Free To Choose

Being Free To Choose is a foundational principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We learn that this freedom of choice dates back to our pre-mortal existence where we are taught that just being on this earth is an indicator that we chose to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s plan.  This freedom to choose is an integral part of both the gospel plan and of our earthly existence.

Choices Come With Consequences
In the Book of Mormon, Helaman chapter 14, Samuel the Lamanite prophet reminds us of that we are free to choose.  However, he also reminds us that there are consequences to our choices and when we make a choice, we also choose the consequence that goes with that choice and cannot change that consequence.  Some of these consequences are eternal in nature and will determine our destiny after this mortal life.

Helaman 14:30-31
30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.

 31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

This freedom is an essential aspect of our life on earth.  We are here on earth to be tested and see if we will follow God’s commandments even when we are no in his presence.  Those who are parents can understand this concept.  When a small child is in our presence he is more likely to follow the rules and be on better behavior.  However, when he is not aware of a parent’s presence, sometimes he is more likely to be tempted to sneak another cookie from the cookie jar when he knows he has been told no more until after dinner.  In the same way, this earth life is for us to be tested as well.  Will we follow the rules, i.e. keep the commandments, even when we are not in our Heavenly Father’s presence?  As we make choices on this earth, we demonstrate our ability or inability to make reponsible choices.

Effects of Choices
As we make decisions in our life, we discover that although we are free to choose what we are going to do, we are not free to choose the consequences or effects of our choices.  In the Book of Mormon, Helaman chapter 10, God bestows much power upon the prophet Nephi – to teach, to preach, to seal, and to inflict trials on the people.

Helaman 10:6-7
6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

 7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.

God knows that Nephi is righteous and will only use this priesthood power in accordance with God’s will.  Nephi preaches repentance to the people, but the Nephites were free to choose whether to listen to Nephi and Lehi.  He taught them that they must repent of their sins or perish.  They chose not to listen and as a result their society became contentious and began to war among themselves.  The war became so bad that Nephi asked God if he could instead inflict them with famine.  In this way, he thought at least it might humble them and stop them from killing each other.  His idea seemed to work, and the wars subsided and the primary struggle of the people became the drought and famine.  We see in this how we are free to choose our actions, but not free to choose the consequences.

Some might say God is cruel and evil to inflict these trials upon people.  Again, anyone who has children knows that when a child’s behavior is unacceptable we cannot idly stand by and accept it.  We must let them know what is and is not acceptable and what the consequences of their choices are.  In the same way, God continues to try to teach and guide us through our experiences on this earth in order to help us to make better choices in our life.

God created the universe and everything in it.  Everything we think we “own” actually belongs to Him and we are given all things through Him.  Just a toddler says “Mine!” even when all of his belongings have been provided to him by parents or grandparents, we too at times say “Mine!” of our earthly belongings that have been provided to us by our Heavenly Father.

God is truly the owner of everything and there is nothing in the world that we can give God that he does not already own.  The only thing WE truly “own” is our free will.  When we choose to use this free will to make choices that are aligned with His will, we can truly show our love for Him and that when we Free To Choose, we have learned to use this freedom responsibly.

Who Will Be Our Next Selfless, Knowledgeable, Humble, Wise, Patriotic, Honest, and Reverent Leader?

As our country prepares to vote for a new president this year, I am reflecting on what makes a great leader and am hoping that the majority of the people of the United States also give this some serious thought before they vote for our new president. Here are some thoughts I would like to share.

WHAT IS A GREAT LEADER?

A Great Leader …

·        … is someone who puts the interest of the people they are leading over their own personal interests. 

            Selfless.

·         … is well-acquainted with the lessons of history both modern and ancient.

           Knowledgeable.

·         … is humble and willing to seek advice and counsel from others and from God

           Humble.

·         … is wise in all of his decisions and dealings with others. 

           Wise.

·         … maintains freedom and liberty for the citizens of the nation.  

           Patriotic.

·         … has a high level of integrity and moral character.  

           Honest.

·         … understands that when we as a people respect God and his commandments that we will have the blessings of heaven poured out upon us.  

           Reverent.

Some great leaders in our come to mind as I ponder these qualities of a great leader.  I have found that by reading the original writings of these great leaders we can gain much insight into their character that we cannot always find in a textbook.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington had all of these attributes.  He was a strong leader and yet very humble as he sought guidance and direction for our country.  I’ve included a few excerpts of George Washington’s original writings here.  I have also included links to the full documents at the end of this article.

George Washington’s Circular to the States 1783

This is a document that George Washington wrote to every leader of every state upon his retirement as General of the Revolutionary Army in 1783.  Of course, his retirement was short lived as he was coaxed out of retirement to become the first president of the United States and served two terms from 1789 to 1797.  In this letter, Washington makes it clear that he has all of the above qualities of a great leader.  A link to the full document may be found at the end of this article

In the excerpt below, George Washington in humility acknowledges that we as citizens are very fortunate to live in this country and that we don’t “own” this land, but are stewards of it.

“They are, from this period, to be considered as the Actors on a most conspicuous Theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designated by Providence for the display of human greatness and felicity; Here, they are not only surrounded with every thing which can contribute to the completion of private and domestic enjoyment, but Heaven has crowned all its other blessings, by giving a fairer oppertunity for political happiness, than any other Nation has ever been favored with.”

                                ~George Washington, Circular to the States 1783

George Washington also acknowledges in this excerpt the blessings of the divine in both obtaining and maintaining the freedoms and happiness that come with living in this free country.

“It remains then to be my final and only request, that your Excellency will communicate these sentiments to your Legislature at their next meeting, and that they may be considered as the Legacy of One, who has ardently wished, on all occasions, to be useful to his Country, and who, even in the shade of Retirement, will not fail to implore the divine benediction upon it.

I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

                                ~George Washington, Circular to the States 1783

George Washington’s First Inaugural Address 1789

In his first inaugural address in 1789, George Washington, again demonstrates many of these characteristics of a great leader.  The link to his full speech can be found at the end of this article.

One of my favorite excerpts from this speech below demonstrates George Washington’s humility in acknowledging both the divine blessings that led to this country as well as the sacred responsibility of those who live in it to maintain its liberty.

“I dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my Country can inspire: since there is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the oeconomy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage, between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity: Since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

                                ~George Washington First Inaugural Address 1789

George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation 1789

The link to this full document may be found at the end of this article.

“and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

                                ~George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation 1789

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Another great leader in our history is Abraham Lincoln.  He also reflected all of these characteristics of a great leader.

The following are a few of my favorite excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s original writings, speeches, and transcripts that you generally won’t find in textbooks.

As Abraham Lincoln sought for guidance in his decisions on the civil war, he became very humble:

“I am glad of this interview, and glad to know that I have your sympathy and prayers. We are indeed going through a great trial -- a fiery trial. In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am, and as we all are, to work out his great purposes, I have desired that all my works and acts may be according to his will, and that it might be so, I have sought his aid -- but if after endeavoring to do my best in the light which he affords me, I find my efforts fail, I must believe that for some purpose unknown to me, He wills it otherwise. If I had had my way, this war would never have been commenced; If I had been allowed my way this war would have been ended before this, but we find it still continues; and we must believe that He permits it for some wise purpose of his own, mysterious and unknown to us; and though with our limited understandings we may not be able to comprehend it, yet we cannot but believe, that he who made the world still governs it.”

~Abraham Lincoln’s reply to Eliza Gurney on October 26, 1862

Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation for National Day of Prayer and Fasting 1863

“Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.”

                                ~Excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of a National Day of Prayer 1863

The following are words spoken by Abraham Lincoln to Congressman James Wilson who recorded Lincoln’s statement.  This statement was in reply to a visit to President Lincoln by a congressional delegation during the civil war who pressed him to make sure slavery would be cast away forever.  Wilson noted that as the president spoke these words with his right arm outstretched, “his face [was] aglow like the face of a prophet.”

“My faith is greater than yours.  I not only believe that Providence is not unmindful of the struggle in which this nation is engaged; that if we do not do right, God will let us go our own way to ruin; and that if we do right, He will lead us safely out of this wilderness, crown our arms with victory, and restore our dissevered union, as you expressed your belief; but I also believe that He will compel us to do right in order that He may do these things, no so much because we desire them as that they accord with His plans of dealing with this nation, in the midst of which He means to establish justice.  I think He means that we shall do more than we have yet done in furtherance of His plans, and He will open the way for our doing it.  I have felt His hand upon me in great trials and submitted to His guidance, and I trust that as He shall further open the way I will be ready to walk therein, relying on His help and trusting in Hiss goodness and wisdom.”

                                ~Abraham Lincoln to Congressman James Wilson

Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Speech 1865

In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Speech he was particularly humble after several years of the civil war without an end in sight.  This entire speech is engraved in one of the walls surrounding the Lincoln Monument in Washington, D.C.  The full text can be found in a link at the end of this article.

“Fondly do we hope---fervently do we pray---that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three [3] thousand years ago, so still it must be said ``the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.''

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan---to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”

~April 10, 1865 Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inauguration Speech.

MORONI

Another great leader in the history of this land is Moroni.  We learn about the prophet and leader Moroni in the Book of Mormon where he was a leader of the Nephite people on the American continent in the approximate years 70-60 B.C.  He also possessed these attributes of a great leader – Selfless, Knowledgeable, Humble, Wise, Patriotic, Honest, and Reverent.  He thought more about the liberty and happiness of his people than his own comforts.  He taught them to be industrious and self-reliant and prepared them to defend themselves from the onslaught of their enemies.  Links to more of Moroni’s teachings and leadership can be found at the end of this article. Here are a few of my favorite excerpts of Moroni’s original words:

Alma 36:1-2, 27-30

1 My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.

 2 I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions.

27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.

 28 And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time.

 29 Yea, and he has also brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem; and he has also, by his everlasting power, delivered them out of bondage and captivity, from time to time even down to the present day; and I have always retained in remembrance their captivity; yea, and ye also ought to retain in remembrance, as I have done, their captivity.

 30 But behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to know as I do know, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence. Now this is according to his word.

Alma 43: 45-47

45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

 46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.

 47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.

Alma 46:16-22

16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.

 17 And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty.

 18 And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.

 19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:

 20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

 21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.

 22 Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.

It is my hope that each of us as citizens of the United States take this upcoming election very seriously and consider what we are looking for in the next great leader of our country.

Below are links to the full text of the documents referred to above.  They are full of inspiring words and hope you are uplifted and inspired by them.

George Washington’s Circular to the States 1783

George Washington’s First Inaugural Address 1789

George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation 1789

Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamationfor National Day of Prayer and Fasting 1863

Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Speech 1865

Book of Mormon Alma36

Book of Mormon Alma43

Book of Mormon Alma46

The Lincoln Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard published in 2014 copyright Rockwell Group Inc. was also referred to in the writing of this article.

What Does Faith Have To Do With Fruits and Seeds?

Alma chapter 32 has always been a special chapter of the Book of Mormon for me.  It played a significant role in helping me to understand faith and to be able to make decisions on when and how to move forward to pursue my faith. This chapter not only defines WHAT faith is, but also helps us understand HOW we develop our faith.

What Is Faith?

In Alma Chapter 32 of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma gives a very concise definition of Faith.  Often people seem to equate Faith to following a religion or a leader blindly; however, this is not Faith at all.  Faith is having hope in things that are not seen, but are TRUE.  Having faith by having hope in something that is not seen but is True is far different than following blindly.  This definition is supported in the following scriptures. 

Book of Mormon - Alma 32:21

21 And now as I said concerning faith—^afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye ^bhope for things which are ^cnot seen, which are true.

New Testament - John 20:29

29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Book of Mormon - Ether 12:6

6  And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

What is Truth?

However, how can we know if that “thing” that we are putting our faith in is TRUE?  Is that even possible?  I will say it is certainly possible.  President Deiter F. Uchtdorf gave an outstanding devotional in 2012 called “What Is Truth” on just this topic that not only helps us better understand how to find Truth but also teaches that we all have “an obligation to seek for truth.”  https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng

How Do We Develop Our Faith?

In Alma Chapter 32, Alma continues to teach about Faith, he gives a very good outline for developing our Faith, testing for Truth by doing an “experiment upon the word,” and determining if that thing which is the subject of our experiment is worthy to continue to spend our time on and put our faith in.  He gives a beautiful analogy of comparing the Word of God to a seed which we must plant and nourish.  Only then will our experiment be effective as we see if the seed grows or not.  So many people in our world today want “proof” that things they can’t see are true.  However, as Alma teaches, no one else can prove Faith.  Is it something that each one of us must pursue individually and through our desire to learn, seeking, and experiments we grow and develop our own faith.

The following is an excerpt from Alma Chapter 32 in which Alma teaches this concept that Faith is Like A Seed:

Alma 32:26-43

26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

 29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

 30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

 31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

 32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

 33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

 34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.

 35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

 36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

 37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

 38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

 39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

 40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

I can say that I have experienced this growing of faith.  I have had times in my life that I found a teaching interesting, appears solid, and even intriguing, but certainly wouldn’t have been able to state it was true and wouldn’t have put too much faith in it.  However, as I have applied the principles taught by Alma and did my own experiment, time after time I have discovered for myself many truths.  I have learned that truly when a seed is good (i.e. when a principle is true) then by nourishing that seed we can experience it begin to grow and produce good fruit in our life.  When a seed is not good (i.e. when a principle is not true) then when we so the experiment and attempt to nourish it, we will see that it either does not grow at all or it does not grow in a way that produces good fruit.  Each time we discover another true principle, we are enriched in many ways – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Some key words however are in verse 42.  These things must be done with DILIGENCE and PATIENCE.  Often we expect to see results and obtain answers to our questions immediately.  But in my experience, we must be diligent and patient and often the answers and insights come to us at unexpected times and often much later than we originally were hoping for.  But in hindsight, they always come at the time we are ready to receive them.

In Matthew Chapter 7 in the New Testament, Jesus teaches this same principle:

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I challenge all who read this to find a principle that you think is true but maybe aren’t sure if you should put your faith in it.  Follow Alma’s advice and “experiment on the word.”  Nourish the seed with great care, diligence, and patience.  Observe whether this seed begins to grow and then notice whether this seed produces good fruit in your life. 

PEACE

It seems that we are all in search of more peace in our lives.  Sometimes this is physical peace in our surroundings, sometimes this is emotional peace, and sometimes this is spiritual peace we are seeking.  When we reason the Book of Enos in the Book of Mormon, we find a guide to finding peace in all of these realms.

In Enos verses 2-6 we read:

2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

Enos “wrestled” before God which I would say means that he was tormented inside about something.  He doesn’t share what this is but it must have been weighing heavily on his mind.  As he was out hunting for food, he was inspired by his thoughts of his father to kneel and pray.  He prayed all day and into the night.  Finally, he heard a voice telling him that he had been forgiven of his sins.  After that Enos’ guilt was swept away and he felt peace.  He continues on to ask God how this is possible.  He learns that it is only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that sins can be forgiven.

Once Enos felt this peace, he immediately wants to share it with others.  Sometimes, people feel that when a person wants to share a spiritual message with others that they are being pushy or nosey or fanatical.  But until a person experiences this amazing peace that comes from accepting the atonement of Jesus Christ, it is difficult to understand how profound that is and how it is followed with a strong desire to share this peace with others.  Enos epitomizes how this peace extends to the spiritual, emotional, and physical realms of our lives as well as he shares his final testimony before his death.

27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

Entering The Gate

In 2 Nephi Chapter 31, the prophet Nephi teaches about baptism.  He starts by prophesying about Christ’s baptism which will occur in approximately 590 Years.  We hear of baptism as being a way to repent and be washed clean of our sins, but Christ did not have any sins so why did he need to be baptized?  Nephi explains this very well in Chapter 31.  He gives several reasons why it was still essential for Christ to be baptized even though he had no sins to be forgiven.

He states that Christ needs to be baptized "to fulfil all righteousness,” to show that he was humble, to witness to the Father that he was willing to be obedient to His commandments, to make a covenant with the Father, and finally to set an example for us.  Baptism is an essential covenant that we must make to return to our Father in Heaven after this life.  In both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, baptism is referred to as a gate in which we must enter.  This gate then allows us to start on the straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life.  This is talked about both in 2 Nephi Chapter 31 as well as in the New Testament in Matthew Chapter 7.    The account of Christ’s baptism is given in Matthew Chapter 3.

In 2 Nephi Chapter 31, Nephi also tells us why it is important for us to be baptized.  Starting in verse 13, he reiterates that we must follow the example of Christ and be baptized.  When we are baptized, we must repent of our sins, witness to the Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of His son, keep His commandments, always remember Him, and endure to the end faithfully.  In return, we are promised that if we do those things we will always have His Spirit to be with us (i.e. the Holy Ghost) and that we will have eternal life.

Starting in verse 19, Nephi continues to teach.  He asks “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?”  He then explains, “Nay… wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Baptism is an essential covenant in order to return to our Father in Heaven.  In 2 Nephi Chapter 31, we can learn why it is important for Christ to be baptized as well as why it is important for us to be baptized.

What Is The Purpose of My Life?

In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi Chapter 9 is one of the most enlightening chapters of all of scripture.  In this chapter, Nephi’s younger brother Jacob teaches the people about the purpose of our life on earth and how it fits into our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan sometimes called the Plan of Salvation.

He starts with teaching about God’s covenant with the House of Israel and then goes on to teach the people what happens to us before, during, and after this life.  He continues to teach about the fall of man (Adam and Eve), the atonement of Jesus Christ (his suffering and crucifixion), what happens to our spirits at death, the resurrection of both those that are righteous and the unrighteous, the judgment, and the eternal state of those after the judgment.

So many people go through this life, not understanding their purpose in this life.  So many people wish that life came with an “instruction manual.”  So many people get caught up in the rat race of life searching for those things that are constantly just out of reach – more wealth, more power, more time, more influence, or more happiness.   This chapter in 2 Nephi is an instruction manual for life.  This chapter is full of answers to many people’s most profound questions.  This chapter gives us a clear picture of where our priorities need to be.

This chapter is summed up in this graphic image by Christy Gomm.

Pre-Mortal Life – We lived with God as spirits before we were born.

Birth – Through birth, our spirits joined our body as we came to this earth.

Earth Life – This time on earth is a test; an opportunity to prove ourselves.

Death – At death our mortal body goes into a grave, our spirit goes to the Spirit World where we await the resurrection.

Spirit World – In the Spirit World, we either go to Paradise if we have been righteous on this earth or to Spirit Prison if we have not been righteous.  This is a time of learning and growing.

Resurrection – EVERYONE will be resurrected whether they have been righteous or not.  The resurrection is when the body (a perfected body) and our spirit is reunited.

Judgment – After the resurrection, we will have a judgment based upon our choices on earth and in the Spirit World.  At the judgment we will be assigned a Kingdom of Glory.

Kingdoms of Glory – There are three kingdoms of glory – the Celestial Kingdom where God Himself dwells and reigns.  The Terrestrial Kingdom where Jesus Christ dwells and reigns.  Then there is the Telestial Kingdom which is a heavenly place but is not in the presence of Christ or God.

By reading this chapter of scripture along with its cross references, we can learn quite a lot of details about this Plan of Salvation and the purpose of our life here on earth.

Patterns of Light

In this week’s scripture study, we focused on 1 Nephi chapters 15-22.  In chapter 18, Nephi is directed by God to build ship.  He not only has never built a ship before, but he also is in a situation where he does not have access to tools and materials so the task is quite daunting.  Rather than shying away, however, Nephi shows his faith by asking for guidance beginning with each small step along the way. Eventually being guided with each step along the way he is able to accomplish this monumental task.

I believe we all at some point have felt that we were inspired, directed, or uplifted by a guiding thought, a sudden crystal clearer understanding, or other experiences that we feel are from a greater power outside of ourselves.  Often we will refer to these moments as following our conscience, having an “Aha!” moment, being touched by an inspirational message, or as receiving messages from loved ones that have passed. I love how Elder David A. Bednar gives us a clearer understanding of these moments, where they come from, and how we can open ourselves to receive more guidance, support, and direction from God in our lives.

Patterns of Light: The Light of Christ

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-010-patterns-of-light-the-light-of-christ?lang=eng

Video Transcript:  “If I had to use one word to describe light, I would use the radiance. There's a brilliance and a sense of direction that comes from light. If you are in a totally pitch dark room, and there's the smallest element of light, then that light chases darkness. But the darkness cannot overrule the light.
So associated with light is a warmth. Associated with darkness is a coolness that I think is very significant.
The Light of Christ is what many people would call a conscience. But it's more than a psychological effect the takes place within people. Someone can be riding on a bus, see someone in distress and feel a compassion and a desire to assist and serve this person.
Many people would say, no, that's just natural behavior. But it's more. It is the influence of God that pulls us, that influences us to be good and to do good. Every person, ever born, in history, now, in the future, is influenced by the Light of Christ for goodness.
As we yield to that influence to do good and become good, then the Light of Christ increases within us. As we disobey, light is decreased and can ultimately be diminished.”  ~ Elder David A. Bednar
I have experienced this light in my own life.  I have learned that every good thought, every good intention, every good action in our life comes from the influence of God and every time we act on these good thoughts and good intentions, it brings us closer to God and gives us more light and strength to continue to do good.  I have also had times in my life where I neglected to act upon these good thoughts and intentions and I have experience my light diminishing and more and more darkness coming into my life.  I can look back now and see why that happened and by being more consistent in acting on the good thoughts and intentions in my life, I continue to gain more light and understanding.

Patterns of Light: Discerning Light

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-011-patterns-of-light-discerning-light?lang=eng

Video Transcript: “People sometimes will question whether it's inspiration or whether it's my own thought. We have to act then we find out if it's coming from me or if it's the power of God. So for example, you may have an occasion where you fail to say your morning prayers. And you, all of a sudden, hear the voice of your mother who, when you were a small boy, would say remember to say your morning prayers, remember to say your evening prayers. But why would God send an angel to deliver that message to you when the Holy Ghost can bring back to you the recollection or the remembrance of your angel mother reminding you to pray? The effect is the same.
Everything that invites and entices us to do good and to be good comes from God. People might ask well, why not make it easy to recognize all the time? I would suggest that the simple answer is because God trusts us. He shouldn't have to dramatically shake us to get our attention.
Those who are baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints receive, by the laying on of hands, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now any person anywhere in the world can and is influenced by the Holy Ghost, but after baptism by proper authority one receives this ordinance of the Holy Ghost. That gift, as it operates in our life as we seek can ask, invites inspiration from Heaven and revelation.”            ~ Elder David A. Bednar

In my life, I have often wondered how to discern my own thoughts from personal guidance from God.  This video is helpful to me to realize that as long as the thought is to do something good or uplifting then I don’t need to worry about whether it is my own thought or not.  If I just follow through with any good or uplifting thoughts that I have then I will be a better person for it, receive more light, and be brought closer to God for acting on it.  Over time, I have experienced this greater light and gradually found it easier to discern my own thoughts from the inspiration from God.

Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-012-patterns-of-light-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng

“When sons and daughters of God communicate with Him, we call it prayer. When He communicates with us, it comes in a variety of methods, means, or channels. We're talking about the patterns whereby God communicates with his children here upon the earth.
Revelation is communication from God to his children here upon the earth. Sometimes, those messages come quickly and rather dramatically. I've compared that to a light being turned on in a dark room. Where very suddenly, the darkness is expelled, and you can see everything in the room quite clearly and brilliantly. I would suggest that that pattern of receiving messages from God is more rare than common.
A second pattern is when the light comes gradually, much like the rising of the sun. You can discern the increase of light on horizon but never all at once. This pattern of revelation, I would suggest, is more common than rare.
Sometimes, receiving inspiration is like a foggy day. There's enough light that you can tell it's not darkness anymore. It's not night. But it's not brilliantly illuminated. You can see just enough to take a few steps ahead into the cloudiness. I don't know about other people, but it occurs that way for me all the time. There's enough to just take a few steps. And then the light continues to help me see just far enough ahead that I can continue to press forward.
As we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, He is the light. One of his names is "the Light." As we follow His example and live according to His teachings, there is illumination for all the aspects of our life. To the degree that we reject Him and reject His teachings, we're on our own. I'd much prefer to follow His light. I know when there is a power beyond my own that comes from God to me and through me, which is the spirit of revelation.” ~ Elder David A. Bednar

In my experience, I have received guidance and revelation mostly in the form of a gradual light.  As I feel confident in moving forward with a decision, I often find that the way before me begins to unfold as I take a few small steps forward.  I like Elder Bednar’s analogy of taking a few steps in the fog.  I have felt that scenario many times in my life as I was making decisions.  Sometimes, it’s easy to avoid new things in our life because we do not have a clear vision of the future.  I have found that as long as I have a clear vision of the next step, it is not necessary to see the future or final outcome.  It is when I take action by taking that first step and the vision begins to open up a bit more and a bit more.  Eventually, I can look back on that experience and see the valuable reasons why I was guided in that direction.

I believe that we all have the ability to be guided in our lives if we can just take small steps in following the goodness that is within us and the light and understanding we receive from God.