tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302493722024-03-13T05:06:13.645-05:00...snowy mornings...Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-65011835073975390462024-02-17T00:40:00.002-06:002024-02-17T00:40:39.648-06:00“And after they had loosed me…” 1Ne 10:21-22<p>“ …after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; <i>and after I prayed</i>, the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm…[And] I…did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.”</p><p>Considering…In his experience it wasn’t simply liberation from imposed affliction that engendered calmness and the circumstances and power he needed to move forward. It was liberation from imposed affliction <i>and</i> prayer/connection/communication with the Lord that made that possible.</p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-1840241349647109882024-01-19T07:58:00.003-06:002024-01-19T07:58:34.538-06:00Learning with paper, rather than with screens. Not at all surprised. <p> You can read the article quoted below here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/17/kids-reading-better-paper-vs-screen</p><p><span style="background-color: #fef9f5; color: #121212; font-family: GuardianTextEgyptian, "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.0625rem; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #fef9f5; color: #121212; font-family: GuardianTextEgyptian, "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.0625rem; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">there’s been curiously little discussion in this debate about the physical object most children use to read, which, starting long before the arrival of Covid, has increasingly been an illuminated screen displaying pixelated type instead of a printed or photocopied text. What if the principal culprit behind the fall of middle-school literacy is neither a virus, nor a union leader, nor “remote learning”?</span></p><aside class="dcr-vutf5q" style="--source-text-decoration-thickness: 3px; border: 1px solid var(--pullquote-border); box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: var(--pullquote-text); float: left; font-family: "GH Guardian Headline", "Guardian Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.15; margin: 5px 10px 14px -100px; padding: 2px 10px 16px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 240px;"><svg class="dcr-scql1j" style="fill: var(--pullquote-icon);" viewbox="0 0 22 14"><path d="M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z"></path></svg><blockquote class="dcr-zzndwp" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fourth grade is when a crucial shift occurs from what another researcher describes as ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’</blockquote></aside><p class="dcr-1fp5gi9" style="--source-text-decoration-thickness: 2px; background-color: #fef9f5; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: GuardianTextEgyptian, "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;">Until recently there has been no scientific answer to this urgent question, but a <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.30.553693v1" style="border-bottom: 1px solid var(--article-link-border); border-image: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">soon-to-be published, groundbreaking study</a> from neuroscientists at Columbia University’s Teachers College has come down decisively on the matter: for “deeper reading” there is a clear advantage to reading a text on paper, rather than on a screen, where “shallow reading was observed”.</p><p class="dcr-1fp5gi9" style="--source-text-decoration-thickness: 2px; background-color: #fef9f5; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: GuardianTextEgyptian, "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;">Using a sample of 59 children aged 10 to 12, a team led by Dr Karen Froud asked its subjects to read original texts in both formats while wearing hair nets filled with electrodes that permitted the researchers to analyze variations in the children’s brain responses. Performed in a laboratory at Teachers College with strict controls, the study used an entirely new method of word association in which the children “performed single-word semantic judgment tasks” after reading the passages.</p><div class="ad-slot-container ad-slot-container-2 offset-right ad-slot--offset-right ad-slot-container--offset-right" style="-webkit-box-pack: center; background-color: #fef9f5; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; display: flex; float: right; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; justify-content: center; line-height: inherit; margin: 12px -380px 12px auto; max-width: 300px; min-height: 1823.3px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div ad-label-text="Advertisement" aria-hidden="true" class="js-ad-slot ad-slot ad-slot--inline ad-slot--inline2 ad-slot--rendered" data-google-query-id="CPncg4jN6YMDFbCUgwgdvm0JMg" data-label-show="true" data-link-name="ad slot inline2" data-name="inline2" id="dfp-ad--inline2" style="align-self: flex-start; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 0%; font: inherit; margin: 0px; min-height: 250px; padding: 0px; position: sticky; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ad-slot__content" id="google_ads_iframe_/59666047/theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/ng_6__container__" style="border: 0pt none; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="3" data-integralas-id-4abf7463-8161-5a98-5286-8ff6e38a071e="" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="250" id="google_ads_iframe_/59666047/theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/ng_6" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/59666047/theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/ng_6" scrolling="no" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="300"></iframe></div></div></div><p class="dcr-1fp5gi9" style="--source-text-decoration-thickness: 2px; background-color: #fef9f5; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: GuardianTextEgyptian, "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;">Vital to the usefulness of the study was the age of the participants – a three-year period that is “critical in reading development” – since fourth grade is when a crucial shift occurs from what another researcher describes as “learning to read” to “reading to learn”....</p><p class="dcr-1fp5gi9" style="--source-text-decoration-thickness: 2px; background-color: #fef9f5; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: GuardianTextEgyptian, "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;"> For more than a decade, social scientists, including the Norwegian scholar Anne Mangen, have been reporting on the superiority of reading comprehension and retention on paper. As Froud’s team says in its article: “Reading both expository and complex texts from paper seems to be consistently associated with deeper comprehension and learning” across the full range of social scientific literature.</p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-38960421171400180122024-01-08T08:55:00.007-06:002024-02-17T00:47:50.899-06:00A pattern in Lehi’s life in Jerusalem. Prayer and revelation and discipleship in a dangerous world. 1st Nephi, chapter 1<p> I am thinking about Lehi…growing up with a sense of having been blessed by the Lord, and a clear knowledge of “the goodness and mysteries of God“ and living his life in a city that shows ever increasing departure from God’s guidance, including the embracing of violence. He lives there at a time when there are prophets actively pointing out the embracing of sin and calling for repentance and a return to God. (verses 1-4)</p><p>So, what does Lehi do first? He doesn’t condemn, despise, reject, denigrate, or verbally assault those who are actively involved in wicked, destructive behavior. He doesn’t aid or abet division in his society, calling on others who see what he sees to overthrow the perpetrators of violence, etc. Instead, he prays for those who are fostering violence and greed and other sins in his society. (verse 5)</p><p>And it is that actively praying for “those who despitefully use… and persecute..” (Matthew 5:44) that opens his mind and heart to receive life changing, amazing, personal revelation as to how to proceed: first to be able to see what was coming, and secondly, to be firmly and irrevocably reminded of the amazing power, mercy and love of God, and particularly His mercy towards those who come to Him. (verse 14)</p><p>So now his great dismay over the sins of his generation is no longer his primary emotion. Instead his heart is turned into “rejoicing because of the things…which the Lord had shown unto him”. (verse15)</p><p>Lehi’s next actions, because of this encounter with that amazingly loving, merciful, powerful God, were not to spend time despising or actively working to discredit those who were fostering wickedness, but rather his resultant actions were to point out and call those sins (not those people) reprehensible, and to share what he had learned about a divine and loving God (his love, mercy, goodness) and what he had learned from God (what was ahead) as a result of that divine encounter; “to declare unto them concerning the the things that he had both seen and heard”. (verse 18)</p><p>His words were not well received, to say the least. (verse 19) In fact his life was threatened. (verse 20).</p><p>So what saved his life in a society where disagreeing with a powerful man could get you killed? The same thing that had enlightened his understanding in verse 5…communication with God and following the divine instructions/inspiration he received, (2 Nephi:1-2) which is how the journey begins.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-88769407630114893022023-09-22T07:16:00.003-05:002023-11-15T09:18:10.610-06:00"Autarkeia", Paul on the topic of eliminating needs in order to be able to give more abundantly.<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">For me to consider, remember, and figure out how to apply better:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"<span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial">But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposely in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all <i>sufficiency</i> in all things, may abound to every good work:" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">2nd Corinthians 9:6-8 </span></p><p><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-family: times; font-size: medium; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"<span>Paul insists that God can give a man both the substance to give and the spirit in which to give it....He speaks of the all the "sufficiency" which God gives us. The word he uses is "autarkeia". This was a favorite Stoic word. It does not describe the sufficiency of the man who possess all kinds of things in abundance. It means independence. It describes the state of the man who has directed life not to amassing possessions, but to eliminating needs. It describes the man who has taught himself to be content with very little. It is obvious that such a man will be able to give far more to others because he wants so little for himself. It is so often true that we want and keep so much for ourselves that we much less left to give to others....</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"...it is God who can give us the spirit in which to give...It is God alone who can put into our hearts the love which is the essence of a the generous spirit."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">~ William Barclay, Commentary on 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 9</span></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-48145560890772123662023-09-20T09:42:00.004-05:002023-09-22T09:10:35.748-05:00Aids in my efforts to keep my brain in good shape <p> </p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span face="neuzeit-grotesk, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/how-to-redice-dementia-risk/</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reducing dementia risk</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="neuzeit-grotesk, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 0.9375rem;">(Did you notice the spelling error in the </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">accurate link above</span><span style="font-size: 0.9375rem;">?)</span></span></span></p><p><span face="neuzeit-grotesk, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Excerpt from that article:</span></p><p><span face="neuzeit-grotesk, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 0.9375rem;">Eating a healthy diet was found to have the strongest effect, and was defined as sticking to the recommended daily intake of at least seven out of 12 food groups, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-kerning: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.1875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cognitive activity such as playing cards, doing crosswords or reading at least twice a week was the second most impactful behaviour. Regular exercise was close behind, defined as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, every week. Socialising twice a week, by visiting friends and family or attending meetings, also made it onto the list, as did never having smoked or being an ex-smoker, and drinking no alcohol.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-kerning: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.1875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Interestingly, the results held true even for participants who were identified as genetically susceptible to memory loss due to having a key Alzheimer’s risk gene (called AP0E4)</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-kerning: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.1875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They found that people with four to six healthy lifestyle habits were 90 per cent less likely to develop dementia than those who had zero or one. People with two to three were 30 per cent less likely.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-kerning: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.1875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr Susan Mitchell, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “While our genetics play an important part in the health of our brains as we age, this research found a link between healthy lifestyle and slower cognitive decline even in participants with a key risk gene.</span></p><p style="-webkit-font-kerning: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.1875rem; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Too few of us know that there are steps we can all take to reduce our chances of dementia in later life. Factors across our lifespan can influence the health of our brains so it’s never too early or too late to think about adopting healthy habits.”</span></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-32655621246381913152023-09-10T19:59:00.010-05:002024-02-17T00:53:01.525-06:00Listening to sealing ordinances: children<p> Unlike marriage sealings, parent-child sealings in temples do actually include the sealing of people to other people, in this case children to parents. But what is often not remembered is the fact that that sealing comes with a HUGE promise: a promise that not only will that sealing be one that brings healing to a child that will undo every harm, wrong, or pain, etc. caused by a parent who acts contrary to Jesus’s teachings about love, care, honesty, gentleness, etc. etc., but that also, it will it undo it to such an extent that it will be, in that child’s life <i>as if he/she had been born to and raised in the new and everlasting covenant, the gospel of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 66:2) </i>ie. raised by by parents who lived the gospel of Jesus Christ, loved Jesus and what he taught, who loved doing good, and who were kind, were faithful to each other, were are gentle and wise, were willing to make personal sacrifices to further goodness at home and in the world, were fully committed to living loving, gentle, courageous, righteous lives after the pattern of Christ, and, as a result, who wholeheartedly loved and nurtured their children in amazingly good ways.</p><p>God loves and knows us individually, is ready to assist us, loves us forever, and can “wipe away all tears”. He is amazing.</p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-31474628934109320222023-09-09T07:10:00.006-05:002023-11-15T09:15:54.393-06:00Listening to marriage sealing ordinances<p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Listening to what is actually said…</span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: medium;"> Contrary to common phraseology, a husband and wife are not "sealed to each other", or “sealed together”. Rather, in that marriage ceremony specific blessings are promised and “sealed” equally upon the husband and upon the wife, which blessings each one is to receive as they individually continue in their personal, faithfulness disciples of Jesus Christ, keeping the holy promises (covenants to follow the teachings of Christ) that they have previously made. <br /><br />Temple marriage sealings are not about with whom you will, or will not “live together forever”. In the life after this one, the same sociality (quality of social interaction) that exists among us in this life, will continue to exist (Doc & Cov130:2) among family members, friends, etc. etc... <br /><br />So if it's not about who you will be with, what is it? When you listen, you will find that, rather than who gets to be with whom, sealing in a temple marriage is, in reality, about your personal commitments to become the kind of disciples you may become; radiantly full of faith, hope and charity. And they are about your desires to create, with the Lord’s grace and mercy, a marriage full of faith hope and charity, and which encompasses the principles of His gospel that you have previously promised and covenanted to live. <br /><br />The words of temple marriage sealing express how much the Lord desires to help and bless you in those commitments and desires, both individually and as a couple, both now and in the future. </span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The sealing words are about what He is entrusting you with, and they are about who and what the Lord is inviting you to faithfully become, and what he may trust you with in the future as you continue to follow Him, strive to live the promises you have made to Him, receive His amazing grace, and continue to grow in faith in Him, and in hope in Him, and in loving as He does. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">They are about the abilities and blessings he will seal upon you as you, as His disciples, and through that grace, mercy and power to heal and bless, become able to bear that trust He has placed in you. Becoming that kind of son or daughter of God is a lifelong and beyond journey, and brings good blessings as well as sobering responsibilities.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Joseph Fielding Smith called temple marriage "the crowning ordinance", but it's not "crowning" as in "having arrived at the pinnacle". It's more like, "the final, top, ordinance and covenant for which keeping all the other covenants you've made with God helps to prepare you". When you are married in the temple, you haven't arrived. You've just begun a whole new phase of the journey.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div><p><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-53959449471403060902023-09-05T08:44:00.000-05:002023-09-05T08:44:42.868-05:00The point is not “what” we believe; it’s “whom”. Thoughts on 2nd Timothy 1<p> Paul did not write, in verse 12, “I know what I have believed”, or “I know that the gospel that Jesus taught us is true”. He wrote, “I know <i>whom</i> I have believed.”</p><p>When Jesus called his disciples he did not say “I have teachings that will change your life”, or “I can teach you principles and commandments from God, our Father, that will bless your life”. Rather, he invited them to spend time with him. “Follow me” (be with me, spend time with me) is what he said. (Matt 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 16:2, Mark 1:17, John 12:26, etc.)</p><p>“Faith, in the New Testament, is very seldom acquiescence in a creed; it is almost always trust in a person….To be a Christian is to know Him…‘other than at second hand.’” ~ William Barclay</p><p>Sounds to me like a life-long journey.</p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-73030221801790348342023-07-16T21:09:00.001-05:002023-09-10T19:37:18.808-05:00Partaking of the Sacrament<p> "The acts of eating and drinking the bread and water do not remit sins. But as we prayerfully and sincerely prepare and worthily participate in the ordinance, we examine our actions and the desires of our hearts and embrace the Lord's invitation to repent (Moses 6:57). When we offer the sacrifice He requires --a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20)-- we are promised that we may always have His spirit to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we [may] obtain and always retain a remission of our sins (Moroni 6:4).</p><p>"The Life-changing Power of Remembering Him", David A. Bednar, For the Strength of Youth (magazine), June 2023, p.4</p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-18728526372699138402023-07-09T21:21:00.000-05:002023-07-09T21:21:02.413-05:00All of them helpful. Number 8, particularly in my life.<p> </p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TEN RULES OF HAPPINESS<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />By President David O. McKay</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Develop yourself by self-discipline.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />2. Joy comes through creation — sorrow through destruction. Every living thing can grow: Use the world wisely to realize soul growth.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />3. Do things which are hard to do.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />4. Entertain upbuilding thoughts. What you think about when you do not have to think shows what you really are.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />5. Do your best this hour, and you will do better the next.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />6. Be true to those who trust you.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />7. Pray for wisdom, courage, and a kind heart.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />8. Give heed to God’s messages through inspiration. If self-indulgence, jealousy, avarice, or worry have deadened your response, pray to the Lord to wipe out these impediments.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />9. True friends enrich life. If you would have friends, be one.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />10. Faith is the foundation of all things — including happiness.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 18.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Improvement Era, June 1951</p><div id="atatags-32476275-64ab6a5008581" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div data-adtags-width="380" id="atatags-32476271-64ab6a50085c8" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: 272px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; height: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Improvement Era, June 1951</span></div></div>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-30688310302603051142023-03-31T12:20:00.002-05:002023-11-11T15:43:57.593-06:00Ways To Avoid Misery on Your Mission. Lessons for life..Respect agency. It is a gift from God. Therefore, Do not ever believe that success, or your worth, can be measured by <div><br /></div><div>1. Whether or not someone is willing to converse with you.</div><div>2. Whether or not someone you are teaching makes progress.</div><div>3. Whether or not your companion slows the speed at which you work together.</div><div>4. Whether or not someone chooses to continue to learn with you.</div><div>5. Whether or not your companion chooses to do what you hope or want him/her to choose to do.</div><div>6. Whether or not your companion teaches, or contacts, or listens, or prays or follows the promptings of the Holy Spirit, or respects you, the way you would like him or her to</div><div>7. How many of the people you teach decide to receive baptism and serve in the church.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do act in ways that bring greater inner peace..</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Actively look for and appreciate any good thing about your companion.</div><div>2. Live mission standards of behavior, whether or not your companion does so, <i>without</i> making it an argument, and without getting frustrated or angry when your companion fails to live up to your expectations. </div><div>3. When your companion fails to live mission standards of behavior, do not pray that he/she will change. That is not particularly helpful. It is more helpful if you ask Heavenly Father how you should act and then follow the impressions you receive, showing forth love as you do so.</div><div>4. Pray not so much that others will change, but rather that you may become wiser and more charitable in your response to them.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Major lessons to remember.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Your companion may feel frustrated by you and then denigrate you in order to feel better about himself or herself. Asking God to help you understand him or her the way that He does will help you immensely as you seek to respond with love instead of pain or anger.</div><div>2. When your companion decides to do something that you think is foolish or wrong, Decide, calmly, that you will not. And then do something different and wise. You do not have to try to persuade them that they are wrong. But you do need to live your own life with integrity</div><div>3. Seek to understand with goodwill, rather than simply seeking to be understood.</div><div>4. Treat every person with consideration.</div><div>5. Every day, find something beautiful, or worthy of appreciation, or admirable, or considerate, or uplifting in your environment, and stop and appreciate it..</div><div>6. As you study the scriptures, watch how Jesus interacts with people who are struggling. The majority of people you meet are struggling in ways you cannot see. Take your clues about how to respond from Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>All of the above will be of great benefit in all of your other relationships later in life.</div>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-12285516725410116582023-02-08T21:26:00.004-06:002023-04-03T23:26:48.089-05:00Building up the kingdom and establishing Zion<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Kingdom: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. A contiguous territory or country under the dominion of a king. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. The inhabitants or population who are subject to a certain king or queen. “The whole kingdom rejoiced.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zion: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. A specific geographical location variousely transliterated Sion, Tzion, Tzion, Tsion, Tsyyon, is a placename in the Hebrew Bible used as a synonym for Jerusalem, as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole. You can find it in 2nd Samuel</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.A group of people who are pure in heart. "Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice; for this is Zion--the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn. “<span class="verse-number" face=""Ensign:Serif", Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></p><p><br /></p><p>Spencer Kimball’s thoughts on Zion and how we create it:</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Ensign:Serif", McKay, "McKay ldsLat", Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino-Roman, serif" style="caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225;">"Zion is 'every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.' (</span><a class="scripture-ref" href="https://basic.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/82.19?lang=eng#p19" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #177c9c; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">D&C 82:19</a><span face=""Ensign:Serif", McKay, "McKay ldsLat", Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino-Roman, serif" style="caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225;">.)</span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-family: inherit;">"First, we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness that snares the soul, shrinks the heart, and darkens the mind.</span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-family: inherit;">"Second, we must cooperate completely and work in harmony one with the other.</span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-family: inherit;">"Third, we must lay on the altar and sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We begin by offering a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.” We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally we consecrate our time, talents, and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. </span></p><p data-aid="28743592" id="p52" style="-webkit-hyphenate-limit-after: 3; -webkit-hyphenate-limit-before: 4; -webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 0.889em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"My brothers and sisters, if we can do this, then we will find ourselves clothed in the mantle of charity “which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—</span></p><p data-aid="28743593" id="p53" style="-webkit-hyphenate-limit-after: 3; -webkit-hyphenate-limit-before: 4; -webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 0.889em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” (<a class="scripture-ref" href="https://basic.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.46-47?lang=eng#p46" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #177c9c; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Moro. 7:46–47</a>.)</span></p><p data-aid="28743594" id="p54" style="-webkit-hyphenate-limit-after: 3; -webkit-hyphenate-limit-before: 4; -webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 0.889em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Let us unite and pray with all the energy of heart, that we may be sealed by this bond of charity; that we may build up this latter-day Zion, that the kingdom of God may go forth, so that the kingdom of heaven may come. </span></p><p data-aid="28743594" id="p54" style="-webkit-hyphenate-limit-after: 3; -webkit-hyphenate-limit-before: 4; -webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(33, 34, 37); color: #212225; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 0.889em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From "Becoming the Pure in Heart" , Spencer W. Kimball, April 1978</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems that “building up the kingdom of God and establishing Zion” is simply the work of b</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">uilding up (strengthening) the people who recognize God as their king and are pure in heart and, with them, establishing groups of people who seek to love and respond the way Jesus does.</span></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-63938929157156847382023-02-04T21:09:00.002-06:002023-02-08T21:12:08.405-06:00Grateful<p> “Have you considered using lipstick?, my well meaning and loving relative asked me., “I think it would add a bit of cheerful color to your face” she said. “Your lips are pale and thin and it would probably look good on you.”</p><p>My relative isn’t proud or judgmental. She loves me. And I happen to know that she was raised with the adage that “it behooves us all to make the environment of others pleasant, and one way to do that is to look well put together”. I get where she’s coming from and how she’s trying to be helpful.</p><p>Perhaps lipstick would make me “look better”. I did wear it, and blush, and mascara when I was in my twenties. But I am not interested in using them now.</p><p>When I look at my face in the mirror and I see my thin, pale lips, I am grateful that I have lips! And that they work! I am also grateful for my eyes that need glasses, my long straight nose, my unremarkable, undecorated ears, and my skin with its rows of wrinkles around my face and down my neck. What a blessing lips, eyes, noses, ears and skin are! The are complex, amazing, physiological structures. They bless my life every single day. The blow me away when I think about them and how much they do for me. </p><p>Some might say, that wearing lipstick is a way of making a good thing “better”. But color and style are not in my definition of “better”. They are in my definitions of colorful and stylish. I like color, and I think style is an interesting topic to briefly peruse when it shows up in my reading, but they are qualities that are way down my list of valued characteristics. </p><p>And so I find that it feels kind of odd to consider adding a quality that is way down my list of valued qualities to an object that is, in and of itself, already absolutely amazing and for which I am extremely grateful.</p><p>I don’t mind at all when others wear lipstick, or make up. I find it interesting to see what they have created on their faces. Some of them are real artists with it and I appreciate the art.</p><p>But, I am okay with my face just the way it is. And I am over-the-moon grateful for it just the way it is. </p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-15436345820337411872022-11-29T10:17:00.001-06:002022-11-29T10:17:26.719-06:00Alma, chapter 42<p> This is Alma trying to explain, to his son, Corianton, the justice of God, a justice that sounds so fierce and miserable in Old Testament writings, starting with the casting out of the Garden of Eden (which increased sadness and difficulty for Adam and Eve) and continuing on throughout history, and which seems, to Corianton, to be out of character of a loving God.</p><p>Alma starts from the beginning. His explanation goes something like this:</p><p>1st: Adam and Eve. If they had remained in their original state in the Garden of Eden, where everything was provided, and where there was no death due to the tree of life, there would have been sobering natural consequences? What would have been some of those?</p><p>They would have lived forever, their children and grandchildren and every succeeding generation would have lived forever. That is unsustainable on earth...beyond its natural resources...shortages of food, overwhelming environmental pollution, etc. etc. Think about what happens in a society in that situation.</p><p>2nd: Powerful, wicked, men and women would never die. Their destructive, dishonest egregious efforts to maintain power would never end. They (and we) would never have the sense of mortality that offers us reminders and crucial opportunities to review our lives. Alma refers to this in verse 5: "having no space for repentance" means having no sense of parameters of lifespan or sense of an end, which parameters serve all of us well in moving us to review our lives and consider how we are using our time and to what ends, and therefore offering opportunities to recognized opportunities to engage in the blessed experience of repentance. </p><p>3rd: Furthermore, not only would powerful, wicked people never die, there would be never ending battles between them and those who wanted to dethrone them or to take their place. We have enough of those in a mortal life, they would be endless in an immortal wicked world.</p><p>Alma refers to such a situation being one in which the word of God becomes void. Void means "having no legal or binding force; nul; not effectual to bind parties, or to convey or support a right, not sufficient to produce its effect. Alma is saying that in such a situation, people who choose wickedness, would not be motivated to repent, but feel free to continually pursue wicked goals without fear of death or any sense of mortal danger. The prophet Isaiah wrote: "My word shall not return to me void, but shall accomplish that which I please". (Isaiah 55:11). A world that includes death, either your own, or of those who are important to you, includes a powerful, and fairly frequent nudge to consider your life, the word of God, and what is most important to you. A world without death does so far less.</p><p>4th: Alma also says that the "great plan of salvation would have been frustrated". God's whole plan is set up to give us experience that teaches us powerful, personal lessons, helps us see and choose what is most important to us, teaches us how to make changes in order to become all we desire to be, and then to be transformed by glorious resurrection. </p><p><b>Alma is trying to show Corianton that it is easy to see harshness in God's actions where there is actually a tremendous amount of mercy.</b></p><p>Note: Resurrection doesn't just mean "getting a body back". It means being "raised with glory", transformed in heavenly ways, empowered to do the good you seek to do in powerful ways. What kind of glory? One that reflects, specifically, who you, individually have become and the desires of your heart. (Doctrine and Covenants 88). (Those who do not wish to do anything good....no glory with your resurrection).</p><p>5th: Alma also speaks about what the inevitability of physical death does in a person's life: It prevents you from living here forever (which most would not prefer once they not only experience the tragedies and violence involved in mortal life) and helps you understand that this life is far from ideal and that post death existence offers far more to us than mortal life does. </p><p>Understanding that, we begin to see that being forever here on earth would cause us to become "lost" (Alma 42:6). Have you ever become physically lost? Unable to find your way home, or to the destination at which you set out to arrive? Becoming lost, in this verse is like that...unable to find your way home to life in the presence of God, which home is joyful to every person who loves goodness.</p><p>Corianton, with his father and brothers, has been through a lot (Alma chapter 38), both physically and emotionally, because of his work with his father, trying to teach the word God. He wonders whether it makes sense to teach about a coming of a Savior far into the future that he is not sure will happen. And he has made some bad decisions trying to find relief from that insecurity about what he has been asked to do and to teach. </p><p>Alma's words in chapter 42 are his attempt to help his son see that God's response to sin, whether it is Corianton's sin or the sin of Adam and Eve, or anyone else, is not a vindictive assignment to a state of punishment and misery, but rather a reflection of God offering a mortal life that is set up to help us understand and experience the natural, logical, actual consequences of sin (which consequence, is always, ultimately, and naturally, misery) and the consequences of discipleship.</p><p>Most of us, consciously, or unconsciously, experience that learning and experience during our lives. Death, and our awareness of our mortality, is part of the plan to move us out of living amidst what would otherwise be a never ending earthly cycle of power seeking and conflict and violence and struggle, and the misery that such creates if allowed to continue without end. </p><p>The post mortal life, Alma explains, is set up to free us from that awful possibility...putting us in a new, post-moral state; a state where redemption continues to be possible due our desire to repent and change without the encumbrance of a failing, mortal body, which redemption continues to be available to us due to the amazing justice of God <i>and</i> due to the amazing mercy and deliverance from the bondage of our sins, which deliverance the Father and the Son made possible through the latter's atonement for each of us. </p><p>Corianton has been struggling with a misapprehension of the nature of God...seeing Him as a decreer of laws, a promiser of far off personal interaction, and a vindictive dealer out of justice. When we see God that way we seek consolation elsewhere, which is exactly what Corianton did. That put Corianton in a reasonable state of mind: feeling antipathy towards God because he thinks that God's motives must be control and punishment for sin (which he, Corianton has engaged in) while, at the same time He claims to be full of love. Corianton's antipathy, coming from those assumptions, makes total sense.</p><p>Corianton has been laboring under the belief that God, by nature is vindictive and harsh, focused on obedience and penalty (justice), in spite of claiming to be a God of love. His father is trying to help disabuse him from that erroneous assumption by explaining the total incorporation of loving mercy and forgiveness in God's plan from the beginning, made possible by a huge and voluntarily and lovingly given price on the part of both the Father and the Son. </p><p>Verse 1 of Chapter 43 indicates that Coriantion may have found it helpful.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-19762363517499761432022-11-06T13:15:00.003-06:002022-11-06T13:24:12.426-06:00Spiritual fasting as a turning towards partnership<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_nkm6SOTWCLQ1Gp2_-oeJZg8WtRnea29RhDCe3fvw5Zl9UcC1S61JoIDwoopaed9iYm-1XCEPtrOVaMvZTLc7xSu7An2yi_rL00zE1tx8xVhI9WPrYI-ZTHBJD7TfFkMiJzreMPaRQX3Eoo0Tha-oPA_pt-N2zbzCRu5jvxUrlQP0v_atwA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="432" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_nkm6SOTWCLQ1Gp2_-oeJZg8WtRnea29RhDCe3fvw5Zl9UcC1S61JoIDwoopaed9iYm-1XCEPtrOVaMvZTLc7xSu7An2yi_rL00zE1tx8xVhI9WPrYI-ZTHBJD7TfFkMiJzreMPaRQX3Eoo0Tha-oPA_pt-N2zbzCRu5jvxUrlQP0v_atwA=w523-h387" width="523" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Thinking about the practice of spiritual fasting this morning.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"Fasting requires self-control and discipline</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">, as one denies the natural desires of the flesh. During spiritual fasting, the believer's focus is removed from the physical things of this world and intensely concentrated on God." ~ </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Mary Fairchild</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">I generally have tended to think about fasting from food as an expression of turning to God and away from food for a time, good in and of itself, and considered even better when it is "done with a purpose", a petition for help for self or others, in mind. But Fairchild's statement has me thinking about the principle of fasting as it relates to a broader definition of that turning.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Fasting</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> from food reminds me of my own physical weakness and dependency upon God's creation of this world and its resources for my very life; my own weakness in comparison to the power of a wondrous, life-giving, loving, and amazing God. It can </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">direct my feelings of hunger into awareness of my own dependence upon Him and the world He created for us, and, hopefully, therefore, encourages me towards grateful and more earnest communication with Him. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">And, seeking that communication, I may gain spiritual clarity of thought. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">That leads me to believe that, though we often talk about "fasting with a purpose", and tend to think of it as a method to employ while petitioning God for a particular and important need or hope to be fulfilled, s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">piritual fasting is not simply a way to express gratitude, or to earn God's favor, or to increase the likelihood that He will do something, for us or someone else. Rather, the purpose of fasting is to produce a transformation in us—a clearer, more focused attention and dependence upon God. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Thus, my more focused attention to, and grateful communication with God while fasting can help me to hear God's voice </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">more clearly on those very subjects that are on my mind and in my heart. And as I do so, that attention moves our communication away from "petitioner to grantor" (I need this, please make it happen) and into "partners" (here is what is possible, and what we each can do) in the work of the Lord near me.</span></p><p></p><div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0-15" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Clearly, food is not the only thing which, if I fast from it, can help me in my efforts to turn my heart and mind to God. At this point in my life, after decades of regular spiritual fasts from food, fasting from food is fairly easy and familiar. What's harder for me at this stage of my life? Fasting from time spent online. Sobering.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Furthermore, fasting, it seems, is more than abstinence from something, which abstinence is hopefully practiced with God in mind. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Isaiah wrote "Is this not the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? That thou sees the naked, that thou cover him: and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" (Isaiah 58:6-7)</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have a tradition, when we engage in a spiritual fast, of donating "fast offerings"; funds to be used by churches or other institutions to aid others who struggle with one or more of the burdens and needs that Isaiah wrote about.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">It occurs to me that it would be wise for me to not only make such donations with those Isaiah verses in mind, but, as I communicate with God during a spiritual fast (be it a fast from food or from anything else), to also seek from Him the courage, heart, will, and information He may give me in order to not only donate funds, but also to be able to recognize, by His spirit, the moments or times in the coming days when I am personally in a position to act in a way that furthers what Isaiah wrote about and to do so.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;">For a hesitant, homebody person like me who finds solitude peaceful, asking to be able to see those moments or times and to act accordingly feels daunting. But if I remember that our Father and I are partners in whatever He indicates in the days that follow such a seeking and seeing, rather than us being just petitioner and grantor, that helps. A lot.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #464646;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-43088204525308477492022-11-03T08:37:00.004-05:002022-11-06T13:26:05.186-06:00Ezekiel 36:16-20. When we wrap ourselves and our sins in the flag of religious devotion...<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings:...</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Wherefore I poured out my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idol wherewith they had polluted it: </div><div style="text-align: center;">"And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, "These are the people of the Lord". (King James Version)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The word of the Lord came unto me saying</div><div style="text-align: center;">"My son, when the people who knew me, and called themselves my people, lived in the land that I had given them, they made it a country full of sin by their choices and their actions:...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I responded with energy and swiftness because they embraced the sins of anger, violence, and killing, and because they embraced ideologies, and powerful entities. and leaders which encouraged those sins and extolled such responses and actions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"And so I allowed them to be attacked and defeated by other nations that do not know me. My decision to do so was a just and appropriate response to their decisions and actions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>And when they were among people who do not know me, they treated my name with irreverence and abuse whenever they declared, "We are the people of the Lord</i>".</span> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sobering to consider today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord's considered offer, which some accepted, and others did not: Ezekiel 36:21-32</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-29550021016031219802022-11-02T07:43:00.000-05:002022-11-03T15:13:34.522-05:00Corrected post: What Latter-day Saints Get Wrong About Prophets<b><span style="font-size: medium;">What Latter-day Saints get wrong about living prophets, according to Keith A. Erekson </span></b><div><span style="font-size: medium;">By Valerie Walton, Church News, 3 Feb 2022, 4:00 PM EST </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> During his time working with Church history, Keith A. Erekson, the director of historical outreach and partnerships for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has listened to thousands of questions from people who struggle with concerns and doubts about the Church. They range from the multiple accounts of the First Vision, to polygamy, to the prohibition on the participation of Black Latter-day Saints in priesthood and temple ordinances, to witnessing friends being excluded or insulted for identifying as LGBT. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“Maybe it’s a little of all of these and then some,” he said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Many of these questions “invoke the existence and role of living prophets,” Erekson said in an Ensign College devotional held in the Assembly Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 1. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Erekson cited the Old Testament story about Naaman in 2 Kings 5 seeking healing from the prophet Elisha as an example of a relationship Latter-day Saints might have today with living prophets. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Naaman, a successful military commander and warrior, was suffering from a skin disease. He approached Elisha, who had a reputation as a healer, according to the customs of his time: with a letter of recommendation from his king, a flourish of horses and chariots, and gifts of gold, silver and clothing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“He also expected Elisha to behave the same way as other healers in their culture,” Erekson explained, “by calling aloud, waving his hand, or enacting some other ritual performance. But Elisha defied Naaman’s expectations by refusing the gifts and sending a simple message to wash seven times in a nearby river.”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Naaman instantly became angry and went away in a rage. Later, his servants talked him into trying the treatment, which worked. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“So here is the insight: Naaman’s instant rage surfaced when his expectations were challenged,” Erekson said. “He protested by saying, ‘I thought that for me he would surely come out.’ Yes, Naaman needed to humble himself, but the root problem was neither the prophet nor his prescription; it was the expectations Naaman brought to the encounter.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Erekson asked his listeners what expectations they might have about prophets, how those expectations might be influenced by their upbringing and culture, and if they are assuming things that are incorrect. “Admitting the errors in our own thinking is sometimes the most difficult part of understanding Church history because it takes humility to change our expectations and assumptions after we learn they are incorrect.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Many oversimplify living prophets to a simple binary of being inspired or uninspired. However, instruction given by the Lord on the day the Church was organized, which is found in Doctrine and Covenants 21:1-2, gives three things that should be expected of prophets: “Behold, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, Being inspired of the Holy Ghost … .” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“Prophets cultivate relationships with each of the three members of the Godhead and understanding these relationships helps dispel common misunderstandings of their work,” Erekson said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Many cultures have models of prophets. For some, a prophet is a sphinx, riddler or soothsayer who speaks in anonymous riddles. For others, a prophet is a “lone voice who speaks out against all evil and oppression” and denounces every wrong. Another model is that of a cable news pundit who pins the blame for tragedies on the sins of an enemy group, offering harsh condemnations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> Some Latter-day Saints come to expect prophets to act like these models. “Then, if prophets speak too clearly in favor of vaccination, or if they fail to stand with or against the internet’s outrage of the day, or if they offer kindness instead of criticism of refugees, some turn away in rage like Naaman,” Erekson said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Another unhelpful expectation is a distrust in a person who is influenced by culture. Every human is shaped by the language, customs, knowledge and experiences of individuals, families and societies, making it impossible for anyone — including prophets — to not be influenced by culture. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“In fact, Nephi explained that God speaks to prophets — and all of us — ‘according to their language, unto their understanding’ — in other words, our cultures” (2 Nephi 31:3). </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Erekson said that prophets interact with their cultures, such as Joseph Smith using seer stones, Joseph F. Smith pondering the afterlife during the ravages of World War I, or President Russell M. Nelson counseling Latter-day Saints to abandon attitudes and actions of prejudice in a society built on discrimination. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> “Prophets participate in their cultures as do you and I, and the way we all progress is by following God in our cultures.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Another expectation is that to follow the prophet, one must imitate their every deed, such as raising pigeons because President Thomas S. Monson did. “Prophets do not urge us to follow or imitate them, but to follow and imitate the Savior,” Erekson said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“Stated another way, the prophets do not teach us to follow them, but to ‘hear Him’!” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Some expect prophets to receive revelation “only by kneeling alone and asking for it,” Erekson said. While many revelatory experiences happen that way, prophets also receive revelation with other people through councils. Today, the Church is administered through councils comprised of members of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Seventy, Presiding Bishopric and general organizations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“If we expect revelation to come only to individuals, then we will miss many of God’s modern dealings with living prophets.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Why do prophets need the grace of Christ? “For the same reasons that you and I depend on His grace — to forgive our sins, succor our infirmities, mitigate our shortcomings, expand our capabilities, turn weaknesses into strengths,” Erekson said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Prophets make mistakes and they disagree. In extreme cases, their differing perspectives can lead to disputes.
“Most of the time,” Erekson said, “the differences of opinion serve to bring all perspectives on issues into the discussion.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The only person to ever live a mistake-free life was Jesus Christ. Prophets are aware of their own shortcomings, Erekson said, citing Moses who worried over his speaking inadequacies, Moroni who felt the same about his writing, and Joseph Smith who published his errors and divine rebukes. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“We should also not expect that prophets do not get tricked,” Erekson said. He gave a few scriptural and modern examples of prophets being fooled. For instance, when Joseph Smith lost the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript, he “was told simply, ‘You cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous’ (Doctrine and Covenants 10:37). The message was not ‘One day you will learn how to identify the wicked.’ Just, ‘you cannot.’” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Simply citing the many instances of when prophets disagreed, made mistakes or were tricked is incomplete, Erekson said, “without understanding that prophets serve ‘through the … grace of [our] Lord Jesus Christ.’ His grace is sufficient to bring them to unanimity, refine their souls and succor them.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Prophets don’t know everything about the future. “While it is true that God reveals some of His secrets to prophets, and that some prophets including Moses, Enoch and Nephi received sweeping visions, that does not mean that every prophet knows everything about everything,” Erekson said. The things they do know are not always spelled out for them.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> “As the ‘mouthpiece’ of the Lord, they do not simply open their mouths and the word of God flows out,” he said. “Sometimes revelation has come as dictated wording, but prophets also receive inspiration, feelings and impressions that they must put into words and actions. Sometimes they explore paths that don’t work out.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Erekson then addressed the idea that the prophet will never lead the Church astray — wording that comes from a statement made by Wilford Woodruff announcing the end of plural marriage. Over time, “additional assumptions have been attached — that the practices of the Church should never change, and that following prophetic counsel should cause no suffering,” he said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“In its complete original context, Wilford Woodruff’s teaching emphasized that the prophet would not … lead people ‘astray from the oracles [or revelations] of God and from their duty.’ </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Prophets will not lead us away from their true witness of Jesus Christ, from His revelations or from the path, however hard it may be, to follow Him. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“Because prophets act and preach by the Spirit, we have a duty to seek the Spirit to understand and receive their message.”
Prophets work to be inspired of the Holy Ghost because they don’t know everything, and they gain light and truth from the Lord line upon line. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Doctrine and Covenants 107:22 instructs that prophets are to be “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, members of the Church uphold the prophets “with confidence gained through the companionship of the Holy Ghost, with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and through prayer to God our Father,” Erekson said. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“We should rightly expect prophets to be called through the will of God and the grace of Jesus Christ and receive ongoing guidance through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost,” Erekson said. “As we do so, we can, like Naaman, shed incorrect expectations and assumptions about prophets that both impede our ability to be blessed and prompt divisive anger.” </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You can watch or read the full Ensign College devotional here. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">https://www.ensign.edu/keith-a-erekson-february-2022</span></div></div>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-38639348954513970512022-09-06T12:45:00.004-05:002022-10-17T06:51:21.471-05:00Creating a moral, compassionate, brave and principled life<p>If we are adults with moral awareness, we are responsible for our decisions. </p><p>And when we see our lives more like an organic act which we are called to create, rooted in increasing moral and compassionate understanding, and less like a script we need to follow, we are more fully free to grow in wisdom and comprehension (though following a script initially may appeal to us more because it requires far less of us).</p><p>It is certainly easier to learn a role or a part that someone has handed to us than it is to create a life based upon an evolving foundation of truth seeking. </p><p>But it is the latter that is ultimately more likely to foster greater moral courage, comprehension, and a thoughtfully principled life.</p><p>And so questions are good, changing moral understanding and evolving enlightenment is hopefully life-long, agency is important, and kindness towards others who are on their own version of such learning processes is essential.</p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-76076009400197184922022-08-31T08:54:00.001-05:002022-08-31T08:54:18.661-05:00The phrase “cut off from” in the Old Testament<p> There it was again, in Proverbs 2:22: “But the wicked shall be cut off”, in this case, cut off from the earth. Other verses in the Bible say things like “from among this people” , or just “cut off”. So what does it mean?</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(35, 38, 41); clear: both; color: #232629; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: var(--s-prose-spacing); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">From <a href="https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/1946/what-does-the-old-testament-phrase-cut-off-from-their-people-mean">https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/1946/what-does-the-old-testament-phrase-cut-off-from-their-people-mean</a></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(35, 38, 41); clear: both; color: #232629; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: var(--s-prose-spacing); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">we find this answer, which is rather interesting.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(35, 38, 41); clear: both; color: #232629; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: var(--s-prose-spacing); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(35, 38, 41); clear: both; color: #232629; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: var(--s-prose-spacing); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“<i>according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareth:</i></p><blockquote style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--black-600); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0 1em var(--s-prose-spacing) 1em; padding: 0.8em 0.8em 0.8em 1em; position: relative; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>The Hebrew term kareth ("cutting off" Hebrew: כָּרֵת, [kaˈret]) is a form of punishment for sin ... In the Talmud, kareth means <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not necessarily</strong> physical "cutting off" of life, but extinction of the soul and denial of a share in the world to come. ...</i> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--black-600); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0 1em var(--s-prose-spacing) 1em; padding: 0.8em 0.8em 0.8em 1em; position: relative; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>In the Hebrew Bible, kareth is a form of punishment which may mean premature death, or else exclusion from the people.[3][4] According to Richard C. Steiner, the phrase "to be cut off from one's people" is an antonym for "to be gathered to one's people" (e.g. Genesis 25:8), and thus kareth in the Bible means to be deprived of the afterlife.[5]<br style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;" />Examples of sins making a person liable to kareth include eating chametz on Passover,[6] sexual violations,[7] ritual impurities, and a man's refusal to be circumcised.[8] The Book of Numbers states that anyone who sins deliberately or high-handedly receives kareth.</i></p></blockquote><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(35, 38, 41); clear: both; color: #232629; font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: var(--s-prose-spacing); margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Rabbinic interpretation:</i></p><blockquote style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--black-600); font-family: Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0 1em var(--s-prose-spacing) 1em; padding: 0.8em 0.8em 0.8em 1em; position: relative; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Kareth is the punishment for certain crimes and offences defined under Jewish law (e.g. eating the life blood of a living animal, eating suet, refusing to be circumcised, etc.), a punishment that can only be given at the hand of heaven unto persons of the Jewish faith who are bound to keep the Jewish law, rather than made punishable by any earthly court. In some cases of sexual misconduct and in breaking the laws of the Sabbath, such as where there are witnesses of the act, the court is able to inflict punishment. By definition, kareth does not apply to non-Jews. Kareth can either mean dying young (before the age of 50 or 60[10]), dying without children, or the soul being spiritually "cut off" from your people after death.[11] According to Nachmanides, both definitions are accurate.</i></p></blockquote><p>You can look up the footnotes on that website.</p><p>One thing that intrigues me in that definition is the possible definition of “being spiritually cut off from your people after death”. In an LDS perspective that might be seen as a reference to the division between prison and paradise in the post mortal/pre-resurrection life, or to the (grossly oversimplified) understanding of post-resurrection life. I tend to think it fits better with what the scriptures say about the former than what they say about the latter. </p><p>This phrase, “cut off” comes up in Leviticus a number of times when a particular sin is mentioned, with the immediately following verse stating that sin is punishable by death. Some tend to think that this means that being “cut off” means being killed. I tend, rather, to think that they are two separate consequences, not the same consequence being stated twice. The Rabbinic interpretation seems to support that; referring to being “cut off” as a consequence that comes from heavenly action or the eternal power of God, not a physical consequence carried out by humans on earth who are trying to carry out His will in regards to consequences on earth.</p><p>C.S. Lewis, in one of his books, portrayed the misery of hell not as a fire and brimstone suffering, but instead as an existence typified by one’s antipathy, anger, bitterness, resentment, and one’s self-justfication for sin, which caused one to isolate oneself further and further (both physically and relationship-wise) from others and from God. It strikes me as something to consider as a possible example of the essence of what the biblical references to “being cut off” might be referring to in the eternal scheme of things.</p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-46082868674512336012022-08-19T08:56:00.004-05:002022-08-31T08:57:50.878-05:00Psalm 61 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.<p> A relationship between my praising God and my ability to daily remember and keep the covenants I have made with God?</p><p>In my religious culture we speak of and practice thanking God, and petitioning God, and confiding in God, and confessing to God in our prayers. But we tend to relegate our praising Him to our hymn singing:</p><p>“Oh God our Help in Ages Past…” “I Stand All Amazed…” “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”</p><p>And realize, thinking about it, that when I think about praise in prayer I tend to remember expansive public prayers by evangelical friends, or quiet recitation by Catholic friends, or the strong words of the Imam I listened to in the local Mosque, but I cannot remember the last time I heard a member of my faith praise God in prayer; humble, faithful, loving, trusting, petitioning, thankful prayers? yes. prayers of praise? not so much.</p><p>Why? Perhaps it is because the perceived boisterousness or high energy of evangelical praise does not fit the tenor of the prayer we are trying to pray, or the solemnity and tradition of the quiet more formal Catholic prayer seems too different, or the declarations of the Imam seem too unfamiliar for us to incorporate into our own prayers. Or perhaps it is because we cannot find in our vocabulary words that express our awe and understanding of the nature of our God. But that should not preclude us from praising in prayer. Particularly since there are so many admonitions in the scriptures to “praise the Lord”.</p><p>What I am finding is that yes, when I praise God in prayer, I am fully and uncomfortably aware that the words I use, no matter how carefully and respectfully chosen are woefully inadequate. And I don’t like that feeling. </p><p>On the other hand, when I do try to praise him in prayer, verbally or just with my heart because words are so inadequate, and do so before I speak to him of the help I seek for others or myself, or of the good I want to do that day, (acknowledging consciously or subconsciously, in that process, the covenants that I want to keep that cause me to seek to do effectuate and do good), my power to keep those covenants and do that good is increased. My confidence to be able to do and work for good actually increases as I articulate the power and majesty and amazing grace of my God to whom I am both expressing thanks and petitioning for assistance.</p><p>It seems that there is something about praising God in prayer that reminds me of the nature of God and of His ready, willing (full of grace) inclination to help. And that increases my hope and faith as I move forward, which in turn opens my mind to more communication from Him; extra bits of holy determination and vision that empower me to live, more consistently, the covenants (vows) I have made.</p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-74462137282044997802022-07-03T08:58:00.000-05:002022-07-03T08:58:00.522-05:00Halting between two opinions<p> When I have received direction from the Lord and find myself indecisive simply because the alternatives seem reasonable and compelling:</p><p>“How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him”. (1 Kings 18:21)</p><p>“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind:” (Doc & Cov 64:33)</p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-19515526278015867062022-06-22T09:49:00.000-05:002022-06-22T09:49:00.189-05:00Artists’ renderings of David and Goliath<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bhvHgXmA_fsjYq7n9G9FejXvLrG6WZldHgvIQ2clvbSukW6TBIKPAJEGQo9_4Rb9gcBKKF9wUTj5t31obwTRtFj2wQTpa8g1epu6TPNqsniE0rguvqRCYuehauJGCL7CKSgXIvs3Qiqm-EC77JqGBsf7juZPcN1lSM8eutT3IFmj9drexw/s1200/BD138DD2-ECB6-4F87-8554-DAAFE37336CF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bhvHgXmA_fsjYq7n9G9FejXvLrG6WZldHgvIQ2clvbSukW6TBIKPAJEGQo9_4Rb9gcBKKF9wUTj5t31obwTRtFj2wQTpa8g1epu6TPNqsniE0rguvqRCYuehauJGCL7CKSgXIvs3Qiqm-EC77JqGBsf7juZPcN1lSM8eutT3IFmj9drexw/w640-h320/BD138DD2-ECB6-4F87-8554-DAAFE37336CF.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknown Artist<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXzfSE6K44bbbT2TiA2LOM-D3FVm9iqyo7YQ-CC8fBzFygT-S0bZy_3wiZq9Dl69EylVf7zw9HAAPba6EEqSmcXY9wVJMhkSW-rHgtJ0jhD-fjo_Hy-Vyda0f6RBrIcUQecyFhOzekwjf5yy20B1nclJ3gueUgFohHjMo0OqloLfI0msfcA/s2560/DB6FDE18-6785-47D5-A1F1-BE9CB492B75C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2036" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXzfSE6K44bbbT2TiA2LOM-D3FVm9iqyo7YQ-CC8fBzFygT-S0bZy_3wiZq9Dl69EylVf7zw9HAAPba6EEqSmcXY9wVJMhkSW-rHgtJ0jhD-fjo_Hy-Vyda0f6RBrIcUQecyFhOzekwjf5yy20B1nclJ3gueUgFohHjMo0OqloLfI0msfcA/w510-h640/DB6FDE18-6785-47D5-A1F1-BE9CB492B75C.jpeg" width="510" /></a></div><br /> Peter Paul Reubens<p></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-40822699484520953922022-06-21T06:00:00.006-05:002022-06-22T08:08:16.004-05:00"The New and Everlasting Covenant" and "The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage"<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">"The new and everlasting covenant" is composed of "all covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows performances, connections association or expectations" [1] that God invites his children to enter into by the Holy Spirit (ie: ratified as in effect by the Holy Ghost)<a name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></span></span></a>. These covenants referred to are entered into in conjunction with God's authority and power. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The new and everlasting covenant is also called "the fullness of the gospel"<a name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[4] </span></span></span></a>in part, I believe, because it reminds us that we are ultimately called to enter into a complete (full) commitment/covenant to incorporate <i>every</i> part of Jesus's gospel into our lives, covenanting ourselves to being fully united with God; to take upon ourselves the name of Christ.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The new and everlasting covenant includes, therefore, all covenants that we make to more fully live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those covenants include covenants we make at baptism, during the sacrament, when we marry, when we receive priesthood ordination or priesthood power, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">"The new and everlasting covenant of marriage" is the gospel marriage covenant, made in conjunction with God's authority and power, and made between God and two of his children who are in, or who are entering into, a marriage.<a name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[5]</span></span></span></a> It involves a man and a woman giving themselves to each other to be husband and wife in a holy marriage<a name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[6] </span></span></span></a>and, like every covenant, each of them, individually, solemnly makes a covenant to the Lord that they will be faithful to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their marriage; loving and caring for each other. <a name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[7]</span></span></span></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">This covenant also involves a covenant and a promise, on God's part, to seal upon those individuals, certain, specific, heavenly blessings and power to act in godly ways, pronounced by someone who has been given God's power to do so,<a name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[8]</span></span></span></a>which, covenant "in the process of time"<a name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[9]</span></span></span></a> may "sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise".<a name="_ftnref10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[10]</span></span></span></a> They are reminded that the efficacy of the sealing of those blessings and power to act is dependent upon their faithfulness to the Lord. And none of those blessings say anything about people being "sealed to each other". Specific blessings are sealed upon them dependent upon their faithfulness. Being "sealed to each other" is not one of those blessings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">In the temple marriage ceremony what is sealed is the promise of blessings upon each of the two individuals involved, both the husband and the wife, with counsel that their receiving those blessings, individually, depends upon their respective faithfulness to the Lord, and their living the principles of His gospel throughout their lives. This is not an ordinance that is focused on who lives with whom. It is an ordinance that invites us, as individuals, to live holy lives in our relationships, and to be prepared, therefore, to receive the grace and glory that God hopes we will embrace with joy. This is a classic gospel covenant pattern.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Contrary to Latter-day Saint vernacular and happy but theologically sloppy Primary songs, and even the occasional misuse of the phrase in church manuals, a husband and wife are not "sealed to each other" in the temple. Rather, each individual enters into a "new and everlasting covenant of marriage" before God, promising to God that each will, individually, seek to create a holy marriage; a marriage upon a full commitment to the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are also pronounced married and in a marriage relationship that may (if they individually keep the covenants into which they have entered)<a name="_ftnref11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[11]</span></span></span></a> last beyond this life.<a name="_ftnref12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[12]</span></span></span></a> and divine blessings are conditionally "sealed" upon them<a name="_ftnref13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[13]</span></span></span></a> dependent upon their individual faithfulness to the commitment they have made. Again this is a classic gospel covenant pattern.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Temple marriage "sealings', in other words the things that are actually sealed in a marriage in a temple, are not sealings (bindings, tying, gluing eternally into the same celestial relationship) of two people to each other. Temple marriage sealings are actually <i>provisional</i> sealings of specific future blessings upon individuals who have made specific promises to God to live a holy life in their marriage.<a name="_ftnref14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[14]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The blessings that are sealed upon them are dependent upon their individual faithful keeping of their promise to live by the word of God in their marriage thoughout their lives and beyond.<a name="_ftnref15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[15]</span></span></span></a> Those blessings are blessings that, like the blessings of other holy covenants, are ones connected to and are a result of one's efforts to live a holy, or celestial, life.<a name="_ftnref16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[16]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">We are not "family groups" to God (though He does delight in a good and loving family). We are, first and foremost, His individual, beloved children.</p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn1" title="">[1]</a><o:p></o:p><em style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Public Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith</em><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Public Sans", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> p.165.</span></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn2" title="">[2]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 1:15-16, 22-23<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn3" title="">[3]</a> Smith Joseph F, <u>Doctrines of Salvation</u>, 2:46<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn4" title="">[4]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 66:2<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn5"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn5" title="">[5]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 132:9<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn6"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn6" title="">[6]</a> Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/preparing-to-enter-the-holy-temple/preparing-to-enter-the-holy-temple?lang=eng<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn7"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn7" title="">[7]</a> True to the Faith p. 171, The Family a Proclamation to the World<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn8"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn8" title="">[8]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 132:19<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn9"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn9" title="">[9]</a> Moses 7:21, Bednar, David A., Ensign, May 2007, p. 22<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn10"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn10" title="">[10]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-53, Smith, ibid. 2:94-95, Bednar, David A, Ensign, May 2007 p.22<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn11"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn11" title="">[11]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-42, <o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn12"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn12" title="">[12]</a> Lee, Harold B. <u>Stand Ye in Holy Places</u>, p.53<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn13"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn13" title="">[13]</a> Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn14"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn14" title="">[14]</a> Cofford, Kree-L, "Marriage in the Lord's Way, Part 1", Ensign June 1998<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn15"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn15" title="">[15]</a> Smith, ibid. 2:46, Doctrine and Covenants 132:21<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn16"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a name="_ftn16" title="">[16]</a> Doctrine and Covenants sections 121, 76, and 132<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn17"><br /></div></div>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-13707499736254546272022-06-20T12:48:00.003-05:002022-07-04T21:30:54.025-05:00Fear, Impatience, and Thinking That Simply Performing Ordinances Is What You Need to Get God to Assist You 1st Samuel 13:8<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik8qJQ-K9exvGHxLfUbg20IK9GtGXH_w8fzKygPATJdjA285qBeFE-tDKiBW3C6h7SHuJZ8io7P4NsXG9JqN4oxZUgHpjt84-ZQ6ZuWQsWeo_i5BO6b-Vu6uX5WBvc1nCUmVioUiHJZHb0UCt0ioQVjsG6nrstV_gbGTTayCUmJ28clgdPQ/s1650/aa5ed52b65d725f31dbbae8f72c46fcf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik8qJQ-K9exvGHxLfUbg20IK9GtGXH_w8fzKygPATJdjA285qBeFE-tDKiBW3C6h7SHuJZ8io7P4NsXG9JqN4oxZUgHpjt84-ZQ6ZuWQsWeo_i5BO6b-Vu6uX5WBvc1nCUmVioUiHJZHb0UCt0ioQVjsG6nrstV_gbGTTayCUmJ28clgdPQ/s320/aa5ed52b65d725f31dbbae8f72c46fcf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> Before battle, ancient Israelites were counseled to offer sacrifices to God, seeking His help and blessing in the coming fight. Those sacrifices were under the direction of men set apart by God to oversee them, as directed by the Lord.</p><p>Saul found himself preparing for battle against the Philistines in Gilgal following Jonathan’s attack on their garrison at Geba. The huge army gathered by the Philistines was (vs. 5) was frightening to behold, and Saul’s soldiers began to hunker down in defensive positions or desert all-together (vs. 5-6).</p><p>Samuel, the prophet called to express God's will to Saul and all his people, had told Saul to wait 7 full days, and that he (Samuel) would be there to for that rite of sacrifice at the end of that period.</p><p>It must have been excruciating for Saul to watch his outnumbered army increase in fear and decrease in numbers as they awaited the arrival of Samuel. Every day he waited made their situation look worse.</p><p>So he gave up waiting and went ahead and offered the sacrifices himself. It seems to indicate that for him, paying attention to God and making acting under His direction for timing and place…working with Him and drawing nearer to Him that process, was not what was important. Instead it was simply the ritual of sacrifice, by itself, that He believed would bring God’s blessing upon his effort and solve his mounting challenges.</p><p>He was reducing what should have created an experience of divine connection and guidance into an experience that simply went through a ritual in order to get something he felt he desperately needed.</p><p>Samuel’s famous sentence, “Obedience is greater than sacrifice” is not so much a lauding of the principle of obedience, as it is a reminder, when we engage in religious rites, to truly engage with God, receiving direction from Him about how, when, where , who etc. and recommitting ourselves to Him and opening our hearts to further connection and instruction as we do so (a foundational principle of holy obedience). The rite (in this case sacrifice, but it could be applied to any other religious rite) itself is not what is most important. It is humility before God and desire to seek Him and learn from Him and follow His counsel that is the vital part of any such outward form of worship or covenant making.</p><p>When we reduce God to a hander out of favors that we merit through rites (or ceremonies or rituals or performances) rather than discovering the communing with Him that comes as we seek His will and understanding about those rites and during those rites, and seeking to trust and obey His will in that, and in all other things on an ongoing basis.</p><p>“Obedience is greater than sacrifice” is, in essence, “Seeking to do God’s will and working with God as you engage in ordinances and rites and rituals (animal sacrifice in this case) is of far greater importance and value to you, and connects you with God in far more blessedly, than simply participating in or carrying out those ordinances, rites and rituals”.</p><p><br /></p>Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30249372.post-50271187069185141092022-06-15T05:50:00.000-05:002022-06-15T05:50:03.446-05:00Overlooking Weaknesses<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.008); color: #333333;">“I have long felt that happiness in marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one’s companion. That involves a willingness to overlook weaknesses and mistakes.”</span><span class="noteMarker" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><br />
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gordon B. Hinckley, </span><span class="emphasis" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333;"> (1997), 325.</span><br />
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Mary Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08273585058125450521noreply@blogger.com0