Effective Scripture Study

This outline is from a talk given by Elder Pope in our ward.  He said he received this list form his mother as he started his mission.
Scripture study:
1. Pray to seek the spirit.
2. Look at maps.  Maps can help set the stage.
3. Look for lists.  Write them out.  For example the list of what Charity is from Moroni.
4. Look for patterns and repetition.
5. Look for commandments and promised blessings.  It is good to look for things we are asked to do, and the consequences of our actions whether faithful or not.  Such as the word of wisdom, or the commandment to honor our parents.  Both immediately talk about the blessings for obedience.
6. Look for personal application.  Look to strengthen your testimony.  Look to better understand Jesus Christ.

Rooted in Christ: Elder L. Whitney CLayton

Here are some things to think about this Sunday, How rooted are we in Christ?  Elder L. Whitney Clayton gives a fantastic lesson on being rooted in Christ.  He compares our commitment to Christ to the roots of the scrub oak tree, which quickly go down in the soil where they can draw nourishment, and provide strength to the tree.  Our faith in Christ needs to be as those strong roots, which keep the tree strong.

Sunday Talk: What is the Lord's Way to Care for the Poor and Needy?

What is the Lord's Way to Care for the Poor and Needy?

The great commandments (tell)  Mark 12 several people tempt the Lord by asking him questions, hoping to find something in his words with which they can accuse him.  A scribe watches this questioning, and satisfied with Jesus' answers, approaches Jesus in an attitude to learn, "Which is the greatest commandment?"

mark 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Brother Uchtdorf quoting J Reuben Clark: As always, we can look to our perfect example, Jesus Christ, for a pattern. As President J. Reuben Clark Jr. taught, “When the Savior came upon the earth he had two great missions; one was to work out the Messiahship, the atonement for the fall, and the fulfilment of the law; the other was the work which he did among his brethren and sisters in the flesh by way of relieving their sufferings.”⁸

President Uchtdorf points out that a coin had two sides.  Such is our worship.  We must tend to the spiritual as well as the temporal.  You cannot have one without the other.

President Uchtdorf said, "Unfortunately, there are those who overlook the temporal because they consider it less important. They treasure the spiritual while minimizing the temporal. While it is important to have our thoughts inclined toward heaven, we miss the essence of our religion if our hands are not also inclined toward our fellowman."

Brigham Young: In 1856 when Brigham Young was presented with the news that the handcart companies were late, he immediately knew they would be in trouble.  General Conference was the next day, and he introduced the theme,  saying in essence, I will now give you the subject for those who speak today.  Our brethren are on the plains, far from the safety of this place.  They must be brought here.  We will send them aid.  then quoting President Young:

“I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the Celestial Kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains. And attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties. Otherwise, your faith will be in vain. The preaching you have heard will be in vain to you, and you will sink toHell, unless you attend to the things we tell you.”

Almost two months later when those in the last handcart company finally arrived, it was again Sunday and President Young was speaking in church:  

“When those persons arrive I do not want to see them put into houses by themselves; I want to have them distributed in the city among the families that have good and comfortable houses; and I wish all the sisters now before me, and all who know how and can, to nurse and wait upon the new comers and prudently administer medicine and food to them. To speak upon these things is a part of my religion, for it pertains to taking care of the Saints. …

“The afternoon meeting will be omitted, for I wish the sisters to go home and prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them and nurse them up. You know that I would give more for a dish of pudding and milk, or a baked potato and salt, were I in the situation of those persons who have just come in, than I would for all your prayers, though you were to stay here all the afternoon and pray. Prayer is good, but when baked potatoes and pudding and milk are needed, prayer will not supply their place on this occasion; give every duty its proper time and place. 

What is the Lord's Way to Care for the Poor and Needy?

Legos and Skylar:  If we put Legos together haphazardly, we get something, but not what the Legos were intended to be.  

"The Lord’s way of caring for the needy is different from the world’s way.  He is not only interested in our immediate needs; He is also concerned about our eternal progression. For this reason, the Lord’s way has always included self-reliance and service to our neighbor in addition to caring for the poor” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Providing in the Lord’s Way,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 54).  

Personal stories: growing up, some idea of the Lord’s way.  pull home, pull out of mud, push Butch Halstead, come upon woman with broken hip.  Mom’s broken neck. welfare system, missionary suits: mom county clerk

President Uchtdorf: This very hour there are many members of the Church who are suffering. They are hungry, stretched financially, and struggling with all manner of physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. They pray with all the energy of their souls for succor, for relief.

We are all enlisted. “All” means all.  ...there is something everyone can contribute.¹¹

Alfred P. Doolittle, a character from My Fair Lady sand, The Lord above made man to help his neighbor, but with a little bit of luck when he comes around you won't be home.  Many of us put blinders on, and do our best to avoid helping others.  However we should keep ourselves open to the idea of helping others.  

When Alma Amulek and the Zoromites the found a group who were poorer, who had been turned out from the church becasue of the coarse apparel.  To these people Amulek said:

 “After [you] have [prayed], if[you] turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if [you] have [it], to those who stand in need—I say untoyou, … your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and [you] are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.”¹⁵ ALma 34:28

President Eyring in a discourse entitled: Opportunities to do good, gives a list of things we can be doing:

First, all people are happier and feel more self-respect when they can provide for themselves and their family and then reach out to take care of others. 

Elmore model

A second gospel principle that has been a guide to me in welfare work is the power and blessing of unity. 

the third principle of action in welfare work for me: Draw your family into the work with you so that they can learn to care for each other as they care for others.

The fourth valuable principle of Church welfare I learned as a bishop....  I found that the Lord sends the Holy Ghost to make it possible to “seek, and ye shall find.” I also learned to involve the Relief Society president in the search. She may get the revelation before you do.

President Uchtdorf:  The place to begin is to familiarize ourselves with what the Lord has already revealed.  

providentliving.org

justserve.org

Jeffrey R. Holland, in conference address entitled: Are we not all beggars, told the story of Mary and Judas Iscariot.  Mary anointed Jesus with oil, and Judas felt it was a waste.  Jesus responded to leave her alone. "She hath done what she could"

the star fish

2.For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. 

(another talk) Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being me  

3.In addition to taking merciful action in their behalf, we should also pray for those in need....  I don’t know exactly how each of you should fulfill your obligation to those who do not or cannot always help themselves. But I know that God knows, and He will help you and guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again. 

4.  We are always expected to help ourselves before we seek help from others.

5. all who are physically able are to observe the law of the fast. Isiah  58: 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?  7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

three quarters of a million people are helped annually with fast offering donations.  WHat a blessing that our bishops have this resource.  Additionally millions of dollars are donated by church members to be used in humanitarian efforts.

As we seek for spiritual blessings, may we not lose sight of the temporal needs around us.  We are all enlisted.  Because we have been given much we too must give. As I have Loved you, love one another, Jesus said love everyone, treat them kindly too.  

In the name of Jesus Christ AMEN  

Sacrament Meeting Gem

Sometimes you hear a gem in church.  That is what I heard this week.  To me as Sister Jennifer Williams delivered here remarks, talking about making the Sabbath important in our families, these words struck me as if they were poetry.

Added spiritual power does not just fall upon us.  It comes as we act.  

The scriptures tell us that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” but he and his family still needed to build and enter the ark.

God prepared the means for the children of Israel to be healed form the fiery serpents, but it still required that the look upon the serpent of brass attached to Moses’ staff.

The Saints sang in our dispensation, “We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,” but they still had to pick up their handcarts and go west.

“But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.” (D&C 59:23)

This added blessing of spiritual power does not settle upon us just because we are part of this generation. It is willingly offered to us; it is eagerly put before us.  But as with all spiritual gifts, it requires our desiring it, pursuing it, and living worthy of receiving it.

Sunday Lessons: Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

Our priesthood lesson focused on the Oath and Covenant of the priesthood, and we went through it verse by verse.  Much of the discussion focused on, how do we magnify for calling?  I turned to the Bible dictionary--no entry.  But in the Topical guide there was a list of scriptures with one word excerpts.  I felt this list would be beneficial for myself to preserve and apply, but also thought I would share this.  The short entries from each scriptures gives action verbs, which if applied, will help us all in serving and magnifying our callings.

• them that honour me I will honour: 1 Sam. 2:30 .
• Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness: Ps. 132:9 .
• lift up thy voice like a trumpet: Isa. 58:1 .
• thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee: Jer. 1:7 .
• give them warning from me: Ezek. 3:17 .
• should not the shepherds feed the flocks: Ezek. 34:2 .

• seek ye first the kingdom of God: Matt. 6:33 . ( 3 Ne. 13:33 . )
• great among you, let him be your minister: Matt. 20:26 .
• thou hast been faithful over a few things: Matt. 25:21 .
• in all things approving ourselves as the ministers: 2 Cor. 6:4 .
• For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry: Eph. 4:12 .
• Neglect not the gift that is in thee: 1 Tim. 4:14 .
• follow after righteousness, godliness: 1 Tim. 6:11 .
• stir up the gift of God, which is in thee: 2 Tim. 1:6 .
• Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness: 2 Tim. 2:22 .
• such an high priest … made higher than the heavens: Heb. 7:26 .
• holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices: 1 Pet. 2:5 .
• received the gift, even so minister the same: 1 Pet. 4:10 .

• pray always, and not faint: 2 Ne. 32:9 .
• we did magnify our office unto the Lord: Jacob 1:19 .
• their exceeding faith and repentance: Alma 13:10 .
• searched the scriptures diligently: Alma 17:2 .
• Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings: Alma 37:37 .
• bridle all your passions: Alma 38:12 .
• thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word: Hel. 10:4 .
• we have a labor to perform: Moro. 9:6 .

• Search these commandments: D&C 1:37 .
• see that ye serve him with all your heart: D&C 4:2 .
• The duty of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons: D&C 20:38 .
• give heed unto all his words: D&C 21:4 .
• every man which will embrace it with singleness: D&C 36:7 .
• let every man esteem his brother as himself: D&C 38:25 .
• teach the principles of my gospel: D&C 42:12 .
• preach the word of truth by the Comforter: D&C 50:17 .
• men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause: D&C 58:27 .
• Thou shalt not idle away thy time: D&C 60:13 .
• priesthoods … magnifying their calling, are sanctified: D&C 84:33 .
• testimony may go from you into all the world: D&C 84:62 .
• from you it must be preached unto them: D&C 84:76 .
• let every man … labor in his own calling: D&C 84:109 .
• if your eye be single to my glory: D&C 88:67 .
• it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor: D&C 88:81 .
• Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing: D&C 88:119 .
• cease from all your light speeches: D&C 88:121 .
• decisions of these quorums … to be made in all righteousness: D&C 107:30 .
• let every man learn his duty: D&C 107:99 .
• controlled … only upon the principles of righteousness: D&C 121:36 .
• priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering: D&C 121:41 .
• Let thy bowels also be full of charity: D&C 121:45 .

A couple of Sacrament Meeting Talks

Sister Amanda talked using a conference address as her text.  Her talk was on prayer.  Something about how she put things, made me realize my prayers were not sufficient.  She talked about praying, as if you were talking directly with God face-to-face.  I found the area she was referring to in the transcript of the original talk.  However, there was something about they way she said it, which left me knowing she had hat kind of relationship with God, and it was a relationship I wanted to strife for.

Today, the talks were in preparation for Easter.  The first was on the resurrection of the Savior, and cited the hundreds of people who bore testimony of this, from Mary Magdalene, the apostles, over 500 disciples, and then the multiple in the New World.  We have witnesses enough of the truth of the resurrection. 

Our neighbor, Brother Peterson, talked about the atonement.  He compared it to the journey of Lehi and his family.  They made it through the dessert, persevering, but then found themselves facing a great water, over which they had no way of traveling to reach the promised land, without divine intervention.  In like manner, we can persevere, and do our best, but we will be faced with a great gulf, keeping us from eternal live.  It is again divine intervention, the grace of God, that helps us over the gulf.  I had never heard that comparison before, and it hit home with me and helped me see more clearly the role of grace, after all that we can do.

Sunday lessons and some thoughts

As we study the Book of Mormon and the writings of Nephi I have had a couple of thoughts.  I keep thinking about Laman and Lemuel, and that they eventually were "beyond feeling."  The result of insincere repentance, where you repent and then go back to the same sin over and over, is that it becomes more and more difficult to feel the spirit subsequently, until you are beyond feeling.  Along with this there is the scripture of the flaxen cords.  It is talking about how the Devil works. 

• 22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
  

If Satan can get you to do little things, leading you with a flaxen cord, then he can get you to do greater sins, and bind you with his strong cord.  Bit by bit he leads people away from the spirit, and repentance and healing.

I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love.
2 nephi 1 15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
These are the words of Lehi.  He has just talked to his sons about being faithful.    Then he provides a terrifi  lecture on the need for oposition in all things.  It would be worthwhile to study these scriptures which are part of the leson.

False Teachings of the World              Lehi’s Teachings

There is no good or evil.                      2 Nephi 2:5.

There is no law.                                    2 Nephi 2:5.

There is no Christ.                               2 Nephi 2:6.

There is no existence after this life.     2 Nephi 2:10.

There is no God.                                  2 Nephi 2:14

Life has no purpose.                            2 Nephi 2:25.

Our actions are determined by

genetics and environment.                   2 Nephi 2:26–27.

Conditions Before Partaking of the Fruit                     Opposition Experienced After Partaking of the Fruit

 (2 Nephi 2:15–16)  (2 Nephi 2:23).                (2 Nephi 2:23)  (2 Nephi 2:21).

 (2 Nephi 2:19; Moses 2:29).                           (2 Nephi 2:19).

 (2 Nephi 2:23).                                                           (2 Nephi 2:23).

 (2 Nephi 2:22).                                                          (2 Nephi 2:22; Moses 6:48).

Nephi quoted Isaiah extensively.  In fact Isaiah is the most quoted of all the Old Testament prophets, with half of its chapters appearing in the Book of Mormon.  There are keys to understanding these scriptures. 

Keys to Understanding Isaiah

Liken all scriptures unto us. 6) 1 Nephi 19:23   7) 2 Nephi 11:2, 8

Know concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews .  8)  2 Nephi 25:1

Know the judgments of God.  9) 2 Nephi 25: 3

Know concerning the regions round about Jerusalem.   10) 2 Nephi 25:6

Be filled with the spirit of prophecy.  11) 2 Nephi 25: 4  12) Revelations 19:10

The Book of Mormon increases our understanding of Isaiah

This move is from the course, and compares Nephi building a boat, to the call to reach out to others, doing fellowshipping or missionary work.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9t-5_PeCrg

Miranda's Talk

http://miranda-lifeasiknowit.blogspot.com/2012/02/talk.html

I usually like to post talks.  However Miranda posted this on her own blog.  She gave it in the singles ward.

Nephi's Psalm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CcvtoZ6Ra0


"I Love the Lord" John S. Tanner
I love the Lord. In him my soul delights.
Upon his word, I ponder day and night.
He's heard my cry, brought visions to my sleep,
And kept me safe o'er deserts and the deep.
He's filled my heart with his consuming love,
And borne me high on wings of his great dove.
Yet oft I groan,"O wretched man am I!"
My flesh is weak and I'm encompassed by
A world of sin, which holds me in its thrall,
If I give in and to temptations fall.
Then strength grows slack, I waste in sorrow's vale.
My peace destroyed, my enemies prevail.
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin.
Rejoice, my heart! And let me praise again
The Lord my God, who is my rock and stay
To keep me strict upon his straight, plain way.
O let me shake at the first sight of sin
And thus escape my foes without and in.
 I love the Lord. In him my soul delights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r3_mhDvFEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaod4mqf1FY

Three links dealing with Nephi's Psalm.   The first is a song sung by BYU Men's Choir, the second a reading of the psalm, and the third is linked to a verbal essay on the psalm.  Nephi's Psalm is found in 2 Nephi 4 15-35.  In this psalm, Nephi bares his soul.  It is so interesting to ovserve that Nephi was aware of his own failings and his own sins.  17) " O wretched man that I am."  But he responds with such faith.  19) "I know in whom I have put my trust."  And then Nephi takes five verses to list his blessings from the Lord:  (20-25) 

 20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. 

 22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

 23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

 25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

His admonition to himself, is also a call to us.  "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."  Awake and rejoice, this is a call to all of us.  Nephi finishes his psalm with a prayer, in which he commits to continue putting his trust in God and not the arms of men.  

It is my prayer that I can away, and do better, and rejoice in the redemption of God's grace.

Church this Sunday

I had a very special time at church today, and I cannot write everything in a blog, but I can hit the highlights.  We had our fifth Sunday priesthood and Relief Society meetings, and we talked about the Book of Mormon.  This video was played at the end of the meeting.  It is a powerful testimony from Elder Holland of the Book of Mormon, given in conference a couple years ago.
http://lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng&media=video
But my Sunday started with Sacrament meeting, and three inspired talks.  I was on parking lot duty, wo was listening with the head set.  I was very focused on the talks.  President Crockett talked about the Aaronic Priesthood, and how this priesthood holds the keys of the ministering of angels.  He indicated this meant that the Aaronic Priesthood holders have the right to inspiration and protection from angels.  He then related a couple of stories from a talk by Robert Herbertson:

A priests quorum decided one winter to gather food for the needy as a service project. This event soon developed into a competitive activity with the Laurels to see who could gather the most food.

Jim, one of the members of the quorum, became very excited about participating in this activity. He planned to use a cart he had built for a parade and was determined that he was going to collect more food than anyone else.

The night came, and the priests and Laurels met at the chapel. They went out at the same time and returned at the specified time later in the evening. Much to everyone’s surprise, Jim’s cart was empty. He was rather sober and didn’t seem to want to talk to anyone. Some of the boys made fun of him and asked, “Where’s your food, Jim? We thought you were going to beat us all.”

Seeing the situation Jim was in and knowing that he had an interest in automobiles, the adviser grabbed him and said, “Come outside, Jim, I want you to look at my car. It’s giving me some trouble.”

When they got outside, the adviser said, “What’s wrong, Jim?” Jim began to cry and said, “I don’t know if I want to talk about it.”

“Are you upset?”

“No, not really. But when I went out to collect the food, I really got a lot. My cart was full. As I was returning to the chapel, I stopped at the home of a nonmember woman who is divorced and lives within our ward boundaries. I knocked on the door and explained what we were doing, and she invited me in. She began to look for something to give me. She opened the refrigerator, and I could see there was hardly anything in it. The cupboards were bare. Finally, she found a small can of peaches.

“I could hardly believe it. There were all these little kids running around that needed to be fed, and she handed me this can of peaches. I took it and put it in my cart and went on up the street. I got about halfway up the block when I just felt warm all over and knew I needed to go back to that house. I gave her all the food.”

The adviser said, “Jim, don’t you ever forget the way you feel tonight, because that’s what it is all about.”

Because of the priesthood Jim held, he had received the ministering of angels and through the Holy Ghost had been guided to do something that was far more important than winning the contest.

The second story is like this:

Let me conclude with an old Indian legend. Many years ago, Indian youths would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. One such youth hiked into a beautiful valley. There he fasted, and on the third day he decided to test himself against the mountain. He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders, and set off to climb the peak.

When he reached the top, he could see forever, and his heart swelled with joy. Then he heard a rustle at his feet. Looking down, he saw a snake. Before he could move, the snake spoke: “I am about to die. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food, and I am starving. Put me under your shirt and take me down to the valley.”

“Oh, no,” said the youth. “I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and I will die.”

“Not so,” said the snake. “I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special. I will not harm you.”

The youth withstood for a while, but this was a very persuasive snake with beautiful markings. At last the youth tucked it under his shirt and carried it down to the valley. There he laid it gently on the grass. Suddenly, the snake coiled, rattled, and struck, biting him on the leg.

“You knew what I was when you picked me up,” said the snake as it slithered away.

http://lds.org/ensign/1989/07/restoration-of-the-aaronic-priesthood?lang=eng 

 It has been a very good Sunday.