Commandments Give Us Freedom

As I was studying today, I found myself on the web site www.mormon.org. I love how they explain God's Plan of Happiness in simple terms. One thing that I thought of as I was reading was how the commandments are here to give us freedom and happiness. They do not restrict us or take away our right to choose. I thought of a conversation I had with a non-member a few years ago when we were discussing what was then Rick's College. He was complaining about some of the rules they had and said that the school didn't have a right to give us a curfew or tell us we couldn't drink or smoke. He looked at those rules as taking away our freedoms. I look at it as the total opposite. The choice comes when you decide to attend a school with those rules. You know what the rules are before you go there. If you are not willing to follow them, then go somewhere else. Those rules are there to help students follow God's Plan of HAPPINESS. Happiness is the key word. When we follow God's commandments, we open our lives to happiness because we don't have to face the negative consequences that come from breaking laws of the land or the commandments of God. What a blessing that is to us that God loved us enough to show us how to be able to return and live with Him. We just follow the commandments!

"Thou shalt thank the Lord in all things."

D&C 59: 7 “Thou shalt thank the Lord in all things.”
I can’t help but think of President Monson’s talk in October General Conference on Having an Attitude of Gratitude. We must show our appreciation to Father in Heaven for all of our many blessings. I know that I am overwhelmed when I think of all the ways I have been blessed. I know I don’t thank Him enough for all that I have. President Monson said:
“My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.
My beloved friend President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.”

"Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself"

D&C 59: 6 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
I think it’s important to remember that God loves all of his children. Even if we have a hard time with someone, we can learn to love them by serving them. We must remember that none of us are perfect and try to be understanding of other’s situations and struggles. Robert J. Whetten of the Seventy said in a 2005 General Conference talk:
“Conversion means consecrating your life to caring for and serving others who need your help and sharing your gifts and blessings. The Lord didn’t say, “Tend my sheep when it is convenient; watch my sheep when you aren’t busy.” He said, “Feed my sheep and my lambs; help them survive this world; keep them close to you. Lead them to safety—the safety of righteous choices that will prepare them for eternal life.” Every unselfish act of kindness and service increases your spirituality. God would use you to bless others. Your continued spiritual growth and eternal progress are very much wrapped up in your relationships—in how you treat others. Do you indeed love others and become a blessing in their lives? Isn’t the measure of the level of your conversion how you treat others? The person who does only those things in the Church that concern himself alone will never reach the goal of perfection. Service to others is what the gospel and exalted life are all about.

"Give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning you"

D&C 58:1 “Give ear to my word, and learn of me what I will concerning you”
I think it’s important for us to know and understand the word of God. How can we do what he expects of us if we don’t know what that is? We must learn this by studying the scriptures and listening to our modern day prophet and apostles. Most importantly, we must act on what it is he wants us to do. In General Conference a couple weeks ago, Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy said:
“What the prophets teach may to some seem outdated, unpopular, or even impossible. But God is a God of order and has established a system whereby we may know His will. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”6 At the opening of this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, the Lord reaffirmed that He would communicate with us through His prophets. He stated, “My word … shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”
Trusting in and following the prophets is more than a blessing and a privilege. President Ezra Taft Benson declared that “our [very] salvation hangs on” following the prophet.”

What happened in Jackson County, Missouri in church history?

What happened in Jackson County in church history?

The early members of the church were searching for a place to gather to create Zion. Some were instructed to gather to Jackson County, Missouri. When they first arrived, they had some success in missionary work. As more and more saints gathered, the original settlers started to feel threatened. They felt as though the Mormons would take over government and other civil duties and that they would be out numbered and not have their voices heard. Soon the tension started to grow between the settlers and the Mormons. The settlers threatened and persecuted the saints. The saints sought protection from the government, but found no help. They were forced to leave their homes and their belongings and seek refuge elsewhere. Many were forced by violent means.

Brother Max H. Parkin in an Ensign article said:

“The site of the New Jerusalem in Jackson County still held its primacy as the “center place.” Many of Missouri’s lessons were bitter. For a generation yet to come, many Mormons felt strong resentment for the injustices of Missouri and its laws—even though the zeal of the Saints had precipitated many of their own problems. Many families were scarred emotionally by the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their hard-earned property; yet they had also learned the value of the gospel in their lives. Moreover, out of the Missouri experience came some of the greatest revelations given in this dispensation, the location of temples, and the establishment of a prophetic future yet to be fulfilled.” Max H Parkin, "Missouri’s Impact on the Church", Ensign, Apr. 1979, 57

What is the future of Jackson County?

There are several myths about Missouri. One is that all members of the church will be asked to gather to Missouri to prepare for the Second Coming.

President Spencer W. Kimball said in October Conference, 1978: “We are building up the strength of Zion—her cords or stakes—throughout the world. Therefore, we counsel our people to remain in their native lands and gather out the elect of God and teach them the ways of the Lord. There temples are being built and the saints will be blessed wherever they live in all the world.” (Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 76.) UAdd a Note

During the time of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, it was essential for members of the Church to “gather to Zion” for their own spiritual and physical safety. But now that temples, welfare projects, educational facilities, genealogical research libraries, and the blessings of a full church organization in stakes are available, this gathering is no longer required or wise. And although the Church purchased some Clay County land last December, it was solely for investment purposes—not for other Church use. At a general conference, President Harold B. Lee stressed the point made by Elder Bruce R. McConkie at the Mexico City Area Conference: “‘The place of gathering for the Mexican Saints is in Mexico; … and so it goes throughout the length and breadth of the whole earth. Japan is for the Japanese; Korea is for the Koreans; Australia is for the Australians; every nation is the gathering place for its own people.’”

Of course, there will be special functions of the temple in Jackson County, but worldwide gatherings of the Saints to Missouri may not be necessary, or desired—after all, the mission of members is to always share the gospel with the nonmembers who surround them throughout the world, and this activity will undoubtedly continue after the Second Coming. Elder Harold B. Lee further cautioned the Saints in all lands to be guided by the current prophet, not by rumor or supposition, and “look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency of this Church as to where they shall be gathered and not be disturbed in their feelings until such instruction is given to them as it is revealed by the Lord to the proper authority” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1948, p. 55.

What are we to learn from this?

I think it’s important for us to be prepared to do whatever our leaders ask of us. Right now the prophet is asking us to build Zion in our wards, stakes and families. We are gathered together in these wards and stakes and are to preach the gospel to those around us. No one knows exactly what is going to happen before or during the Second Coming. All we can do is exercise our faith and follow the modern prophet. We must prepare ourselves and our families spiritually, physically and financially and be prepared to live the higher laws of God if asked to do so.

Knowing God

I have been seeking guidance lately over some personal matters in our family. As I have been studying, I came across this talk titled, Knowing God written by Elder Bernard P. Brockbank who was an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve. I loved a few of the things he had to say.

"A few years ago on our television set we had a set of rabbit ears for an antenna, and the pictures and messages were not clear. They were foggy and there was what they call “snow” on the set. Often we were unable to understand the message. UAdd a Note You cannot pick up the celestial message, the bread of life, the word of God, with rabbit ears on your human mind, your human body; the message will not be clear. You need your antenna high, well placed, and turned toward the divine message. You need to keep the mind clear and focused on the heavenly message. It takes time to plan and install in the human heart and mind an antenna to pick up spiritual revelation and inspiration from God. You must be in tune. If you’re out of tune, you’re out of harmony, and static and wrong impressions come from satanic and worldly sources."

I love this. If we are to understand what God wants for us or wants us to do, we must stay focused and seek for Heavenly guidance. Since I am in the middle of trying to raise my children to have a desire to things that are righteous and good, I am constantly in need of help. I love what he said about families and raising our children. Brother Brockbank said, "The home and family is the place where knowledge of God and to know God should be taught, and the place where a loving God should be exemplified and taught to the children. UAdd a Note

Parents, children should be taught in the home to know and to love God and to choose his doctrines and his commandments, and not to be misled or deceived by the doctrines of men or the doctrines of devils. They should be taught in the home their relationship to God and how to pray to him. Children should know that they are in the image and likeness of God, that they have godlike attributes and divine potential, that they are literally and truly children of God, with godlike capacities. UAdd a Note

They should be taught in the home that Jesus Christ is the proper way, the truth and the great example to follow in this life. UAdd a Note

They should be taught that the scriptures contain God’s way of life, his plan of salvation, and each child should have his own set of scriptures, if capable of reading and understanding, so that he can have them by his bedside and have access to them whenever he feels he would like to know more of his Heavenly Father’s plan of life and way of life. UAdd a Note

It is not possible to choose God’s way of life and to know God unless we know his program. If we only know the ways of men and the ways of the devil, then we will choose those ways. Jesus Christ commanded that we search the scriptures, that we know the truth, and that the truth would make us free. We find the Lord’s truths in the holy scriptures, and there is no knowledge on the face of this earth greater than knowledge that has been given to us by our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. UAdd a Note

Parents, is there love and respect for God in your home? The poet said: “There is beauty all around/When there’s love at home.” (Hymns, no. 169.) UAdd a Note

Parents, do you know God the Eternal Father in your home? Do you pray to a living God? Do you pray to a God that you know, and do you know your relationship to him? UAdd a Note

Parents, be careful that you do not permit the devil to come into your home. When the devil enters, he brings disrespect for God, hatred, quarreling, criticism, contention, divorce, and evil. When you know God and have respect for his plan, then there is peace and happiness in your home. UAdd a Note

Are there virtue and purity in your family life? Is the Lord’s hallowed Sabbath day kept sacred in your home and among your family?"

I continue to learn more of God and understand Him as I continue to need his help in my daily efforts to be a disciple of Christ and raise my children to do the same.

The Ministering of Angels

The ministering of angels can occur in different forms. Sometimes we feel as if someone we love who has passed on is present or is guiding us in certain situations. This is the ministering of angels. I have heard of people who are searching for names in their family history work and who feel as though they are being guided in the right direction by their loved ones from beyond the veil. I also know that there are times in the temple that we feel as thought the ones we are doing the work for are present. President James E. Faust in a talk titled, "A Royal Priesthood" said, "I would like to say a word about the ministering of angels. In ancient and modern times angels have appeared and given instruction, warnings, and direction, which benefited the people they visited. We do not consciously realize the extent to which ministering angels affect our lives. President Joseph F. Smith said, “In like manner our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh.” Many of us feel that we have had this experience. Their ministry has been and is an important part of the gospel. Angels ministered to Joseph Smith as he reestablished the gospel in its fulness."

I also think that if we live worthily that we can be ministering angels here on earth for others who are in need. We can be the Lord's instruments here on earth and be the answer to someone else's prayers. I know that I have had times in my life when I've been having a trial and someone seems to show up at just the right time and place to fulfill a need that I had. I know that if we live worthy of the Holy Ghost and then act on the promptings that we feel, then we can be someone's ministering angel.