Power and Authority

 

Yesterday in our family reading we learned from Mosiah 18 in the Book of Mormon. Alma, a priest who had turned to wickedness, was converted to the Lord and repented of his sins by Abinadi. He then taught the gospel and converted many people “and it came to pass that Alma, having Authority from God, ordained priests…” Madeline turns 8 years old today. In the church we wait to baptize children until they can choose for themselves, or reach the age of accountability at age 8. She is going to be baptized the first Saturday in November by her father, who has been given the authority from God to perform this ordinance, but how did he get this authority?  The missionaries came and gave her a lesson  yesterday and used this analogy to teach the importance of having the proper authority to perform ordinances.  A man is driving down the highway speeding going 120 mph when he passes a woman who is a school teacher. This woman works with children and has been eyewitness to a tragic event that took the life of a child in her care. She is passionate about safety, it bugs her to see such reckless driving. She speeds up and pulls him over.  She proceeds to give him a ticket, the man driving the car looks at her, without a uniform and asks for proof of authority. Not being able to properly prove authority the driver laughs then drives off. Although the woman had good intentions and was passionate about what she was doing she still did not have authority to give the driver a ticket.  In Christ’s day the priests and scribes came to question his authority, he answered with a question….”The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves saying, if we shall say, from heaven; he will say, why then believed ye him not? (for John truly testified of Christ’s divinity) But and if we say, of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.”  They refused to answer to which Christ responded “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” The people of Christ’s day recognized the need to have proper authority to perform in the name of God.  At the mount of transfiguration, when Elias (Elijah) and Moses appeared unto Peter, James and John, they asked Christ that they had been told by the scribes that Elias must first come?  Christ confirmed their teaching clarifying that “Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things….Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed as it is written of him”  The disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist. Luke 1 teaches us that the term Elias had come to mean one who came in spirit and power to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Truly John the Baptist did just this, prepared the way for Christ, but what about the phrase that he cometh to restore all things? Was he speaking of another future event that would happen? Surely he did for in the month of May, 1929 to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry and relates the events….“We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month, we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us saying: Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of the Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter James and John….” With the proper authority now restored to the earth, the world  is now being made ready for Christ’s second coming. Madeline’s father can trace his priesthood authority to this event. So who gave him this authority? Essentially John the Baptist himself…….

The Nature of God

In yesterdays reading our family studied Mosiah 15. In the first verses it explains why and how Christ can be called the Father and the Son. This can be very confusing if without the knowledge we have from Joseph Smith’s first vision. Joseph Smith saw the Father and Jesus Christ. In his own words relates it thus…”I saw two Personages , whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”  And from the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon when Christ appeared in the Kirtland Temple to answer their questions regarding the glories of heaven (D&C 76: 19-23) “And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understanding and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.  And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fullness; And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship Him forever and ever. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, that we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-“  Mosiah explains that because he will come to earth as the flesh and blood of God he will be His Son, but because he will subject himself to all of the will of the Father he will speak as if he were the Father. His words will be no different than the Father’s words, thus they will become one, united toward one goal, one God. The same as John encouraged the early saints to be in  John 17:21 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I  in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” God our heavenly father requested Joseph Smith to hear Christ for Christ is His mouthpiece on earth. The same as he requested of his apostles in the early days as recorded in Luke 9:35 “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

 

Tragedy or Desitny?

I have been thinking a lot about life and death. In our ward there is a girl, Lexi Davis, born with disabilities, but with a strong spirit that has recently passed away. Last night we read Mosiah 13 where Abinadi declares that his enemies cannot kill him because he has not fulfilled the mission he was sent to do. When the people angry with rage tried to lay their hands on him he says: “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time.” Abinadi knew that the Lord has ultimate power over death, that he would not allow anything to happen to him until he had fulfilled his mission in life. “Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these words that the people of king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord.”  Abinadi gave the ultimate sacrifice for his testimony, eventually being burned at the stake, but not until he had finished his life’s mission. Abinadi converted a man named Alma. Alma then went on to teach and convert thousands, his great grandson becoming the prophet anointed by Jesus Christ himself during his visit to the American continent after his resurrection.

 

A few days more than 4 years ago my father received a letter from the Norwegian mission president asking for him and my mother to consider going on a mission. He felt the spirit tell him that this is what he needed to do. But my mother felt differently, she was ill and physically could not do it.  Just a week previous to this the leaders of our Church spoke to us in a general meeting with all the members worldwide. Elder Oaks directed his instruction on having faith to be healed. She read this talk and prayed fervently before retiring to bed that night. She had spent the last 3 days in extreme pain unable to sleep but 3 hours. In desperation she took a sleeping pill, something she never had done before. She never woke up. As a family we all knew that she had been called home so my father could fulfill his call to go on a mission.  I read the talk again this time with a new light. Elder Oakes quotes this scripture, D& C 42: 44-48 “And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me. Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die, and more especially for those that have not hope of a glorious resurrection. And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; And they that die not in me, wo unto them, for their death is bitter. And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.”  This knowledge comforted us in our time of grief. We knew that our mother had faith, but was appointed unto death, it was her time. The Lord called her home for a greater purpose.  Just a few months ago my father and step mother returned from their two year mission to Norway.  

 

The Light of Truth?

As a family we read every night from the Book of Mormon. We have read it many time through in all of our years as a family, though I always feel that I take something new away from it, if only my increased testimony that it is true. From our reading today I ponder Mosiah 8:20 “O  how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she (his church – the kingdom of God) should rule over them!” I have had numerous people express concern that we, meaning those in the church, blindly follow a prophet. Assuming that this prophet speaks his will and not Gods, that would be of great concern. But how can we be certain that a man stating that he is telling Gods word know for a fact that he is telling truth? From a distance the light seems dim, almost imperceptible, if you were not careful a person could miss it entirely. But those who notice and seek this light out soon discover that as they come closer the light become brighter and their path becomes more clear, even certain. The light penetrates into their very soul. The feelings they have in their heart confirm the goodness of the light and they are happy, no, it is more than happy, it is pure joy. Satan’s counterfeit would be the temporary high one receives from drugs, but this joy is lasting because of the power of the light, bringing understanding and direction to every part of our being. The prophets words penetrate deep into our souls as if coming from the mouth of God himself, confirming the reality of their truth. His words fill our hearts again with this all enlightening power, gentle,  but sure. As Peter preached to a congregation of men as recorded in Acts 2 the people in the congregation were pricked in their heart and were baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and it filled the whole room. The event is now known as the day of Pentecost. It was a day prophesied would come by John in chaper 15 “But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me:”  My testimony to you this day is that this gift of the Holy Ghost is in use today among the Saints of God.  “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” Acts 5:32  The key word here is that the Holy Ghost only comes to those who obey his promptings, those who see that far distant light and follow it. That first step into the light is no harder to take than our hearts will allow.

 

The Condescension of God

I have at times pondered what it means when the scriptures speak of the condescension of God. Our family just read Mosiah chapter 4 where King Benjamin speaks to the people about their unworthiness before God. It seems cruel to speak of us in that way. But, I remember how I felt to be driving through a rough part of town, grateful that I am in my car and not out on the street.  But God came down and walked among men, he loved the sinner, did good to those that hated him, asked forgiveness of those who crucified him.  He loved us and taught us a more excellent way. I guess condescension is really a fancy word for love, even CHARITY.

 

I think of the Book of Mormon scripture Moroni 7:45-47 (1 Corinthians 13) “And charity suffereth long, and is kind and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth  all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all  things (of this world) must fail….But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.“

 

King Benjamin encouraged us to recognize our own unworthiness before God and humble ourselves before him, and pray for his forgiveness. And his promise to us was that if we do this we will always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God….and grow in the knowledge of the glory of Him that created you….the knowledge of that which is just and true. If we are always filled with the love of God and are humble, teachable, and full of the spirit of God we will not have a mind to injure one another. We will build better relationships with all those around us our friends, family, and co-workers.

 

Who are we?

I was recently called to be a ward missionary. When the bishop extended me the call he explained to me that he hoped that I would reach out to the less active members of our ward, being kind of like a super visiting teacher. In my heart I feel very unable to fulfill this request. I have a hard time visiting with my own ladies and feel that I really don’t know anyone in the ward that is active, let alone those that are inactive. I have been feeling very alone with no one in the Ward that I am close to or feel that I can go to for help. I worry about my family and what would happen if I could no longer perform my duties at home, my kids world would fall apart. With some health issues recently arising it has been a topic of great concern to me. My husband’s job does not provide for our needs and it takes him away from the family most of the time leaving me with all the responsibilities of the home. I don’t know how I can fulfill the Lords request that seems to me to be asking something I cannot give. I have pondered what I can do and have decided that I can start by using the tools I have on hand, my computer. Here is a sample of something that I recently wrote for one of my sons giving a very brief synopsis of the plan of salvation.

I don’t know if you are interested but I thought that I would explain about the creation and Adam and Eve, since you are reading about that. In the temples they teach us about Adam and Eve each time we go. In the temples we also are baptized for people who have passed on before us that did not have the opportunity to be baptized during their lifetime. The story of Adam and Eve is one of the most important principals to understand because from this story we understand the purpose of our existence here on earth and how he provides for all of his children.

It all starts before the earth was even created. God our heavenly father proposed a plan for our eternal progression to become like him, Job 38:4-7, Moses 1:39 . We were to come to earth, receive and master a physical body, grow and learn through temptations and trials. But most importantly we would come here and have to live our lives by faith, not having his presence with us at all times anymore. He gave us the ability to choose (or our free agency) for ourselves. 2 Nephi 2:16 With this freedom to choose God knew that he would lose some of his children to unbelief and sin. He would provide a Savior for us to atone for our sins if we believe in him and repent. 2 Nephi 2:21 One of God’s spirit children, Lucifer, named Son of the Morning proposed another plan where he would force everyone to choose the right way, taking our freedom to choose away from us, and eliminating the need to walk by faith. This would guarantee that everyone would be saved and eliminate the need for a Savior to atone for our sins, since we would have no sin. 1/3 of all of God’s children thought this was great, and followed Lucifer. As a reward for this he wanted all of God’s glory for himself. This plan would not allow growth and learning, for it is by trial and error that we learn, and ultimately not serve the purpose for sending us down to earth. As punishment for this God cast Lucifer (now called the Devil or Satan) and his followers out of his presence forever, never to have the option to be born to this earth and receive bodies. Isaiah 14: 12 , Revelations 12:4-9

These spirits were sent to the earth and are the source of all the ghost stories you hear about, but they are powerless to do anything to us. We have ultimate power over them. The only power they have is what we allow them to have. This is why we do not “play” with Ouija boards. Mark 1:23-24

God created the earth in 6 time periods that he called “days” not to be confused with our day being 24 hours. This is why so many scientists say that the creation could not be true. These time periods could be any number of years or millennia. Abr 5:13

Adam’s body was created on the 6^th “day” and his spirit entered it. God then created Eve (a perfect female clone) from Adam’s rib from his side. (This is symbolic that Eve was not to be a leader over Adam, nor was she to be less than he was, but equal to him, side by side, a help meet). Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden (a beautiful perfect world) and enjoyed the presence of God himself. Their bodies were not yet mortal, they did not have the ability to create life or die. They did not know true happiness, they had childlike innocence. God gave them 2 commandments. Genesis 1:22 , Genesis 2:16-17 They were to have children and they were not to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Partaking of the fruit would give Adam and Eve mortality (introduce birth and death into the world) and they would know the difference between good and evil. They could not obey both of these commandments for by obeying one they had to disobey the other. 2 Nephi 2:22-25

Eve partook of the fruit of the tree and Adam followed, so that the human race could exist, and so they could understand true joy because they now know the difference between good and bad. 2 Nephi 2:11,15-16 But, by doing this they sinned and they no longer were worthy to live in the presence of God himself anymore (spiritual death). They also became mortal and their bodies would be subjected to disease and death (physical death). Adam and Eve fell from glory spiritually and physically. The world became sinful and our bodies imperfect. A savior was provided to overcome both of these, spiritual and physical death. If Adam and Eve were to have died immediately after partaking of the fruit they would be unworthy to enter into Gods presence. 2 Nephi 2:21 The Savior, Jesus Christ, was God’s son, inheriting the ability to die from his mother, and the power over death from his Father. He was perfectly sinless, so he could pay the price for our sins and make us worthy again to enter God’s presence, he overcame spiritual death. He took up his body again and was resurrected (reuinited with his spirit), he overcame physical death. Helaman 14:15-18 Through Christ we can overcome sin and become worthy to enter His kingdom once again, for this life was given to prepare to meet God again.

Christ’s gift of Resurrection (or power over physical death) is given freely and universally to all men. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 The gift of Eternal Life (or power over spiritual death, meaning to live with God again forever) is given to those who accept his gift and believe in him. 1 John 5:11-13 Because all men will be resurrected, all men will be given an inheritance in heaven. But because not all men lived their lives in the same way, some living more pure lives than others, there will be differing degrees in heaven. Paul speaks of these in 1 Corinthians 15: 40-42 and in. 2 Corinthians 12:2 But only those inheriting the Celestial glory will receive eternal life, living with and enjoying the presence of God again, as John explained in. John 17:3 For this is life eternal to know him the only true god whom thou has sent. Baptism being a prerequisite to enter into Eternal Life with God, but not in the lower degrees in heaven, this is the definition of the term damned, to inherit a kingdom other than the Celestial. Mark 16: 16 This is why there are some churches that preach that baptism is essential, and others that teach that it is not. If God required all men to be baptized then surely he would provide a way for all men to receive it even those who die without even knowing who he was. 1 Corinthians 15:29 reveals this fact that Baptisms were performed in the early church for just these people. God is a just God and has provided for all of his children if they would but come unto him, either in this life or the life to come. 1 Peter 4:6 For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.