Thursday, December 22, 2016
Section 123
16 You know, brethren, that a
very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a
storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
17 Therefore, dearly
beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and
then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of
God, and for his arm to be revealed.
My
“very small helm” is the Book of Mormon.
I know it is scripture, translated by Joseph Smith through the power of
God.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
Section 121 (part 3)
The
Lord uses the term “garnish” to indicate that we are to let virtue cover our
thoughts at all times. When I worked at
Fredrico’s Pizza, one of my jobs was to put the pizza sauce, meat, and a thick
layer of cheese onto the crust before sliding the pizza into the oven. I was called a “garnisher.” So when I read
that God wants us to garnish our thoughts with virtue, I think of the yummy
toppings that went into garnishing a pizza.
The toppings of virtue could be related to another verse I love to
quote: “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or
praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” (See Article of Faith 13) What do
you think about to make sure your thoughts are virtuous?
45 Let thy bowels also be full
of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue
garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the
presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul
as the dews from heaven.
Notice,
also, that the Lord refers to our “bowels” instead of our thoughts when
referring to charity. I relate this to
the digestive system. He wants charity
to go down deep into our gut, letting the pure love of Christ be circulated to
every cell of our spiritual selves.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Section 121 (part 2)
37 … when we undertake to
cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise
control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any
degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit
of the Lord is grieved…
39 We have learned by sad
experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, (women, and
organizations) as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they
will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
41 No power or influence can or
ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, (or any other “hood” i.e.,
fatherhood, motherhood, brotherhood) only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by
gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure
knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without
guile—
Notice
I added (women, and organizations) to verse 39 to emphasize that these
principles apply to us all. I would suggest reading these verses slowly and
pausing to ask how they apply personally. For example, I often ask myself the question, “Am
I trying to cover my sins?” and with
that I ask, “Walt, do you really think you can hide those thoughts or actions
from the Lord?”
I
also added (or any other “hood”) for the same reason—these principles apply to
all of us.
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