Lessons in the Key of Life: March 2011

Mar

30

The Law of the Harvest

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. - Galatians 6:7-9

God has established some natural principles in His universe that are unchanging. That is, there are certain things that happen with consistency. When Sir Isaac Newton observed an apple falling from a tree, for example, he came to realize that an apple never fell upwards, but was always being pulled downward. Thus the law of gravity was recognized. Due to gravitational pull we have heard it stated many times: "what goes up must come down." The huge Space Shuttle booster rockets exert great power to break the law of gravity. Yet, even satellites orbiting the earth eventually are pulled out of orbit and burn up while "coming down" in reentry.

God has written natural laws into His creation such as the "Laws of Gravity". One can attempt to debate and defy this natural law, but it still remains a certainty that if a person jumps from an airplane without a parachute, he quickly learns about the "Laws of Gravity."

Just as there are natural laws that govern the universe, there are also moral and spiritual laws which God has established to govern our lives. If we choose to ignore these laws we will bring about our own ruin. However, if we live our lives according to these laws and obey God's counsel, we will be guaranteed a full, rich, and abundant life. The Apostle Paul states one such law as recorded in Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." This law is known as the "Law of the Harvest".

Anyone who has ever planted anything knows that this law holds true. My father used to love planting his own garden and growing his own food supply. There was never a time when I saw my father plant corn and reap tomatoes. He could not because it was impossible to do so. He sowed corn seeds, and so the only thing that he could possibly reap was corn. The "Law of the Harvest" simply states that what a person sows, that he will also reap.

We comprehend this law as it applies to trees and crops, but we often find it difficult to understand as it applies to our lives. At times when everything seems to be falling apart all around us, why does it become so difficult to realize that we may be reaping exactly what we have sown? In fact, it is often at these times that people become bitter and angry towards God as if it is His entire fault when He has clearly established a moral and spiritual law that states that we will reap that which we have sown.

In the Bible, sowing sometimes refers to the sending forth of the Gospel. The parable of the sower as taught by the Savior in Mark chapter 4, verses 1 through 9, is a good example of that usage:

1 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In verses 14 through 20 of that same chapter, the Savior interprets the parable for His disciples:

14 The sower soweth the word.
15And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

In Galatians 6:7, sowing to the Spirit is contrasted against sowing to the flesh, and has to do with the use of God-given resources. This is also how the word “sow” is used in 2 Corinthians 9:6, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” However, the principle has general application in life itself as seen in the following verses:

Job 4:8 – “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Proverbs 11:18 – “The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Hosea 8:7 – “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.”

The lesson that we learn from these verses is that if we sow in the flesh, then we will reap according to the flesh, but if we sow in the Spirit, then we will reap spiritual blessings.

When my father planted his corn seeds in April, he expected to see a harvest of corn in June which is the normal process and something that he could easily predict and count on. However, there is no normal time-scheme for reaping what we sow in life. We are on God's timetable. Sooner or later the harvest does come. And as God will not be mocked, it is of a certainty that what we will reap in the harvest is exactly what we have sown.

Each of us is sowing every day of our lives. The question before us is, “To what end are we sowing?" Are we sowing to the flesh, and that which we want? Or, are we sowing to the Spirit, the will of God, and His purpose for our lives? That is a very important question and it is imperative that we understand how and what we are sowing, because the harvest will come in due season.

The one who sows to the flesh ends up with nothing. You simply cannot take it with you when you die! However, the one who sows to the Spirit reaps eternal life. Sowing to the Spirit is investing our resources in those things which are spiritual and thus eternal. This investment is achieved through the Spirit and not through the flesh. To sow to the Spirit is the same as to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18). It is the same as abiding in Christ and in His Word (John 15:7). It is the same as walking in Christ (Colossians 2:6) and setting one's "mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). God has bound Himself to provide us with abundance so long as we will live His law in righteousness and labor for that blessing.

Every one of us today is reaping what we sowed years ago, for good or bad. We can't change that. But it would be good for all of us to spend a little time thinking about what we want to reap five years from now. What is it worth for us, or our spouse, or our kids, or our family or our friends, to be able to reap that which is eternal? What do we want to reap five years, ten years, or twenty years from now? With that thought in mind, we need to give some serious thought about what we are sowing today.

I leave these thoughts with you humbly in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen

Posted 30th March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Life Choices Consequences Harvest
Mar

24

If the Foundations Be Destroyed

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

The central core of the foundation of any society is the home. President Thomas S. Monson has taught us, “Actually, a home is much more than a house. A house is built of lumber, brick, and stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. A house can be a home, and a home can be a heaven when it shelters a family. When true values and basic virtues under gird the families of society, hope will conquer despair, and faith will triumph over doubt.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Dedication Day,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 64–66)

The home is the first institute of learning in which children are automatically enrolled as pupils. Therefore, the home becomes a virtual classroom, and fathers and mothers, the patriarchs and matriarchs of the home, become the first school teachers that their children encounter. They teach their children their first life lessons, imparting to them the basic knowledge that they will need in order to survive in society, thus preparing them to enter that larger institute of higher learning called life.

There are many lessons that are taught in the home and the learning process for a child is begun the moment that they as a baby are brought home from the hospital and become part of a family. It is in the home where children learn to live together, work together, laugh and play together. It is here where they learn that the key word is togetherness. Here is where they learn how to peacefully resolve conflicts amongst one another and to never let the sun go down while being angry or upset with either their parents or one of their siblings. This is the place where children learn the true meaning of unity and gain an understanding and appreciation of knowing that together they stand, but divided they fall. It is in the home where children are nurtured in the Word of God and have their feet planted on the path that they should follow.

President Monson has further taught us, “The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfil its essential functions. . . . Such values, when learned and lived in our families, will be as welcome rain to parched soil. Love will be engendered; loyalty to one’s best self will be enhanced; and those virtues of character, integrity, and goodness will be fostered. The family must hold its preeminent place in our way of life because it’s the only possible base upon which a society of responsible human beings has ever found it practicable to build for the future and maintain the values they cherish in the present.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Dedication Day,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 64–66)

The home is the place where the word love is not a noun, but a verb. True love is not only demonstrated through spoken word, but is shown in the day-to-day relationship of the parents with one another, as well as, the relationship that the parents have with each of their children, and the children in turn have with their parents and each other. Hanging above the threshold as one enters the portals of the home hangs a proverbial sign that reads “Love Is Spoken Here.”

President Monson also admonishes us that, “Happy homes come in a variety of appearances. Some feature families with father, mother, brothers, and sisters living together in a spirit of love. Others consist of a single parent with one or two children, while other homes have but one occupant. There are, however, identifying features which are to be found in a happy home, whatever the number or description of its family members. These identifying features are:
A pattern of prayer.
A library of learning.
A legacy of love.
(Thomas S. Monson, “Dedication Day,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 64–66)

Show me a child who has been properly raised in a home as to how to relate to others, and I will in return show you a child that will adjust well in dealing with people in society. If a child does not adapt well to living in peace with his own family, he will not adjust well to being in society with total strangers. It all begins in the home. There is beauty all around, when there is love at home.

The home is the central core of the foundation of any society and the family is society’s hope for the future. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

Posted 24th March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Home Love Family Foundations
Mar

23

If I Only Had The Time!

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. - Psalm 39:4-5

In accordance with our time keeping system, each new day that the Lord allows us to remain here on earth brings with it a deposit into our life account of 24 hours of time. That is an equivalent of 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds of time for us to spend. How we spend the time that we have been given is strictly our choice; however, regardless of how we interpret the amount of the deposit, as hours, minutes, or seconds, there is one condition that must be met, and that is the entire deposit must be spent today. There can be no residual funds. At the end of the day when the Accountant balances the books, the balance in our account should be zero, and the next day a new deposit of 24 hours of time will be posted to our account.

So, what is this "time" that we speak of? Is it literal or is it merely figurative? Is it something that is tangible that we can reach out and grab and hold onto, or do we only sense that it is there and that it is constantly ticking away? Albert Einstein once said that the only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. Harvey MacKay desceibed time as follows: "Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.”

It is interesting to note that even though the same daily amount of time is deposited into each of our individual life accounts, there are still some people who feel that somehow their account must have been robbed or the deposit of time into the accounts of others is larger than their own. When asked to do something, these are they who constantly reply with, "If I only had the time!" or "I don't have time!"

If everyone has been given the same amount of time to spend each day, how can anyone possibly say, “I don’t have the time”? It is all a matter of setting priorities and managing the time that we have been given. We are all guilty at one time or another of putting all of our efforts into accomplishing trivial things in life instead of focusing on the overall bigger picture. As a result, we end up spending a lot of our valuable time on the things that matter least, and very little time on the things that matter most. Oftentimes we busy ourselves each hour of the day with things that we feel need to be accomplished, but in all of our business perhaps we need to pause for just a moment and ask ourselves the question, “In all of my business, what have I really accomplished?’ I humbly submit that sometimes we may be surprised to find that we really haven’t accomplished as much as we thought, or in some cases perhaps we really haven’t accomplished anything at all. We were just busy. Someone once gave this wise counsel: "Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count.”

The Scriptures teach us that setting priorities and managing our time is to our great advantage. In Psalm 39:4 we hear the Psalmist exclaim, “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.” Then in Psalm 90:9-12 he gives us this gentle reminder:

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:15-17 gave us this counsel: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Each of our days are filled with numerous activities. It is those activities that are the steps toward achieving the most of what God wants us to accomplish for Him. And so, setting priorities and managing our time all revolves around us being able to manage our daily activities and not allowing our daily activities to manage us. We are taught in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that there is a time and a purpose for all things:

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

I will conclude my remarks on this matter by citing an example from the pages of Scripture that beautifully illustrate the importance of wisely investing the time that we have been given and the end results of mismanaging our time and having our priorities set in the wrong order. I invite you to turn with me to Luke 14:16-24. As we read these words, think of how this example can be applied to our own lives.

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

There is perhaps much more that I could say about this matter - if I only had the time! For now, I will leave these thoughts with you humbly in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Posted 23rd March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Life Choices Priorities Time
Mar

17

Give us this day our daily bread

Some food for thought

In order to survive our bodies require a certain amount of nourishment each day. One of the substances that provide us the nourishment that we need is bread. Bread comes to us in many interesting shapes and flavors and has often been referred to as the staff of life because it is perhaps the most important item in our diet.

In Biblical times and throughout the Dark Ages, bread was even more important. It did not spoil rapidly, was easily transported, was inexpensive, and the grain from which it was prepared could be stored for years making it possible to prepare bread in any season and climate.

To give some idea of the benefit we get from flour and bread, a government survey has shown that flour and bread are a great source of starch and provide us with more energy value, more protein, more iron, more nicotinic acid and more vitamin B1 than any other basic food. Bread is also a source of calories which provide heat and energy for our body to use now and in the future. And none of this energy content is wasted by the body; unused energy is stored in body tissue for future use for what we know as fat. Unused calories are stored as fat for use in the future whenever the body’s energy level is low or depleted. The actual energy comes from the starch which is a type of carbohydrate. Starch is converted by our body into sugars which become the fuel that enables us to walk, run, and play. And so, as we can see, bread is a very important part of our daily nutritional intake. Therefore, a balanced diet to keep us strong and healthy in mind and body must always contain this staff of life.

Physical bread is indeed necessary and important for sustaining our lives, but the most important “Bread of Life” comes to us from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit which replenishes us. In John 6:33 we read these words, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” Continuing in verse 35 we read, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” And again, in verse 48 of that same chapter, we hear the Savior reemphasize the point when He says, “I am that bread of life.”
Jesus Christ is the “Bread of Life” and the daily bread we need even more than physical bread. In John 6:51 the Savior taught us, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Therefore, we are to live each day of our lives with Christ dwelling in us. In John 17:23 we read, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” In the Book of Mormon we read of Mormon praying that grace and goodness would rest upon Moroni forever. We read his words in Moroni 9:25, 26:
25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.
This was also the source of the Apostle Paul’s strength as he wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” And in Philippians 4:11-13 we hear Paul say, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
It is correct and proper to ask for our daily provisions - “our daily bread” - and to ask God’s blessings upon them, but it is even more important to realize that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the “Bread of Life” that we truly need to sustain our lives. We are reminded of this each Sabbath day as we partake of the bread of the Sacrament which represents our Lord’s body that was broken for us as He hung upon the cruel Roman cross on Golgotha’s Hill.
The Savior taught us in Luke 12:23, “The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.” He was referring, of course, to needing spiritual sustenance more than physical bread. God’s Word, provides the “sustenance” we need to be spiritually nourished. “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread” (John 6:32-34).
I leave these thoughts with you humbly in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Posted 17th March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Bread Life Jesus Christ Sustenance
Mar

16

Lord, teach us to pray

Some Thoughts On "The Lord's Prayer"

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. - Luke 11:1

Throughout the Christian world many people commonly refer to the passages of Scripture found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 as the Lord's Prayer. However, a careful study of these passages will show us that in the verses cited, the Lord is teaching His disciples how they ought to pray. And so, what we find here is not actually the Lord's prayer, but a model prayer, or an example of how men ought to pray.

To substantiate what has just been stated above, let us examine Luke 11:1 where we read the following words: "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." Here we find the Savior praying, and when he concludes His prayer, one of His disciples approaches Him and asks that He teach himself as well as the other disciples how to pray. Continuing our reading with the first part of verse two, "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, " And then with the remainder of verse two through verse four the Savior teaches His disciples the things that they should include in their prayers.

Matthew gives us a fuller rendering of this model prayer. Before the Savior begins teaching His disciples how to pray, notice in the first part of verse 9 that He prefaces what He is about to teach them by saying, "After this manner therefore pray ye: ". And then in the remainder of verse 9 through verse 13 He gives them an example of how they ought to pray.

Careful note should also be taken that before the Master teaches His disciples how to pray He instructs them on some things that they should beware of when they pray. The instructions that the Master gives to His disciples are recorded in Matthew 6: 6-8:

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Many people repeat the verses found in Matthew 6: 9-13 regularly as a part of their daily prayers. Many churches incorporate the verses as part of their regular worship services. Though there is no harm in doing so per se, we are reminded that the Savior clearly taught in Matthew 6:7, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [unbelievers] do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." So, the caution is to avoid repeating this model prayer to the point where it becomes nothing more than vain repetition.

Finally, if we would like to hear our Savior praying, let us go to the Garden of Gethsemane as He kneels in prayer throughout the night praying for His disciples and for us to His Father. The prayer is found in John chapter 17 and is also known as the Great Intercessory Prayer. This prayer is truly the Lord’s Prayer.

These thoughts I leave with you humbly in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Posted 16th March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Prayer Jesus Christ Intercession
Mar

10

One Eternal Song Of Praise

How can I not go on in so great a cause?

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” - Psalm 121

Dear Heavenly Father,

I, your willing, humble servant, truly stand amazed at the love that you offer me.

How can I say thanks for the things you have done and continue to do for me? So many of the blessings that you have bounteously bestowed upon me are so undeserving, yet you continually give to prove your unconditional love for me. It is wonderful for me to know that I am your child, and that you are always there walking right beside me, leading me, and guiding me in the way that I should follow. Even at times when I may have veered from the straight and narrow path, you lovingly and patiently, allowed me to endure certain trials, heartaches, and disappointments to help teach me important lessons that were necessary for my continual spiritual growth, and to gently guide my footsteps back onto the road that leads towards home and back into your loving arms. The voices of tens of thousands of angels could never adequately express the gratitude and the love that I have in my heart for you. You are my ALL! You are my EVERYTHING!

How can I arise from my slumbers of the night - sweet rest which only you can give - and not give thanks unto thee for bringing me to the beginning of a brand new day? You do not have to allow me to arise each morning, fully clothed in my right mind, and with the full use of my faculties, but you do. Therefore, I will rejoice and be glad in each day that thou hast given me. Teach me to humbly number those days that I may continually apply my heart unto wisdom. Let me not spend any hour of any day selfishly, but give me a servant’s heart that is filled with love and compassion for others. Gently remind me that because I have been given much, I too must give. For it is because of thy great bounty each day I live and have my being.

How dare I become boastful or proud of the things that I may be able to achieve in this life? May I ever be mindful that every good and perfect gift comes from above, and that it is you who allows me to do the things that I do, and to achieve any success in life. Teach me, dear Father, to let any accolades and praises that I may receive, come from the lips of another and not mine own. Let me not live my life focused on self, but let me live my life pleasing to thee with an eye single to your glory. For you alone are worthy to be praised.

How can I live my life from day to day and not know that I cannot make it on my own? In the morning when I rise, I need thee. In the noon day hour, I need thee. In the quietness of the night, I need thee. When the sun is shining or when the winds of adversity are blowing and the storm winds are raging, I need thee. Whether atop the highest mountain, or down in the lowest of valleys, I need thee. I need thee every hour. How thankful I am that you are always just a prayer away and you have promised never to leave me nor forsake me. Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff , they comfort me. Therefore, I am blessed with the calm assurance that I am never alone, no never alone.

There is none like you. My heart is full and rejoices as it sings out, “How great thou art!” You are my Lord, my Savior, my Master, and my King. You are my Daystar and my Song in the night. Within my soul will forever be a song of praise for thee - one eternal song of praise!

With all my love and devotion,

Your son.

Keith

Posted 10th March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Songs Praises Thanks Life Giving
Mar

5

Our Moral Compass

Reference scripture: Alma 37:38-40

And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it. And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness. And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

A compass can become an extremely important instrument in the hands of a traveler who is endeavoring to find his way. However, the instrument in the traveler's hands will only serve its function in directing if the one seeking direction will follow where the needle points him to go. If the traveler decides that he will not trust the guidance given him by the instrument at his use, then the instrument is rendered useless, and the traveler is left to his own vices to find his way.

And so it is in life. Each of us has within us a moral compass that is designed to guide and direct us in the way that we should go. If we choose to ignore its direction, we will find ourselves traveling down paths that often lead to destruction, misery and woe. However, if we will heed to the direction in which our moral compass points us, we can achieve many great blessings in our lives.

So, what is this moral compass? Simply, it is that which serves to guide our decisions based on morals and virtues. President Thomas S. Monson, during the Priesthood Session of the April 2008 General Conference, made the following remarks concerning having a clear conscience, following our moral compass, and always doing what we know to be right:

"You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. The character of transgression remains the same. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness — and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so."

It is not always easy to follow such counsel for we live in a cruel world where our societies often reflect violence, hatred, and immorality. The Apostle Paul in his letter to young Timothy, in 2 Timothy 3:1-7, looked ahead to our day and described it in this manner:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

We cannot cope with the challenges and confusions of this world unless we use a clear and consistent moral compass that will chart our path to self-worth, peace, and joy. This moral compass is built around four absolute truths.

The first absolute truth is that there is a loving Father in Heaven, and His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. This absolute truth is lovingly expressed in 1 John 3:16 where we read, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” There can be no truer north for our moral compasses than this absolute truth.

The second absolute truth is that there is an adversary - Satan, the thief, the tempter, the father of all lies. We are taught in John 10:10, “The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Christ] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Satan’s purpose is to destroy our moral compass and lead us away from God and His infinite peace. He uses various devices, both ancient and modern, to tempt us and confuse us with his cunning lies. One of his most spiritually damaging lies is when he attempts to convince us that we are hopeless and that our sins can never be forgiven, thus undermining our sense of self-worth. It is no wonder that the Hebrew translation for Satan is “the spoiler”, for he would confound our moral compass and spoil our journey back home to the arms of our loving Heavenly Father who awaits us.

The third absolute truth is that we all have our free agency, and as such, we choose our own course in life. This truth is clearly expressed in the Book of Mormon in 2 Nephi 2:27 where we read, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” Who we truly are is the sum of all the choices - good, bad, or indifferent - that we make, and we should remember that choices do not begin with the act itself, but in the mind with the idea. Someone once wrote, “Sow a thought, and you reap an act; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” Given our free agency, we are therefore individually responsible for our ideas, actions, habits, character, and even our own destiny.

The fourth absolute truth is that temptation can be overcome through renewed faith in God and the process of repentance. Through this, our footing can be restored on the straight and narrow path, marked by our moral compass, and we can surely be lead to salvation and eternal life. In the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ prays for His Apostles as well as each of us to the Father, He commands us to avoid evil, and at the same time in His infinite compassion, He asks the Father to keep us from evil. (See John 17:15).

Life will bring to each us challenges, setbacks, heartaches, and disappointments from time to time. There will be bright sun shine days in our lives, as well as, dark, cloudy, stormy days. But take heart and be encouraged from these words of the Apostle Paul, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” (2 Corinthians 4:6-9). Let us also be reminded that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

We can experience wisdom, peace, joy, and self-worth, not only in the life to come, but in this life also. We do this by following in the footsteps of the Master, guided by an unfailing moral compass that has been calibrated to these four eternal and absolute truths. I leave these thoughts with you humbly in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Posted 5th March 2011 by Anonymous

Labels: Life Morality Choices

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