Ye are made free!

Mosiah 5

Ye are made free.

King Benjamin has finished his discourses and asks the people what they think?  The exchange is quite epic in its capacity to teach us what we need to do to be free.  Free from what? 

The people have said they are willing and desire to be obedient to the teachings they have just received.  What does this do to them?  It puts them in a position to be blessed.  The commandments are for our safekeeping.  If you don’t believe it, look at the lives of those who live righteously and compare their lives to those who live according to the natural man.  I am currently seeing mayhem in loved ones who once had peace and serenity in their lives.  It happens one step at a time and usually begins by succumbing to the enticing of the natural man. 

I have a sticky note in this chapter that I used when I gave a talk in conference last fall:  “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13)  How in the world can we ever expect to live with our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, if we have not served them, thus knowing them?  What does that service look like?  Doing our duty in our callings.  Even if our calling is Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching, we are solid in that service.  That is the cost.  What is the promise?  We will belong to the Savior and have everlasting salvation (v15).  Maybe that promise is too far distant.  What is the immediate benefit?  We will have confidence in the love of our Heavenly Father.   When we make right choices, our lives are blessed.  It probably won’t look like a lottery win or a bigger paycheck from our daily labors; but we will be unencumbered by the woes of the world – those problems that break the backs and the will to do what is right.  It is freedom from these kinds of troubles that free us to find joy in this life and eternity.

I’ve had a lot of interruptions in writing, but I know this is a truth.  Breaking bad habits and turning our life over to our Savior is not an easy thing to do, but He will help us.  We will feel of that help and give Him credit, thus increasing in that love – both directions.  It’s a natural thing and one for which I am so eternally grateful.  

What does a Disciple of Christ look like?

Mosiah 4

I am currently studying discipleship of the Savior in preparation for our Ward Conferences coming up soon.  Therefore, I tend to see lists in just about everything I’m reading.  Of course, I’m also searching for these lists.  King Benjamin continues his discourse to the people.  I was able to find the following traits of a true disciple in this discourse.  Starting with verse 6 –

• Come to a knowledge of the goodness of God
• Trust in the Lord
• Diligent in keeping commandments
• Faith to continue to the end of life
• Believe in God (v9)
• Humble self
• Pray for forgiveness
• Believe then do
• Remember greatness of God
• Pray daily
• Stand steadfast in faith for whatever the future holds
• Rejoice and be filled with love of God
• You will not do anything to injure another
• Live in peace toward others
• Teach your children to love God
• Nurture and care for your children
• Succor others
• Return borrowed items

That’s a pretty lengthy list and not a new one.  How does this apply to our young men and women who we currently serve at BYU?  How does it apply to any of us?  My assignment is to talk in Elders Quorum about discipleship.  Our young people struggle to find their eternal companions.  They are all searching, but what exactly are they searching for?  Is it the trophy wife?  This is a note I made in a conference talk I read this morning.  What is a trophy wife?  For one, she is easily seen by the naked eye.  You don’t have to look hard.  But the real trophy is the young woman who is a disciple of Christ.  She does not put herself out there to be viewed by the world as a trophy.  Her trophy comes from within.  She has embraced the list I’ve made and it has become who she is.  Sometimes, this young woman will be more difficult to see with the naked eye.  But she will be visible to those who are looking with the eyes of a true disciple as well. 

The gospel is a gospel of action.

Mosiah 4:1-5

I had a lot of interruptions this morning as I read, but I did some serious pondering of these five verses.  After King Benjamin has talked with the people, they realized they needed to repent – “. . .they viewed themselves in their own carnal state. . .” (v2)   They believed in the Savior and his promise to atone for their sins and prayed for forgiveness.  Key words:  “. . .for we believe in Jesus Christ. . .”  What happened when they said these words?  In verse three it says “. . .after they had spoken these words. . .”  After we exercise the faith to believe and pray for forgiveness, we can have joy!  Our sins are remitted and we are free to move forward with our lives.  We will feel peace because of our faith.

Is that all that is necessary?  For that moment in time, it is enough.  But what happens then?  King Benjamin continues to speak to them.    I will focus more on the “what” tomorrow.  But we must understand that believing is only the first step.  We must continue to believe and then act according to that belief.   

I just read the conference talk by O. Vincent Haleck “Having the Vision to Do”.  This entire talk is on “doing”.  We must act according to our beliefs.  The talk is about discipleship – being a disciple of Christ.  Sixteen times he uses the word “act”.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel that requires action on our part.  As we act, we are given more to do and the strength to do it.  We are given the power of the Holy Ghost to know what we need to do.  When we see someone struggling with their testimony, it is because of their failure to act when they are given direction be it from our Prophet through a conference talk or through the Holy Ghost.  I’ve seen it enough in my own life and the lives of those I love to recognize it.  The gospel is a gospel of action.  If you aren’t acting as a disciple of Christ, you are in danger.  

The Natural Man - a Process Worth Pursuing

Mosiah 3

“The natural man is an enemy to God.”

This thought hits me hard today.  I know far too many who have trouble controlling their “natural”.  What does that look like?  To begin with, look at my post yesterday.  It starts by not attending to your duty, aka going to your meetings.  Why is that?  Because it is there we are exposed to others trying hard to overcome the natural man.  They relate experiences we may be having and how they struggled to overcome them.  We gain ideas.  We are strengthened by their courage and gain the courage to conquer the same battles.  We feel of the Spirit in these meetings as we hear testimonies born.  It is a natural process moving toward Heavenly Father – just like not attending our meetings creates within us a natural tendency to live unrighteous lives.  Why am I beating this drum so hard? 

How do I overcome the natural man?  King Benjamin spells it out very clearly:

• Yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit
• Become a saint through the atonement of Christ.
• Become as a child
• Submissive
• Meek
• Humble
• Patient
• Full of love
• Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict

• What does submissive mean? To submit to others, namely our Heavenly Father.  Do those things He has asked us to do. 
• Meek?  Enduring injury with patience and without resentment; mild, not violent or strong, down-to-earth, humble, modest, unassuming, unpretentious.
• Humble?  Not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive
• Patient?  Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. To forbear when being provoked.   Not hasty.  Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity. 

These are all very self explanatory.  The bottom line is that we must keep our cool, even when things get hot.  Whether it be a relationship with a loved one, a co-worker or a stranger on our path.  I’ve observed my husband through the years and he seems to have mastered these traits beautifully.  He does not get rattled – ever!  It is not because he doesn’t care either.  As flames in the mountains are threatening our home, he calmly gathers his papers and irreplaceable things and puts them where he feels he can guard them.  He stands at the ready, but isn’t visibly anxious.  He knows the Lord is in charge and is willing to accept whatever that brings.  It is inspiring to see such control.  Even when I create some resistance to those things he is trying to do, he is full of love for me and only calmly tells me his goal is to protect those things that will provide for our needs.  As I look at the traits of the natural man, he has quite beautifully made these traits his own. 

Yes, we must overcome the natural man in order to be worthy of living with our Heavenly Father some day.  It is a process, but one worthy of pursuing. 

O remember, remember. . .

Mosiah 2

O Remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. (v41)

This chapter in the Book of Mormon is epic.  So much I could write about, but I continue to read through the filter of one not living righteously.  This is being written on Independence Day – July 4^th, yet there are so many who are in bondage because of open rebellion.  V37 says “I say unto you, that the man that doeth this (goes contrary to keeping the commandments), the same cometh out in open rebellion against God. . .” 

What does open rebellion look like besides not keeping the commandments?  Our prophets have spoken much, and King Mosiah says “. . .all that has been spoken by our fathers. . .”  I watch the mess some people call their lives.  Where did their open rebellion begin?  Did it start by treating their Sabbath observance as optional?  I have witnessed many who had all the intentions in the world of making their marriages eternal.  Yet Sunday worship became optional and other priorities got in the way.  The Lord is not kidding when he tells us what he wants us to be doing.  When we choose differently, we are coming out in open rebellion.  When we go there, we become an enemy to all righteousness. 

I use Sabbath worship as key because it is there we get our weekly “booster” shot of spirituality.  We should be getting daily immunization as we read the scriptures, pray intently, serve others and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  When we cease doing these things, we become vulnerable and unable to resist the temptations of the world, thus putting us in a precarious position.  I’ve come to this conclusion by reading many conference talks, etc.  But I’ve also witnessed it for myself.  Sunday is a day of rest from our labors, worldly entertainment and the personal passions of the natural man.  It is a day we worship our Savior and Heavenly Father and labor in His work.  When we forget this, we have come out in open rebellion and forfeit the right to happiness, feeling blessed in all things, and the eventual goal of dwelling with our Heavenly Father in a “. . .state of never-ending happiness.” (v41)