The Sublime Roundabout

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ said, "Judge not, lest ye be judged" (Matt 7:1). Seems pretty clear. He then goes on to explain that judging is reciprocal - with the same judgement we judge we will in turn be judged. Further, he explains, we should remove our own visual blocks which enables us to clearly see what is wrong with others and are in a better position to help. So how does all of this play in to the scripture which enjoins those who are called to be bishops that we must judge (see D & C 107: 72; 74)? And is it possible, in a larger sense, NOT to judge things? There must be a distinction between judging things or actions and people. We are not given to know all things - that belongs to God only. But Moroni, quoting his father Mormon, shows us the way to judge. He says that things that are from God are light (enlightening), peaceful, and pointing to God. Those things that are dark, contentious, and that take us away from God are of the devil. For those who have...

In the history of the Book of Mormon, and really the world, it is difficult to find a group more dedicated to the Lord than those Alma led out of the land of Lehi-Nephi. They were truly humble, submissive, meek, and holy. They formed the first organized church in the land. Their only desire was to be happy and left alone to worship God. Who knows what may have become of them if they had been... But the Lamanites and the wicked priests of King Noah find them in the valley of Helam. The verse states that "the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people, yea, he trieth their patience and faith" (Mosiah 23:21). Why is this? Why is it when we desire to rejoice we are tried by the Lord? Doesn't He know our faith? Surely He knows our patience? Doesn't He know of our dedication and love? Yes, He knows. So why? The answer lies, in part, in the next verse: "Whosoever putteth his trust in him shall be lifted up at the last day" (Mosiah 23:22). What kind of a person do you wan...

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:21) Abinadi, having given his all for the truth, had only one direct convert to the truth. He never saw the fruits of this seed which was planted in the good ground. Through the efforts of Abinadi and Alma the Elder, 450 people were baptized. Later Alma would organize a church in Zarahemla, which church would endure until the destruction of the Nephite Nation. There are a couple of things that stand out to me in this passage (Mosiah 17-20): 1. The Priesthood of God. Whenever the scriptures mentions that someone acted "with power and authority" that is a direct reference to the Priesthood of God. These things were clearly understood. The Priesthood is not a group of men who have been ordained to perform certain offices. The offices are actually appendages to the Priesthood. The Priesthood, in LDS usage, refers to the power and authority to act in the name of God. The worthy priesthood holder is literally author...

It is difficult to imagine what it must have been like for Abinadi. Here's a guy who was only doing what he felt was right, and yet was burned to death. It is interesting to note the similarities between him and others who would suffer death by fire. It is also interesting to note that some were saved from the flames (Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego) and from other similar perils (Daniel, the Three Nephites, etc). But many, many more have to give the ultimate sacrifice for their faith. Would I be able to withstand such torture and pressure? I'd like to think so, but I've certainly never been tested like this. Abinadi is examined by the wicked King Noah and his evil priests, who question him regarding the law of Moses. He has the opportunity to explain the gospel to them (see earlier posts), noting that the law of Moses points to the ultimate sacrifice of the Savior. It is through Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, that salvation and redemption comes to the children of men....

This is actually not intended to be a scriptural commentary, per se. It's just that recently I've been writing some thoughts in relation to the Book of Mormon that have been on my mind. This is in keeping with the direction received from our Stake President. I just didn't want you to think that I had completely abandoned my normal randomness... I have been the bishop of the Baytown 2nd Ward for the past three months. It has been glorious in the most surpassing way. The members of our ward are generous, kind, and faithful. It is a privilege to serve with and amongst such incredible people. The Lord has truly blessed us, and I am grateful. There's one thing I would like to note. It is not specific to anyone, or even our ward. It is endemic throughout the world and I have been wondering about it a lot. It has to do with attitude. Attitude determines so much of what we become in our lives. As Elder Holland said, There is no situation so bad that complaining about it can...

Or, On Fathers and Sons... Zeniff certainly was not the ultimate in the way of a father. Who is? He was a man who tried to do the best he could with what he was given (or the path he took). He was a man who had passion and was an effective leader, inspiring many to abandon their homes and follow him into a hostile land. At some level, though, his home life obviously suffered. His son did not follow in his footsteps. This is a difficult thing for parents. I have known many people whose children struggled from time to time. Some of them struggled with things that could easily have been avoided, while others became victims of circumstance, bad luck, or disease. I don' t think there's a parent in the world who would willingly allow these kinds of things to happen. But it seems there's a general pattern that is followed, involving parents who are usually either too permissive or too strict. There needs to be a careful balance of these things, a focus on what is right and why. A ...

The story of Zeniff's experiences in the land of Lehi-Nephi is fraught with peril and unbelievable ineptness. Yet, there is throughout the story a thread of interesting things to learn - things leaders need to know, both good and bad, that will ultimately lead to better leadership: 1. There needs to be unity. Zeniff's disastrous first foray into the land of Lehi-Nephi highlights the need for people to be one. Perhaps the mission was misguided from the beginning, perhaps Zeniff wasn't the best choice for a lieutenant. But once the mission was underway, the leader demands respect as a leader. Zeniff obviously was charismatic and persuasive, and he was probably correct in his desires to protect the Lamanites. Nothing dooms a mission faster than having dissident voices clamoring for attention and devotion. 2. Be careful of over-zealousness and arrogance. In other contexts this is called hubris. Zeniff thought he could negotiate with a people he knew he would not be able to trus...

Abraham, the father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob (called Israel), was promised great things by the Lord. He procured these blessings through this incredible faith and obedience in spite of his personal feelings and desires. He was willing to sacrifice his own son in order to be obedient. I don't think I would be as willing, but I hope I am as obedient. The promises extended to Abraham and his posterity are extended to us - we are his posterity. We have the same promises - blessing the earth and having our children be as numerous as the sands of the sea. It is through our own faithfulness and righteousness - our own willingness to obey - that we procure these blessings for ourselves and our posterity. It is incumbent for everyone who would obtain these blessings that they remember the Lord Jesus Christ, that they love Him and keep His commandments, and that they share their blessings with others. In this way, the gospel becomes real for us and we are able to understand how ...

King Benjamin's address is one of the most powerful things in the Book of Mormon (and that's saying something). There is much that is laid out in the way of doctrine and precepts that are some of the most fundamental tenets that we adhere to as Latter-Day Saints. To name a few: 1. Service. Service is given to God as a refining, dignifying, and empowering resource in our lives. It enables us to bless and lift each other beyond what we otherwise would. And as I mentioned in yesterday's post, it is through service to our fellow beings that we serve our God. 2. Our interaction with our fellowmen. This one is easy: we are all beggars. We beg for everything, and we are ultimately unprofitable servants. It is only by the grace of God our Heavenly Father that we exist from day to day. We owe it to our fellowmen to share what we have - each according to that which he has received - so that they may be rich like us. And he mentions the attitude we must strike - if I had, I would give...

God our Heavenly Father does not live here on earth with us. He has visited. He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ to live with us for a time and to visit on occasion. And we enjoy the constant companionship of the God that is the Holy Ghost. But our Father does not live here with us. Since He is God, we desire to serve him. But since He is not here, we do not have that opportunity. So what does He command? What does He require? There are but two great commandments - to love God and to love each other. That's it. But in order to do the first, we must do the second. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the process is set up such that in accomplishing our love for God by demonstrating our love for each other, we in turn become the biggest beneficiaries. Imagine if everyone you came in contact with genuinely loved you and wanted to serve you so that you could be happy. Everyone. I realize that's a little hard to imagine, but try it. Now turn the tables and reflect on how the world wou...

Couple of things on my mind this morning. First off, yesterday at the gym I saw the pastor of a local Baptist congregation. He is at the gym most mornings working out and glad handing others in the gym, presumably those of his congregation. I know this man and have met him before on occasion. He has a very good reputation in the community as a man of God, and I respect him a great deal for his efforts to assist people both temporally and spiritually. Yesterday he said something that amazed me. He said, after a brief introduction, that (and this is a direct quote) "we have a lot of ways, and there's sure to be something that you'll like." Now, I know he was trying to be friendly and solicitous. There was no malice in his demeanor or his tone. He was giving voice to the idea that is common among even very conservative Christians - that is that there are many ways to worship God and get to heaven. It is an appeal to the masses, looking for ways to broaden the net that is...

I wrestled a little bit when I was younger. I was never very good at it - I lack a certain aggression that is generally required for such sports. I wanted to please my father who introduced me to the sport - he was a wrestler in his high school days - but when I got to junior high and found out how serious these guys were I was turned off by the idea. I'll never forget the absolute physical nature of the sport, though. Plus, I think I looked pretty good in that singlet... :-) So when Enos talks about the "wrestle" he had with the Lord (metaphorically, speaking, of course) or the "many strugglings" he had had when he engaged in his "mighty prayers" before the Lord, I begin to understand a little bit about what is required for us to be forgiven of our sins. Repentance is of necessity a bit of a struggle. Many times it is much more than a bit. The degree of our struggling must approximate the degree of the infraction. While we are not required to pay for ...

Hymns, Come, Let Us Anew, no. 217 1. Come, let us anew our journey pursue, Roll round with the year, And never stand still till the Master appear. His adorable will let us gladly fulfill, And our talents improve By the patience of hope and the labor of love, By the patience of hope and the labor of love. 2. Our life as a dream, our time as a stream Glide swiftly away, And the fugitive moment refuses to stay; For the arrow is flown and the moments are gone. The millennial year Presses on to our view, and eternity’s here, Presses on to our view, and eternity’s here. 3. Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say, “I have fought my way thru; I have finished the work thou didst give me to do.” Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word: “Well and faithfully done; Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne; Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne.” I love this hymn. I love to hear the Tabernacle Choir sing it - it's truly majestic. Jacob speaks of the time he spent as...

Jacob chapter 5 is a big speed bump in the middle of the downward spiral towards Mosiah, which ramps up to Alma. You have several nice, short chapters that are good and quick, but then there's a monster 77 verses to read in chapter 5. As a result, there is much consternation that stems (pun intended) from the allegory of the olive tree. Yet, this need not be the case. My father once reminded me that this chapter is not to teach or explain about olive tree husbandry. It is a timeline of the Lord's dealings with His children and specifically the House of Israel. There are a number of things that one should remember when reading this chapter: 1. This is very symbolic. Much of the symbolism that takes place in the scriptures can be both literally and spiritually applied. This one tends to be more literal in nature, although the spiritual aspects of it are rich and many. Please note that the spiritual symbols are open for personal interpretation and application, so I will not attemp...

...if Jacob knew we would have his words. Certainly, being the prophet would entitle you to some foresight into things that would come to pass. But his words seem to ring true as much today as when he originally spoke them/wrote them over 2500 years ago. It is truly miraculous that we can have this book in our hands and study the words of these ancient people, learning from their mistakes (if we will) and feeling the tender impressions of their souls (if we can). Jacob speaks of two major evils, the one being grosser (greater) than the other. First, there is the love of riches which leads to pride and disdain for one's fellow men. I have said much on this subject, so I will forbear at this time. Suffice it to say that we struggle with the same things today that we did then. The accumulation of wealth does not make you better than someone, just luckier. Would having unmeasured wealth dramatically change your life? If so, why? What are you doing now that you would not be doing then? ...