Zechariah 10-14; Malachi
INTRODUCTION
What do a coin, an argument, and the state line have in common? (Wait for response.) They all have two sides--which leads us right into our topic, the Second Coming. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5). The Second Coming will have two sides: it will be great on the one side, and dreadful on the other.
It is reported that President Faust was speaking at a regional Priesthood meeting. At the end of the meeting he opened up the session for questions. Someone raised his hand and asked what the Brethren knew about when the Second Coming would occur. President Faust asked the man what priesthood he held. The man said he was a high priest. President Faust said, "Then I will fill you in on what the Brethren know: (pause) We haven't a clue." But then he added, "Go to your High Priest's quorum next Sunday; I'm sure someone there will know." (Story told by Scott B. Marsh at BYU Education Week, August 2001)
But even though President Faust didn't know when the Second Coming would be, it can't be too far away. President Benson said, "This is the last and great dispensation in which the great consummation of God's purposes will be made, the only dispensation in which the Lord has promised that sin will not prevail. The Church will not be taken from the earth again. It is here to stay. The Lord has promised it and you are a part of that Church and kingdom--the nucleus around which will be builded the great kingdom of God on the earth. The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God on the earth will be combined together at Christ's coming--and that time is not far distant. How I wish we could get the vision of this work, the genius of it, and realize the nearness of that great event. I am sure it would have a sobering effect upon us if we realized what is before us." This was originally said in the '80's and was repeated by President Hinckley in 1992 in the October General Conference. (Ensign, Nov. 1992, p. 4)
THE NEW APOSTACY
The Second Coming is called "the great and dreadful day of the Lord." It is two-sided, just like the coin and the argument. On the one side, it will be great for the righteous, and on the other it will be dreadful for the wicked. Of course, it's going to be great for all of us, because we are members of His Church, right? Well, that depends on what kind of members of the Church we are.
Christ told many parables about the Second Coming and one of them was the Parable of the Ten Virgins. (Read Matt. 25:1-13.) The most important thing to remember about this parable is that it is the Parable of the Ten Virgins, not the Parable of the Five Virgins and the Five Harlots! All ten were members of the Church, members of the "wedding party." All ten had lamps of testimony. But five had let their lamps get low on oil, and while waiting for the "bridegroom" (the Second Coming), they were extinguished altogether. They were drifting off to sleep and didn't even realize it was happening until it was gone! They were victims of what Lynn Scoresby calls "The New Apostacy" (A. Lynn Scoresby, BYU Education Week Lecture, August 19, 1999).
Malachi warned of this type of apostacy. "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my [respect]? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind [lamb] for the sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick [animals], is it not evil?" (Mal. 1:6-8)
What is the accusation? Perverted obedience. It's no sacrifice to give the Lord the leftovers, the things that we didn't need anyway, the sick animals that we couldn't have eaten or sold.
"Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? [What did we do wrong?] Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings" (Mal. 3:7-8).
What is the accusation? It's more than just not paying tithes. It's not recognizing that everything belongs to God and should go for the good of His kingdom; that we are not entitled owners, but simply stewards.
"Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered" (Mal. 3:13-15).
What is the accusation? Envying those who are not members of the church, or who are not active in their membership. Who would do that? Most of us at one time or another. We get tired of church service and look at the "easier" lives of our nonmember neighbors who get to sleep in on Sunday mornings and don't have as many rules to follow. We don't recognize the tremendous blessings that have entered our lives through our service to the Lord and our obedience to His commandments. When something happens to us that we term to be a tragedy, we shout angrily at the Lord, "Hey! I've been active in the church all my life! I've read the scriptures, said my prayers, served a mission, gone to the temple, lived the Word of Wisdom! Why did I get cancer? Why did my house burn down? Why did my daughter die in a car crash? Why did my son go astray? Look at my neighbor: His life is perfect, and he's never gone to church! I have been cheated!" Instead of trusting the Lord's long-term plan for our lives and looking for lessons and blessings in trials, we blame Him for what we view as injustice or inattention.
THE DANGER OF HYPOCRISY
Let's look at another parable. "A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?" (Matt. 21:28-31).
Brother Scoresby defines the First Apostacy as getting angry and leaving the Church in a huff. The Second Apostacy, he says, is to pervert the Church from within. The Third Apostacy, or the New Apostacy, is much more subtle. It's not really new, but it has experienced a resurgence in recent years. It's like a virgin with not quite enough oil. It's like a sacrifice of a lamb, but a blind one. It's like paying 8% tithing. It's like accepting a Church calling and never getting around to doing it. The New Apostacy is to not do what you say you believe. It is half-heartedness. It is hypocrisy. It is a lack of spiritual integrity. If the integrity of a building is compromised, it may look fine, but in a hurricane or an earthquake, it will crumble. So with the faith of one whose spiritual integrity is not solid.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "Some people are weak in their faith and testimonies but are not even aware of how precarious their situation is. Many of them likely would be offended at the suggestion." He explains what their problem is: "They raise their right hand to sustain Church leaders and then murmur and complain when a decision [made by those Church leaders] does not square with their way of thinking. They claim to be obedient to God's commandments but do not feel at all uncomfortable about purchasing food at the store on Sunday and then asking the Lord to bless it. Some say they would give their lives for the Lord, yet they refuse to serve in the nursery.
"The Savior spoke very explicity about people who 'draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me' (Isa. 29:13). His words were: 'Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Spiritual Bonfires of Testimony," Ensign, November 1992)
Brother Scoresby notes that when there is a conflict between your belief and your action--in other words, hypocrisy--the action wins; the brain will eventually adjust the belief to match the action. The value of other beliefs in the brain are also compromised when one belief is overridden by action. Over time, the individual continues to lose control over his own behavior. This is why Christ condemned hypocrisy so soundly. It is a powerful sin because it decreases integrity and eventually leads to apostacy. It compromises the soundness of the spirit, it undermines the foundation of faith.
DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL INTEGRITY
How can we develop spiritual integrity, or help our children do it? Most of us as children, if we were in good homes, developed the foundation for integrity, which forms the foundation upon which we can build spiritual integrity. (This chart is my interpretation of the principles taught by Lynn Scoresby.)
Keep in mind, these stages overlap, and we are often working on several of them at once.
Development of Personal and Spiritual Integrity
1. Adapting emotional behavior
First, we learned to adapt our emotional behavior to the situation.
As infants we were more excited to see our mothers than to see a
stranger, for example.
2. Adjusting language to situation
Then we learned to adjust our language to different situations,
such as learning to be reverent in Primary.
3. Self-regulation
And we learned how to regulate ourselves in sports or in playing
games or in restaurants to adhere to the rules or the social
expectations. Most children have reached this stage by about
age five.
At stage 4, we can begin to develop our spiritual integrity:
4. Formation and application of conscience
"Put your trust in that spirit that leadeth to do good..."
(D&C 11:12)
The next step is to learn to listen to our conscience and recognize
the direction of the Spirit. This is the stage we would hope to
have children reach by the age of accountability when they are
baptized. We continue to build on the ability to hear and follow
the guidance of the Spirit throughout our lives.
5. Accurate view of self
"I show unto men their weakness..." (Ether 12:27)
We must also be able to recognize the truth about ourselves,
without being afraid of what we might find, and then go to the
Lord with repentant hearts.
6. Practice and internalize beliefs
"Write it in your hearts..." (Prov. 3:1-4)
Over the course of our lives, we must daily internalize our beliefs
through our experiences; we must practice obedience to God
until it becomes "second nature."
7. Change circumstances to match belief
"Faith to move mountains..." (Prov. 3:5; Matt. 21:21)
Then we gain the ability to change circumstances based on our
beliefs, rather than changing our beliefs to fit the circumstances;
we use our faith in Jesus Christ to work for improvement in our
world, to heal, to receive answers to prayer, to exercise the gifts
of the Spirit, to change lives, even to work miracles.
8. Integrity and compassion
"This is my work and my glory..." (3 Ne. 28:9-10; Moses 1:39)
Finally, we reach a state of spiritual integrity: behavior that is
consistent with belief. In this stage, we truly live with charity
and peace, wherein we love God so much that, not only do we
trust Him, but we are one in purpose with Him, meaning that our
top priority is always the temporal welfare and spiritual growth of
those within our influence. This is the effect of a celestialized
person.
If we look carefully at ourselves, we may be able to find what is holding us back. Instead of the positive development noted above, we may be stymied by acting in ways that are detrimental to our spiritual integrity, such as in the examples below.
4. Formation and application of conscience.
We don't always listen to the Holy Ghost, trust what it says to do,
or follow through on promptings.
5. Accurate view of self.
We are too prideful to recognize any error, or don't want to go
through the storm of repentance to get to the peace of
forgiveness.
6. Practice and internalize beliefs.
We pick and choose which commandments to keep, or we keep
them under our own terms like Cain did when he sacrificed grain
instead of a lamb (Gen. 4:3-5). We keep the commandments
only if it doesn't require us to give up anything important, like
offering a blind lamb as a sacrifice (Mal. 1:8). We don't think the
Brethren know what they're talking about it regarding some of
their counsel to us, or we think we are an exception.
7. Change circumstances to match belief.
We say we have faith in Jesus Christ, but we don't believe He
can or will help us with this particular problem/church calling/
weakness/sin/relationship. We look at our planner each morning
and freak out, rather than trusting the Lord to guide us to do the
most important things. We second-guess the Lord's wisdom,
and try to tell Him what to do in our prayers, rather than seeking
to know His will. We interpret unplanned events (accidents,
illnesses, financial losses, etc.) to be tragedies, rather than
potential blessings and stepping stones in our progression. We
look to the future fearfully, not remembering that our lives and
our earth are cradled in God's hands.
8. Integrity and compassion.
We go to church, we read the scriptures, we carry out church
callings, but we can't stand our relative/neighbor/coworker. We
gossip or judge. We are jealous or judgmental. We feel a
constant sense of competition, as if to "win the prize" of celestial
glory (Mosiah 4:27) we must beat our ward members to it, as if
the Lord graded on a curve. We continually break the great
commandment to "love our neighbor as ourselves."
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY AT THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD
Read Malachi 3:1-4. Do we want the Second Coming to be great for us, or to be terrible? It's a no-brainer, but it's a question we need to ask ourselves every day in order to avoid the New Apostacy. Do we want to be one of the five wise virgins, or one of the five unprepared virgins? The days ahead will be a challenge to testimony, and those that are just a flicker will go out. Those who have been hypocrites and not realized it will find that their "hearts fail them." They will not be able to abide the Day of His Coming. Their compromised foundations will crumble. But those who have the integrity to stay on the Lord's side, who have built their lives upon the Rock, will be saved.
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not" (Mal. 3:16-18).
"And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day. And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver" (D&C 45:56-59).
CHALLENGE
The New Year is upon us. What better time to examine ourselves prayerfully, determine where our spiritual integrity is lacking, and make a resolution to strengthen that foundation?
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query malachi. Sort by date Show all posts
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Testament Lesson #2 "My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord"
Luke 1; Matthew 1
Preparation: Make cards with one of each of the following names on them: Zacharias, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph. Tape the cards under chairs in the classroom. (If you typically have a lot of empty chairs in your room, this might not work as well. In that case, you can either just pass them around, or have people look under all the chairs near them until all the cards are found. Cards under the chairs would work better with teenagers or young adults rather than older people who may have a hard time kneeling down or bending over.)
THE FIRST "CHRISTIANS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Ask the class to check under their chairs for a card listing one of the first Christians in the New Testament. Ask those who have cards to think of something to share about this person; something they admire, something interesting they know, whatever. (If someone doesn't want to participate, let them give the card to another. Sunday School should be a place where people feel comfortable. Those who don't read well or are afraid to speak out shouldn't be afraid to come to class.) If your class is not terribly knowledgeable about scriptural figures, you can list a scripture on the board for each of the names (from the notes below), and give them a few minutes to read about their person and learn something to share. Use the ideas below to supplement what the class members share. You can discuss the individuals in any order that the class members choose.
ZACHARIAS
Read Luke 1:5-10. "In the court of the priests stood the great altar of unhewn stones whereon the sacred sacrifices were offered; this was open to the view of the people. Entrance was gained to the Holy Place through two great gold-plated doors. In this sanctuary were the two tables--one of marble, one of gold--on which the priests laid the candlestick with its seven lamps and, most importantly, the altar of incense.
"It was into this sacred sanctuary that Zacharias went, accompanied by another priest who bore burning coals taken from the altar of sacrifice; these he spread upon the altar of incense and then withdrew. It then became the privilege of [Zacharias] to sprinkle the incense on the burning coals, that the ascending smoke and the odor might typify the ascending prayers of all Israel" (McConkie, p. 307)
Keep in mind it had been 400 years or so since Malachi, the last prophet we have record of in the Old Testament, had been on the earth, and we don't know of any angelic ministrations that had happened in the interim. So those people undoubtedly thought such things were in the past. (See Talmadge, p. 77.)
Read Luke 1:11-13. "What prayers did Zacharias make on this occasion? Certainly not, as so many have assumed, prayers that Elisabeth should bear a son, though such in days past had been the subject of the priest's faith-filled importunings. This was not the occasion for private, but for public prayers. He was acting for and on behalf of all Israel, not for himself and Elisabeth alone. And Israel's prayer was for redemption, for deliverance from the Gentile yoke, for the coming of their Messiah, for freedom from sin. The prayers of the one who burned the incense were the prelude to the sacrificial offering itself, which was made to bring the people in tune with the Infinite, through the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of their lives. 'And the whole multitude of the people were praying without [meaning, outside] at the time of incense'--all praying, with one heart and one mind, the same things that were being expressed formally, and officially, by the one whose lot it was to sprinkle the incense in the Holy Place." (McConkie, p. 307-308) So why did the angel say, "Thy prayer is heard and thy wife shall bear a son," if he wasn't then praying for a son? Because of the son's role: Read Luke 1:16-17.
"The last words Zacharias had uttered prior to the influction of dumbness were words of doubt and unbelief...The words with which he broke his long silence were words of praise unto God in whom he had all assurances, words that were as a sign to all who heard, and the fame whereof spread throughout the region" (Talmadge, p. 79).
Read Luke 1:18-20. But this sign made the visitation much more obvious to the people. When Zacharias emerged deaf and dumb, it was a testimony to everyone, in addition to what he might have told them. So maybe that was part of the reason that the angel was so hard on him.
Zacharias died a martyr. Jesus blasted the Jews for it: "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel [the first martyr] unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias [the most recent martyr], whom ye slew between the temple and the altar" (Matt. 23:34-35). It is confusing because the prophet Zechariah of the Old Testament was killed in the same manner and his father was named Barachias. But Zacharias' father must have had the same name, because Joseph Smith specifies that this Zacharias is John the Baptist's father:
"When Herod's edict went forth to destroy the young children, John was about six months older than Jesus, and came under this hellish edict, and Zacharias caused his mother to take him into the mountains, where he was raised on locusts and wild honey. When his father refused to disclose his hiding place, and being the officiating high priest at the Temple that year, [he] was slain by Herod's order, between the porch and the altar, as Jesus said" (Smith, p. 261).
Zacharias' testimony is recorded in Luke 1:68-79. It has been set to music and performed over the centuries in the Roman Catholic Church under the title "The Benedictus." Add in the JST change that is not included in the LDS Bible for verse 77 and an additional insight is gained: "...salvation unto his people by baptism for the remission of their sins." (If you would like to know how to find JST changes that are not in our LDS edition, follow this link to a previous post on the JST.)
ELIZABETH
Read Luke 1:5-7; 24-27; 39-45; 56-60 for Elizabeth's story. Elizabeth was both the daughter and the wife of a priest. She was righteous before God and blameless. She was childless until old age. We know that she also knew that the baby should be named John, whether from the Spirit or from her husband. We know she had an intimate relationship with Mary (Luke 1:40-45). She had loving and supportive family and friends (Luke 1:58). We know from Joseph Smith that she raised her little boy, John, in hiding in the wilderness without her husband. (See notes on Zachariah.) We have her testimony (Luke 1:42-45).
JOHN
The scriptures specifically tell us that John was of priestly descent through both parents. "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth" (Luke 1:5). "This lineage was essential, since John was the embodiment of the law of Moses, designed to prepare the way for the Messiah and make ready a people to receive him" (BD, p. 714). There was never any doubt in the Jews' minds that John had priesthood authority, and this created big problems for those who did not want to believe his witness. When the chief priests and elders challenged Christ's authority, He had only to refer them to John's authority to flummox them. They could not publicly doubt John's authority, as it was fully established. Yet, if they acknowledged it, they would also have to acknowledge his testimony of Christ as the Son of God. So they did not answer at all. (See Matt. 21:23-27.)
Why was it so important that the baby be named John, and not Zacharias? Couldn't he just as well have been "Zacharias the Baptist?" Well, just as there is a meaning for every number for the Hebrews, there is also a meaning for every name. The name John, Jochanan in Hebrew, means "the grace or mercy of Jehovah." John was foreordained to be the one who would go forth ahead of Jehovah to proclaim his grace and mercy. (See McConkie, p. 335)
What do we know about John's childhood? We know he was raised in the wilderness. And modern-day revelation tells us more fascinating details. "And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power" (D&C 84:26-28).
John was the forerunner in almost every instance. He was born just before Christ and testified of Him even from the womb, as he leapt in His presence. He started his ministry before Christ started his, declaring that there would be a greater One to come. He laid down his life for the testimony of Jesus before Jesus died, and therefore he was also the forerunner into paradise to announce that the captive spirits would soon be free. And in the final dispensation, ours, he came again to prepare the way for the Second Coming by restoring the Aaronic Priesthood to the earth so that others could be baptists. (See McConkie, p. 302)
So John has ministered in three dispensations on the earth: "He was the last of the prophets under the law of Moses, he was the first of the New Testament prophets, and he brought the Aaronic Priesthood to the dispensation of the fullness of times." (BD, p. 715)
Let's read what John the Beloved wrote about John the Baptist: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came into the world for a witness, to bear witness of the light, to bear record of the gospel through the Son, unto all, that through him men might believe. He was not that light, but came to bear witness of that light, which was the true light, which lighteth every man who cometh into the world; Even the Son of God. He who was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not" (JST John 1:6-10 in the Bible Appendix).
John the Baptist's testimony of Jesus Christ is found in the same scriptural location, JST John 1:15-33.
JOSEPH
Read Matthew 1:18-25 for information about Joseph. Matthew and Luke both give genealogies of Christ (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38). The genealogies are different, but this only testifies to their validity. The genealogy of Matthew is the sequence of the legal successors to the throne of David. The account from Luke is a personal pedigree of actual father/son relationships, also demonstrating descendence from David. Both of them offer claim to the throne. Luke's record is thought to be the pedigree of Mary even though it is Joseph's name that is mentioned, and Matthew's is thought to be Joseph's. Where in Matthew it says Joseph's father is Jacob, Luke says Joseph's father is Heli. Jacob and Heli were brothers, and Mary and Joseph, their children, were therefore first cousins. Elder McConkie thinks Jacob was Joseph's father-in-law and Mary's father (McConkie, p. 316). Never did the Jews accuse Jesus of being ineligible to be the Messiah based on his heritage. With the great emphasis that the Jews placed on genealogy, this testifies that his genealogy correctly placed him as King of the Jews (Talmadge, p. 86-87).
MARY
Mary's history is found in Luke 1:26-45, and Luke 2. "Jesus Christ was to be born of mortal woman, but was not directly the offspring of mortal man, except so far as his mother was the daughter of both man and woman. In our Lord alone has been fulfilled the word of God spoke in relation to the fall of Adam that the seed of the woman should have power to overcome Satan by bruising the serpent's head" (Talmadge, p. 83). (See Genesis 3:15 and Moses 1:21.)
"In respect to place, condition, and general environment, Gabriel's annunciation to Zacharias offers strong contrast to the delivery of his message to Mary. The prospective forerunner of the Lord was announced to his father within the magnificent temple, and in a place the most exclusively sacred save one other in the Holy House, under the light shed from the golden candlestick, and further illumined by the glow of living coals on the altar of gold; the Messiah was announced to His mother in a small town far from the capital and the temple, most probably within the walls of a simple Galilean cottage" (Talmadge, p. 82).
Her testimony is preserved in Luke and, like Zacharias', has been set to music and performed many times over the centuries in many Christian churches under the title "The Magnificat." It is found in Luke 1:46-55.
CONCLUSION
We have a written testimony from each one of these first five great Christians except Joseph, and his testimony is manifest in his works. How did all of these great early saints gain their testimonies in these unbelievable circumstances? Through the same power by which you and I gain ours and continue to strengthen them: The power of the Holy Ghost. John, as we read in both Luke 1:15 and D&C 84:27 "was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb," and that is how he knew that the unborn Christ was near. Elizabeth, when she greeted Mary "was filled with the Holy Ghost" (Luke 1:41) and that is how she knew. Zacharias was "filled with the Holy Ghost" at the naming of his child (Luke 1:67). Mary, Joseph and Zacharias all had the additional privilege of seeing an angel, but even seeing an angel does not necessarily give a person a testimony--Laman and Lemuel saw an angel and it made no difference to them (1 Nephi 3:29-31). We don't need to see an angel to know that Jesus is the Christ, and that His gospel is the Way; we have the Holy Ghost, and that's all we need.
"When a man has the manifestation of the Holy Ghost, it leaves an indelible impression on his soul, one that is not easily erased. It is Spirit speaking to spirit, and it comes with convincing force. A manifestation of an angel, or even the Son of God himself, would impress the eye and mind, and eventually become dimmed, but the impressions of the Holy Ghost sink deeper into the soul and are more difficult to erase" (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:151).
"When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:13-18). What is "this rock?" Joseph Smith asked. He answered his own question: revelation through the Holy Ghost. (See Smith, p. 274.)
Sources:
Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Book 1
James E. Talmadge, Jesus The Christ
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Bible Dictionary
Preparation: Make cards with one of each of the following names on them: Zacharias, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph. Tape the cards under chairs in the classroom. (If you typically have a lot of empty chairs in your room, this might not work as well. In that case, you can either just pass them around, or have people look under all the chairs near them until all the cards are found. Cards under the chairs would work better with teenagers or young adults rather than older people who may have a hard time kneeling down or bending over.)
THE FIRST "CHRISTIANS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Ask the class to check under their chairs for a card listing one of the first Christians in the New Testament. Ask those who have cards to think of something to share about this person; something they admire, something interesting they know, whatever. (If someone doesn't want to participate, let them give the card to another. Sunday School should be a place where people feel comfortable. Those who don't read well or are afraid to speak out shouldn't be afraid to come to class.) If your class is not terribly knowledgeable about scriptural figures, you can list a scripture on the board for each of the names (from the notes below), and give them a few minutes to read about their person and learn something to share. Use the ideas below to supplement what the class members share. You can discuss the individuals in any order that the class members choose.
ZACHARIAS
Read Luke 1:5-10. "In the court of the priests stood the great altar of unhewn stones whereon the sacred sacrifices were offered; this was open to the view of the people. Entrance was gained to the Holy Place through two great gold-plated doors. In this sanctuary were the two tables--one of marble, one of gold--on which the priests laid the candlestick with its seven lamps and, most importantly, the altar of incense.
"It was into this sacred sanctuary that Zacharias went, accompanied by another priest who bore burning coals taken from the altar of sacrifice; these he spread upon the altar of incense and then withdrew. It then became the privilege of [Zacharias] to sprinkle the incense on the burning coals, that the ascending smoke and the odor might typify the ascending prayers of all Israel" (McConkie, p. 307)
Keep in mind it had been 400 years or so since Malachi, the last prophet we have record of in the Old Testament, had been on the earth, and we don't know of any angelic ministrations that had happened in the interim. So those people undoubtedly thought such things were in the past. (See Talmadge, p. 77.)
Read Luke 1:11-13. "What prayers did Zacharias make on this occasion? Certainly not, as so many have assumed, prayers that Elisabeth should bear a son, though such in days past had been the subject of the priest's faith-filled importunings. This was not the occasion for private, but for public prayers. He was acting for and on behalf of all Israel, not for himself and Elisabeth alone. And Israel's prayer was for redemption, for deliverance from the Gentile yoke, for the coming of their Messiah, for freedom from sin. The prayers of the one who burned the incense were the prelude to the sacrificial offering itself, which was made to bring the people in tune with the Infinite, through the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of their lives. 'And the whole multitude of the people were praying without [meaning, outside] at the time of incense'--all praying, with one heart and one mind, the same things that were being expressed formally, and officially, by the one whose lot it was to sprinkle the incense in the Holy Place." (McConkie, p. 307-308) So why did the angel say, "Thy prayer is heard and thy wife shall bear a son," if he wasn't then praying for a son? Because of the son's role: Read Luke 1:16-17.
"The last words Zacharias had uttered prior to the influction of dumbness were words of doubt and unbelief...The words with which he broke his long silence were words of praise unto God in whom he had all assurances, words that were as a sign to all who heard, and the fame whereof spread throughout the region" (Talmadge, p. 79).
Read Luke 1:18-20. But this sign made the visitation much more obvious to the people. When Zacharias emerged deaf and dumb, it was a testimony to everyone, in addition to what he might have told them. So maybe that was part of the reason that the angel was so hard on him.
Zacharias died a martyr. Jesus blasted the Jews for it: "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel [the first martyr] unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias [the most recent martyr], whom ye slew between the temple and the altar" (Matt. 23:34-35). It is confusing because the prophet Zechariah of the Old Testament was killed in the same manner and his father was named Barachias. But Zacharias' father must have had the same name, because Joseph Smith specifies that this Zacharias is John the Baptist's father:
"When Herod's edict went forth to destroy the young children, John was about six months older than Jesus, and came under this hellish edict, and Zacharias caused his mother to take him into the mountains, where he was raised on locusts and wild honey. When his father refused to disclose his hiding place, and being the officiating high priest at the Temple that year, [he] was slain by Herod's order, between the porch and the altar, as Jesus said" (Smith, p. 261).
Zacharias' testimony is recorded in Luke 1:68-79. It has been set to music and performed over the centuries in the Roman Catholic Church under the title "The Benedictus." Add in the JST change that is not included in the LDS Bible for verse 77 and an additional insight is gained: "...salvation unto his people by baptism for the remission of their sins." (If you would like to know how to find JST changes that are not in our LDS edition, follow this link to a previous post on the JST.)
ELIZABETH
Read Luke 1:5-7; 24-27; 39-45; 56-60 for Elizabeth's story. Elizabeth was both the daughter and the wife of a priest. She was righteous before God and blameless. She was childless until old age. We know that she also knew that the baby should be named John, whether from the Spirit or from her husband. We know she had an intimate relationship with Mary (Luke 1:40-45). She had loving and supportive family and friends (Luke 1:58). We know from Joseph Smith that she raised her little boy, John, in hiding in the wilderness without her husband. (See notes on Zachariah.) We have her testimony (Luke 1:42-45).
JOHN
The scriptures specifically tell us that John was of priestly descent through both parents. "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth" (Luke 1:5). "This lineage was essential, since John was the embodiment of the law of Moses, designed to prepare the way for the Messiah and make ready a people to receive him" (BD, p. 714). There was never any doubt in the Jews' minds that John had priesthood authority, and this created big problems for those who did not want to believe his witness. When the chief priests and elders challenged Christ's authority, He had only to refer them to John's authority to flummox them. They could not publicly doubt John's authority, as it was fully established. Yet, if they acknowledged it, they would also have to acknowledge his testimony of Christ as the Son of God. So they did not answer at all. (See Matt. 21:23-27.)
Why was it so important that the baby be named John, and not Zacharias? Couldn't he just as well have been "Zacharias the Baptist?" Well, just as there is a meaning for every number for the Hebrews, there is also a meaning for every name. The name John, Jochanan in Hebrew, means "the grace or mercy of Jehovah." John was foreordained to be the one who would go forth ahead of Jehovah to proclaim his grace and mercy. (See McConkie, p. 335)
What do we know about John's childhood? We know he was raised in the wilderness. And modern-day revelation tells us more fascinating details. "And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. For he was baptized while he was yet in his childhood, and was ordained by the angel of God at the time he was eight days old unto this power, to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord, in whose hand is given all power" (D&C 84:26-28).
John was the forerunner in almost every instance. He was born just before Christ and testified of Him even from the womb, as he leapt in His presence. He started his ministry before Christ started his, declaring that there would be a greater One to come. He laid down his life for the testimony of Jesus before Jesus died, and therefore he was also the forerunner into paradise to announce that the captive spirits would soon be free. And in the final dispensation, ours, he came again to prepare the way for the Second Coming by restoring the Aaronic Priesthood to the earth so that others could be baptists. (See McConkie, p. 302)
So John has ministered in three dispensations on the earth: "He was the last of the prophets under the law of Moses, he was the first of the New Testament prophets, and he brought the Aaronic Priesthood to the dispensation of the fullness of times." (BD, p. 715)
Let's read what John the Beloved wrote about John the Baptist: "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came into the world for a witness, to bear witness of the light, to bear record of the gospel through the Son, unto all, that through him men might believe. He was not that light, but came to bear witness of that light, which was the true light, which lighteth every man who cometh into the world; Even the Son of God. He who was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not" (JST John 1:6-10 in the Bible Appendix).
John the Baptist's testimony of Jesus Christ is found in the same scriptural location, JST John 1:15-33.
JOSEPH
Read Matthew 1:18-25 for information about Joseph. Matthew and Luke both give genealogies of Christ (Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38). The genealogies are different, but this only testifies to their validity. The genealogy of Matthew is the sequence of the legal successors to the throne of David. The account from Luke is a personal pedigree of actual father/son relationships, also demonstrating descendence from David. Both of them offer claim to the throne. Luke's record is thought to be the pedigree of Mary even though it is Joseph's name that is mentioned, and Matthew's is thought to be Joseph's. Where in Matthew it says Joseph's father is Jacob, Luke says Joseph's father is Heli. Jacob and Heli were brothers, and Mary and Joseph, their children, were therefore first cousins. Elder McConkie thinks Jacob was Joseph's father-in-law and Mary's father (McConkie, p. 316). Never did the Jews accuse Jesus of being ineligible to be the Messiah based on his heritage. With the great emphasis that the Jews placed on genealogy, this testifies that his genealogy correctly placed him as King of the Jews (Talmadge, p. 86-87).
MARY
Mary's history is found in Luke 1:26-45, and Luke 2. "Jesus Christ was to be born of mortal woman, but was not directly the offspring of mortal man, except so far as his mother was the daughter of both man and woman. In our Lord alone has been fulfilled the word of God spoke in relation to the fall of Adam that the seed of the woman should have power to overcome Satan by bruising the serpent's head" (Talmadge, p. 83). (See Genesis 3:15 and Moses 1:21.)
"In respect to place, condition, and general environment, Gabriel's annunciation to Zacharias offers strong contrast to the delivery of his message to Mary. The prospective forerunner of the Lord was announced to his father within the magnificent temple, and in a place the most exclusively sacred save one other in the Holy House, under the light shed from the golden candlestick, and further illumined by the glow of living coals on the altar of gold; the Messiah was announced to His mother in a small town far from the capital and the temple, most probably within the walls of a simple Galilean cottage" (Talmadge, p. 82).
Her testimony is preserved in Luke and, like Zacharias', has been set to music and performed many times over the centuries in many Christian churches under the title "The Magnificat." It is found in Luke 1:46-55.
CONCLUSION
We have a written testimony from each one of these first five great Christians except Joseph, and his testimony is manifest in his works. How did all of these great early saints gain their testimonies in these unbelievable circumstances? Through the same power by which you and I gain ours and continue to strengthen them: The power of the Holy Ghost. John, as we read in both Luke 1:15 and D&C 84:27 "was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb," and that is how he knew that the unborn Christ was near. Elizabeth, when she greeted Mary "was filled with the Holy Ghost" (Luke 1:41) and that is how she knew. Zacharias was "filled with the Holy Ghost" at the naming of his child (Luke 1:67). Mary, Joseph and Zacharias all had the additional privilege of seeing an angel, but even seeing an angel does not necessarily give a person a testimony--Laman and Lemuel saw an angel and it made no difference to them (1 Nephi 3:29-31). We don't need to see an angel to know that Jesus is the Christ, and that His gospel is the Way; we have the Holy Ghost, and that's all we need.
"When a man has the manifestation of the Holy Ghost, it leaves an indelible impression on his soul, one that is not easily erased. It is Spirit speaking to spirit, and it comes with convincing force. A manifestation of an angel, or even the Son of God himself, would impress the eye and mind, and eventually become dimmed, but the impressions of the Holy Ghost sink deeper into the soul and are more difficult to erase" (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:151).
"When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:13-18). What is "this rock?" Joseph Smith asked. He answered his own question: revelation through the Holy Ghost. (See Smith, p. 274.)
Sources:
Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Book 1
James E. Talmadge, Jesus The Christ
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Bible Dictionary
Friday, April 15, 2022
Quick Links
Church over Jacob's Well, photo taken by Carolyn J. Wyatt
Feel free to use
December 27-January 2 Moses 1 as an introduction to the Bible and an excellent example of how to resist pornography
January 3-9 Creation
January 10-16 The conflicting commandments given by God to Adam and Eve; mortality and redemption
January 17-23, part 1 The Tree of Knowledge; Cain and Enoch
January 17-23, part 2 My Seven Dispensations Memory Aid
January 24-30 The Visions of Enoch
January 31-February 6 Additional insights into the story of Noah found in the Joseph Smith Translation; the Covenant of the Rainbow
February 7-13, part 1 "The Abrahamic Covenant." The Abrahamic Covenant simplified.
February 7-13, part 2 Especially for members of dysfunctional families. See also the following lesson.
February 14-20, part 1 Abraham and Lot
February 14-20, part 2 Abraham's sacrifice as a type of Christ
February 14-20, part 3 Ishmael
February 21-27 Birthright blessings; marriage in the covenant
March 7-13 Joseph and the birthright
February 7-13, part 1 "The Abrahamic Covenant." The Abrahamic Covenant simplified.
February 7-13, part 2 Especially for members of dysfunctional families. See also the following lesson.
February 14-20, part 1 Abraham and Lot
February 14-20, part 2 Abraham's sacrifice as a type of Christ
February 14-20, part 3 Ishmael
February 21-27 Birthright blessings; marriage in the covenant
March 7-13 Joseph and the birthright
March 14-20 Joseph as a type of Christ
March 21-27 Bondage, Passover, and Exodus
March 21-27 Bondage, Passover, and Exodus
April 4-10 Journey to the Promised Land
April 11-17 The Seismic Shift of Easter
April 18-24 Chainbreakers
April 25-May 1 (no lesson available yet)
May 2-8 (no lesson available yet)
May 16-22 Remembering the Lord
May 23-29 Be Strong and of a Good Courage
May 30-June 5 The Reign of the Judges
June 6-12 Ruth
June 13-19 Part 1: Hannah
June 13-19 Part 2: Samuel
June 20-26 Part 1: Abigail and David
June 20-26 Part 2: The Rise and Fall of David
June 20-26 Part 3: King Solomon
June 20-26 Supplement: Jesse Knight
June 20-26 Supplement: The Division of the Kingdom
June 27-July 3 1 Kings 17-19
July 4-10 Elijah
July 4-10 The Mantle of Elijah + Bible Balderdash
July 11-17 Hezekiah
July 11-17 To be posted: Josiah
July 18-24 To Be Posted: Ezra and Nehemiah
July 25-31 Esther
August 1-7 Job
July 4-10 The Mantle of Elijah + Bible Balderdash
July 11-17 To Be Posted: Josiah
July 11-17 Supplement: Hezekiah
July 18-24 To Be Posted: Ezra and Nehemiah
July 25-31 Esther
August 1-7 Job
August 8-21 Psalms, Part 1
August 22-29 Just follow this link to "Follow Him" with Michael McLean--so good!
(Dropped the ball here for a little while, finishing up my college degree)
November 7-13 Hosea
November 14-20 Amos; Obadiah
November 21-27 Jonah; Micah (This is one of my absolute favorites!)
November 28-December 4 Nahum; Habakkuk (no lesson yet)
December 5-11 Haggai; Zechariah (no lesson yet)
December 12-18 Malachi (with a Book of Mormon base)
December 19-25 Christmas--Ezra & Nehemiah
Extra Old Testament Lessons:
Supplement to Lesson #26
Lesson #31 "Happy is the Man that Findeth Wisdom"
Lesson #33 "Sharing the Gospel With the World
Lesson #34 "I Will Betroth Thee unto Me in Righteousness"
Lesson #35 "God Reveals His Secrets to His Prophets"
Lesson #36 "The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense"
Lesson #37 "Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things"
Supplement to Lesson #37
Lesson #38 "Beside Me There is No Savior"
Lesson #39 "How Beautiful Upon the Mountains"
Lesson #40 "Enlarge the Place of Thy Tent"
Lesson #41 "I Have Made Thee This Day ... an Iron Pillar"
Lesson #42 "I Will Write It in their Hearts"
Lesson #43 "The Shepherds of Israel"
Lesson #44 "Every Thing Shall Live Whither the River Cometh"
Lesson #46 "A Kingdom, Which Shall Never Be Destroyed"
Lesson #47 "Let Us Rise Up and Build"/Christmas Lesson
Lesson #48 "The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord"
Supplement to Lesson #26
Lesson #31 "Happy is the Man that Findeth Wisdom"
Lesson #33 "Sharing the Gospel With the World
Lesson #34 "I Will Betroth Thee unto Me in Righteousness"
Lesson #35 "God Reveals His Secrets to His Prophets"
Lesson #36 "The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense"
Lesson #37 "Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things"
Supplement to Lesson #37
Lesson #38 "Beside Me There is No Savior"
Lesson #39 "How Beautiful Upon the Mountains"
Lesson #40 "Enlarge the Place of Thy Tent"
Lesson #41 "I Have Made Thee This Day ... an Iron Pillar"
Lesson #42 "I Will Write It in their Hearts"
Lesson #43 "The Shepherds of Israel"
Lesson #44 "Every Thing Shall Live Whither the River Cometh"
Lesson #46 "A Kingdom, Which Shall Never Be Destroyed"
Lesson #47 "Let Us Rise Up and Build"/Christmas Lesson
Lesson #48 "The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord"
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Doctrine & Covenants 2; Joseph Smith--History 1:27-65
AFTER THE FIRST VISION
After Joseph Smith saw his initial heavenly vision of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and hosts of angels, he knew that God knew him, that his sins were forgiven, and that he should not join any of the churches available to him on the earth. He learned "many other things" which he didn't relate in his tellings of the vision. Later that day, he told his mother that he had learned that the Presbyterian church, which she and some of his siblings had joined, did not contain the true gospel. It doesn't appear that he told her any more than this.
A few days later, he took the opportunity to relate the vision to a Methodist preacher, a person he assumed to be a man of God. This preacher berated him and told him the vision was devillish because God didn't give man visions anymore. Rather than helping Joseph to understand what had happened (which is clearly why Joseph told him the story), he belitted him and spread the story and soon everyone in the area knew that a boy named Joseph Smith had reported a heavenly vision and most of them were bristling with rage (Joseph Smith--History 1:20-22). From what has been reported by Joseph Smith (see previous post) and by others, there was no indication that he planned to start a new religion at this point. He was just a teenage boy, telling his personal spiritual experience. It is remarkable that the response of the community was so violent.
AN "AT-RISK" YOUTH
What happened to Joseph Smith over the next three years? He was from a poor family, new to the area. He had to work long hours. He was ostracized by the church-goers and the well-to-do. The ministers derided him. The "good" kids didn't associate with him. Besides his siblings, only the non-religious youth would accept him. He reports,
"Being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me—I was left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament" (JS-H 1:28).
THE MENTORING OF JOSEPH SMITH
Eventually, Joseph decided he needed to right himself with God. He still had no idea he would be starting a church. He just wanted forgiveness and a personal connection with Diety.
"I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him..." (JS-H 1:29).
In response to his prayer, he had series of four angellic visitations over the next 12 hours that showed him there would be much more for him to do. The visions were all fundamentally the same. With the absence of paper and writing utensil, the method of instruction had to be repetitive, so that Joseph could commit it to memory.
God reveals His will "line upon line, precept upon precept" (Isaiah 28:10). Over the next seven years, Joseph was granted many more visions. For more detail on these visions, please read "Moroni's Message to Joseph Smith."
Through these tutoring experiences, Joseph reported to learn about the following concepts important to the Restoration of the original Church of Jesus Christ and to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:
Apostasy and scattering
The calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith
The opening of the heavens during the Restoration
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon
The restoration of the priesthood and of the sealing keys
The gathering of the elect
Destruction and purification prior to and during the Second Coming
Deliverance for the faithful
The Second Coming
The premillennial and millennial state of the faithful
Ten years after the First Vision, Joseph Smith finally had the knowledge, the maturity, the resources, the scripture, the financial backing, and enough believers to legally start a new American religion, the restored church of Jesus Christ. But it took ten years of growth with seven years of mentoring.
THE PROMISES HAVE BEEN PLANTED
In that first set of four visions, Joseph Smith was quoted Malachi 4:4-6 differently than it appears in the King James Version of the Bible.
"Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord...And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."
The angel's version omits the phrase, "He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children," and adds, "He shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers." Those promises are contained in the Abrahamic Covenant. If this Covenant is not fulfilled by the turning of the children to it, the earth is wasted. The promises have been planted in the children by Elijah. It is now up to the children to accept the gospel and follow the covenant path. And it is up to us to help.
My grandson and son-in-law
OUR "AT-RISK" YOUTH
Like Joseph Smith, our youth today are "at risk." The forces of evil, the secularization of society, the downward pull of the fallen world, the philosophies of the present day, the pressure exerted by their peers--all of these combine to make it harder for the hearts of the children to turn to the New and Everlasting Covenant and nurture that promise planted in their hearts to its full maturity. They need mentors.
The Lord places individuals within our sphere of influence who have that promise planted in their hearts. When they are actually members of our family, it gives us the distinct advantage of being able to do missionary work long-term, without deadlines. In Joseph Smith's case, his parents and older siblings were the only mentors who believed him for those first three years after the vision.
Elder Robert D. Hales said,
"It is impossible to overestimate the influence of parents who understand the hearts of their children. Research shows that during the most important transitions of life—including those periods when youth are most likely to drift away from the Church—the greatest influence does not come from an interview with the bishop or some other leader but from the regular, warm, friendly, caring interaction with parents...
"It is our imperative duty to help youth understand and believe the gospel in a deeply personal way. We can teach them to walk in the light, but that light cannot be borrowed."
“The greatest missionary work we will ever do will be in our homes. Our homes, quorums, and classes are part of the mission field. Our children and grandchildren are our most important investigators…
“The greatest rescue, the greatest activation will be in our homes. If someone in your family is wandering in strange paths, you are a rescuer, engaged in the greatest rescue effort the Church has ever known. I testify from personal experience: There is no failure except in giving up. It is never too early or too late to begin. Do not worry about what has happened in the past. Pick up the phone. Write a note. Make a visit. Extend the invitation to come home. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed. Your child is Heavenly Father’s child. You are about His work. He has promised to gather His children, and He is with you.
“The greatest faith we have will be within our homes as we remain strong in the trials and tribulations of parenthood. To a small group of mothers, President Monson recently said, ‘Sometimes we are too quick to judge the effect of our successes and failures.’ May I add, don’t look at today’s trials as eternal. Heavenly Father does His work in the long term. ‘There is much which lieth in futurity,’ the Prophet Joseph Smith said. ‘Therefore, . . . let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed’ (D&C 123:15, 17)"(Elder, Robert D. Hales, “Our Duty to God: The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation,” April 2010 General Conference)
BE OF GOOD CHEER
All throughout the scriptures, and in the most unlikely situations therein, we find the commandment to “be of good cheer.” We must obey this commandment if we want to help our family members. If our children see that we are sad, why would they want to be like us? If our children can detect that they make us feel like failures, how can we encourage them? It is unfair and incorrect to place the responsibility for our happiness on our children or anyone else. They are busy enough trying to figure out their own happiness. The best thing we can do is show by example how the gospel makes us happy, independent of what anyone (themselves included) does, because it gives us hope. Do not exercise faith in failure by focusing on the negative or becoming distraught by problems. Remember they are all temporary conditions, brought on by our fallen world. Christ has overcome the world.
Remember:
There is a bright side to everything.
If not, polish one of them up.
Our number one responsibility in all of our relationships in life is always the same: to love! Christ gave it as the great commandment. I love this quote from the author Sue Monk Kidd:
“That’s the only purpose grand enough for a human life.
Not only to love, but to persist in love.”
“What thank have ye if ye love those” who are obedient, sweet, kind, easy to love…? There are marvelous skills to be developed through the close-up opportunity of loving the unique, imperfect individuals in our families and ward who may be a little prickly. Terrance Olsen, a family life teacher and counselor says,
“When we are compassionate with our rebellious children,
their conscience convicts them.
When we are hostile, it justifies them.”
D&C 121 teaches us that no power or influence CAN be maintained except by love.
But sometimes parents cannot reach their own children.
RESCUING OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN
When I was a young mother, my husband and I were braving an airline trip with two tiny boys. We were making our way through the Atlanta airport. I had the 1-year-old in a stroller, and the 3-year-old on a telephone-cord-style leash. One end was fastened around his wrist, and the other was fastened onto the stroller so I could have a free hand for baggage. We saw the signs about not taking strollers on escalators, but we couldn’t find the elevator, so we got on. My husband got on first. As I pushed the stroller onto the escalator, and held onto the handles to keep it steady, the 3-year-old panicked and refused to get on! I had forgotten he was unfamiliar with escalators! Before I could grab his hand, I was heading down the huge and steep escalator with the stroller, further and further away from my little boy, while the long, springy leash got tighter and tighter. Two women got on between me and my little boy and stared at the tightening leash as I cried out to my child to get on the escalator. I didn’t dare let go of the stroller. I couldn’t get the leash unfastened. I was absolutely panicked.
From the opposite side of the lobby, a young father saw what was happening. I will never forget how, without hesitation, he sprinted at top speed across the lobby, picked up my toddler, and ran down the escalator, shoving past the two gawking women to return my child to me. He ran as if it were his own child. He sat there on the escalator steps with his elbow crooked around my little man, panting and heaving. He didn’t point out how we should have known better than to take a stroller on an escalator. He helped my boy off the escalator, caught his breath, and turned around to go back up again.
Many times in their lives, parents will find themselves in metaphorically similar situations--the gap widening between them and their child--and they will feel their hands tied. When other people's children are at risk, we have the obligation to rescue.
WAYS TO ENCOURAGE SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN YOUTH
As parents:
Stay close to the Spirit. First of all, be extremely sensitive to your personal level of spirituality in any moment. Don’t lose the Spirit by being reactive, defensive, judgmental, or getting angry. Use your knowledge and spirituality to raise theirs, not to increase the gap between you.
Pray specifically. Seek the spirit so you can pray specific prayers that will be answered to help them take miniscule but forward steps.
Elevate their spirituality. Reading the scriptures isn't the only way to feel the Spirit. Playing games and laughing together can elevate the spirit. Reminiscing about loved relatives can teach gospel principles in a non-confrontational way. Sharing family history with our youth can give them a sense of belonging and identity. Do activities that have the highest level of spirituality they can tolerate.
Form links. Look for ways to form links between yourself and them. Make their interests yours. If they eat vegan, make some really great vegan recipes. If there is a vacation spot they are interested in, go there together. If they have a favorite treat keep it around. Text them. Do things they love to do.
Teach through environment. Put up scriptures and great quotes in your home. Youth can read them without having to interact about them, and they will likely absorb them bit by bit. Both my oldest child and my youngest child (16 years apart) when asked for their favorite scriptures, repeated word-for-word a scripture which I had on display in the home, although we had never specifically focused on them. Use pictures, books, movies, and laughter to create an uplifting environment in your home.
As ward mentors:
Know them. Do you know the name of every young man and young woman in the ward? Do you stop to talk with them? Or do you consider it to only be the duty of their leaders? I would like to challenge you to learn every name, and which parents they belong to, and then use those names to interact with them.
Mentor them. In one ward, Melchizedek priesthood members are actually assigned to mentor specific Aaronic priesthood members. They are also assigned to learn all the names of all the youth in the ward. We don’t have to wait for the ward to make assignments, though. We can assign ourselves to the youth.
Encourage them. Kids often have feelings of being put down, criticized, feeling inadequate at school and among their peers. We must make church and home a safe haven, a place where they feel loved and valued. Make sure they feel better when they are around you. Bring attention to what they are doing right. Express confidence that they can achieve their goals.
Fear not. Remember “there is no fear in love.” If you are afraid of them, you cannot love them.
President Uchtdorf said, “I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand….
“We know from modern revelation that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”4 We cannot gauge the worth of another soul any more than we can measure the span of the universe. Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father. Once we understand that, we can begin to understand how we should treat our fellowmen.
“One woman who had been through years of trial and sorrow said through her tears, “I have come to realize that I am like an old 20-dollar bill—crumpled, torn, dirty, abused, and scarred. But…I am still worth the full 20 dollars.”
“With this in mind, let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn.” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Are My Hands,” April 2010 Conference)
Practice greeting everyone you meet straight-on with eye contact and a smile, particularly if they have an appearance that makes you uncomfortable. Remind yourself it is another chance to practice seeing the child of God in every individual, another chance to prove that religious people are not hypocrites, another chance to let them feel the influence of the Spirit (which will be with you if you are filled with love). Shocking apparel is frequently a cover-up for a low self-image. Remember that everyone you meet is a child of God, and everyone in your family and ward is of the House of Israel, the “believing blood,” with the promises of the Father planted in their hearts.
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