Safety and Security in Covenants Mosiah 18:10

Penny is waiting for me as we take a walk through the back woods near our home.
The fall color has begun to paint itself upon the landscape. Nov 2013

I’m sitting in my writing chair. My walking companion of nearly twelve years now is tucked in close beside me, her long red nose, peppered with white is resting on my knee. She is patiently waiting for me to rise from my morning scripture time to walk with her.  I’m sure she is dreaming about the scent of rabbits or the adventure of a chase. Every now and again her deep restful breathing will change and she will raise her head and sigh deeply as if to say, “I’m here, but can we go yet?” I have promised to walk her, she has promised to make sure I get my exercise and to protect me. 

Her presence comforts me. I am aware of the safety in her friendship and as I watch her warm body rising and falling to the rhythm of life, I am reminded of her loyal companionship. As long as her mortal body will allow, she will not leave my side. She will come to me daily for love and to remind me of my daily need for friendship.  Her role in our family is to offer not only love but also protection. 

Now I reach my long fingers behind her ears and scratch them until her ears flop loosely atop her head. As I read I let my fingers move in circles on her shoulders. I hear her audible sigh of contentment.  There is a level of trust and understanding that exists between us. She helps me see how good friendships bring safety, how loyalty is love, and how trust is security.  

So I begin to think about the scriptures and what they bring to me. I begin to think about friendships and how good friendships and family ties bring me safety and security. I begin to see that each of us wants this from life, safety in our relationships with one another, the ideal that we can enjoy peace and loyalty in our friendships.

As I read my scriptures I was reminded about Abraham and how fearful life was for him. Wanting not only security from the lack of civility in a lawless and fearsome world, Abraham sought peace through the covenants of Lord. He sought to have a family that followed the counsel and laws of God. Nephi, who understood and lived by the covenants of Abraham wanted all of his family to feel of this safety, but he too had to leave the land of his inheritance to flee from his brother’ hatred. It seems that security cannot be found in the selfish ways of the world, but must first come in understanding the laws of God.

It’s time for me to rise and exercise my body. My dog loves the idea and now sits ready at the door, waiting for me to put my shoes on, to gather her leash and to fulfill my promise to her.

I realize that family is about promises. Promises we make with God, who is our measure of integrity and promises we make to one another. But of what use is the promise to one another if we love not God. If we love money, or idols or fame or any other fleeting promise what safety is secure?

That is why I walk my dog, because she has trusted me to love her and her love brings safety and security to my long day ahead. That too is why I read the words of God’s holy prophets, because they too bring an eternal perspective to the safety and security of my day. They help me understand the eternal importance of my family and the security and strength that their presence brings to my existence

.Mosiah 18: 10  Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

ye shall prosper 2 Nephi 4:4

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth 3 John 1:2

Prosper:  Verb: to succeed in an enterprise or activity; especially : to acheive economic success; to become strong and flourishing, (14th century) From Middle English, Anglo-French prosperer, from Latin prosperare to cause to succeed, from prosperus favorable. flourish, thrive, do well, bloom, blossom, burgeon, progress, do all right for oneself, get ahead, get on, be successful; 

A few weeks ago I gave a lesson in church on a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland entitled "The First Great Commandment." Elder Holland expounded on the feelings and thoughts of Peter just after the Savior's crucifixion.  His words helped me understand the deepness of the  Savior's love. He lived his life to set a pattern, and example for Peter (and me) to follow. He helped Peter learn about the power that we receive when we live our life for God and others. After the Savior ascended into Heaven for the last time, Peter was in charge of the young church. Peter had only the Holy Ghost and the experiences he had shared with the Savior to guide him. 

My studies led me to ponder and consider Peter's life as a follower of Christ. Elder Holland explains that the Savior had died and Peter did not know what to do, so he went fishing (John 21:3) Like a scene from three years prior, the disciples joined Peter in the boat and all that night they caught nothing. In the morning the Savior walked on the shore but the disciples did not know who he was. He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Again, like the three years previous, their nets were so full they could not draw them in.(John 21:6) Clearly the Lord knew how to fish.

Upon recognition of his Savior, Peter leaps from the boat to share a most joyous reunion. They count their 153 fish and then the Savior asks him, "Peter do you love me?" Peter answers three times in the affirmative. (John 21:15) And here is where Elder Holland's talk struck me. Here is where Elder Holland with great emotion in his voice, elaborates, 

“Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? 

We all want fish. We like all of God's creations need fish, a means to live by. Peter was a fisherman. He fished. It was what he knew. 

So how do we meter out the efforts that we must give to finding our fish of prosperity and serving the Lord? 

What is prosperity? 

I know this is one of the words we all read and it seems like a "no brainer." We all seek it. We need it in order to procure security. And the scriptures make it clear that the Lord wants us to have it. He has made a way for us to find true prosperity. We must only obey him? 

But then I thought about all of the people I know who have prosperity and wealth but don't know God. What's that all about? Why don't they have to follow the commandments to find wealth?

So I searched through the scriptures looking for all that I felt would help answer my questions. As I did the words Elder Holland believed the Savior might have said rang in my head. 

"If I want fish, I can get fish." 

The Lord of the earth is in charge, for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (Psalm 24:1) And the "riches of the earth are 'his' to give;" (D&C38: 38-39) All he "requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.” (Mosiah 2:22) 

I thought about this a bit and realized that wealth, riches and prosperity may not be the same thing? When we prosper we grow, we succeed in all aspects of our life. We have peace. Remember the psalmist who said, “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.…Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.(Psalm 122:7-9) Most who seek wealth without God cannot find peace.

David spoke of the prosperity of the wicked in his 73 Psalm. He says they "prosper in the world" and are "un-godly" as they "increase in riches." (Psalms 73:2-12). Nephi speaks about prosperity when he admonishes those who are "rich as to the things of the world," because they will "despise the poor, persecute the meek, and their hearts are on their treasures." He says, "their treasure is their god. And behold their treasure shall perish with them." (2Nephi 9:30) And Jeremiah asks us if the wicked do prosper? He asks, wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?"  

The difference is not what prosperity brings you, but what you love in order to obtain it, or what you love after you obtain it. Jacob taught us about perspective when he said, “But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” (Jacob 2:18) And to the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord taught, “And if ye seek riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old. (D&C 38:38-39)  

Pride in our wealth, in our success, in our station destroys our prosperity – it destroys our peace. When we love God first, we love others more than wealth, we love the joy and the feeling that comes from helping those in need more than we love the possessions our wealth brings.

President James E. Faust in his talk “What’s in it for me” reminded us the pitfalls of covetous pride.

 The Savior warned us, as recorded in the book of Luke: "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: "And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? "And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21)2002 October General Conference, What's in It for Me? 

Now when I think of prosperity as I read about it in the scriptures, I will not merely think of the acquisition of wealth and power. Prosperity- in my mind – has come to represent not only security and success but also the peace that comes from living a life filled with truth, integrity, service and gratitude toward God.

Wealth does not always equal prosperity, and prosperity does not always equal wealth. Prosperous people are happy people. 

 David teaches us that "Happy is that people,... yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.(Psalm 144:15) And John says  "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."(3 John 1:1-2)

And they are happy not because of their temporal prosperity but because of their deeper understanding of spiritual joys. They are able to understand the eternal treasures that await those who learn to love God and eternity more than the riches of the earth. Alma explains this to his son Helaman.

43  And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.44  For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.45  And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.46  O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.47  And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.Alma 37:43-47

Prosperity then is not to be measured by our collected wealth, but rather by our desire to "look to God and live." I know that when I am looking toward my God and all the wisdom he desires to teach me, I have a wealth greater than all the riches the earth can bring. I have friendship. I have a feeling of peace that comes from helping others and I the strength and love of my family. Trust and integrity grow plentiful in my life and the lives of my children are not set upon the things of this world, but upon the prosperity that only God's love can bring.  


 Some scriptures verses  that I found:
 __________________________________________________________________

For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence   2 Nephi 4:4


And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.
4 Nephi 1:23

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  Joshua 1:7

Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.  Alma 9:13

I give unto you this privilege, this once; and behold, if you proceed to do the things which I have laid before you, according to my commandments, all these things are mine, and ye are my stewards, and the master will not suffer his house to be broken up. Even so. Amen  D&C 104:86

Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do Deuteronomy 29:8-9

And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:  1 Kings 2:3

11 Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee
12 Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
1 Chronicles 22:-1-13

12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden
13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  Proverbs 28:12-13

11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.  Jeremiah 20:11

13  And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.  
2 Nephi 5:12-13

31 And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.
32 For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.  Alma 1:31-32

Fruit of they loins 2 Nephi 3

Fruit of thy loins... 

You can't buy it. ..
                 You can't invent it
                           You can't discover it.. 
                                      You can't learn it... 
                                               and you will never own it. 

It's a gift. It's a promise fulfilled.
      It's a sacrifice worth taking.  It's where eternity lies. It's how God bestows on us our greatest joy.

2Nephi 3 is about how God protects our faith with his promises. How the covenants he makes with our fathers get passed down and are kept... by Him. Only we can break our covenants with God. God is faithful. He will always keep his promises. This chapter is a witness to the love of God to Lehi's family.

The gift of the "fruit of our loins"  comes when we choose to share the love we have for God with our chosen companion, our eternal helpmate, our partner and spouse. It comes when we face a "wilderness of afflictions" and great sorrow and hold fast to our covenants. It comes when we, no matter the circumstances bear our children into mortality. The gift of the "fruit of our loins" is not meant to be confused with having offspring.  Only children born under or blessed by the covenant can have the right to be esteemed as "fruit of our loins" because they alone are privy to understanding and respecting  the power of the priesthood covenants. These priesthood blessings then allow us to bestow these blessings upon our posterity.

In reading through this patriarchal blessing that Lehi bestows on Joseph, I realized that Lehi wanted to give a great inheritance to his youngest son. What could be greater than the gift of eternal perspective with regards to God's love for his family? He promises him land and security.... if they (his seed) will keep the commandments of God. He promises that his seed will never be completely destroyed but will continue forward through the generations of his family toward the time when the Lord would answer the covenant that he made with their ancestor Joseph of Egypt.

And then from verse 4 clear to verse 24, as he teaches his son about the covenant he proceeds to use the phrase "fruit of thy loins" or a version thereof some 23 times. If I were giving a blessing and wanted to emphasize the importance of something to a very young child, I might use the power of repetition to do it. Children and many adults respond to repetition. It echos within our mind like a song.

"the fruit of they loins shall write and
the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write...
and ....shall grow together" vs 12

As I read this chapter and reread this chapter I began to see the power of God's love. It is manifest in the covenants that he makes with us so that we might have "security forever." It is manifest in his promise to bring us "our of darkness into light." It is manifest in the method of God's love as he chooses to show Joseph of Egypt his future seed and the many miracles that the Lord would preform for them. And he chooses to show Lehi so that Lehi can pass down this beautiful promise. I have to wonder about the amazing joy that Joseph Smith must have felt as he translated this chapter and how he might have pondered verse 15? or 12?

God's love is something the world has misunderstood. They have wanted it be found in fame, fortune, or even education. God's love revolves around his values. God values us. We are his children.

We live in a world where women are taught that their value lies in the making of money - not in bearing children - wear children are counted as a nuisance, an expense, a distraction from our "life work." Only after they have achieved monetary success do many women lend their efforts and desires to their unborn children.  Where men are torn apart by their desire to protect their family from the ills of the world and find a measure and a balance of monetary success. We live in a world where precious covenants and blessings of family life are traded for handheld idols, recreation, and new found technological addictions. We live in a world where the security that comes from keeping our covenants with God gets washed away in a sea of discontent and need for material possessions or constant communication with those who idle their  minds away on frivolous commentary. Where are their hearts? Where does the integrity of their hearts lie? When it comes to the "fruit of their loins" who will turn their hearts? Who but a prophet raised for this day?vs 7

 I am so very thankful for the counsel of living prophets. When I was a young mother they counseled couples who were married to pay heed to their biological clocks and bear their families while they were young. Even though I was anxious about my own educational and life goals, I chose to follow this wise and eternal counsel.

Lehi blesses Joseph (Hawaii Temple)

As I enter the meridian of my life, my greatest joy continues to be the blessings that each of my children bring to me. Each of them has a set of gifts that come from the well of spiritual life that defines them. Each has bestowed upon me a new perspective, a new level of joy,  new opportunities to grow in ways I could have never imagined nor planned or programed or ever conceived. Each of my children love me in a way that only God could bless me with. How grateful I am for living prophets who counsel us to honor family covenants and bless our own lives and the lives of those we love with family.

And as I think and ponder the words of Lehi as he blesses his son Joseph, I can only hope that my own children will one day feel the joy and deep understanding that Lehi conveyed to his son Joseph - or that Joseph of Egypt knew when the Lord showed him the future accomplishments of his seed.

I can only hope that the covenants my fathers have made with the Lord will be fulfilled through my own "fruit," and that I too will have a place in this great work of love that God has chosen to bestow on families that honor the covenants they have made with him.

2 Nephi 2: 1-10 "In the Wilderness"

Colorado foothills outside of GreenRiver.

Wilderness: a tract of region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings.an empty or pathless area or region wilderness; a part of a garden devoted to wild growth; a wild or uncultivated state of being; a confusing multitude or mass: a bewildering situation... wildernesses o civilized life - (Miriam Webster)

What a beautiful sunset in western Colorado! photo by LShaw

Almost there Day 4

Recently while on a cross country trip to return my daughter to university, we drove through the deserts of Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.  For two days we traversed mostly desolate state highways. I felt both elation and concern. While my soul stretched wide with the expansive skyscape, danced with the sun's streaming rays, and rolled with the solitary sagebrush that tumbled across the western skyline, I was very much aware that I was in a western wilderness.  Protected only by the sanctuary and reliability of our  Honda Accord, we paid attention to our surroundings.   It was around dusk when  at one rest area, I stepped to close the car door  and several birds swooped through and around the parking area, seemingly attacking our car? What was that? I didn't see that coming!  As if the startling experience wasn't enough, I then read a sign that warned, "Beware of Snakes". Ugh.. Needless to say as I utilized the restroom, I scanned the walls for spiders and scorpions and other unwanted poisonous guests. As we continued through this stretch of barren land we were careful to monitor our gas gauge, our bodily needs, and the functionality of our car. We did not want to find ourselves stranded in the wilderness. 

Sunset in south Colorado

Throughout history man's dialogue with nature has involved the wilderness.  The earth's natural history is interwoven within man's history of growth, independence and progress. Within the standard works of the scriptures the word is used 523 times. If you include the additional 447 times it occurs within "other" doctrinal materials, a pattern of its prevalence within our religious culture begins to emerge. From the time Adam left the garden the theme of parental protection against the wiles of wilderness has thread its way into our lives. Lehi's addresses his son as his "first-born in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness."(v.1) Why?