Choose The Lord

In Joshua chapter 10 the Lord fights for Israel’s cause. In verses 12-14 it suggests that the sun stood still. If we read in the Book of Mormon we can come to the conclusion that it was not the sun that stood, but it was indeed the earth. In the Old Testament student manual it says, “So here we have the words of a Book of Mormon prophet confirming the fact that God can—and would, when necessary—cause that the earth should stop in its rotation to lengthen a day. And since on the occasion in question he was fighting to bring victory to Israel, this was one of his means of doing so.” I would explain this phenomenon to someone who wouldn’t believe the Bible as stating that we don’t understand all the workings of the Lord. The Lord is so far above us in knowledge and power that we, as mere humans, cannot comprehend all that the Lord does. In these particular verses we realize that Joshua was a prophet and not a scientist, so it is a human error. And people in those days did not have the knowledge that we have now and it would be quite hard to explain this phenomenon to someone who didn’t have any knowledge of the ways of science.

Israel’s Successes

Defeats Ai

Defeats Amorites and allies

Divers kinds and cities destroyed

Two kings on east of Jordan & 31 on West conquered

Israel’s Failures

Defeated by people of Ai

I think that the major theme of Joshua was that we should be choosing now whom we are going to serve. There are two great forces that are present here on the earth and they are both vying for our allegiance. It is our duty and responsibility to choose now who we are going to be and which side we are going to follow. Jeffrey R. Holland said, “The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who winds because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team’s jersey we want to wear!” How true this quote is. We all know that the outcome with be in the favor of the Lord, but sometimes we seem to forget that and start to side with Satan. We need to choose this day whom we are going to serve and stick with it.

“Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes”

·         Hittites

·         Amorites

·         Canannites

·         Perizzites

·         Hivites

·         Jesbusites

The Lord commanded Israel to stay away from these nations and not to “meddle” with them. He also told them that He would deliver them unto the Israelites and that they should destroy them and show no mercy unto them. The Lord goes on to command the Israelites to destroy their homes, altars, pillars, groves, graven images and their names from out of the place.

When the Lord told the Israelites to destroy these nations he was actually fulfilling a promise that he made to Abraham when he told him that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan. This is where these nations originated from and dwelt. At this time they had become such a wicked people that it was said that to “let  them survive would have proven to be the spiritual downfall of Israel” (Student Manual 226).Because the Canaanite nations were caught up in idolatry, prostitution, homosexuality and other wicked practices they were too far gone to ever come back to righteousness and they were actually proud of what they were doing. This type of unrighteousness is not pleasing unto the Lord and his punishment was for them to be destroyed at the hands of the Israelites.

If we look at our own world today we can see most of these same sins taking place. It is really scary to think that we have become such a people. We read about these people in the scriptures and it is easy for us to point fingers and judge, but it is a lot harder to do when we recognize the same things going on in our world. The best thing that we can do is to make sure that we are doing what we need to be doing. If we are with the righteous we will not fear and we will be able to be among those favored of the Lord. 

Look to Him

In Numbers 21, the children of Israel began to murmur against God and Moses, so God sent the curse or the “fiery serpents.” Elder Boyd K. Packer said of this matter, ““‘How silly,’ some must have said. ‘How can such a thing cure me? I’ll not show my stupidity by paying any attention,’ and some would not look. . . .“And today many say, ‘How silly! How could accepting Christ save me?’ They will not turn their

heads to look nor incline their ears to hear. They ignore the great witness that comes from these

conferences. We ought to, indeed we must, heed the counsel of these men, for the Lord said, ‘What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.’” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1968, pp. 75–76.) Today, there are people that won’t look to Christ, even though, like the brazen serpent, it is so simple.

In our daily lives as we position our lives to mirror that of the Savior we are showing to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, that we are trying to follow them and in turn that we are “looking” to them to save us and heal us. In today’s world we see people turning to other people such as doctors, shrinks, themselves or other people in general. There are those that worship nature, idols or money. The whole world is a major distraction from the Savior. People go to these different outlets and think that they will be healed or saved through their own power, but we have learned and been taught that it is only through our Savior Jesus Christ that we can be saved. It is through the basic primary answers of prayer, scripture study and church that we are healed through our Savior Jesus Christ.

In my own life I have seen the healing powers of the Lord in my daily life. Sometimes it is just that peace within me that allows me to get through the day. Other times it is a beautiful sunrise or sunset that let me know through the spirit that the Savior loves me and I feel the burdens of the world falling away. I often think of a quote that my teacher told me and that is: “When we put our trust in the Lord, the things in your life will fall in place or they will fall out of your life.” This has helped me make it through a lot of rough patches. Just knowing that by turning to the Lord and looking to him I will receive strength is enough power and evidence for me to continue to look to my Savior and be healed.

 

The following link is a Mormon Message that shows various people and the beautiful reactions they had after turning to the Lord and “looking to” Him.

More Holiness Give Me

In the Bible dictionary holiness  is defined as “ things or places were holy that were set apart for a sacred purpose; the opposite of holy is therefore common or profane; Similarly a holy person meant one who held a sacred office. The Israelites were a holy people because they stood in a special relationship to Jehovah. The word holy therefore came to refer to moral character” (704). Sanctification is the removing power or sins and the stains that they cause, enabling us to become as "white as snow." We need both to be holy, but we also need the sanctifying power of Christ to help us with those mistakes that we will make. 

Jehovah commands his followers to be holy so they are worth to obtain the blessings that he has in store for them. When we follow the commandments and do what we are asked to do we are proving ourselves worthy to the Lord and showing Him that we are trying our best to remain worthy to keep our side of the covenant and that we are trying to remain worthy to be able to receive the blessings He has in store for us. The Lord wants us to be able to become more like Him. He repeatedly states, “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” He is the ultimate example and wants us to become like Him.

In today’s world there are many things that distract us and can harm us from obtaining the blessings the Lord has in store for us. It is our responsibility to make sure that we don’t allow these distractions to take hold of our lives and bring us down. The ways of the world are strong and they beg for our attention, but we have to make sure that our goals and lives are in line with the commandments of the Lord. It has been said that it is easier to be righteous 100% than 98%. 

The following is a list of commandments found in Leviticus. The green highlighted ones are ones that I personally think that the world is struggling with today. Some more than others, but I think that a lot of the world doesn’t recognize commandments and strive to follow them. The ones highlighted in blue are the ones that I feel like I need to do better on. I realize that tithing helps out the less fortunate, but I feel like there is more that I can do. I also need to do better on judging and gossiping and being able to love everyone.

Obey they mother and father

Do not worship any idols or other gods

Do not lie, cheat or steal

Do not use the Lord’s name in vain

Do not fraud your neighbor

Extend charity to the less fortunate

Judge righteously

Love one another

Do not commit adultery

No cuts or markings on body

Do not prostitute your daughter

Keep the Sabbath day

Do not seek our wizards and such

Do not commit homosexual acts

The follow is a clip from Jeffrey R. Holland that talks about being sanctified and about being holy and worthy.

Sanctify Yourselves

Seeing God

From Joseph Smith’s translation corrections of the Bible and through Joseph Fielding Smith we come to the knowledge that indeed man can see God “face to face” and live. It is through the experience of Joseph Smith being able to see the son and Father that the world first began to realize that indeed there is a God and He is of flesh and blood and also that He is a distinct and separate being from His son, Jesus Christ. We also learn that man can come face to face with God and live. In different scriptures in the Bible it states that man cannot see God and live, but Joseph Smith corrected those same verses adding that “except them who believe.”  Joseph Fielding Smith stated, “There are too many passages which declare very definitely that God did appear, ‘face to face,’ with his ancient servants. Therefore, passages which declare that no man has seen him, must be in error. For instance, the passage in John 1:18, . . . is likely due to the fact that a translator in more recent years did not believe that God was a Personage and therefore could not be seen. This notion has come down to us since the introduction of the Athanasian Creed in 325 A.D…” From both of these great men we learn that indeed if a man is willing, believes and is a righteous person they can indeed see God face to face and live.

 

Saved

The children of Israel were both physically saved and spiritually saved by fire and water in their exodus from Egypt.  It is clear that by walking through the sea on dry land they were saved from their captors.  The Lord sent a pillar of fire as well to shield the children of Israel from the Egyptians that were pursuing them. Thus we see that fire and water physically saved the children of Israel. In a more spiritual sense we read in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 1-4, “1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Through these verses we come to the knowledge that through this escape the children of Israel were baptized by the saving water of Christ and were also saved by the fire of the spirit. Back in Exodus in chapter 14 verse 31 it reads, “And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.” It is through this verse we see that this experience was a testimony to the children of Israel that the Lord will save those righteous, and contrastingly he will destroy the wicked that fight against him. This experience strengthened the children of Israel’s testimony of the Lord and spiritually save them as well. 

Marriage in the Covenant

In Genesis chapter 24, we read that Abraham was worried about his sons marrying outside of the covenant.  Abraham knew that if his sons married outside of the covenant they would lose their reward and “crown” as Brigham Young warned. He was worried for their eternal salvations while they were only worried about their temporal happiness. Prophets speak about this same problem that is taking place today. Spencer W. Kimball talked about how hard it is to raise children when the parents differ in religion. He talks about all of the promised blessings that we forfeit when we do so and also the heartache that comes with it.

Contrastingly, we see the example of Rebekah. She was a hard worker fair, a virgin, charitable, loving, compassionate and obedient and most importantly she was born under the covenant (Gen. 24: 15-67). When Rebekah’s sons are looking for marriage it troubles her that they might marry outside of the covenant and lose the great blessings that the Lord has promised them.

In Genesis 29 we see the ultimate example of love and hard work. Jacob works for 14 years to marry Rachel. “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her” (Gen. 29:20). As I read this about Jacob I realized that we should be willing to do whatever it takes to marry inside of the covenant.  I know from experience that this is harder said than done. All of my close guy friends happen to be nonmembers and I find that a lot of the members here aren’t the best examples of the church. I have come to realize that in order for me to marry in the covenant I would have to most likely leave here to find someone to marry. I do know that like Jacob I would be willing to do whatever I have to in order to marry in the covenant and be able to be worthy of those blessings both for myself and my future family. 

King of Righteousness

Melchizedek was a man of faith who sought after righteousness. He reigned as the king of Salem. Having received the priesthood through the lineage of his father’s down until Noah. Melchizedek exercised mighty faith while ruling an evil people. With great faith and priesthood power Melchizedek was able to preach repentance unto his people in a way that they understood and listened to. His people were now restored into a more holy people and he was now called the Price of Peace.


Being a man of great stature and a king of righteousness the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God was renamed out of respect to the Melchizedek Priesthood. He was one of the greatest high priests. It is said that no high priest was greater than him.

A Meeting Of Abraham And Melchizedek

Whom God calls, He qualifies

This past week I was called on a mission to Thailand.  I will be speaking Thai and as soon as I read that I knew immediately that I was going to need more than earthly help. It was at that moment that I had to put my total trust in the Lord and know that if I am doing what I need to be doing, He will qualify me.

In Moses 6, the Lord talks to Moses about Enoch’s people. He describes them as  having their “hearts waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off…” (verse 27).  He continues about how they have left God and have gone astray. After hearing all about this people Enoch tells the Lord that he doesn’t know why He has called him. He explains that he is slow of speech, too young and he is afraid that the people will hate him.

In the following verses the Lord tells Enoch how He will strengthen Enoch. He tells him that if he goes and does what the Lord has commanded the Lord will “open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good” (verse 32).  He reassures him that the spirit will be with him and he will be able to fulfill his calling in the way that the Lord would see fit, if only Enoch would obey the Lord and trust in him.

I have seen this same thing happen in the lives of missionaries that I know. Some of the missionaries I have seen I would just wonder how in the world they were going to go out and be able to teach people in a language. I have also seen that when they have returned they are humbled and they were able to convert many souls, because of their obedience to the Lord. Over and over I have heard them testify that if we obey we will be blessed. I know that at this time in my life that is exactly what I must do. I feel exactly like Enoch in the fact that I am worried about the language, the people and being adequate enough to teach the people in Thailand. I have a testimony that if I do what I am told I will be blessed and enabled through Christ. 

Peter: A Fisher of Men

“His eyes had seen, his ears had heard, and his heart

had understood and accepted the wondrous

happenings of the days from the baptism of the Master

in the waters of Jordan to the ascension of his

Redeemer from the Mount of Olives.”

--Spencer W. Kimball

The apostle Peter has often times caught a lot of slack. When most people thing about Peter they think about his denials before the crucifixion of Christ. Most people tend to bring out the negatives about Peter. It is true that Peter had his mistakes, but who hasn’t? In a moment of weakness he might have denied knowing Christ, but do we know all the circumstances? I think not.

I believe that Peter was a great disciple and prophet.  It is my idea that if the Savior of the world picked him, then He was picking a great guy. When we say that we believe in Jesus Christ I think it is important to remember that we are also supporting and believing in the decisions he made. I don’t think that Christ would have willingly picked someone who wasn’t worthy to be around Him. Everyone has learning experiences and stumbling blocks in their path, but it is what they do with those stumbling blocks that make the people. Peter took the experiences he went through and allowed them to make him a better man. He learned from the mistakes and challenges and used them as a catalyst to do more.

I think something that I could take from Peter would be his faith and the way he bounced back. One of my favorite stories is when Peter walked on water. What great faith he had! How could people deny his faith? Most people would only remember the way he fell in the water, but I like to remember that he was able to walk on the water, if only for a while. When Peter denied the Savior he felt such remorse. It said he “wept bitterly.” He repented sincerely for what he had done. I don’t think anyone really knows how terrible Peter felt and how sincerely he repented.  I think that Peter is a wonderful example to me and to those all around the world. Peter took the experiences in his and made them into great experiences. He was the man he became because of all the things that he was able to endure. I think there can be a lot said knowing that Christ would leave the keys to Peter.

“When Christ chose this fisherman for his first and

chief apostle, he was taking no chances. He picked a

diamond in the rough—a diamond that would need to

be cut, trimmed, and polished by correction,

chastisement, and trials—but nevertheless a diamond

of real quality.”

--Spencer W. Kimball

He Will Not Leave Us

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”--John 14:18

I don’t think there are more comforting words anywhere in the Bible. This simple phrase has given me strength and hope in so many different times in my life.  It is so beautiful to know that our Savior made a way that we could be comforted and have Him with us, especially through the hardest times of our lives.

When Christ is about to the end of His life, He lets the disciples know that He will not leave them without comfort and hope. He teaches them about the Holy Ghost. He tells them that the Holy Ghost will be the spirit of truth to them and will comfort and abide with them. Christ told His disciples that the Holy Ghost would bring things to their remembrance that He had taught them. He would offer them peace.

The disciples were able to continue their missions after the Savior left because of the Holy Ghost. By bringing things to their remembrance and by helping them teach they were able to help many people. It is widely said that “the spirit converts. I think that this was the case with the disciples. If they wouldn’t have had the Holy Ghost, I don’t think a whole lot of work would have gotten done.

The Holy Ghost has been there in circumstances that I might not have even realized.  There are times when I know that the still small voice has directed me in the way that I should go. I cannot think of a personal experience where the Holy Ghost has done this amazingly great story, but I have a collection of small stories. Just in my everyday life I know that he is there directing me. When my grandparents were in a bad accident and I was miles and miles away I felt totally helpless. I wanted so badly to be nearer and be able to help them, just to see them. I remember calling the temple and having them put on the prayer roll. Immediately, I felt a calming come over me and reassured me that everything would be alright. I am very thankful for the Holy Ghost and the role he has played and continues to play in my life. I’m so very grateful for that amazing gift.

"Peace I leave unto you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." --John 14:27

"A Memorial of Her"

Towards the last days of our Savior, Jesus Christ, He would be the ultimate example and wash the feet of His disciples. Before this wonderful act took place, Jesus, Himself was anointed with very precious oil.

He was in the house of Simon Peter, the leper, and was sitting there to eat. A woman entered into the room and took out an alabaster box. Inside this box contained ointment of spikenard.  Spikenard was very expensive oil. In Mark 14:5, the disciples get a little mad and ask why it wasn’t sold. It is even mentioned that this particular oil “might have been sold for more than three hundred pence.” In that time three hundred pence was equivalent to a year's wages, such as the average agricultural worker received.

Christ sort of rebuked them and told them to leave her alone.  He explains to them that she has done a good work to Him. He also brings them back down to earth when He tells them, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them: but me ye have not always.” (Mark 14:7) This silenced the disciples. Christ was trying to tell them something this woman already knew. While she had come to anoint Him to prepare for His burial, the disciples were preoccupied with the costly price of the spikenard and not on the act itself.

The Savior goes on to say about this woman, “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:9) She saw beyond the cost of the oil and knew the price of true love, devotion and sacrifice. She proved to the Savior that she was willing to do whatever was asked of her, and even what was not asked. She showed to the disciples what true discipleship looked like.

In our own lives there are things that we can be doing to show our love and adoration to Christ. While He is not here for us to anoint him with expensive oils, we can show our devotion in other ways. Simply by the way we live our lives we can prove our love and devotion to Him. I think the greatest way to show Christ how much we love Him is to do as He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

The Second Coming

“And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” –Mark 13:37

         In preparing for the second coming, in Mark, Christ continually repeated two phrases; “take heed” and “watch.” Now, we must understand what “take heed” means. In the dictionary it states, “listen: listen and pay attention.” When Christ was speaking, He wasn’t messing around. He meant business. He was serious and wanted us to listen to Him and sincerely pay attention. He told us to “take heed,” of the deceivers that might try to deceive us. There will be those proclaiming to be Christ. There will also be those that will proclaim that there is no Christ at all. He also told us to “take heed” of the trials. We will be put through some trials, but we must pay attention and learn from them. If we curse them and don’t learn from them, we will not be preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ. Christ warns us that we will be cursed and even “beaten” for what we believe in. Christ also tells us to “take heed; behold, I have foretold you all things.” (Mark 13:23) Here He is telling us that we have the knowledge, we know the signs. We must take His words and apply them, learn from them and live them. Christ said, “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:33)

                When Christ was talking to the disciples about the second coming He related a story about the fig tree. He said, “…of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Then affectionately He added, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”(Matt. 24)

                In the Doctrine and Covenants section 87 verse 8 it reads, “Wherefore, stand ye in hold places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.”  He has also said about the second coming, “For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.” (D&C 45:57)

                It is clear that the second coming is nigh. We have the words of Christ and we know what we need to be doing. Among the many things that we must do, above all we need to continue to “take heed,” “watch” and “pray.” If we do so, the Lord will save us at the last day and we will not be afraid, but rejoice in His second coming.

“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear”

--D&C 38:30

The Widows Mite

“In the accounts kept by the recording angels, figured out according to the arithmetic of heaven, entries are made in terms of quality rather than of quantity, and values are determined on the basis of capability and intent. The rich gave much yet kept back more; the widow’s gift was her all. It was not the smallness of her offering that made is especially acceptable, but the spirit of sacrifice and devout intent with which she gave.”

 (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 561-62.)

When thinking about the Saviors words and those that followed his words, the Widow comes to mind. The Savior told that to inherit eternal life we must forsake all and follow him. The widow walked in and gave her mite, the only one she had. To onlookers it was a very small amount, almost too small. Compared to others that had given the Widow had only given a tiny amount. The Savior said that she gave more than them. How can that be? The widow gave everything she had. Those that had more, didn’t even compare to that. The prices they gave might have been higher, but the real amount of what they gave did not compare to that of the widow.

                Not only did this widow give everything, but she did it ungrudgingly. She had the desire to give her all. Compared to the young man that didn’t want to sell all his riches to Christ, she willingly gave it. To me this is a great example. Sometime we think that we don’t have enough money to compare to what someone else might give to the church. There are other ways that we might feel inadequate compared to what someone else is doing or giving. I think the most important thing to remember is that it doesn’t matter what someone else is giving or doing. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to someone else. If we can look inside ourselves and know that we are doing everything we can and giving our all, I think we can be happy with ourselves. Not caring what others are doing and just taking care of ourselves is the key. When we are giving everything we have to the Lord and we know that, we will be happy.

It is not about what we don’t have, but what we do have and what we do give.

“On the books of the heavenly accountants that widow’s contribution was entered as a magnificent gift, surpassing in worth the largess of kings. ‘For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.’”

(Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 561-62.)

Earthly & Heavenly Rewards

In the Matthew chapter 19:16-30, Jesus tells us what we must do to inherit eternal life. A young man approaches Christ and asks Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him basically the Ten Commandments to which the young man responds that he is already doing that. Christ then tells him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that though hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (verse 21) It is quite clear that the young man does not do what Christ had told him. He walked away sad because he had many possessions. He obviously loved his possessions more than he loved Christ. Jesus goes on to tell us that if we give up everything and follow Him, He will bless us. He tells us that with God anything is possible.  He tells us that if we forsake all and follow him we will be judges of the twelve tribes of Israel, we will receive a hundredfold and the most important thing, we shall inherit eternal life.

                Peter asked the Lord, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” Christ told him about being a judge, the hundredfold and eternal life. We can apply this in our own lives. There are things in our own lives that can get in the way of our eternal progression. Like the young man, it might be our possessions. It might be sinning. There is a huge list of downfalls that can grab hold of us. If we remain strong and put our faith in the Lord, He will not leave us. He will bless us for our faith and good works. I believe when Christ said, “With men this is impossible; but with God al things are possible.” (verse 26)

Parable of the Laborers 

The Hour Laborers were Hired	How much the man agreed to Pay	Hours Worked	How much they were actually paid
Early Morning	A penny a day	All day.	A penny.
3rd Hour	“Whatsoever is right I will give you.”	All day.	A penny.
6th Hour	“Whatsoever is right I will give you.”	Half a day.	A penny.
9th Hour	“Whatsoever is right I will give you.”	Quarter of the day.	A penny.
11th Hour	“Whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.”	One hour.	A penny.

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen.” (Matt. 20:16)

From this parable of the laborers we can learn so much. The first thing to be learned is that we all have the same reward. Like the laborers all received we one penny, we all know what the Savior has for us if we forsake all and come unto Him. He has promised us all the same. The second thing that can be learned is that while others might have served longer, the ones that have served for a while will receive the same. This makes it where we are all equal, which is nice. Converts to the church can take this parable and find comfort in the fact that while they might not have been in the church as long as someone else, they can still have the same reward in heaven if they obey the words of Christ. For those that think this unfair I would say that if you think about it logically it does. The Savior would not punish someone for not being the church all their lives. They deserve the same as someone that has been in the church their whole lives. The Lord is no respecter of persons and He does not honor one more than the other. If we are all doing what we need to do and follow the words of the Savior it is only fair and just that we receive the same. 

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

“To become a disciple means a decisive and irrevocable turning to both God and neighbor. What follows from there is a journey which…never ends in this life, a journey of continually discovering new dimensions of loving God and neighbor.”

-David J. Bosch

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is no simple task. Many different things go into becoming a pure disciple of Christ. From reading in the New Testament, I have compiled a list of some of the qualities it takes to become a disciple of Christ.

–    Choose the Savior

–    Pray

–    Ask, Seek & Knock

–    Humility

–    Lay up treasures in heaven

–    Faith

–    Be prepared

–    Stay on the Strait

–    Forsake everything

–    Patience

–    Endure to the end

–    Partake of his salvation

–    Offer your souls

–    Fast

–    Become as a child

–    Total trust in Christ

Keeping this list in mind, it is clear that there are many things that is takes to be a disciple of Christ. One of the characteristics I could more apply in my life would be to have total trust in Christ. There are some things in my life that I do have total faith in Christ. Then there are times when I rely more in the arm of flesh. Sometimes I think that I need to take things into my own hands. I have this idea in my head that I can fix things on my own. I like being independent. When I have a problem, I want to fix it all on my own and have no one to help me. This idea goes for all aspects in my life. I will pray and fast, but I will not exercise the total faith and trust in my Savior that I know I should. This is definitely one area that I need to work on. I know that if I were to give everything to my Savior, and put my complete trust in Him, I would be surprised at the blessings I could receive.

To become a disciple of Christ is not easy. It takes a lot of forsaking ones self and world. We must give up everything, without resentment. We must want to become His disciples. He must have our heart, mind and spirit focused on the goal. Every aspect of our lives needs to be pointed toward Christ and His example. When we master all the above stated qualities, we then have to endure to the end.

“He never said it would be easy. He only said it be worth would it.”

Becoming as a Child

“Children are the epitome of innocence, they are the epitome of purity, they are the epitome of love, they are the epitome of hope and gladness in this difficult and troubled world. –Gordon B. Hinckley

(“Behold Your Little Ones,” Children’s Fireside Satellite Broadcast, January 23, 1994.)

Christ has commanded us to be as a little child; meek, humble, submissive, patient,  full of love, forgiving, honest and willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon Him. Becoming as a little child is not an easy task and it requires work, but the Lord has promised us that He will help us. In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 78, verses 17 and 18 it reads:

“¹⁷ Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye  have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; ¹⁸ And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings there of are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.”

Here we see that Christ will lead us along. We do not have all the knowledge sufficient, but He does. We must come unto Him and allow Him to lead us along. We must be teachable and willing to learn at the hands of our Savior. It was so apparent that Jesus Christ loved the children. One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi chapter 9. 

Christ comes to the Americas and tells them that they need to come unto Him as “a little child.” In chapter nine He takes the children, bless them, prayers over them, weeps and angels encircle them. Oh, to be one of those children. Christ has enabled a way for us to become as those children. Through His words and the words of His prophets we can become as a little child; meek, humble, submissive, patient, full of love, forgiving, honest and willing to submit to all things.

“I am A Child of God.”

“Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do,

to live with Him someday.”

(Hymns, pg. 304)