The Atonement of Jesus Christ: The Best Victory of all.

My daughter coaching her Lacrosse Team

I was asked to speak on the atonement and its relevance to the Book of Mormon. I chose to use a sports metaphor as I believed it would reach the younger crowd in our ward. 

Choose your Sport 

In 2001, we moved to Georgia. Our daughter, who is now 28 was then a Junior in High School. When she discovered that her new High School did not have her beloved sport of Lacrosse.. she was not happy.

While investigating the possibility of starting a Lacrosse team, she was instructed(by her ex pro physician Dr. Kosobucki) that in the south there were only three sports. 1. Football 2. Football and 3. Football.

I tell you this because sports play an important role in our lives. For young people maturing and growing in our society they teach the importance of rules and laws.

Sports help teach the concept that rules help us achieve goals. 

Sports also teach us how to feel the joy of winning.. and how to handle the agony of loss.

There are numerous analogies that be drawn between sports and the game we call life.

Heavenly Father's Plan 

Life however is not a game. Rules that are broken lead to players being sidelined or even being permanently removed, ie. death.  There are no rain delays and certainly no tiebreakers in the game we call mortality. Mortality offers us no eternal security. 

Like the coaches that establish rules, draw up game plans and put key players into the game, our Heavenly Father has given us eternal laws, designed a plan of happiness for us and even given us a key player that insures us joy.

Games and sports allow for only one winner and many losers. Heavenly Father’s plan of Eternal Happiness, however, was designed that all might know the joy of success.

A Key Play: The Atonement 

This eternal plan of happiness as the Book of Mormon prophet Alma called it (Alma 42:8), is otherwise known as the atonement. Jesus Christ is the star and key player. Prophets both living and ancient bear witness of his divinity, of his role in helping us all learn how to practice and find eternal joy.   

The Atonement in the Book of Mormon: Law 

The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi understood he could not travel into the wilderness of a new land without the laws that taught of Jesus Christ’s divine mission and role in God’s Plan of Happiness. Without the brass plates he would not be able to teach of his father’s eternal covenants with God, of past prophets testimonies, of the Ten Commandments, or of God’s love.  

In 1 Nephi 4:15 we read :

Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

Lehi was the first prophet of the Book of Mormon to testify to the divinity of Jesus Christ’s role in the Great Plan of Happiness. The Book of Mormon has multiple prophets that testify of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

GamePlan: Atonement

The prophet Jacob asked, 

“Why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him?” (Jacob 4:12)

Kay Player: Jesus Christ

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The brother of Jared shared the savior’s words to him : In Ether 3:14 we read:

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ.

To the list of Book of Mormon prophets who testified of Jesus Christ and his divine atonement we can add Zenock, Neum, and Zenos ( 1 Nephi 19:10).  King Benjamin, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, Amulek, the sons of Mosiah, Captain Moroni, the brothers Nephi and Lehi, Samuel the Lamanite, Enos, Jarom, Amaron, and Amaleki also testified of the atonement.

The Book of Mormon – another testament of Jesus Christ – contains 6,607 verses. 3,925 refer to Jesus Christ.  It references the Savior’s atonement 39 times and speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ 81 times. When you consider that Jesus Christ is it’s principal character there can be little mistake that the Book of Mormon makes the solemn declaration that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. (A Testimony of the Book of Mormon)

One of my favorite prophets is the courageous Abinadi. He gives us a good understanding of the relationship between living the rules (law of Moses) and in utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ.  After prophesying the people’s destruction, he has been taken before the courts of King Noah to be questioned.. To Noah’s priest’s, Abinadi taught and testified:

And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it?  Mosiah 12:29-31

Noah and his priests soon are ready to be done with Abinadi, but Abinadi is filled with the spirit of God and cannot be touched. He then recites to them the Law of the Ten Commandments and tells them they are not living them, nor are they written on their hearts.

He continues to explain the atonement to them.  From Mosiah 13: 27-28 we read:

And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.

In  Mosiah 15:1-7 Abinadi continues:

 I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

 Mercy and Mistakes

In learning how to play a sport mistakes are inevitable. And mistakes ensure both a winner and a looser. Shots will be missed, fouls incurred, rules and boundaries broken, and we might even score a goal for the wrong team.

 In life we might commit what we perceive as an unforgivable sin, a no win situation, but as Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy points out, “through the infinite Atonement, God has provided a means whereby we can both overcome our sins and become completely clean again. This is made possible by the eternal law of mercy. Mercy satisfies the claims of justice through our repentance and power of the Atonement. Without the power of the Atonement and our complete repentance, we are subject to the law of justice. (2006 April General Conference, The Great Plan of Happiness)

Additionally Alma taught that “mercy claimeth the penitent” (Alma 42:23) and that the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance.” (Alma 42:13). 

Russel M. Nelson said that, “The resurrected Lord taught, "This is the gospel which I have given unto you--that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me." (3 Ne. 27:13. Then He amplified that one-sentence definition: "My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me." (3 Ne. 27:14)  This unique mortal mission of the Lord--the gospel as He defined it--we know as the Atonement., (A Testimony of the Book of Mormon Russel M. Nelson.)

The personal ministry of the resurrected Lord to people of ancient America bears an unmistakable testimony of the Savior’s mission.  To them He made this revelatory announcement:  "Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. . . .  ". . . The scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. . . .  "I am the light and the life of the world. . . .  ". . . Whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost. . . .  ". . . I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.  "Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. . . . I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me, . . . and be saved." (3 Ne. 9:15-16, 18, 20-22) 1999 October General Conference, (A Testimony of the Book of Mormon)

 

Temp View High State Lacrosse Champs. My son as their coach. 

I have watched my children participate in many sport events. Some they have even coached and refereed for. I have witnessed their joy when the scoreboard favored their team. I have wiped away tears when it did not. 

But Of all the victories that I hope my children will understand and strive to win, I hope they will seek the victory of eternal life that comes through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Jacob taught that without the atonement we might all be like the losers on the sport field. We might all be lost.He said:  

And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost. Jacob 7:12

The Book of Mormon testifies not only of the atonement, but of its infinite power to bring us joy, no matter what the score board might read. Through the Savior’s example of mercy and charity we all are given the power to lift not only ourselves up to a happier state, but to also offer that same score to our fellow saints and teammates. The atonement of Jesus Christ offers a win win situation.  

I bear witness that there is a power of goodness and healing that comes from reading the Book of Mormon. I believe this power stems from the pureness of God's atoning love and from the witness that is brings to us, the covenant people of Israel. 

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Mercy Overpowereth Justice, Alma 34:15-16 by Ann Yoxtheimer

Very often, when I want to write about something, I find that what I want to write about is the subject of repentance. I'm fairy obsessed by it. The idea that we can be forgiven, and washed clean, by the sacrifice of a loving savior, and the mercy of a loving Father, humbles me to the bone.

I think a lot about mercy. When I see my little boy struggling to control himself, I think about mercy. When he lashes out at me in frustration, or boredom even, I think about mercy. I know that no matter what my children do, no matter how angry I am, I will forgive them if they're sorry (and sometimes if they're not!) Why? Because I love them. I love them so much, that I will never give up on them, even if they deserve it. And I am mortal. I am frail. I am subject to petty emotions, and mortal lack of understanding. I am not perfect, and yet I can love my children enough to forgive them anything.

One night, a few days ago, I sat in my bed to read before sleep. Most of the time, I don't pray before I read my scriptures. I know I should; I would get more out of it if I did. This night, however, I was seeking some sort of connection to my Father in Heaven. I do that sometimes. Sometimes I just pray to receive the knowledge that He is still there; He is listening, and He loves me. Like a little child asking, "Daddy, do you love me?" when she knows already what the answer is. She just wants to hear it. I do that. I want my Father to tell me that He loves me, because I am His little girl.

So I did just that. I prayed to feel His love, and I prayed to receive any inspiration that He felt like sending me that night. Then I opened up my scriptures, and I read.

I was reading chapter 34 in Alma, where he teaches the poor Zoramites the role of our Savior. He mentions the great sacrifice that our Lord will make for us, and then it says in verses 15-16:

"And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this las sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercies no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."

The words jumped off the page at me, and I started to cry. I felt that burning in my bosom, and I knew my Father in Heaven knew me, and that he did indeed love me. But I knew more than that. I received a personal revelation that almost knocked me over.

Let me preface this next part by saying that I spent a lot of time reading the Bible dictionary last year. I read it from Aaron all the way to Zipporah. Some where in the middle of this alphabet, is the word "miracles." I love the way the author describes miracles. I'm going to paraphrase here, but he says that miracles are not deviations of natural law. They are divine manifestations of a lower law being superceded by a higher law. That struck me then, as the verses in Alma strike me now, and I will never forget either. Why? Because I realized that evening, while reading, that our Father's mercy to us is the same thing as the definition of a miracle. It is the act of a lower law being superceded by a higher law.

I have often been told in church that there are higher laws and lower laws. In this life, we are given the opportunity to prove which law we will live. Those who will not be subject to--or live--the higher law in this life, will be subject to the lower law in the next. Suddenly, that all made sense. Those who will not have faith unto repentance--and thus receive mercy--in this life, will be subject to the whole law of justice in the next life.

If we connect the dots, we come to the inevitable conclusion that mercy is a higher law than justice! That makes goose bumps stand out on my arms. I have never heard such a thing before, but it really is right there in the scriptures, therefore it must be true.

Now, I do say all of this with care. I understand that it sounds controversial at first, because we have heard that God is a God of Justice. And that is absolutely, one hundred percent true. But God is also a God of mercy, and that is also indisputable.

Christ created this world, and he created the laws that govern it. One of these laws is the law of gravity. This is not an unimportant law. This law governs most of the cause and effect relationships between objects, so of course this law is important, to us and to the Savior. So when Christ walked on water, did he break his own law? No, the lower law of gravity was superceded by the higher law of the priesthood. So it is with justice and mercy. Justice is as important a law as gravity. It defines our very concept of right and wrong, of Heaven and Hell. But because of the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the law of justice can now be superceded by the law of mercy unto forgiveness.

The Celestial Kingdom is a kingdom of perfect righteousness. One cannot be spotted and enter in. But everyone is spotted with sin to some degree. How then can there be residents in the Celestial Kingdom? These people are people that have exercised faith unto repentance. These are people who are allowed to enter in because they have lived the higher law. They have been forgiven. They have been granted mercy unto forgiveness. Therefore, mercy MUST be a higher law than justice, because only by receiving mercy, can you enter into the Celestial Kingdom. Everyone else receives justice, to some degree.

I am so grateful for the law of mercy, that makes it possible for us to be forgiven of all of our sins, however grievous, if we truly exercise faith unto repentance.

God's Chosen People by Ann Y.

I realized that I promised to write about forgiveness, and I just plain forgot...

I've studied the scriptures, and I found it interesting and confusing (at first) that it seems as though Heavenly Father doesn't treat all of his children the same. What I mean is, the scriptures abound with stories of Heavenly Father's children who commit sin and are destroyed as a consequence. I don't think I need to give examples of such as there seems to be an example or two in every chapter. This destruction seems only correct, and we expect it. However, there are also stories (as mentioned in my first post) of those that commit atrocious acts and go on to be forgiven, even lauded. How can this be?

Yes, we are told that the Lord offers us his atonement to grant us forgiveness of sins, but to be forgiven and to be exalted are two different things entirely. Once again, I am drawn to the story of the sons of Mosiah. They not only sinned against man, they sinned against God. They persecuted the church. That's a pretty big offense. Many men in the scriptures were guilty of much less and were struck dead without a second thought, it seems. Why?

Well, I don't pretend to know the mind of God, by any means, but I do think it striking to note the actions of those men after their conversion. They went on to be crusaders of the truth, traveling into hostile lands and converting thousands of Lamanites to the gospel. The word then that comes to mind is "potential."

Heavenly Father knew the potential of these men who went on to greatness. He knew that if given the opportunity, they would achieve the impossible. Perhaps, one piece of the puzzle then, is their potential. Heavenly Father granted them forgiveness, in part, because he knew their future potential to save nations. If one person is granted more leeway than another because of his potential, that might lead one to assume that some of Heavenly Father's children are more blessed or loved than others, as they seem to have greater access to forgiveness of sins. That would be a dangerous and incorrect assumption.

"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen." D&C 121:34. Many times in the scriptures, the Lord refers to "the chosen" people. So many misinterpret this. It seems, once more, to imply that some are more favored than others. I submit to you that that assumption is a lie perpetrated by Satan. We all have equal access to the atonement of Christ. Heavenly Father loves all of his children, and he wants them all to come back to him. The difference between a lost child and one that is saved is that child's own dedication to repentance. The men in the scriptures who began as grave sinners and then went on to greatness have, after their conversion, dedicated their lives to grasping and holding on to the atonement of Christ. They turn their backs on sin forever, and they do NOT ride the fence. These great men--men like Alma the Younger, the sons of Mosiah, Paul, and others--are "Chosen" men of God. Who are the "Chosen" then? God's "Chosen" people are not the people He chooses, but those who choose Him!

This means that the atonement of Christ, and really all of the blessings of the gospel, are available freely to all. Even the bloodiest of hands can be washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. All it takes is work. Success in repentance, as in life, is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. You can have your slice of the atonement, but by Golly, you've got to earn it!

Never let your past sins hold you back, and once you have repented of something, let it go and (unlike Lot's wife) don't look back. Heavenly Father does not place any glass ceilings on his children, so don't place any on yourself. Above all, don't ride the fence or allow yourself to stagnate in one spot. Life is like riding the down escalator: if you're not going forward, you're going back.

Let's show our beloved Father in Heaven that we are worthy of forgiveness. Let's show the world that, like the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, we cannot look at sin save with abhorrence. Above all, let's show the world, and our Father in Heaven, that we are His "Chosen People."

The second death (Helaman 14: 11-19)

The

Second Death

Wildlife abounds near my mother's home. Rabbits, snakes, ducks, deer, egrets, herons, fiddler crabs, mice, and songbird have all given story to our lives. This story is about one songbird that once lived midst the tall shade pines.

The long-leaf pine trees that now tower some forty-fifty feet over my mother's beautiful butterfly garden once stood a mere ten-fifteen feet tall. Their narrow branches bowed low while their floppy needles teased the crabgrass that spotted our yard. When startled birds flitted from man's intrusive presence, the tree's low branches made it possible to view the birds with ease.

Let me begin my story by filling in a few details. I grew up as the third child, only girl, and youngest to two brothers who loved to hunt, fish, blow things up, and well- do things that boys tend to do. Not having a sister, and not wanting to feel left out, I learned to adapt.

I adapted by doing what I saw them do. Fish, hunt, hike, motorbike, build, camp, etc. Harry, (my step-father) was an avid hunter. He took my oldest brother (Don had passed over already) hunting every Saturday. In fact- it was his love of hunting that brought us to South Carolina in the first place as South Carolina boasts the longest hunting season of any state and has great fishing as well.

Because hunting was part of our family culture, and I was somewhat of a "tom-boy", it was not viewed unusual for me to ask for and receive a "Daisy Model 96 BB Gun with lever action" for my twelfth Christmas. I suppose I believed I would hunt at the hunting camp and learn to love nature as my brother did. Harry set up an empty milk jug in the back yard and I began my target practice. I was given strict instructions to always shoot away from the house.

I obviously did not follow these instructions because at some point an errant BB made its way through our large glass window leaving a perfect circular pyramid of cut glass at its exit. Only a perfectly round projectile could do this. I argued my case, but the evidence left an ever-telling mark of an errant BB and a disobedient marksman.

With a fair amount of practice my aim began to find its mark. Soon I could hit not only the empty milk jug (that served to catch my BBs) but also soda cans that I lined up along the picnic table. I next moved to a hanging target and gradually moved my distant back steadying my aim with each pace.

A neighbor girl of my age had also received a BB gun. She and I decided we might attempt to hunt in the woods together. Before I set out to hunt what? (I'm not sure that I put much thought into it) Thinking back on it, I believe that I really just wanted to outdo my friend. I wanted to be the better hunter, the most experienced, and the one with the best shot. Wanting to prepare and get some practice of my own, I scoped my bead on the backyard wildlife.

Perched on a branch just above and across the drainage ditch sat a songbird. He sang a most beautiful song. But my heart did not hear it. My eye was trained on the bead at the end of my gun and all I could think of us was pulling the trigger. I really didn't expect to hit my target. I foolishly believed I would go right or left and the bird would get away. It was after all just a game. A game where I was the powerful hunter, and the songbird was the target.

GREUZE - Young Girl Weeping for her dead bird 1759

My success horrified me and sent me into temporary shock. Dumbfounded with my ability to forever silence such beauty, I felt temporarily paralyzed. Then I heard its limp body hit the ground across the creek from our yard. My senses shook me into a bewildered walk. What would I do? What could I do? Somewhere in the confused mind, I mused, "Maybe I missed and he's just been stunned?"

I crossed the creek by circling back to the street and entering my neighbor's back yard. There on the cold January ground sat the lifeless bird. It's song forever silenced by my selfish game. Tears welled inside of me. "How could I be so foolish?" "How could I be so prideful?" "How could I be so blind as to the sanctity of life and God's gift of nature?" I cried out loud. Finally I set about to act responsibly.

I returned home to find a shovel, a shoebox, and some newspaper. After burying its tiny body in my back yard,( I gave a funeral service complete with song) I retired my BB gun to the cobwebs of our garage. I never picked it up again. I never took aim again. I never wanted to be the best aim, or the best hunter, or have anything to do with robbing the earth of God's gifts of life.

For weeks I despised myself. For weeks I loathed what I had done. Once I saw my friend out hunting alone along the grassy marshland. I saw her take aim at a beautiful heron that stalked its prey in the mudflats. I saw its beak plow into pluff mud, never to return its slender silhouetted form to our skyline. She too felt the shame and retired her desire to hunt. She too felt the shame.

How had society wrong us? How had we been duped into believing that we (as young women) could act like young men? Why had there been such role reversals? Who was I? What was my role? Was killing for sport something that was ingrained in me? My reaction yelled NO.

Nature does not allow for mistakes. I errantly mistook my ability to aim with precision as a game of power and pleasure and it cost a songbird its life. It's burden lay heavy on my heart. Oh that I would have had someone to guide me and warn me of my actions. Oh that I had listened to wisdom's call, and the love for virtue, for good that called me to consider my actions.

Nature is unforgiving. Nothing I could do would bring the bird's song back to life. Nothing I could do would alleviate the pain, the shame, the sorrow, and the regret I felt. Nothing would comfort me. My mistake seemed permanent. And it was. For the Mocking Bird, it was. But for me I learned a great lesson as I began a process of repentance.

Repentance is a process. The first step in understanding repentance is to believe that our mistakes can be forgiven. I did not say made right because some things cannot be undone, but they can be forgiven. In order to believe that they can be forgiven we must first believe in a power greater than nature, greater than heaven and earth, and great enough to change our hearts for good.

The tragedy of this story is not that the songbird was killed, but that I took its life for sport. If I had continued on without regret, without shame or sorrow, my life might have been overshadowed by the darkness of my choice. I would have been unable to see my pride; my arrogance, my foolishness, and my life path would have been one of great tragedy. My spirit would have been at risk for a second death.

We all make mistakes. Some of our mistakes are more serious than others. Some of us cause us to silence the beautiful songs that God has given us. These songs were meant to help us learn to listen to his prophets. All of us face the reality that without the gift of repentance we face daily the risk of the second death. It is a sobering thought and one that we can fix by repenting…….daily.

Words and Phrases

Vs 11 hear my words… we cannot understand the nature or the need of repentance if we do not listen to the prophets who teach us of it.

Vs 11 know the conditions of repentance – who, what, when, where, why, how

Vs 12 know of the coming of Jesus Christ – repentance was made possible because of the coming of Jesus Christ upon the earth. We need first to believe in his name

Vs 13. Believing leads to repentance which leads to a remission (pardoning) because of what Jesus did for us through the atonement. (merits)

Vs 15 the resurrection of the dead – will birds be resurrected? Not sure, but I hope to be because I believe in God's name.

Vs 15 brought into the presence of the Lord – only those of us who have repented and have been given pardon for our sins will stand white and clean before God

Vs 16 Jesus Christ will die so that 1. Resurrection of mankind (birds?) 2 redeemeth us all from the first death that cut us off from the presence of God. When we accept Jesus Christ and believe on his name, we have the right to receive redemption for our sins and heal the affects of the first (spiritual) death.

Vs 17.back into the presence of the Lord – we must believe and we must repent… repay. Our pentances… choose to correct our mistakes.

Why? Because we are in charge of our actions, our course, and it is as if God has given us the wheel and is waiting to see where we will steer ourselves? Back home or back to our sins.

Vs 18. A second death – comes to those who "repenteth not". And they are forbidden to bask in the light of the Savior's love. They are forbidden because they willfully chose to sin.

Vs 18. They are cut off s to the things pertaining to righteousness. – Only those who love righteousness can understand, enjoy and be part of righteousness.

We must learn to love righteousness and change the behavior that causes us to be separated from God's love. We must learn to listen to the songs of nature that call us to a higher voice. A still voice. A small voice that lives within each of us and calmly speaks to us of truth.

The real tragedy is that when we don't listen to the guidance of the prophets, we have to pay the price of our sins. God forgave me for my sin, but a bird still lost its life and I had to go down a path of darkness that I would (to this day) rather not have gone.

Nephi's Blessing.. In God's Garden Helaman 10:4-11

I spent the good part of my morning weeding my garden. I pulled weeds, hacked weeds, pruned bushes, and cleaned the beds. It was hot and I tasted the salty sweat as it rolled past my eyes into the corner of my mouth. This was a task that had to be done. The grass had crept its way from the edges deep into my beds. The roses had lost their bloom and wilted like baked apples. Crabgrass was not as pervasive as this one weed that carried many leaves upon each of its stems. It looks like a money plant and is everywhere. It must be its season to bloom?

I did not feel badly for pulling these weeds from my garden. I felt no remorse or concern that they would die. There were in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing and invading my beautiful garden. They had to go! I was amazed at how quickly they invaded and multiplied as we had weeded all of the beds only 6 weeks prior.

I hate weeds. They overrun, overcome, and destroy the beauty and organization of my garden plan. They kill the good plants, rob the nutrition and sunlight, and create havoc with the visual layout of my plants. Who invited them? Why do they insist on showing up? There is no place for them in my garden.

A few of them were seedling pine trees. I remember last summer when we moved here and I transplanted a few with GuitarGuy. He could not bear to kill a tree so we moved the seedlings to the side of the yard where I would not mind another pine. There is nothing wrong with pine, maple or oak saplings that come up, but they have to find their place in my garden. In the middle of a my rose bush just will not do.

As I pulled, pruned and sweated in my garden this morning, I thought of Nephi. I thought how God had entrusted him with so much power over the people. I thought how he would have had knowledge, foresight, and the ability to help God keep everything under control. Why? Because he was like a Master Gardner. He knew which plants were weeds and which were good. He knew that certain good plants could be saved and moved to a better location. He knew that some plants simply had to go, there was no redemption for them. He respected God's decision concerning his garden and eventually God turns control of it over to him.

If there is need to weed, to prune, to transplant, or to hoe God's garden, Nephi will be the one to do it.

God gave Nephi a blessing. God gave him power to be his servant so that the work would go forth. It's not about feeling sorry for the "plants" that have to go, its about the "plants" (people) learning their responsibilities concerning where they are to be planted and what they are to do with their blooms.

Words and Phrases (from a Gardner's perspective)

vs 4. unwariness unwariness declared the word - As a gardener I sow seed, fertilizer and water the plants so that they may received "the word".

vs 4 thou hast not feared them - In the garden there are many things to fear. Upon our first moving home to the south, I had memories of snakes, fire ants, mosquitoes, bugs, and spiders. Today I brushed several spider webs away as I cleared through the garden of weeds. Nephi had words to fear.

vs 4 hast sought my will and to keep my commandments - Nephi was a good apprentice gardener. He learned to follow instructions and have faith in the Master Gardeners plan and precepts concerning the welfare of the garden.

vs 5 I will bless thee forever - God is giving Nephi all of the blessings that come from being in the Garden.. (on earth). He is being blessed forever with the blessings of God's garden. Bloom, Beauty, organization, etc. and the ability to take care for the garden.

vs 5 mighty in word and in deed - Nephi's ability to "garden" is very advanced. God has decided to make Nephi a Master Gardener and turn the Garden and all the plants in it over to him. He trusts him. He feels that Nephi has such mutual respect and love for him (God) that he would never do anything contrary to his will. He knows that Nephi loves the plants of the garden as much as God does and will take great care to love and nurture them.

vs 5 will not ask what is contrary to my will - So great is the trust between God and Nephi concerning the plantings, the soil, the care of the garden that God understands that he and Nephi have the same respect, concern, love, admiration, desires for the garden. So great is the trust (for they have gardened side by side) in an attempt to help the garden bloom, that God has entrusted all of his power to Nephi.

vs 6 ye shall smite the earth with famine - If the garden needs a bit of drought, so be it. God understands that Nephi would not do anything in spite, to hurt the garden, to be mean. Pestilence - bugs, weeds,

destruction - the weeding of the garden, etc.. the death of plants b/c of weeds, or the death of one good plant when a weed becomes entwined within it's roots.

vs 7 the sealing power of heaven - the ability to take the blooms from the garden and see to it that they do not fade, they do not wilt, but have a forever bloom of joy and beauty.

vs 8 rent in twain - If a rose bush needs to be taken out, or pruned heavily to keep from losing it to disease, I will understand. It will be done.

vs 9 cast down ad become smooth - add the valleys and the hills of your garden at will.

vs 10 God shall smite - winds, heavy rains, disease, mold, a over population of insects, God will smite the people if Nephi says that it must be so, because God knows that Nephi is filled with compassion, caring, and his word, but the people have lost their reason.

vs 11 - except ye repent - The flowers of my garden should stop inviting weeds within the garden. When a weed is found within the heart of a rose bush it is but impossible to remove. You have to a. prune heavily or b. take the bush out. destroy it before the weed is able to take over the garden.

Today I was able to see the power that God granted Nephi. I was able to understand the reason for the trust. If we liken the world to a great garden where weeds and such are prone to be found, we can understand Nephi's attempt to teach them, have them reject him, and eventually Nephi having to follow God's commandments and begin the self made destruction of those who did not repent.

Conversing With Angels

Helaman 5: 38-52

Conversing with Angels

If I had the opportunity to converse with an angel what would I talk about? What would I ask? What would I say? It appears that Nephi and Lehi had the opportunity. They looked upward into heaven and listened with all of their attention as the angels taught them.

When I think of angels, I am still reminded of beings of white that travel where they will with wings. This is the popular iconic version of angels that helps us understand they can fly (or move about lightly) and we cannot.

It makes me wonder how else we are different from angels?

Angel: a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe.

Notice that the definition says an angel "acts as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God". Therefore when someone does something that is as "a gift from God", we might be prone to call them an angel. Or if they (like Amanda's and Lehi's angels) remove the clouds that blind us we might call someone our angel.

I was impressed with how those who saw Nephi and Lehi conversing with the angels felt the desire to do so also. They asked, "What shall we do that this cloud of darkness might be removed from overshadowing us?" In my opinion, they saw the prophets speaking with the angels, saw the contrast of difference between their situation and that of Nephi and Lehi and wanted to change.

I liked Aminadab's response. He told them that they

1. First needed to repent

2. Cry unto the voice that spoke to them through the cloud of darkness

3. Have Faith in Christ

4. Remember the faith that was taught you by Alma, Amulek, and Zeezrom.

When they were finished doing as they were instructed (they did not vary from their obedience to repentance) they found that they too were encircled by a ring of fire! How amazing it is to go through something that is difficult and discover that we were in fact protected by God's power.

Soon.. after a few events they are going to have what they desired. God does answer prayers. They will soon find that they are going to have angels come down and administer and speak with them!

I am reminded of several personal experiences in my life where angels came down and administered to me. I could not see them, but I knew they were there. I felt their presence, I heard their whispers of comfort and their instruction. I knew what I needed to do or not to do.

For me angels are real. They are in deed spiritual beings. This means that we must have a spiritual mind to understand their presence, to follow their missions, and to understand their purpose. But sometimes, like the 300 who heard the voice, saw the prophets speaking to the angels, and then after their own repentance experienced the administration of angels in their own lives, we don't always know that an angel was in our life, in our day, or in our presence until after they have completed their work.

The real angel in this story was Lehi and Nephi. They were willing to submit to God's mission and serve these people (even if they through them in jail with the intent of killing them). They were willing to submit to the harsh treatment, the cruel words, and the darkness of a cloud, so that they might teach those who would "be convinced". They were willing to go the extra mile so that others could find their way back. It would be wonderful to know what the angels told them as they conversed. It would be wonderful to know what the angels did when they administered to those who repented and became convinced of Jesus Christ.

I will take time to say that the one place you are sure to find angels is in the work of Family History. Every time I begin my Family History Work, I feel the presence of angels in my home. Every time I begin to pray about a name, pray about a family, I feel I am helping angels do their work. I am convinced that my personal angels are indeed my own family members(passed one)who have a vested interest in keeping me safe, leading my way, and helping me help our family line.

One time when I worked on the Heath Family Line, I wanted very much to discover Thomas Heath's wife's maiden name. Hannah Heath? I had done all of the research I could on the family line (he had ten children). I had found everything I could find out about each of the ten children, their children and so forth. I had discovered several family distant cousins who helped me fill in several missing pieces, but I could not find out Hannah's maiden name. So I prayed. I fasted. I researched and then hit "repeat". Finally I received an answer. "Wait". Not now. Wait".

Okay. I had a baby due. I would wait. Then one night out of the blue as I was kneeling in evening prayer came my answer. "Now. Check the Internet, now for Thomas Heath!". I could not believe my luck. I arose directly from my knees and typed in Thomas Heath. Bingo. A distant family in California had posted their family line on line. Within their family history contained a detailed description of where the family had migrated from. I had one more piece of information that would make my job easier. With a few more research trips I was able to find her family in the land records of Pennsylvania. She was a German-Dutch family by the name of Yarnell. Who told me that this family was on line? Who helped prompt my CA cousin to put this information on line? Who do you think? God's angels. They are real. They are spiritual. They do his work. And when I do his work, I can be an angel to those relatives of mine who want to understand the gospel from across the veil.

I think we can all converse with angels. I think we all must do as Abinadab counseled and repent, cry to God, have faith, and then believe. I have many more stories in my life where angels have carried me, they have loved me, they have counseled me, they have taught me, inspired me, warned me and protected me. There is a pure "joy which is unspeakable" that comes to those who converse with angels.

Words and Phrases

vs 38 with whom do these men converse? Who do the prophets speak? Who do we speak when we are in dire circumstances? Whom do we speak when we ask God? Sometimes the Holy Ghost, sometimes angels?

vs 40. what shall we do? Sometimes when life is dark, when we are overwhelmed, tired, angry, confused, we don't know what to do. It is appropriate to ask? What shall we do? Help me to find my way out of the darkness.

vs 41 the cloud of darkness shall be removed - How? by following the instructions. Remember there are times of darkness in our lives when we want the clouds removed.

vs 44 a flaming fire - it did not harm them.. it did not consume the walls, filled with joy. This reminds me of a few Old Testament stories. I.E. Moses. Elijah, etc. they dealt with the fire of the Holy Ghost that protects, and does not consume. It is a fire like none found upon the earth. It is a fire of eternal element not known to the earth? It is the Holy Ghost's fire of the spirit.

vs 45 they could speak forth marvelous words- The power of the Holy Ghost gives us a passageway into wisdom, into eternal truths, into heaven. When it is in our hearts we find ourselves changed with its power.

vs 46 a pleasant voice. When God speaks, he speaks in a whisper, pleasantly, with love, with conviction, with the power of goodness. His voice brings peace because of our faith. There is no peace in fear.

vs 48 they cast their eyes up- When we want to converse with angels, we must look to where they are. We will not find them amongst our terrain, or below us. They will be in heaven. We must look upwards.

vs 49 marvel not, neither should they doubt - God's words bring us peace, power, and convince us of a world above our own. When we have the privilege to experience a life above our earthly existence (because of our faith), it is not our place to doubt it. Time cannot fade the feelings that come from these experiences. Time cannot change the spiritual truths that are planted deep within our souls. We must not marvel at something so great. When we understand God's great love for us, it is to understand that it is part of the plan.

vs 50 greatness of the evidences - God gives us evidence daily. He helps us by giving us witness to our faith. Our faith cannot be without testing, nor can it be without evidence. A peach pit grows into a peach tree, but will only produce fruit if it has the right amount of cold, water, fertilizer and sunshine. When we plant our seed of faith, we too must learn to cultivate the correct amount of faith, experience, and belief so that we can bear fruit. If we just have sunshine and no water... if we just have water, sun and no cold, .. the evidence comes when we cultivate our faith through our belief.

vs 51 did lay down their weapons, hatred, traditions of their fathers.

What does it mean to have a real faith? What will become of us when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ. These people (like the people of Ammon) were convinced to the point of change that 1. quit war 2. quit hate 3. quit their father's traditions and 4 give back what they had taken.

I wonder if I could do the same? I wonder if I could believe with the same conviction. I wonder if angels came down (remember they spoke with Laman and Lemuel with no effect) and conversed with me, administered to me, and filled me with the power of the Holy Ghost would it change me forever? Yes.

Unholy Temples ( Helaman 4 )

Helaman 4

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1 Cor 6:19

I am the mother of six beautiful children. I remember the birth of each. Each brought me great joy. Each came into their body with a unique spirit, unique gifts, and unique abilities. This uniqueness of spirit cannot be explained by genetics. It cannot be explained by environment. God tells us that the body that we gain at our birth "is the temple of the Holy Ghost", which we have because God gave it to us.

I believe their uniqueness can only be explained by recognizing that they are literal spiritual children of God. They lived before they obtained the body that I (through the gift of God) gave them at their birth. They came to earth to learn to exercise their agency and to learn to love God as he loves them. Their bodies are temples. We all inhabit the temples that God created for us. We all learn day in and day out to keep these temples holy.

This made me think about the purpose of temples(the building kind). Temples have been used for many things throughout history, but traditionally they are built so that man might

1. Make Holy Covenants to their God

2. Worship(revere his name) their God.

3. Commune with God

4. Give Service(sacrifice) to their God

Temples were hallowed places where only the best of the best was allowed. Temples represented man's attempt to commune, listen, serve, and to be close to their God.

Our bodies are our temple. Metaphorically speaking we can keep our temples pure by keeping our hearts pure and clean. We can live higher standards. We can learn to keep a prayer in our heart. We can learn to cultivate and listen to the Spirit that God has placed within us. We can teach our spirits to carry our bodies in such a way that others will recognize the reverence we have for our bodies and see God's light within us.

As I read of the plight of Zarahemla's people I was struck with how quickly they turned away from their covenants. As I read of the wars and the contention it became clear to me that this was a story of a people who were caught up in their pride to the point that they forgot to think about their bodies as temples wherein God's spirit strives to dwell. They allowed their temples to become unholy.

Pride is like a double edged sword. If we check our pride with humility it serves us well by helping us achieve success that brings us peace. If however we forget humility, service, and love then the same sword of pride that serves us will also destroy us. If it is coupled with boasting, conceit, selfishness, or discontent then pride is not a good thing. Pride can be used to serve; pride can be used for selfish pursuits. It all depends on how holy we keep our temples.

Words and Phrases

vs 8 those dissenters ... - this is a reminder that it was not the Lamanites that began the war, but the Nephites who were once members of God's church, who once enjoyed the prosperity of living God's word. those dissenters... who forgot that unchecked pride (like an unclean temple) quickly allienates God's Holy Spirit.

vs 11 those who professed - we all profess to believe. What makes the difference between what we profess and what we do? Why do some of us fall away? Why do we forget about the spirit of God that is within us?

vs 12 What makes our temples unholy? Which do I need to clean from my temple? If you think of this list as a reminder for keeping your temple clean, this verse can be a handy checklist.

1. unchecked pride

2. exceeding riches.. when we allow riches to rule our hearts... take the place of God's work.

3. oppression of the poor

4. selfishness .. not helping the hungry, the

5. assault

6. mockery

7. deny the spirit of prophecy (God's direction in his voice)

8. denial of revelation

9. murder,

10. robbery

11. lying

12. plundering

13. adultery

14. contention

15. desertion

I believe that some of these transgressions represent a progression of sin. some you would not commit without first committing another.

vs 13 their own strength - when we are left with our own strength we cannot do the work of God. When we boast in our own strength the Holy Spirit becomes offended that we have forgotten from whence our blessings come.

vs 15 repentance brings prosperity - not because it makes us rich, but because it teaches us to how to keep our temples (bodies)holy so that God's spirit can stay with us. Repentance cleans our bodies so that a clean spirit can dwell there. Repentance takes the ungodly and makes them worthy of his place within our heart. God wants us to prosper. When we read his word, listen to his Spirit, we are led to do the things that will help us prosper. Think of repentance like unto a good cleansing of our house. dejunk, sanitize, organize

vs 21 they began to remember - We all make mistakes that take us away from the Spirit of God, but if we can remember... if we can make it a practice to remember.. then we can keep our temples holy.

22 wicked even like unto the Lamanites The Lamanites did not know the workings of God within them. They did not believe that God would speak to them, reveal his word to them, and help them prosper by helping one another. They set their hearts on the ways of the world, on secret combination, on vanity.

23 to dwindle - diminish in size. why? Why do we forget who we are? We allow other things to supplant God's love. We listen to another voice. We follow another direction. We ignore the prophecy and chalk it up to coincidence. We stop seeking God's help. We begin to rely on our own strength. When we allow ourselves, our numbers to dwindle, God's love in its force also dwindles. (it affects all of us).

vs 24 the spirit of the Lord did not more preserve them - God is bound to hold to his end of our covenants when we do as we promise, but when we do not what he asks of us, then we have no promise.

vs 24 Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples - Our bodies have been created to bring God's Holy Spirit to earth. But it will not dwell in temples that are impure, unclean, or unworthy of his holiness. We will not feel God's joy if we do not do his will.

Just as we must work daily to clean our physical homes, our kitchens, etc, we also must work daily to keep our spirit worthy to house the spirit of God. Just as temples represent a place where we covenant, commune, and serve our God, so do our bodies represent a place where we can (if we keep it clean, holy, and worthy) receive revelation, prophecy, and guidance that will help us prosper in this life. But mostly... because our bodies represent the temple of God, we can set an example to others by our actions, our words, our aura, our service... so that others may want to know God and be drawn unto his safety and love.

vs 25 except they should cleave to their God - God will protect us when we cleave to him. When we choose to follow our own strength we stand alone. We stand with our own strength against the might powers of Satan. We our but human with human skills, human strength, human senses, unless we cleave to our God.

vs 26 they became weak because of their transgression.. the power of believing lies in believing. When we forget to believe, or choose not to believe in a God who brings strength to our souls, then we lose the strength of God's holy spirit. We lose the power of revelation, of prophecy, of compassion, of selfless love, of generosity, of service, of one another's talents, of community, of family...

I wanted a family for many different reasons. One of the most important is that I believe God's spiritual children reside in heaven awaiting their turn to come to earth and receive a body. As a daughter of God, I wanted to do my part to allow God's spiritual children the opportunity to experience life. I wanted to allow these choice spirits into my earthly family. I feel very blessed by each of my children. They are each very unique and spiritual giants in their own right. It brings great joy to my heart to see my children recognize, accept and entertain the spirit of God that dwells within them. It brings great joy to my heart to know that I have done my part on as their mother to teach them of their true spiritual nature.

What a wonderful gift it is to be able to not only give a spiritual child of God a temple within which to dwell, but to also help them keep it clean and holy by teaching them the value of service, of love, of God's word. What a wonderful gift it is to gain a true understanding of the importance of keeping our temples worthy of God's love. What a wonderful gift it is to see your own family grow and prosper as they too practice keeping their temples holy.