me at the very first part of our mission. After He spoke to me the light disappeared, and I stood there alone. I was confused, not knowing what was going on, and again wondering where this light came from. From where He was speaking to me it was about 30 or 40 feet away. Again the light came back only about 2 minutes after it disappeared, and again I heard the voice speaking to me. This second time it was louder. Christ stood behind me cupping my ear and spoke to me, "Go and speak to the people and tell them I am Jesus Christ-and have sent you to those who live on this island and those you meet in your daily work. Call them quickly to repent because I am coming soon to destroy this world and no one will be left behind-they will all be destroyed." Also, for the third time he again spoke the same thing to me. "Go to them and call them to repentance. I am coming to this world to destroy it if they do not repent and repent and repent and wait no more, for I will come to punish them-those that will not keep my word nor abide by the scriptures."
"You must speak even to those missionaries you are serving with-that are working daily with you-call them to repentance also. I am Jesus Christ, who called for you to call them to repentance. Command the missionaries not to be ashamed or fear but to preach repentance also. Most of them will hate you and won't believe what you say to them, but you must let them know that they must repent or they will be destroyed."
He urged me to go and speak to the missionaries, not tomorrow, but right now." Then the light disappeared again. At that moment I still stood there. Then the lightening came again and hit me right under my feet and started to work its way up through all my body like a ball of fire starting from my feet. I could see myself standing and the power that came from that light was like an electric shock. It first affected my flesh and entered my bones. I immediately felt the pain in my whole body with that power inside. I looked at my hands and my whole body was illuminated. I felt that I was going to faint-with the heat and the strong power. Even my eyes. I was like the sun standing there. My body was changed.
I almost fell to the ground, but the angels held me up and said, "Iohani, you have the same power with which the Lord created the whole earth with and same power will stand firm for you when you meet the Savior. The Lord called me from the side, "Iohani." I turned and Christ put his arms around me and hugged me and kissed me and told me how much He really loved me and wanted to introduce me to his father Elohim. Then He took my and introduced me to Elohim in the place where they dwell. It was more beautiful. The place was full of light and was clear like crystal and pure and holy. It was a beauty that I cannot explain, but I felt a warmth and spirit of love in that place. He kissed me and hugged me and told me, "I wish that all my children on the earth would do the same as you have been doing in giving your time, your talent, your faith and sharing your love with others." And again he embraced me, hugged and kissed me, and Jesus did the same to me. Jesus Christ and Elohim laid their hands on my head and ordained me to my calling. After that they hugged me again.
Immediately I heard someone speak behind me with his mouth to my ear. "I tell you right now, go and speak to your people. You don't have much time to call your people to repentance. Those who haven't received the gospel must come unto Christ and be baptized. There will be many diseases and people will die from them and destruction will come to them. Don't hesitate, but straight way talk to the missionaries, they must call the people to repentance also."
Christ spoke again in my ear and said, "Iohani, look behind you and see what's going on." I slowly turned my head to see what was behind me. I looked at my own hands and body and it was full of electric power and I saw thousands and thousands of people behind me. The understanding that I had was that they were not members of the Church and they were full of evil-all kinds of evil, and had not yet repented. Again the voice spoke into my ear. "Iohani, turn around and continue to preach to these people. Go to these people behind you and call them to repentance. Speak to them like right now."
When I was told to do that I obeyed the voice. I turned around, walked straight at them, and as I started to speak to them, it was like my whole body was in a flame of light. I didn't know where I was standing, but lit it was daytime. As soon as I started to speak, the people started to fall to the ground. Some started to cover their faces. They couldn't withstand the power that came from me. Some fell on their back on the floor, some didn't want to look at the light and turned their heads away. When I spoke to them, it looked like the people were wilting. Some were sitting against some boards and when I spoke, they fell to the floor. Some of them fell from the wall they had been sitting on. That's how powerful the spirit was. Again they tried to hide their faces of fall on their stomach. They were even falling from the houses. Some on their knees. The people were beginning to get frightened-you could tell by their eyes. As I was talking I told them to repent-then Christ told me to speak out louder-three times. Repent, be baptized, and come to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so you can have eternal life. I did as I was told. Christ said, "Iohani, speak up louder." Again for the second time I began to speak to them very loudly with all my strength. The third time Christ spoke again to me and said, "LOUDER." Be obedient to the Lord or your life will be taken. Some didn't have clothes, some had torn clothes, and were very frightened. I don't know how many people were there, but many thousands.
When I was told by Christ to tell them to repent-I raised my hand and brought it down firmly and told them to repent. "Say it louder and louder," I was instructed. I called them to repentance with all my power and the Lord was very pleased with me."
When I was returned back to my home I wanted to wake up Salote to tell her, but the spirit said it was not the right time. I wanted her to massage my back because the pain was still in my body, my bones, my flesh, my muscles and I needed a massage. But she slept on and didn't hear me call for help.
I crawled to the bathroom and buried myself in the cool water to get some relief, but it was no comfort. My body was on fire, especially my bones and my flesh was in pain. Again I ran the shower over my heard, but nothing helped. I said a prayer and asked it it would be alright to relate the story to my wife, but the spirit told me not now. I suffered that day and throughout the next night until morning. I couldn't even move my hands.
Salote woke up and thought I had the flu so went after some aspirin. While Salote was out two sister missionaries walked into our missionary home to see if they could have breakfast with us. I crawled to the kitchen, cooked them a pot of rice. While they were eating Salote arrived with two Elders to administer to me. After the blessing I felt a little relief, but not much. I still had that pain and my body was so hot, and especially all the joints. I never experienced sharp pain like that my whole life. It began with my toes, all the say to the top of my head. There was no part of my body that was not in pain. I felt like I was inside a furnace of fire-the pain in my body was tremendous.
I started to get up and try to sit down, but couldn't discover a way to relieve the pain and heat from my body. Salote went after some more aspirin. I took it but no relief. Again she went after the same Elders to administer to me again. While they were blessing me I was taken away somewhere and don't know how long I was gone, but during that time the Savior again saw me. After I returned I was able to explain to my wife and the two sister missionaries what had happened to me.
The same day, the Lord spoke to me and said, "Why are you waiting? You need to go now because I have ordained you as my mouthpiece. Get up and go now." Though I had almost no strength in my legs and they were very shaky, I was determined to go to Ha'atafu where I was directed to go first and take Salote with me. "You are not to turn away from what you are to say to the people. When they do not what I say, there will be tidal waves, there will be bad storms, and the water from the ocean will destroy their plantation, and will come over the beaches. It will be a testimony to them that I am Jesus Christ who have sent you, and you will be my mouthpiece to your people. I am the one who created this earth and everything therein."
I was filled with the spirit of our Father in Heaven and no one could stop me. I could speak to the people with power and ask them to come unto Christ and repent and be baptized. I spoke to the people at Ha'atafu and as I spoke to the people I was full of the spirit and started to prophesy many things that would come to their life they didn't change and come unto Christ. The spirit of Christ was within me that day. I felt a great love for the Savior. And the love in my heart for my Tongan people caused my heart to ache because they hardened their hearts and I bore testimony and prophesied many things that some of the old prophets had told them in the scriptures. I preached to them Joseph Smith and authority was given to him and all the keys in the last dispensation of time. He was truly a prophet of God. They must listen to the missionaries and repent and be baptized and come unto Christ and join his church, if they really want to have eternal life. If they don't they will be destroyed.
And I did the same from Ha'atafu all the way to the next town and the next village Kanokupolu.
As I returned home in the evening a van from mission headquarters arrived to take us to a missionary meeting. When we arrived at the meeting I was very ill and they took me anyway and as I got there I fainted. They rushed me to the doctor at Vaiola Hospital thinking I had a heart attack. The severe heat had never left my body and my whole body was like a furnace of fire. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with me except my body was heated and they couldn't get rid of the heat. I was told I must go back to Te'ekiu and run a cold shower on my head and body. Again the Savior came and spoke to me. I must go again on to the next town and was told not to fear for my life for I would be protected. Many people will hate you and many will call you names, but angels will protect you. At this time also, he reminded me that angels have heard the prayers of your forefathers and want their work done in the temple. For I was to include calling those people to bring their names to the temple and get their work done. Those forefathers had died before the gospel was brought to the islands. Lastly, when you preach to them they will swear at you, they will call you all kinds of names and hate you for telling them the truth, but don't give up but continue on preaching.
The next day I almost died again. We went out again and continued on to the next village. My body was full of the spirit of our Father in Heaven. I couldn't imagine all the words that filled my mind and my spirit-words to be used when I spoke to these people. And when I said those, I heard voices back from them saying, "You are a liar, you stop spreading lies." I expressed to them my love and the love of our Savior to them and bore them my testimony. I felt like I was going to die again. Especially my joints and bones were killing me.
Again the missionaries arrived in their van to check up on me. They had a welfare meeting we needed to attend in Nuku'alofa. Again I fell down and passed out. They took me again to Vaiola Hospital. I couldn't get rid of the pain. I asked my mission President Hopoate and another Elder to give me a blessing. After that they thought I had the flu, which was prevalent in Tonga at that time. I stayed in the shower all night, but didn't get any relief. I got up very early and went to Kanokupolu and started to preach to the people. The people were mean to me again over there. We walked to Kolovai. The same treatment.
Not my words, but from the Lord that spoke in my ear. Repent. Also He says that He will punish those in His house first before He punishes others. If the destruction comes to the house of the Lord, what about your house? Are you ready to receive the Lord when he comes? Have you repented enough? What He has told me is that He will completely destroy this whole world by fire and not to be slow about repenting because it will come to your house before it goes to others. Especially to my own family at home.
I am your father speaking to you. You can come unto Christ. I am very concerned about you. Are you ready to change your life? Don't wait any longer. The Lord won't speak any lies to me. It is the truth. We must change our lives for the better. I'm doing this because of my love and concern for you because I want to make sure that you will be protected and hope that you'll be obedient. The voice of warning is from Christ.
http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.com/2018/10/iohanni-wolfgramm-call-of-repentance.html
I am filled with the Spirit when I read this. Iohanni stood approved and had the Second Comforter minister to him and the "Third Comforter". I have read accounts where the faithful is given the privilege of the "Fourth Comforter", where-in they are introduced to the mother of their Spirit. As I have said before, this has to be one of the most sublime events a mortal can experience.
I am intrigued about the Scale of Time mentioned in Iohanni's account:
If you ever have had doubts about President Kimball being a Prophet of God, this testimony of Iohanni should lay that to rest. I would say the same thing about President Nelson, though I lack anecdotal backing for him that this event provides:
Pres. Kimball went on to say that I should take with me my genealogy to Tonga and teach even the Royal family, and bring the Scale of Time to show them how short the time is for them to go to the temple and redeem their dead. Before we left the prophet told us that two days after arriving in Tonga I would be visited by Christ and he would let me know of my mission to the Tongan people.
We went to Provo for missionary training and eventually arrived in Tonga. In the training center we were very popular and every time there was a break missionaries came into our room and wanted to hear more and more of what I had to say.
But today I want to let all my family know what happened to me. From here I will explain to you why I was sick, but in reality I was not sick. Rather it was the vision that I saw with my eyes that caused me to feel like that. It was during the night that I saw the vision before I retired to bed.
There were two personages that stood inside our living room. Their feet did touch the ground and I didn't know where they came from. They said to me, "Stand up, we have come to take you with us and would like you to see the dwelling place of the Lord." I took a deep breath and we were on our way. We went on a very speedy trip. I was frightened and thought they were going to destroy my life. As we traveled we passed many planets and other celestial bodies. I asked them where they were taking me, and they told me to where the Lord resides.
I was taken to a place unknown to me. I didn't understand where we were. In a short time I heard the thunder and saw lightning and rain. It looked like we were facing the west as the sun went down-then it was all dark. At that time it seemed to me like 8:00 p.m. but it was after midnight when I was getting ready to retire. We saw the light, though it was raining and saw the lightning hit and then saw another lightning hit, and one of the men said, "See, in a few moments you will see a vision from the heavens and the appearance of Christ in his glory." Everything was so light and beautiful and shining. While I was standing there I felt the rain, the lightning hit me and the darkness disappeared and everything was light. That light never disappeared. Then I saw the rainbow and the rainbow encircled the light and there was no end of the brightness-brighter than noonday sun.
Then the voice spoke to me and asked if I understood about the rainbow. I said, "Yes, that was the covenant that was made between Noah and Father in Heaven that he would never again destroy the earth by water."
Then the voice said, "Iohani, have you repented enough?" Then the voice spoke of this world, "Have all mankind repented enough? Indeed it is true, I will not destroy this earth again by water, but I will destroy it with fire if they will not come unto me." Then I saw the light circle around the rainbow. He told me to look and see what was written. What I saw was:
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
written in gold. Again the voice spoke to me, "See." The writing was full of lights and very brilliant. I heard a voice speaking from that light saying, "Iohani, go and call repentance unto your people. Call them to repent and to repent and to repent. Go and call everyone that lives on these islands to repent and repent and repent. The time is so short that they must repent and repent and repent. Let the people know that you will meet in this life know that the time is so short that they must repent and come unto Christ. You must go and call repentant unto your people in Tonga, including the royal house of Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Mata'aho and the Crown Prince Tupou To'a. The Lord told me that a few months after Salote and I touch the American soil, a destruction will come to Tonga-not to destroy them completely, but as a warning to let them know that he, Jesus Christ, rules on earth and in the heavens. I was sent to Tonga by God so I could be an instrument or a mouthpiece for him so I could cry repentance unto my people and if they hardened their hearts to the words of God, and repented not of their iniquities, a tidal wave would come to their beaches and it would cause damage to their crops and plantations. Some of their homes, power lines, and trees, would be uprooted. Floods would come to some places. Rocks and coral would be tossed like feathers in the air. But this problem will only come if they fail to hearken to voice of his servants and repent not. I was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and I started my mission where Christ told me to begin at Ha'atafu in the western district, then all the way up to Niutoua in the eastern district. "In my anger I will send destruction to them because they have not listened to my servants nor repented of their iniquities. Because they will not listen to my voice, they will destroyed and no one will be left." In his loud voice Christ spoke and said to me that I must go and teach them, to speak to them with kindness but not hurt them and for them to repent.. No one will live when I send my destruction upon the islands of the sea, even those who are not members of the Church that have not listened to my servants will be destroyed. Christ spoke to me and used the word repentance 16 times.
This was shown to me at the very first part of our mission. After He spoke to me the light disappeared, and I stood there alone. I was confused, not knowing what was going on, and again wondering where this light came from. From where He was speaking to me it was about 30 or 40 feet away. Again the light came back only about 2 minutes after it disappeared, and again I heard the voice speaking to me. This second time it was louder. Christ stood behind me cupping my ear and spoke to me, "Go and speak to the people and tell them I am Jesus Christ-and have sent you to those who live on this island and those you meet in your daily work. Call them quickly to repent because I am coming soon to destroy this world and no one will be left behind-they will all be destroyed." Also, for the third time he again spoke the same thing to me. "Go to them and call them to repentance. I am coming to this world to destroy it if they do not repent and repent and repent and wait no more, for I will come to punish them-those that will not keep my word nor abide by the scriptures."
"You must speak even to those missionaries you are serving with-that are working daily with you-call them to repentance also. I am Jesus Christ, who called for you to call them to repentance. Command the missionaries not to be ashamed or fear but to preach repentance also. Most of them will hate you and won't believe what you say to them, but you must let them know that they must repent or they will be destroyed."
He urged me to go and speak to the missionaries, not tomorrow, but right now." Then the light disappeared again. At that moment I still stood there. Then the lightening came again and hit me right under my feet and started to work its way up through all my body like a ball of fire starting from my feet. I could see myself standing and the power that came from that light was like an electric shock. It first affected my flesh and entered my bones. I immediately felt the pain in my whole body with that power inside. I looked at my hands and my whole body was illuminated. I felt that I was going to faint-with the heat and the strong power. Even my eyes. I was like the sun standing there. My body was changed.
I almost fell to the ground, but the angels held me up and said, "Iohani, you have the same power with which the Lord created the whole earth with and same power will stand firm for you when you meet the Savior. The Lord called me from the side, "Iohani." I turned and Christ put his arms around me and hugged me and kissed me and told me how much He really loved me and wanted to introduce me to his father Elohim. Then He took my and introduced me to Elohim in the place where they dwell. It was more beautiful. The place was full of light and was clear like crystal and pure and holy. It was a beauty that I cannot explain, but I felt a warmth and spirit of love in that place. He kissed me and hugged me and told me, "I wish that all my children on the earth would do the same as you have been doing in giving your time, your talent, your faith and sharing your love with others." And again he embraced me, hugged and kissed me, and Jesus did the same to me. Jesus Christ and Elohim laid their hands on my head and ordained me to my calling. After that they hugged me again.
Immediately I heard someone speak behind me with his mouth to my ear. "I tell you right now, go and speak to your people. You don't have much time to call your people to repentance. Those who haven't received the gospel must come unto Christ and be baptized. There will be many diseases and people will die from them and destruction will come to them. Don't hesitate, but straight way talk to the missionaries, they must call the people to repentance also."
Christ spoke again in my ear and said, "Iohani, look behind you and see what's going on." I slowly turned my head to see what was behind me. I looked at my own hands and body and it was full of electric power and I saw thousands and thousands of people behind me. The understanding that I had was that they were not members of the Church and they were full of evil-all kinds of evil, and had not yet repented. Again the voice spoke into my ear. "Iohani, turn around and continue to preach to these people. Go to these people behind you and call them to repentance. Speak to them like right now."
When I was told to do that I obeyed the voice. I turned around, walked straight at them, and as I started to speak to them, it was like my whole body was in a flame of light. I didn't know where I was standing, but lit it was daytime. As soon as I started to speak, the people started to fall to the ground. Some started to cover their faces. They couldn't withstand the power that came from me. Some fell on their back on the floor, some didn't want to look at the light and turned their heads away. When I spoke to them, it looked like the people were wilting. Some were sitting against some boards and when I spoke, they fell to the floor. Some of them fell from the wall they had been sitting on. That's how powerful the spirit was. Again they tried to hide their faces of fall on their stomach. They were even falling from the houses. Some on their knees. The people were beginning to get frightened-you could tell by their eyes. As I was talking I told them to repent-then Christ told me to speak out louder-three times. Repent, be baptized, and come to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so you can have eternal life. I did as I was told. Christ said, "Iohani, speak up louder." Again for the second time I began to speak to them very loudly with all my strength. The third time Christ spoke again to me and said, "LOUDER." Be obedient to the Lord or your life will be taken. Some didn't have clothes, some had torn clothes, and were very frightened. I don't know how many people were there, but many thousands.
When I was told by Christ to tell them to repent-I raised my hand and brought it down firmly and told them to repent. "Say it louder and louder," I was instructed. I called them to repentance with all my power and the Lord was very pleased with me."
When I was returned back to my home I wanted to wake up Salote to tell her, but the spirit said it was not the right time. I wanted her to massage my back because the pain was still in my body, my bones, my flesh, my muscles and I needed a massage. But she slept on and didn't hear me call for help.
I crawled to the bathroom and buried myself in the cool water to get some relief, but it was no comfort. My body was on fire, especially my bones and my flesh was in pain. Again I ran the shower over my heard, but nothing helped. I said a prayer and asked it it would be alright to relate the story to my wife, but the spirit told me not now. I suffered that day and throughout the next night until morning. I couldn't even move my hands.
Salote woke up and thought I had the flu so went after some aspirin. While Salote was out two sister missionaries walked into our missionary home to see if they could have breakfast with us. I crawled to the kitchen, cooked them a pot of rice. While they were eating Salote arrived with two Elders to administer to me. After the blessing I felt a little relief, but not much. I still had that pain and my body was so hot, and especially all the joints. I never experienced sharp pain like that my whole life. It began with my toes, all the say to the top of my head. There was no part of my body that was not in pain. I felt like I was inside a furnace of fire-the pain in my body was tremendous.
I started to get up and try to sit down, but couldn't discover a way to relieve the pain and heat from my body. Salote went after some more aspirin. I took it but no relief. Again she went after the same Elders to administer to me again. While they were blessing me I was taken away somewhere and don't know how long I was gone, but during that time the Savior again saw me. After I returned I was able to explain to my wife and the two sister missionaries what had happened to me.
The same day, the Lord spoke to me and said, "Why are you waiting? You need to go now because I have ordained you as my mouthpiece. Get up and go now." Though I had almost no strength in my legs and they were very shaky, I was determined to go to Ha'atafu where I was directed to go first and take Salote with me. "You are not to turn away from what you are to say to the people. When they do not what I say, there will be tidal waves, there will be bad storms, and the water from the ocean will destroy their plantation, and will come over the beaches. It will be a testimony to them that I am Jesus Christ who have sent you, and you will be my mouthpiece to your people. I am the one who created this earth and everything therein."
I was filled with the spirit of our Father in Heaven and no one could stop me. I could speak to the people with power and ask them to come unto Christ and repent and be baptized. I spoke to the people at Ha'atafu and as I spoke to the people I was full of the spirit and started to prophesy many things that would come to their life they didn't change and come unto Christ. The spirit of Christ was within me that day. I felt a great love for the Savior. And the love in my heart for my Tongan people caused my heart to ache because they hardened their hearts and I bore testimony and prophesied many things that some of the old prophets had told them in the scriptures. I preached to them Joseph Smith and authority was given to him and all the keys in the last dispensation of time. He was truly a prophet of God. They must listen to the missionaries and repent and be baptized and come unto Christ and join his church, if they really want to have eternal life. If they don't they will be destroyed.
And I did the same from Ha'atafu all the way to the next town and the next village Kanokupolu.
As I returned home in the evening a van from mission headquarters arrived to take us to a missionary meeting. When we arrived at the meeting I was very ill and they took me anyway and as I got there I fainted. They rushed me to the doctor at Vaiola Hospital thinking I had a heart attack. The severe heat had never left my body and my whole body was like a furnace of fire. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with me except my body was heated and they couldn't get rid of the heat. I was told I must go back to Te'ekiu and run a cold shower on my head and body. Again the Savior came and spoke to me. I must go again on to the next town and was told not to fear for my life for I would be protected. Many people will hate you and many will call you names, but angels will protect you. At this time also, he reminded me that angels have heard the prayers of your forefathers and want their work done in the temple. For I was to include calling those people to bring their names to the temple and get their work done. Those forefathers had died before the gospel was brought to the islands. Lastly, when you preach to them they will swear at you, they will call you all kinds of names and hate you for telling them the truth, but don't give up but continue on preaching.
The next day I almost died again. We went out again and continued on to the next village. My body was full of the spirit of our Father in Heaven. I couldn't imagine all the words that filled my mind and my spirit-words to be used when I spoke to these people. And when I said those, I heard voices back from them saying, "You are a liar, you stop spreading lies." I expressed to them my love and the love of our Savior to them and bore them my testimony. I felt like I was going to die again. Especially my joints and bones were killing me.
Again the missionaries arrived in their van to check up on me. They had a welfare meeting we needed to attend in Nuku'alofa. Again I fell down and passed out. They took me again to Vaiola Hospital. I couldn't get rid of the pain. I asked my mission President Hopoate and another Elder to give me a blessing. After that they thought I had the flu, which was prevalent in Tonga at that time. I stayed in the shower all night, but didn't get any relief. I got up very early and went to Kanokupolu and started to preach to the people. The people were mean to me again over there. We walked to Kolovai. The same treatment.
Not my words, but from the Lord that spoke in my ear. Repent. Also He says that He will punish those in His house first before He punishes others. If the destruction comes to the house of the Lord, what about your house? Are you ready to receive the Lord when he comes? Have you repented enough? What He has told me is that He will completely destroy this whole world by fire and not to be slow about repenting because it will come to your house before it goes to others. Especially to my own family at home.
I am your father speaking to you. You can come unto Christ. I am very concerned about you. Are you ready to change your life? Don't wait any longer. The Lord won't speak any lies to me. It is the truth. We must change our lives for the better. I'm doing this because of my love and concern for you because I want to make sure that you will be protected and hope that you'll be obedient. The voice of warning is from Christ.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Firm and Steadfast in the Faith of Christ
Firm and Steadfast in the Faith of Christ
https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/general-conference/2018/10/firm-and-steadfast-in-the-faith-of-christ
To persevere firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ requires that the gospel of Jesus Christ penetrate one's heart and soul.
In Old Testament history, we read of successive periods when the children of Israel honored their covenant with Jehovah and worshipped Him and other times when they ignored that covenant and worshipped idols or Baalim.1
The reign of Ahab was one of the periods of apostasy in the northern kingdom of Israel. The prophet Elijah on one occasion told King Ahab to gather the people of Israel as well as the prophets or priests of Baal at Mount Carmel. When the people had come together, Elijah said unto them, "How long halt ye between two opinions? [or in other words, "When will you decide once and for all?"] if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."2 So Elijah directed that both he and Baal's prophets cut up a young bull and place it on a bed of wood on their respective altars but "put no fire under."3 Then, "Call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken."4
You will recall that the priests of Baal clamored to their nonexistent god for hours to send down fire, but "there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded."5 When it was Elijah's turn, he repaired the broken-down altar of the Lord, laid the wood and the offering upon it, and then ordered that it all be doused with water, not once but three times. There was no doubt that neither he nor any other human power could light the fire.
"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. …
"Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
"And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God."6
Today Elijah might say:
• Either God, our Heavenly Father, exists, or He does not, but if He exists, worship Him.
• Either Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the resurrected Redeemer of mankind, or He is not, but if He is, follow Him.
• Either the Book of Mormon is the word of God, or it is not, but if it is, then "get nearer to God by [studying and] abiding by its precepts."7
• Either Joseph Smith saw and conversed with the Father and the Son that spring day of 1820, or he did not, but if he did, then follow the prophetic mantle, including the keys of sealing that I, Elijah, bestowed upon him.
In the most recent general conference, President Russell M. Nelson declared: "You don't have to wonder about what is true [see Moroni 10:5]. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord's Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true."8
When James promised that God "giveth to all men liberally" who seek His wisdom,9 he also cautioned:
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
"For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."10
Our Savior, on the other hand, was the perfect example of stability. He said, "The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."11 Consider these descriptions from the scriptures of men and women who, like the Savior, were firm and steadfast:
They "were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."12
"Their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."13
"And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth … are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free."14
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."15
To persevere firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ requires that the gospel of Jesus Christ penetrate one's heart and soul, meaning that the gospel becomes not just one of many influences in a person's life but the defining focus of his or her life and character. The Lord says:
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
"And … ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."16
This is the covenant we make by our baptism and in temple ordinances. But some have not yet fully received the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives. Although, as Paul says, they were "buried with [Christ] by baptism," they are still missing the part that "like as Christ was raised up from the dead … , even so we … should walk in [a] newness of life."17 The gospel does not yet define them. They are not yet centered in Christ. They are selective about the doctrines and commandments they will follow and where and when they will serve in the Church. By contrast, it is in keeping their covenants with exactness that those "who are the elect according to the covenant"18 avoid deception and remain firm in the faith of Christ.
Most of us find ourselves at this moment on a continuum between a socially motivated participation in gospel rituals on the one hand and a fully developed, Christlike commitment to the will of God on the other. Somewhere along that continuum, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ enters into our heart and takes possession of our soul. It may not happen in an instant, but we should all be moving toward that blessed state.
It is challenging but vital to remain firm and steadfast when we find ourselves being refined "in the furnace of affliction,"19 something that comes soon or late to all of us in mortality. Without God, these dark experiences tend to despondency, despair, and even bitterness. With God, comfort replaces pain, peace replaces turmoil, and hope replaces sorrow. Remaining firm in the faith of Christ will bring His sustaining grace and support.20 He will convert trial into blessing and, in Isaiah's words, "give … beauty for ashes."21
May I mention three examples of which I have personal knowledge:
There is a woman who suffers with a debilitating, chronic illness that persists despite medical attention, priesthood blessings, and fasting and prayers. Nevertheless, her faith in the power of prayer and the reality of God's love for her is undiminished. She presses ahead day by day (and sometimes hour by hour) serving as called in the Church and, together with her husband, looking after her young family, smiling as much as she can. Her compassion for others runs deep, refined by her own suffering, and she often loses herself in ministering to others. She continues steadfast, and people feel happy being around her.
A man who grew up in the Church, served as a full-time missionary, and married a lovely woman was surprised when some of his siblings began speaking critically of the Church and the Prophet Joseph Smith. After a time they left the Church and tried to persuade him to follow. As often happens in such cases, they bombarded him with essays, podcasts, and videos produced by critics, most of whom were themselves disaffected former members of the Church. His siblings mocked his faith, telling him he was gullible and misled. He didn't have answers for all their assertions, and his faith began to waver under the relentless opposition. He wondered if he should stop attending church. He talked with his wife. He talked with people he trusted. He prayed. As he meditated in this troubled state of mind, he recalled occasions when he had felt the Holy Spirit and had received a witness of truth by the Spirit. He concluded, "If I am honest with myself, I must admit that the Spirit has touched me more than once and the testimony of the Spirit is real." He has a renewed sense of happiness and peace that is shared by his wife and children.
A husband and wife who have consistently and happily followed the counsel of the Brethren in their lives were grieved by the difficulty they experienced in having children. They expended substantial funds working with competent medical professionals, and, after a time, they were blessed with a son. Tragically, however, after only about a year, the baby was the victim of an accident that was no one's fault but that left him semicomatose, with significant brain damage. He has received the best of care, but doctors cannot predict how things will unfold going forward. The child this couple worked and prayed so hard to bring into the world has in a sense been taken away, and they don't know if he will be returned to them. They struggle now to care for their baby's critical needs while meeting their other responsibilities. In this supremely difficult moment, they have turned to the Lord. They rely on the "daily bread" they receive from Him. They are aided by compassionate friends and family and strengthened by priesthood blessings. They have drawn closer to one another, their union perhaps now deeper and more complete than might otherwise have been possible.
On July 23, 1837, the Lord directed a revelation to the then-President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Thomas B. Marsh. It included the following:
"And pray for thy brethren of the Twelve. Admonish them sharply for my name's sake, and let them be admonished for all their sins, and be ye faithful before me unto my name.
"And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them."22
I believe the principles expressed in these verses apply to all of us. The temptations and tribulations we experience, plus any testing that the Lord sees fit to impose, can lead to our full conversion and healing. But this happens if, and only if, we do not harden our hearts or stiffen our necks against Him. If we remain firm and steadfast, come what may, we achieve the conversion the Savior intended when He said to Peter, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,"23 a conversion so complete that it cannot be undone. The promised healing is the cleansing and sanctification of our sin-wounded souls, making us holy.
I am reminded of our mothers' counsel: "Eat your vegetables; it will do you good." Our mothers are right, and in the context of steadfastness in the faith, "eating your vegetables" is to pray constantly, to feast on the scriptures daily, to serve and worship in the Church, to worthily take the sacrament each week, to love your neighbor, and to take up your cross in obedience to God each day.24
Always remember the promise of good things to come, both now and hereafter, for those who are firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ. Remember "eternal life, and the joy of the saints."25 "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."26 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/general-conference/2018/10/firm-and-steadfast-in-the-faith-of-christ
To persevere firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ requires that the gospel of Jesus Christ penetrate one's heart and soul.
In Old Testament history, we read of successive periods when the children of Israel honored their covenant with Jehovah and worshipped Him and other times when they ignored that covenant and worshipped idols or Baalim.1
The reign of Ahab was one of the periods of apostasy in the northern kingdom of Israel. The prophet Elijah on one occasion told King Ahab to gather the people of Israel as well as the prophets or priests of Baal at Mount Carmel. When the people had come together, Elijah said unto them, "How long halt ye between two opinions? [or in other words, "When will you decide once and for all?"] if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."2 So Elijah directed that both he and Baal's prophets cut up a young bull and place it on a bed of wood on their respective altars but "put no fire under."3 Then, "Call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken."4
You will recall that the priests of Baal clamored to their nonexistent god for hours to send down fire, but "there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded."5 When it was Elijah's turn, he repaired the broken-down altar of the Lord, laid the wood and the offering upon it, and then ordered that it all be doused with water, not once but three times. There was no doubt that neither he nor any other human power could light the fire.
"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. …
"Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
"And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God."6
Today Elijah might say:
• Either God, our Heavenly Father, exists, or He does not, but if He exists, worship Him.
• Either Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the resurrected Redeemer of mankind, or He is not, but if He is, follow Him.
• Either the Book of Mormon is the word of God, or it is not, but if it is, then "get nearer to God by [studying and] abiding by its precepts."7
• Either Joseph Smith saw and conversed with the Father and the Son that spring day of 1820, or he did not, but if he did, then follow the prophetic mantle, including the keys of sealing that I, Elijah, bestowed upon him.
In the most recent general conference, President Russell M. Nelson declared: "You don't have to wonder about what is true [see Moroni 10:5]. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord's Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true."8
When James promised that God "giveth to all men liberally" who seek His wisdom,9 he also cautioned:
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
"For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."10
Our Savior, on the other hand, was the perfect example of stability. He said, "The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."11 Consider these descriptions from the scriptures of men and women who, like the Savior, were firm and steadfast:
They "were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."12
"Their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."13
"And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth … are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free."14
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."15
To persevere firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ requires that the gospel of Jesus Christ penetrate one's heart and soul, meaning that the gospel becomes not just one of many influences in a person's life but the defining focus of his or her life and character. The Lord says:
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
"And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
"And … ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."16
This is the covenant we make by our baptism and in temple ordinances. But some have not yet fully received the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives. Although, as Paul says, they were "buried with [Christ] by baptism," they are still missing the part that "like as Christ was raised up from the dead … , even so we … should walk in [a] newness of life."17 The gospel does not yet define them. They are not yet centered in Christ. They are selective about the doctrines and commandments they will follow and where and when they will serve in the Church. By contrast, it is in keeping their covenants with exactness that those "who are the elect according to the covenant"18 avoid deception and remain firm in the faith of Christ.
Most of us find ourselves at this moment on a continuum between a socially motivated participation in gospel rituals on the one hand and a fully developed, Christlike commitment to the will of God on the other. Somewhere along that continuum, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ enters into our heart and takes possession of our soul. It may not happen in an instant, but we should all be moving toward that blessed state.
It is challenging but vital to remain firm and steadfast when we find ourselves being refined "in the furnace of affliction,"19 something that comes soon or late to all of us in mortality. Without God, these dark experiences tend to despondency, despair, and even bitterness. With God, comfort replaces pain, peace replaces turmoil, and hope replaces sorrow. Remaining firm in the faith of Christ will bring His sustaining grace and support.20 He will convert trial into blessing and, in Isaiah's words, "give … beauty for ashes."21
May I mention three examples of which I have personal knowledge:
There is a woman who suffers with a debilitating, chronic illness that persists despite medical attention, priesthood blessings, and fasting and prayers. Nevertheless, her faith in the power of prayer and the reality of God's love for her is undiminished. She presses ahead day by day (and sometimes hour by hour) serving as called in the Church and, together with her husband, looking after her young family, smiling as much as she can. Her compassion for others runs deep, refined by her own suffering, and she often loses herself in ministering to others. She continues steadfast, and people feel happy being around her.
A man who grew up in the Church, served as a full-time missionary, and married a lovely woman was surprised when some of his siblings began speaking critically of the Church and the Prophet Joseph Smith. After a time they left the Church and tried to persuade him to follow. As often happens in such cases, they bombarded him with essays, podcasts, and videos produced by critics, most of whom were themselves disaffected former members of the Church. His siblings mocked his faith, telling him he was gullible and misled. He didn't have answers for all their assertions, and his faith began to waver under the relentless opposition. He wondered if he should stop attending church. He talked with his wife. He talked with people he trusted. He prayed. As he meditated in this troubled state of mind, he recalled occasions when he had felt the Holy Spirit and had received a witness of truth by the Spirit. He concluded, "If I am honest with myself, I must admit that the Spirit has touched me more than once and the testimony of the Spirit is real." He has a renewed sense of happiness and peace that is shared by his wife and children.
A husband and wife who have consistently and happily followed the counsel of the Brethren in their lives were grieved by the difficulty they experienced in having children. They expended substantial funds working with competent medical professionals, and, after a time, they were blessed with a son. Tragically, however, after only about a year, the baby was the victim of an accident that was no one's fault but that left him semicomatose, with significant brain damage. He has received the best of care, but doctors cannot predict how things will unfold going forward. The child this couple worked and prayed so hard to bring into the world has in a sense been taken away, and they don't know if he will be returned to them. They struggle now to care for their baby's critical needs while meeting their other responsibilities. In this supremely difficult moment, they have turned to the Lord. They rely on the "daily bread" they receive from Him. They are aided by compassionate friends and family and strengthened by priesthood blessings. They have drawn closer to one another, their union perhaps now deeper and more complete than might otherwise have been possible.
On July 23, 1837, the Lord directed a revelation to the then-President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Thomas B. Marsh. It included the following:
"And pray for thy brethren of the Twelve. Admonish them sharply for my name's sake, and let them be admonished for all their sins, and be ye faithful before me unto my name.
"And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them."22
I believe the principles expressed in these verses apply to all of us. The temptations and tribulations we experience, plus any testing that the Lord sees fit to impose, can lead to our full conversion and healing. But this happens if, and only if, we do not harden our hearts or stiffen our necks against Him. If we remain firm and steadfast, come what may, we achieve the conversion the Savior intended when He said to Peter, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,"23 a conversion so complete that it cannot be undone. The promised healing is the cleansing and sanctification of our sin-wounded souls, making us holy.
I am reminded of our mothers' counsel: "Eat your vegetables; it will do you good." Our mothers are right, and in the context of steadfastness in the faith, "eating your vegetables" is to pray constantly, to feast on the scriptures daily, to serve and worship in the Church, to worthily take the sacrament each week, to love your neighbor, and to take up your cross in obedience to God each day.24
Always remember the promise of good things to come, both now and hereafter, for those who are firm and steadfast in the faith of Christ. Remember "eternal life, and the joy of the saints."25 "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."26 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
11 Ways Prophets and Church Leaders Have Asked Us to Prepare for General Conference
11 Ways Prophets and Church Leaders Have Asked Us to Prepare for General Conference
http://www.ldsliving.com/11-Ways-Prophets-and-Church-Leaders-Have-Asked-Us-to-Prepare-for-General-Conference/s/89284
General conference is one of the greatest times of year for Latter-day Saints. We are privileged to hear from our prophet, apostles, and other general authorities who prepare inspired messages to bless our lives, and it's a wonderful time to receive personal spiritual guidance.
Because this is such an important event, prophets and apostles have given words of advice to help us spiritually prepare. As conference weekend approaches, consider taking this advice given by Church leaders on how to get the most out of it.
1. Dedicate yourself to truly listening.
You can decide right now to listen closely to general conference and let it affect your life for good. In the October 2005 priesthood session, Paul V. Johnson said, "Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. . . . By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good."
2. Pray and think about questions you have.
Tuning in to conference with specific questions and concerns in mind is a great way to invite the Spirit to touch your heart and answer your prayers. Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared, "As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. . . . Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitude for the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation" (September 2011 Ensign, "General Conference -- No Ordinary Blessing").
We are incredibly blessed to receive modern-day revelation through our Church leaders, and their messages are easily accessible through various online and print resources. We should take President Thomas S. Monson's advice in his October 2012 closing remarks, "I encourage you to read the talks once again and to ponder the messages contained therein. I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth."
4. Keep a notebook or journal nearby during the talks.
You never know when personal revelation will come or when your heart will be touched by the Spirit. Keep a notebook close so you can record those feelings as they come. Elder Robert D. Hales said, "When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying; I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me" (October 2013 Ensign, "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony").
5. Prepare in advance.
It's no secret that the speakers prepare their talks very far in advance, and we can follow their example by preparing in advance to hear what they have to say. President Dallin H. Oaks said, "I begin that process six months in advance, and usually by two to four months ahead of the April or October conference, I know the subject I'm supposed to speak about. It's indelibly impressed upon my mind, and then I have that confirmed because thoughts begin to flow on that subject—sources come to my attention . . . sometimes I receive a letter from a member that gives me an important insight on the subject—and then I begin writing drafts."
Preparing to receive revelation is something we can work at our entire lives. Elder Neil L. Anderson spoke on a similar subject during October 2017 general conference and noted that everyone prepares a little differently. He said, "Another [apostle], when asked how long it had taken to compose an especially sensitive talk, responded, 'Twenty-five years.'"
6. Share gospel-related messages on social media.
Social media has its flaws but it really is a great way to share the gospel. Sharing posts about quotes that touched you or feelings you had during conference is a perfect way to spread light. Elder Gary E. Stevenson shared in October 2017, "With so many appropriate and inspired uses of technology, let us use it to teach, inspire, and lift ourselves and to encourage others to become their finest—rather than to portray our idealized virtual selves."
7. Develop gratitude.
General conference is truly a blessing we are privileged to participate in and we can show our appreciation by thanking the Lord sincerely for the inspired teachings of modern-day prophets and apostles. In President Russell M. Nelson's April 2018 talk, "Let Us All Press On," he expressed his gratitude by saying, "I join you in thanking the Lord for His direction and inspiring influence. The music has been beautiful and uplifting. Not only have the messages been edifying, but they have been life-changing!"
8. Prepare your home and clear your schedule.
If you plan to watch general conference from home, make an effort to get everything in order beforehand so you won't be distracted while you're trying to listen. Elder Robert D. Hales said, "What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel. That is why we make an effort to experience conference where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood."
He also emphasized the importance of making time for conference by saying, "As the time for conference arrives, we sacrifice other activities, 'lay[ing] aside the things of this world, [to] seek for things of a better.' Then we gather our families to hear the word of the Lord, as King Benjamin's people did."
9. Pray to feel Heavenly Father's love.
God loves each of us perfectly and individually, and Elder Robert D. Hales testified of this when he said, "I promise you in His name that if you pray with a sincere desire to hear your Heavenly Father's voice in the messages of this conference, you will discover that He has spoken to help you, to strengthen you, and to lead you home into his presence."
10. Attend the temple.
Temple worship is one of the central components to our membership in the Church. There are numerous conference talks about the blessings of temple attendance and the promise that if we attend the temple, we can be more in tune with the Spirit and receive personal revelation.
President Thomas S. Monson said in his April 2015 address, "As I think of temples, my thoughts turn to the many blessings we receive therein. As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and the confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives."
11. Be ready to act on the answers you receive.
General conference feels like a spiritual New Year's Day. We get so excited about re-dedicating ourselves to the Lord and following every prompting, but we often retreat back into old habits after a few months. It's so important to commit to the things we need to change and the revelations that come.
In President Russell M. Nelson's closing remarks for the April 2018 conference, he said "I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith. Many good people will respond to the truths taught in this conference when offered in love. And your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days."
http://www.ldsliving.com/11-Ways-Prophets-and-Church-Leaders-Have-Asked-Us-to-Prepare-for-General-Conference/s/89284
General conference is one of the greatest times of year for Latter-day Saints. We are privileged to hear from our prophet, apostles, and other general authorities who prepare inspired messages to bless our lives, and it's a wonderful time to receive personal spiritual guidance.
Because this is such an important event, prophets and apostles have given words of advice to help us spiritually prepare. As conference weekend approaches, consider taking this advice given by Church leaders on how to get the most out of it.
1. Dedicate yourself to truly listening.
You can decide right now to listen closely to general conference and let it affect your life for good. In the October 2005 priesthood session, Paul V. Johnson said, "Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. . . . By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good."
2. Pray and think about questions you have.
Tuning in to conference with specific questions and concerns in mind is a great way to invite the Spirit to touch your heart and answer your prayers. Dieter F. Uchtdorf shared, "As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. . . . Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitude for the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation" (September 2011 Ensign, "General Conference -- No Ordinary Blessing").
We are incredibly blessed to receive modern-day revelation through our Church leaders, and their messages are easily accessible through various online and print resources. We should take President Thomas S. Monson's advice in his October 2012 closing remarks, "I encourage you to read the talks once again and to ponder the messages contained therein. I have found in my own life that I gain even more from these inspired sermons when I study them in greater depth."
4. Keep a notebook or journal nearby during the talks.
You never know when personal revelation will come or when your heart will be touched by the Spirit. Keep a notebook close so you can record those feelings as they come. Elder Robert D. Hales said, "When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying; I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me" (October 2013 Ensign, "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony").
5. Prepare in advance.
It's no secret that the speakers prepare their talks very far in advance, and we can follow their example by preparing in advance to hear what they have to say. President Dallin H. Oaks said, "I begin that process six months in advance, and usually by two to four months ahead of the April or October conference, I know the subject I'm supposed to speak about. It's indelibly impressed upon my mind, and then I have that confirmed because thoughts begin to flow on that subject—sources come to my attention . . . sometimes I receive a letter from a member that gives me an important insight on the subject—and then I begin writing drafts."
Preparing to receive revelation is something we can work at our entire lives. Elder Neil L. Anderson spoke on a similar subject during October 2017 general conference and noted that everyone prepares a little differently. He said, "Another [apostle], when asked how long it had taken to compose an especially sensitive talk, responded, 'Twenty-five years.'"
6. Share gospel-related messages on social media.
Social media has its flaws but it really is a great way to share the gospel. Sharing posts about quotes that touched you or feelings you had during conference is a perfect way to spread light. Elder Gary E. Stevenson shared in October 2017, "With so many appropriate and inspired uses of technology, let us use it to teach, inspire, and lift ourselves and to encourage others to become their finest—rather than to portray our idealized virtual selves."
7. Develop gratitude.
General conference is truly a blessing we are privileged to participate in and we can show our appreciation by thanking the Lord sincerely for the inspired teachings of modern-day prophets and apostles. In President Russell M. Nelson's April 2018 talk, "Let Us All Press On," he expressed his gratitude by saying, "I join you in thanking the Lord for His direction and inspiring influence. The music has been beautiful and uplifting. Not only have the messages been edifying, but they have been life-changing!"
8. Prepare your home and clear your schedule.
If you plan to watch general conference from home, make an effort to get everything in order beforehand so you won't be distracted while you're trying to listen. Elder Robert D. Hales said, "What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel. That is why we make an effort to experience conference where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood."
He also emphasized the importance of making time for conference by saying, "As the time for conference arrives, we sacrifice other activities, 'lay[ing] aside the things of this world, [to] seek for things of a better.' Then we gather our families to hear the word of the Lord, as King Benjamin's people did."
9. Pray to feel Heavenly Father's love.
God loves each of us perfectly and individually, and Elder Robert D. Hales testified of this when he said, "I promise you in His name that if you pray with a sincere desire to hear your Heavenly Father's voice in the messages of this conference, you will discover that He has spoken to help you, to strengthen you, and to lead you home into his presence."
10. Attend the temple.
Temple worship is one of the central components to our membership in the Church. There are numerous conference talks about the blessings of temple attendance and the promise that if we attend the temple, we can be more in tune with the Spirit and receive personal revelation.
President Thomas S. Monson said in his April 2015 address, "As I think of temples, my thoughts turn to the many blessings we receive therein. As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and the confusion of the world. Inside this sacred sanctuary, we find beauty and order. There is rest for our souls and a respite from the cares of our lives."
11. Be ready to act on the answers you receive.
General conference feels like a spiritual New Year's Day. We get so excited about re-dedicating ourselves to the Lord and following every prompting, but we often retreat back into old habits after a few months. It's so important to commit to the things we need to change and the revelations that come.
In President Russell M. Nelson's closing remarks for the April 2018 conference, he said "I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith. Many good people will respond to the truths taught in this conference when offered in love. And your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days."
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Have the Valley of Lemuel and the River Laman Been Found?
Have the Valley of Lemuel and the River Laman Been Found?
https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/have-the-valley-of-lemuel-and-the-river-laman-been-found
Two images of Wadi Tayyib al-Ism via lds.org
The Know
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After traveling down to the Red Sea, Lehi and his family pushed forward for another three days before setting up their first long-term camp in a valley with "firm and steadfast, and immoveable" walls, and a river "continually running" into the Red Sea (1 Nephi 2:5–10). In poetic fashion,1 Lehi named this river after his oldest son, Laman, (1 Nephi 2:8–9; 16:12), and the valley after his second son, Lemuel (1 Nephi 2:10; 16:6).
Rivers are rare in northwest Arabia. While many of the typically dry riverbeds briefly overflow with water during the rainy season, a comprehensive geological survey published in 1984 concluded that Saudi Arabia "may be the world's largest country without any perennial rivers or streams."2 This lack of year-round rivers led several researchers to propose that the "continually running" River Laman was one of the many seasonal rivers that run through the wadis—deep canyons and narrow valleys—of northwest Arabia.3
In May 1995, however, a pair of Latter-day Saint explorers made a chance discovery. George Potter and Craig Thorsted got lost while looking for a site known to the local Arabs as the "Waters of Moses." Being misdirected by a local guide, they headed north along the shoreline of the Gulf of Aqaba until out of nowhere, the rocky, sandy terrain was broken up by "a magnificent narrow canyon" which "ended in a palm-lined cove. The brilliant blue shades of the clear gulf waters and the sky framed the scene."4
Map by Book of Mormon Central depicting a possible route from Jerusalem to Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, a candidate for the Valley of Lemuel.
They had found Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, a narrow valley 74 miles south of Aqaba, along the Arabian coastline.5 Estimates for daily travel in the Arabian deserts in antiquity range between 15–25 miles per day.6 Wadi Tayyib al-Ism thus falls just within the maximum distance of a 3-day journey (45–75 miles) from the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, a northeastern extension of the Red Sea.
Fruits and grains are found growing naturally at Wadi Tayyib al-Ism (see 1 Nephi 8:1), and the wadi's sheer granite walls rising about 2000 ft. are among the most impressive in the region, easily invoking Lehi's description, "firm and steadfast, and immovable" (1 Nephi 2:10).7 Most significantly, there was a small stream running through the wadi, and return visits made at various times of the year confirmed that water flowed in the stream throughout the year.8 Potter and his colleagues had discovered the first—and to date, the only—known perennially flowing river or stream in all of northwest Arabia.
Screenshot from Google Earth pinning a possible location for the Valley of Lemuel
Today, few would call the small stream a river, but it may have been more like a river in Lehi's day. Some accounts from antiquity suggest that northwest Arabia was wetter anciently,9 and the stream has been severely reduced in recent years as its water has been reallocated to more populated areas.10 In any case, the Hebrew term nahar actually means "perpetual course of water" and was applied to both rivers and streams.11
The mouth of the stream currently falls short of reaching the sea by about three-eighths of a mile.12 Since the River Laman "emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea" (1 Nephi 2:9), this inconsistency led one scholar to discount Wadi Tayyib al-Ism as the Valley of Lemuel.13 However, Egyptologist James K. Hoffmeier has cited evidence signifying that, since around 8th–6th century BC, "the Red Sea has retreated from its ancient shoreline by five hundred meters."14 Assessing the evidence of a changing shoreline, S. Kent Brown concluded, "all geological indicators point to the current mouth of Wadi Tayyib al-Ism lying under the waters of the Red Sea in antiquity."15
The Why
It is impossible to be certain if Wadi Tayyib al-Ism is the Valley of Lemuel.16 Perhaps, since it was wetter in that region during ancient times, there were other perennial rivers and streams that have since dried up.17 But the existence of Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, with its "firm and steadfast" granite walls and "continually running" stream demonstrates with certainty that a river-valley like the one described in 1 Nephi 2 really exists, and that it is within the distance of a 3 day-journey from the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Lehi Building an Altar of Stones in the Valley of Lemuel by Kelly Clark Price
This is not an insignificant fact. The stream running through Wadi Tayyib al-Ism is currently the only documented perennial river or stream in the entire region of northwest Arabia—and it happens to be within a narrow 30-mile window wherein the Valley of Lemuel, with its "continually running" river, should be located.
Standard sources on Arabia in Joseph Smith's day failed to document even the presence of wadis with seasonal rivers in this region,18 let alone the approximate location of the only perennial river in the area. As Daniel C. Peterson asked, "How did Joseph Smith know about the Wadi Tayyib al-Ism? Even in our information-rich contemporary environment, what could most of us say about it?"19
Realizing how unique a place like the Valley of Lemuel was in that region also helps readers better appreciate the way the Lord guided Lehi and his family. Lehi took his family from Jerusalem because the people there wanted to kill him (1 Nephi 2:1). Lehi needed to get out of town quickly. The Valley of Lemuel provided a safe place, with reliable access to food and water, where Lehi and his family could stop to regroup, gather supplies in preparation for their extended journey, and return to Jerusalem as needed (1 Nephi 3:2–4; 1 Nephi 7:2).
No wonder Lehi stopped, "built an altar of stones … and gave thanks unto the Lord" upon arrival (1 Nephi 2:7), and made exclamatory, poetic declarations exhorting his wayward sons to be firm, steadfast, and immovable like these impressive rock walls, and continuously running into the fountain of all righteousness like this clear-flowing stream (1 Nephi 2:9–10). After traveling through a "brutal wilderness," where "hardly a blade of grass breaks up the monotony,"20 Lehi no doubt recognized the Lord's hand in guiding his family to such a rare valley with a "continually running" river.
Further Reading
S. Kent Brown, "The Hunt for the Valley of Lemuel," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16, no. 1 (2007): 64–73.
Jeffrey R. Chadwick, "The Wrong Place for Lehi's Trail and the Valley of Lemuel," FARMS Review 17, no. 2 (2005): 197–215.
George Potter and Richard Wellington, Lehi in the Wilderness: 81 New, Documented Evidences That the Book of Mormon is a True History (Springville, UT: Cedar Fort, 2003), 31–51.
George D. Potter, "A New Candidate in Arabia for the Valley of Lemuel," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8, no. 1 (1999): 54–63.
https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/have-the-valley-of-lemuel-and-the-river-laman-been-found
Two images of Wadi Tayyib al-Ism via lds.org
The Know
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After traveling down to the Red Sea, Lehi and his family pushed forward for another three days before setting up their first long-term camp in a valley with "firm and steadfast, and immoveable" walls, and a river "continually running" into the Red Sea (1 Nephi 2:5–10). In poetic fashion,1 Lehi named this river after his oldest son, Laman, (1 Nephi 2:8–9; 16:12), and the valley after his second son, Lemuel (1 Nephi 2:10; 16:6).
Rivers are rare in northwest Arabia. While many of the typically dry riverbeds briefly overflow with water during the rainy season, a comprehensive geological survey published in 1984 concluded that Saudi Arabia "may be the world's largest country without any perennial rivers or streams."2 This lack of year-round rivers led several researchers to propose that the "continually running" River Laman was one of the many seasonal rivers that run through the wadis—deep canyons and narrow valleys—of northwest Arabia.3
In May 1995, however, a pair of Latter-day Saint explorers made a chance discovery. George Potter and Craig Thorsted got lost while looking for a site known to the local Arabs as the "Waters of Moses." Being misdirected by a local guide, they headed north along the shoreline of the Gulf of Aqaba until out of nowhere, the rocky, sandy terrain was broken up by "a magnificent narrow canyon" which "ended in a palm-lined cove. The brilliant blue shades of the clear gulf waters and the sky framed the scene."4
Map by Book of Mormon Central depicting a possible route from Jerusalem to Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, a candidate for the Valley of Lemuel.
They had found Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, a narrow valley 74 miles south of Aqaba, along the Arabian coastline.5 Estimates for daily travel in the Arabian deserts in antiquity range between 15–25 miles per day.6 Wadi Tayyib al-Ism thus falls just within the maximum distance of a 3-day journey (45–75 miles) from the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, a northeastern extension of the Red Sea.
Fruits and grains are found growing naturally at Wadi Tayyib al-Ism (see 1 Nephi 8:1), and the wadi's sheer granite walls rising about 2000 ft. are among the most impressive in the region, easily invoking Lehi's description, "firm and steadfast, and immovable" (1 Nephi 2:10).7 Most significantly, there was a small stream running through the wadi, and return visits made at various times of the year confirmed that water flowed in the stream throughout the year.8 Potter and his colleagues had discovered the first—and to date, the only—known perennially flowing river or stream in all of northwest Arabia.
Screenshot from Google Earth pinning a possible location for the Valley of Lemuel
Today, few would call the small stream a river, but it may have been more like a river in Lehi's day. Some accounts from antiquity suggest that northwest Arabia was wetter anciently,9 and the stream has been severely reduced in recent years as its water has been reallocated to more populated areas.10 In any case, the Hebrew term nahar actually means "perpetual course of water" and was applied to both rivers and streams.11
The mouth of the stream currently falls short of reaching the sea by about three-eighths of a mile.12 Since the River Laman "emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea" (1 Nephi 2:9), this inconsistency led one scholar to discount Wadi Tayyib al-Ism as the Valley of Lemuel.13 However, Egyptologist James K. Hoffmeier has cited evidence signifying that, since around 8th–6th century BC, "the Red Sea has retreated from its ancient shoreline by five hundred meters."14 Assessing the evidence of a changing shoreline, S. Kent Brown concluded, "all geological indicators point to the current mouth of Wadi Tayyib al-Ism lying under the waters of the Red Sea in antiquity."15
The Why
It is impossible to be certain if Wadi Tayyib al-Ism is the Valley of Lemuel.16 Perhaps, since it was wetter in that region during ancient times, there were other perennial rivers and streams that have since dried up.17 But the existence of Wadi Tayyib al-Ism, with its "firm and steadfast" granite walls and "continually running" stream demonstrates with certainty that a river-valley like the one described in 1 Nephi 2 really exists, and that it is within the distance of a 3 day-journey from the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.
Lehi Building an Altar of Stones in the Valley of Lemuel by Kelly Clark Price
This is not an insignificant fact. The stream running through Wadi Tayyib al-Ism is currently the only documented perennial river or stream in the entire region of northwest Arabia—and it happens to be within a narrow 30-mile window wherein the Valley of Lemuel, with its "continually running" river, should be located.
Standard sources on Arabia in Joseph Smith's day failed to document even the presence of wadis with seasonal rivers in this region,18 let alone the approximate location of the only perennial river in the area. As Daniel C. Peterson asked, "How did Joseph Smith know about the Wadi Tayyib al-Ism? Even in our information-rich contemporary environment, what could most of us say about it?"19
Realizing how unique a place like the Valley of Lemuel was in that region also helps readers better appreciate the way the Lord guided Lehi and his family. Lehi took his family from Jerusalem because the people there wanted to kill him (1 Nephi 2:1). Lehi needed to get out of town quickly. The Valley of Lemuel provided a safe place, with reliable access to food and water, where Lehi and his family could stop to regroup, gather supplies in preparation for their extended journey, and return to Jerusalem as needed (1 Nephi 3:2–4; 1 Nephi 7:2).
No wonder Lehi stopped, "built an altar of stones … and gave thanks unto the Lord" upon arrival (1 Nephi 2:7), and made exclamatory, poetic declarations exhorting his wayward sons to be firm, steadfast, and immovable like these impressive rock walls, and continuously running into the fountain of all righteousness like this clear-flowing stream (1 Nephi 2:9–10). After traveling through a "brutal wilderness," where "hardly a blade of grass breaks up the monotony,"20 Lehi no doubt recognized the Lord's hand in guiding his family to such a rare valley with a "continually running" river.
Further Reading
S. Kent Brown, "The Hunt for the Valley of Lemuel," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16, no. 1 (2007): 64–73.
Jeffrey R. Chadwick, "The Wrong Place for Lehi's Trail and the Valley of Lemuel," FARMS Review 17, no. 2 (2005): 197–215.
George Potter and Richard Wellington, Lehi in the Wilderness: 81 New, Documented Evidences That the Book of Mormon is a True History (Springville, UT: Cedar Fort, 2003), 31–51.
George D. Potter, "A New Candidate in Arabia for the Valley of Lemuel," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8, no. 1 (1999): 54–63.
Friday, September 21, 2018
5 Times the Apostles Did. Not. Mince. Words. AT. ALL.
5 Times the Apostles Did. Not. Mince. Words. AT. ALL.
https://mormonhub.com/blog/faith/lds-conference/5-apostles-didnt-mince-words/
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
OK, apostles have pretty much always been known to be fairly blunt. They don't usually mince words when trying to get a message across. But there have been a few times in modern church history when apostles have really gone out of their way to make their message explicitly clear. Here are just five impactful examples of that.
1. Elder Packer telling people to "grow up"
I just recently learned about this 1977 General Conference talk from this MormonHUB article. And let me tell you, the talk is pretty sweet. Entitled Balm of Gilead, Elder Packer digs into people that can't seem to let the little things go. Take a look at this clip, starting at 14:48,
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Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
And if you're in the middle of a movie or hiding in your closet from your children, here's a transcript of one of one of my favorite parts:
Often, however, the things we carry are petty, even stupid. If you are still upset after all these years because Aunt Clara didn't come to your wedding reception, why don't you grow up? Forget it.
If you brood constantly over some past mistake, settle it—look ahead.
If the bishop didn't call you right—or release you right—forget it.
If you resent someone for something he has done—or failed to do—forget it.
BOOM. Nailed it.
2. President Uchtdorf reminds us to just "STOP IT"
You probably remember this one. How could you forget? President Uchtdorf gave this talk in General Conference back in 2012. It's called The Merciful Shall Obtain Mercy. Here's where he drops the mic:
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My favorite part:
This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:
Stop it!
It's that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. I don't know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw.
You see that exclamation point after the words 'stop it'? I don't think apostles use those very often.
3. Elder Holland grabs us by the lapels
This was one powerful 2011 Priesthood Session of General Conference. Elder Holland took the stand and really rallied the troops. The talk is called We Are All Enlisted, and thankfully I was already on a mission when he gave it.
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He isn't playing around:
I am asking you young men to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean.
Now, brethren, we speak boldly to you because anything more subtle doesn't seem to work. We speak boldly because Satan is a real being set on destroying you, and you face his influence at a younger and younger age. So we grab you by the lapels and shout as forcefully as we know how:
Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear;
Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!
My young friends, we need tens of thousands of more missionaries in the months and years that lie ahead.
4. Elder Holland boldly testifying to the world
OK, yes, it's another Elder Holland talk, but of course it's another Elder Holland talk. When an apostle calls on angels and men to record what he's saying, we can't just leave it off of this list. Here's Elder Holland's powerful and extremely bold testimony of The Book of Mormon in his 2009 talk called Safety for the Soul:
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Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages—especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers—if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: 'a stone of stumbling, … a rock of offence,' a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work.
… I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my "last days," but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.
This one still gives me the goosebumps. The entire talk is fabulous, so if you haven't seen it, see it. If you haven't read it, read it. I'm tempted to include three addresses from Elder Holland in this list, but for the sake of variety, I won't. But if you haven't heard Elder Holland's Missionary Training Center address called Feed My Sheep, you really need to. Its message is impactful and it only gets better as it goes on. It get's really intense during the last 15 minutes or so.
5. President Uchtdorf throws some shade at the YSA men
This was the zinger of the year, and another talk I couldn't help but include in this list. It comes from President Uchtdorf's 2016 talk In Praise of Those Who Save. In one brief section of his talk he addresses the young single adults (it was a Priesthood Session, so he's talking to the men in particular). Here's what he had to say:
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The line in question is short, sweet, and straight to the point:
My beloved brethren, may I remind you, if there were a perfect woman, do you really think she would be that interested in you?
The prophets and apostles hold themselves accountable first and foremost to God. They don't beat around the bush. If they feel inspired to say something, they say it, loud and clear. We'd all do well to listen.
Can you think of any notably blunt talks from apostles that we missed? Let us know some of your favorites in the comments section.
https://mormonhub.com/blog/faith/lds-conference/5-apostles-didnt-mince-words/
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
OK, apostles have pretty much always been known to be fairly blunt. They don't usually mince words when trying to get a message across. But there have been a few times in modern church history when apostles have really gone out of their way to make their message explicitly clear. Here are just five impactful examples of that.
1. Elder Packer telling people to "grow up"
I just recently learned about this 1977 General Conference talk from this MormonHUB article. And let me tell you, the talk is pretty sweet. Entitled Balm of Gilead, Elder Packer digs into people that can't seem to let the little things go. Take a look at this clip, starting at 14:48,
An error occurred.
Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
And if you're in the middle of a movie or hiding in your closet from your children, here's a transcript of one of one of my favorite parts:
Often, however, the things we carry are petty, even stupid. If you are still upset after all these years because Aunt Clara didn't come to your wedding reception, why don't you grow up? Forget it.
If you brood constantly over some past mistake, settle it—look ahead.
If the bishop didn't call you right—or release you right—forget it.
If you resent someone for something he has done—or failed to do—forget it.
BOOM. Nailed it.
2. President Uchtdorf reminds us to just "STOP IT"
You probably remember this one. How could you forget? President Uchtdorf gave this talk in General Conference back in 2012. It's called The Merciful Shall Obtain Mercy. Here's where he drops the mic:
An error occurred.
Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
My favorite part:
This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:
Stop it!
It's that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters. I don't know exactly how to articulate this point of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw.
You see that exclamation point after the words 'stop it'? I don't think apostles use those very often.
3. Elder Holland grabs us by the lapels
This was one powerful 2011 Priesthood Session of General Conference. Elder Holland took the stand and really rallied the troops. The talk is called We Are All Enlisted, and thankfully I was already on a mission when he gave it.
An error occurred.
Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
He isn't playing around:
I am asking you young men to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean.
Now, brethren, we speak boldly to you because anything more subtle doesn't seem to work. We speak boldly because Satan is a real being set on destroying you, and you face his influence at a younger and younger age. So we grab you by the lapels and shout as forcefully as we know how:
Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear;
Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!
My young friends, we need tens of thousands of more missionaries in the months and years that lie ahead.
4. Elder Holland boldly testifying to the world
OK, yes, it's another Elder Holland talk, but of course it's another Elder Holland talk. When an apostle calls on angels and men to record what he's saying, we can't just leave it off of this list. Here's Elder Holland's powerful and extremely bold testimony of The Book of Mormon in his 2009 talk called Safety for the Soul:
An error occurred.
Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages—especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers—if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: 'a stone of stumbling, … a rock of offence,' a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work.
… I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my "last days," but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.
This one still gives me the goosebumps. The entire talk is fabulous, so if you haven't seen it, see it. If you haven't read it, read it. I'm tempted to include three addresses from Elder Holland in this list, but for the sake of variety, I won't. But if you haven't heard Elder Holland's Missionary Training Center address called Feed My Sheep, you really need to. Its message is impactful and it only gets better as it goes on. It get's really intense during the last 15 minutes or so.
5. President Uchtdorf throws some shade at the YSA men
This was the zinger of the year, and another talk I couldn't help but include in this list. It comes from President Uchtdorf's 2016 talk In Praise of Those Who Save. In one brief section of his talk he addresses the young single adults (it was a Priesthood Session, so he's talking to the men in particular). Here's what he had to say:
An error occurred.
Try watching this video on www.youtube.com, or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.
The line in question is short, sweet, and straight to the point:
My beloved brethren, may I remind you, if there were a perfect woman, do you really think she would be that interested in you?
The prophets and apostles hold themselves accountable first and foremost to God. They don't beat around the bush. If they feel inspired to say something, they say it, loud and clear. We'd all do well to listen.
Can you think of any notably blunt talks from apostles that we missed? Let us know some of your favorites in the comments section.
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