But I Want to Build a Temple!

King David wanted to build a temple.   
The Lord told him no. 
He was righteous, he was a good leader, he had a good desire.
But the Lord told him no.

How often do we have a desire for what we think is a good thing, and the Lord tells us 'no?'

In David's case, the Lord had a different plan.  David's son, Solomon, was to build the temple.  David had seen much war and bloodshed, and perhaps this calloused him a little.  Perhaps not.  In any case, building a temple was not for David to do.

We must see in this example how the Lord has a different vision than we do.  He can see the beginning and the end.  He can see the in between.  He can see what we are capable of and where we need to improve.  Just because we are called to do one thing over another does not mean we are not capable.  It does not mean we need to improve, necessarily either.  It simply means that we need to trust the Lord in the plan He has for us.  

I think sometimes we get wrapped up in what we think we need to be doing, instead of remember what we have been asked to do.  I sometimes think about how I think that "I would be great in that calling" or "I wonder why I'm doing this instead of that."  I do know the answer, and it wholly has to do with pride.  The Lord asks us to do what He wants us to do for a specific reason.  It is not our job to question that, only to accept and serve.  We will get much more out of it when we are looking to fulfill what we have been asked instead of looking to what is next, or what we could be doing instead.

 

I think that it must have been hard for David, as his desire was a good one--to build a temple.  It just wasn't the right time, and he wasn't the right man.  I think how our Prophets today all have their own assignments.  Joseph Smith wasn't supposed to build an ark, neither was Moses supposed to build the Salt Lake Temple.  President Monson has his assignment and so do we.  

We are to have faith and humility and simply accept and serve.

 

So, when the Lord tells us 'no,' just smile and have the faithful confidence that He knows what he is doing.

Who Do You Serve?

If I were to ask someone on the street today "who do you serve?" I might get some negative reactions.  Most people don't like the idea of being in 'service' to anyone.  The funny thing is, we are all serving someone...or something.

In Joshua's final days as the leader of Israel, he exhorts them to be courageous.  He implored them to keep the commandments.  He told them to love the Lord.  And he said to them "Fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve....but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

I remember hearing in a religion class once, that if you are not choosing God, then you are automatically choosing the devil.  That always seemed a bit extreme.  But if we were to really dissect things and take a closer look, I think I can see how that would be.  In Moroni chapter 7 verse 12 we read:  "Wherefore, all things which are ^agood cometh of God; and that which is ^bevil cometh of the devil." 

Just because something is of God or good doesn't mean that it has to be religious.  A beautiful symphony is 'good.'  A VanGogh painting is 'good.'  Even football is 'good.'  It is when we choose to serve these things in an unrighteous manner that we begin to cross the line and perhaps serve someone other than God.  For example, over-extending personal finances in order to purchase an original VanGogh, when it is much out of our budget.  Or going to a football game on a Sunday afternoon instead of honoring the Sabbath day and keeping it holy.

Serving doesn't have to mean that we are dressed in a maid outfit and carrying a silver tray for someone all the time.  Serving the Lord simply means that you are striving to be obedient to Him.  Serving Him can mean showing kindness to those around you.  Serving Him can mean attending your church meetings.  Serving Him can mean studying your scriptures each day.  There are many ways to serve the Lord.

I made the choice to serve Him when I was eight years old and baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I work at that choice each day, and the older I get, the more I realize the significance of that choice and thrill with the knowledge of the blessings that are available to me if I continue to strive to serve.

I'm Mormon and I Show it

"Mormons are weird."
"My friend is Mormon, and she can't do anything fun."
"I don't know how Mormons do it with all those kids and no coffee!"

Ok, I have never actually heard that last one, but I'm sure someone, somewhere has said it!   I have heard the other two though.  I will admit, some of us are weird, but I can guarantee that we have plenty of fun!

I will concede that we are different.  We don't drink alcohol.  We don't use tobacco or drugs.  We refrain from premarital sexual relations.  We are modest with our bodies, language and actions.  And we spend roughly one-tenth of our weekend waking hours at church. 

The list could probably go from there, but that's a good place to start.  Doing those things (or not doing those things) certainly sets us apart from the crowd here on earth. It opens up a wide variety of joke material for Saturday Night Live comedians.  It is not easy to do in the world we live in.  So....why do we do it?

In the Old Testament, there were people--male or female--known as Nazarites.   These were people who took a voluntary vow to separate his life for the service of the Lord, or to live consecrated to Him.  Sometimes this vow was for their entire life, sometimes only for a determined amount of time.  In order to be a bona fide Nazarite, there were three main vows that you lived by:

1.  You did not drink wine.  Not even vinegars or other drinks made from the fruit of the vine. Nor did you eat the fruit of the vine.
2.  You did not cut the hair on your head for the duration of your devotion.
3.  You did not go near a deceased person, even if that person was a family member.

Now, reading those rules, I would say that sounds a little bit strange.  Maybe a little bit strange like a Mormon man in an early morning carpool refusing that cup of coffee on a cold morning because he does not drink coffee. Or a young woman who wears a prom dress with a cardigan over it to maintain her modesty. Or that young couple that does not live together or do anything more than kiss until they are married.

We are encouraged from an early age to "be in the world, but not of the world."  The Nazarites led their peculiar life because they were "separating themselves from the world" to be in service to the Lord.  We separate ourselves that same way.  We choose, at baptism, to life a life following the Lord.  We decide that we will be different from the world by the way we behave and the activities in which we do or do not participate. 

We do this, because we know that the Lord will bless us for following Him.  I like when it is explained as "an outward expression of an inward devotion."  We are devoted to the Lord, and we are not afraid to show it.
I'm a Mormon.  I know it.  I live it.  I love it. (Anne M. Dibb)

Holy Need for Holiness, Batman!

Readings this week:
Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8.
Leviticus 18:4-5.
Leviticus 19:3-4, 11-20, 28-31; 20:10, 13.

Holiness in the world today.  Now there's a topic.  At first glance, I think it would be a concept laughable.  However, there are new temples announced every 6 months.  Temples which display the words "Holiness to the Lord" right on the front of the building.  Surely that indicates that there is holiness here on earth.

We become holy through sanctification.  What does it mean to be sanctified?  (You can't answer, "being holy!")  The guide to the scriptures on the lds.org website defines sanctification as "The process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the atonement of Jesus Christ."  I love this definition!  

Not only are we able to become holy, but we are able to simply because of the Lord, Jesus Christ!  What a gift!  But is that it?  He gave us this gift and poof! we are holy? Not quite.  That whole part about being free from sin is the part that hinges on us.  Yes, He can help remove our mistakes and we can be free from sin through the Atonement, but it is our responsibility to try as hard as we can to avoid the sin.  Like the old adage: Pray as if it were all up to God, and work like it was all up to you.

Some might argue that it doesn't matter whether or not the world has holiness in it anymore. I firmly believe that when someone says that, it is simply because they just do not understand the true meaning or value of holiness.  In our city over the past 6 months, we have had a mass shooting, a man who killed his mother and stuffed her dead body in the back of his car, and a little girl who was not only abducted and killed, but also dismembered by another child (17 years old). 

Tell me we don't have a need for holiness. 

Those are just the social needs.  I'm not even bringing up our personal need for holiness in order to return to the presence of God after this life.  In addition to the fact that we are commanded by God to be holy.  In Leviticus 20: 7-8 it states "sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you."

We are promised that there is no glory greater than the glory of God.  I want that.  I want to be with that all the time.  I can't imagine that there is sadness in the presence of God, or hurt, or pain, or jealousy, or any of those other things that we feel here on earth that make us want to cry.  I want that.  It is enough of a motivation for me to try as hard as I can on my side to stay clean, and to call upon the Lord for help with the trouble spots.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone felt that way?

What's your pottage?

Genesis 25:20-34; 27; 28:1-9 

Isaac and Rebekah had twin sons.  Esau and Jacob.  When they were born, it is said that Esau emerged first—red and hairy—with Jacob right behind, holding Esau’s heel.  Their differences were noted early in life.  As they grew, Esau was considered a “cunning hunter” while Jacob was simply described as “plain.”  However, upon review of the Hebrew word used here for plain, it is defined as “whole, complete, perfect, simple, plain.”  That sheds a different light on Jacob right there.  Also it is important to know that their father (Isaac) favored Esau, while their mother (Rebekah) favored Jacob. 

Birthright was an important issue in the days of Isaac.  It was passed from father to son usually, but not always, to the eldest son.  It was a treasured thing.  The highly desirable birthright blessing is the right to the presidency, or keys, of the priesthood.  Righteousness was more important than birth order.   Esau did not demonstrate understanding of the significance of carrying this birthright. 

One day after being out in the field, Esau was hungry and faint.  He came into his brother and asked for a bowl of pottage to eat.  I can just imagine Jacob, almost teasing—as brothers do—saying, “give me your birthright and I’ll give you the food.”  Surprisingly, Esau did not miss a beat.  He obliged and waited for the pottage.  Almost as if to ask if Esau was really serious, Jacob makes Esau swear that he will do it.  Esau does.  He eats his pottage with lentils, gets up and goes about his day just like any other day.

It is through this demonstration of disregard for the birthright that would suggest he should not have it in the first place.  Later, Esau gives further evidence through marrying Canaanite women, thus breaking the covenant line.

As we read more in Genesis, we read the story of how Jacob obtained the blessing of nations bowing down before him, and to be lord over his brethren.  This blessing, Isaac meant for Esau, and when Esau learned that it was Jacob who received it—through some deception—Esau swore to kill Jacob, his brother.  [I loved reading in the CES Institute Manual about these passages, because it shed so much light on understanding why it seemed so much like a deception on Jacob’s part.  How maybe it wasn’t so much of a deception, as it was that the story could have changed after countless re-tellings and translations.  Or, how Rebekah had received revelation that Jacob was to receive the blessings, and pushed Jacob toward the deception because she knew her husband favored Esau, but she knew how it was supposed to be according to the Lord.  It was also interesting to read how Esau could have revoked the blessing once he learned that he had mistakenly given it to Jacob, but he did not.  Instead, he told Esau, “Yea, and he shall be blessed.”]

I wonder how the story might have changed, had Esau been honest with himself, and realized that he did not want the birthright nor the blessings promised Jacob.  He wanted the power, but he did not understand the significance.  What if he were to submit to the circumstance and humble himself?  What if he were to offer it to his brother, and be willing to follow? 

I think so much today of all the people in the world who do not understand the significance of their birthright.  Every person on this earth is a child of God.  Every person on this earth has eternal potential.  We are all given gifts and talents.  We have opportunities placed in front of us.  We have God-given privileges to use while on this earth.  What do we do with those gifts, opportunities and privileges?   

It is a privilege to have children.  I see people in the world who do not value that privilege.  They see it as a burden, or as something to try. There are those who use the powers of procreation simply for immediate pleasure and nothing else.  They do not understand how sacred that power is!  We are given the gift of a miraculous body, yet people often abuse those bodies through drug or alcohol usage.  We have opportunities to be in families, yet so many people strive to “break free” from their families who “hold them back.”  They trade valuable family time for more success or prestige at the workplace. It is sad to me, because I realize that so much of this happens simply because people don’t understand the significance of what they have, or from Whom it was given.

I have four boys.  I want them to always remember who they are.  I want them to know deep into their core that they are sons of God.  I want them to remember a long-term perspective, and not be seduced by immediate gratifications.  They have been given much and will be blessed even more if they live worthy of their divine heritage. 

A Melchizedek Man

Reading:  Genesis 14:18-20; Joseph Smith Translation Genesis 14:25-40; Doctrine and Covenants 84:14, 107:1-4; LDS Old Testament Institute Manual commentary for Genesis 14:18.  (Institute Manual can be read here)

There are two ways to describe who someone is.  You can recognize all the facts like name, location, physical details, personality, etc. or you can discuss that person's character.  I don't know who the man Melchizedek was in detail, but as far character goes?  There was none better.

Melchizedek was a righteous man.  It is said that as a child he "feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire."  He was faithful.  It was because of this faithfulness that he was ordained to be a high priest.  Not just any high priest, but a high priest after the order of the Son of God.  (I had to read a little about what this meant, and why it was special.)

The thing that was special about his ordination to this was that it was not given by man, or any other, but by God himself, by His own voice.  It was part of a promise that God made to Enoch.  God had sworn unto Enoch and his seed that every one being ordained after this order and calling should "have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers." (JST)  What an amazing power!

He lived in a place (Salem) where the people were wicked.  They "waxed strong in iniquity and abomination," as stated by Alma the Prophet. But Melchizedek, in his faithfulness, preached repentance unto his people. They did repent, and he established peace in the land and became their king.  He was referred to as the prince of peace by them.  Having read about what power his ordination gave him, it does not seem out of line to think that he would have a spirit about him that would enable him to bring that many souls to repentance.

In our church, we have a Priesthood that has taken the name of Melchizedek.  Learning more about him, and the kind of person he was, brings so much more meaning to that Priesthood and responsibility.  I wrote last week about making a name for ourselves vs. taking a name on ourselves. When these men are ordained with the Melchizedek Priesthood, that is taking on a pretty significant name. 

I think about what kind of man it would take to be a man like Melchizedek was in the character sense, and I wonder if it would affect or influence who he was in the more factual sense?  I wonder if people who did not know who he was at the time, would be able to tell a difference in him if they met him on the street?  I wonder if I met a man of that caliber today, would I recognize it?  I can't begin to imagine what this world would be like if all men were like Melchizedek.  It would be a far better place for sure.

Babbling about Babel

Readings:  Genesis 11:1-9; Helaman 6:28; Ether 1:3-4; Acts 4:12; Mosiah 3:17, 5:7-15; Doctrine and Covenants 18:21-25

We read in Genesis that the children of men were all of one language after the great flood of Noah.  They journeyed and found a plain in the land of Shinar and while there decided among themselves to make bricks to build a city and a tower.  They wanted the top to "reach heaven," so the scriptures state so that they might "make a name for themselves."  This city and tower were called Babel.  As I read this, I could picture a people that was searching for recognition.  They wanted to be known among men.  They wanted to be praised for their accomplishments.

The Lord, seeing what they were doing, was displeased.  Perhaps it was displeasing to see the pride and desire for personal gain that the people were developing.  The Lord wants His children to prosper and to be successful, but He also wants a humble people--a people who will worship Him and none else. He confounded their language so that they could not understand one another.  Not being able to communicate one with another, they were then scattered across the face of the land.  It is interesting to know that in Hebrew, the word balal (quite close to Babel) means to 'mix' or 'confound.' 

Now, at this time of the confounding of languages at Babel, there was one Jared, who had a brother.  Jared's brother was a strong and mighty man, who was favored of the Lord.  When the Lord began to confound the language, Jared asked his brother to pray to the Lord that they and their friends and families might retain the same language.  Because he was favored of the Lord, the Lord had compassion on them and his prayer was answered. Jared then asked his brother to inquire of the Lord as to where they might be scattered, and if it were possible to be sent to a land that was "choice above all the earth."  The Lord granted his prayer, and told them that He did so because of their prayers unto Him.  I think it is important to point out that Jared promised that if the Lord would direct them to this choice land, they would be "faithful unto the Lord." 

These people traveled to the American continent and became known as the Jaredites in the Book of Mormon. 

As I reflect on this event, I think about Satan and how he will stop at nothing to deceive the children of men.  He will take innocent things and distort our vision to make them into something awful.  The desire that the people at Babel had to be prosperous and successful was not initially a bad one.  But, perhaps, Satan put it into their minds to build it as high as heaven, or to search for that recognition and make a name for themselves. 

As followers of the Lord, we are taught to take upon us the name of Christ.  We are taught to be humble and meek, and to give all praise and glory to Him.  In Acts 4:12 we read that "there is none other name under heaven given among man, whereby we must be saved."  That name is Jesus Christ.  Often, as humans, we forget that we are not all powerful.  We try to accomplish everything on our own, including working out our own salvation.  We get preoccupied, or sometimes deceived by Satan, and we don't spend the time and energy into the things that really matter most and that will help us return to God's presence.  We try to make names for ourselves, instead of acknowledging that we are nothing compared to God.  We owe everything to Him, even our very breath.

The only way to truly make a name for ourselves, is by taking that name of Christ on ourselves.  To do this, we must first have faith that He is who can help us achieve our goals.  Then we must repent.  After we have repented, we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  By doing this action, we are taking on His name--His saving name.  But this is not all...we must then endure.  We must work at this devotion each day.

In the Doctrine and Covenants, it talks about this very process and I think the most important part to remember is in section 18 verse 25.  It reminds us that if we do not know the name by which we are called, we will have no place in the kingdom of the Father.  Not only do we need to know the name, but we need to know the person who's name it is.  We need to know our Savior.  How can we really know Him if we do not follow Him?  How can you know anything without studying it?  We must learn of Him.  Read His words in scripture.  Apply them into our lives.  Strive to live the way He would. 

I was baptized when I was eight years old.  I have learned the stories of Jesus since I was a little girl.  I have been taught to try to live a "Christ-like" life.  I am not perfect.  I make mistakes every day.  But I love Jesus Christ.  I want to follow Him.  When I was a missionary in Italy, I wore a nametag that had on it "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."  It was easy to remember each day as I put that on, that I had taken on myself the name of Christ.  It was easier to remember to try and live up to that name.  I no longer have that tag to put on everyday, but I do have the name written in my heart.  I try my best to remember that I represent that name--the name of Jesus Christ.  Being known by that name--or being associated with that name--is better than any other name I can think of.

Welcome!

This semester at BYU-Idaho I am taking a religion class on the Old Testament in the bible.  Well, Genesis to 2 Samuel, at least.  We will be writing various papers and working on several assignments throughout the semester in addition to organizing and participating in numerous discussions about principles taught in these scriptures.

One such assignment is to create a blog wherein I will make a weekly post and share some of the things that touch me, teach me or cause me to ponder.  I hope that as you follow these postings, you might be inspired to read the passages as well, and share any similar insights you might have on the topic.

I will reference the readings which are part of the assignment each week.  Feel free to follow along in the readings!  There will be cross references from the New Testament as well as the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and covenants.  If you do not have these books and would like them at no cost to you, click here and you can have them delivered to you.  You can also access all these books of scripture online here.

I welcome all discussion, but reserve the right to remove anything inappropriate or derogatory.

I love the scriptures.  I love the peace I feel when I really study them.  I know that they testify of Jesus Christ and I know He lives.  I am grateful for Him like I am grateful for air to breathe.  I know that without Him I am nothing and would have no hope at all.  Please join me as we learn from these ancient writings about how to be a better follower of Him who gave His life for all of us.