Joy Cometh in the Morning, or Even Before, Sometimes

 OKAY.  I know that last entry was seriously depressing.  I was feeling all that, It was real and my feelings are valid.  HOWEVER, it is not the end.

I felt a little better just vomiting all that out on the page as I wrote, but I finished and felt even sadder, if that can be imagined. 

I needed something but I didn't know what.

So, I turned to YouTube, to watch a lesson from two of my favorite Sunday school lesson expounders. They are teachers who teach Seminary and Institute in the area where I live.  I usually watch their lesson each Sunday as part of my personal study. But this last week I missed it. 

I do not think this was a coincidence that I watched it today.  And here's why.

The subject of our study this week is the final 3 chapters of Mormon's record of his own people--not as an abridger of the great Book of Mormon, but as a historian and prophet in his own book,  Mormon's book. He has watched his people become extinct because of their wickedness, and eventually it is just himself and his son, Moroni left. He is leaving his "last lecture". (If you ever read Randy Pausch's little book you'll see the similarity.)

Anyway, the teachers I watch mentioned that in scripture there a little pattern of people who feel they have been left all alone, but in their stories we find that God never leaves us all alone--I was reminded that even Jesus was sent an angel in the garden of Gethsemane to strengthen Him.

In the Old Testament we can read about Elijah the prophet who had just spent the last three years alone and was even kept alive by ravens who brought him food. But in 1 Kings 19, we are told that Elijah basically feels so down-hearted--like I did just a few hours ago--that he essentially tells God that he's done and he might as well die like all his ancestors had done. Then he curls up under a juniper tree and falls asleep. An angel gently wakes him and tells him to arise and eat of the cake the angle provides and goes on to tell him that he just needs to eat and rest, that the journey is too great for him right now.

Sometimes you just need someone to let you rest, bring you cake and tell you it is going to be alright. Even if you are a mighty Old Testament prophet.

The teachers use this story to illustrate the similar message we find with Mormon telling us his final story. There are days that feel it's all just too much for us. 

I know that feeling all too well today. 

But this scripture story reminds me that God is in charge. Jesus promised great things, and that goes for me too. Just like He did for Elijah. Just as God the Father did for His Son, Jesus Christ. and just like They have promised even me.

Good things to come.  Not a bad idea to sink into as I settle my heart enough for bed tonight. I am grateful for the miracles that God brings to pass in my life.  Even when it is just a gentle nudge to remember that His miracles are unending and offered to every one of His children. Even me. Even tonight. Even in this world and this day, and this situation.

"...and great shall be the peace of they children."

It's No Wonder

When rotten things happen and people question "Why Me?" do they think they are being picked on by God?  Do they think that God sends the rottenness to them just because He Likes to do that sort of thing?

Maybe I have a different viewpoint of the nature of God, but I sure don't think He sends us rotten things to deal with, specifically.  Maybe He allows rotten things to happen to see how we handle them.  Other times He lets others shovel their rotten choice at unsuspecting, innocent bystanders and those by-standers are left to deal with the consequences that are hardly good.

But the biggest question in this scenario is when things are going great, do people ask the same things?  "Why me?" when the tests come back negative, saving them from painful, expensive and lengthy treatments.  Or, if they get a raise, to do ask "Why Me?" and look for ways to help others around them with their additional income?

I think this scripture explains it all.  Those who keep the commandments of God are blessed and happy.  That said, I also don't believe just because you are living according to God's laws are you exempt from things NOT going your way.  But when you are living according to the principles of the Gospel and obeying God's directives, you have the Holy Ghost with you and that Spiritual companionship helps adjust your perspective so that even bad things can be endured.

And endurance is the hardest part, but also the quest that offers the finest promise at its end.  But it doesn't make it any easier to live in the moment, does it?

I am happy to know God's law and I have been never been happier than when I am living it.  It is a simple "if/then" situation:  IF I do what God asks, THEN I am a happier person.

"Blessed & Happy", That's What It Says

Mosiah 2:41:
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.


Last night The boy and were reading our scriptures together and this verse ended the chapter  we were reading. I'm sure it has been there before, but it jumped out at me and I noticed it like I hadn't on previous reads.

This verse all by itself explains why I should be obedient.  This verse expresses the goals I have for myself and my family. If "obedient" then "blessed and happy".  It is that simple.

But even when it is that simple, it is never that easy, is it?  Especially when you factor in the "hold out faithful to the end" bit.  That is really the hardest part.  But I have a note in my home that says, "Endure what you must; Enjoy what you can".

This week is turning into the "endure what you must" part.  But I'm hoping that if I can do that, I will find things blessed and happy in the end.  Stay tuned.  I'll keep you posted.

Great! Now THAT'S In My Head

This week I was reading in Genesis as part of the Sunday School curriculum in the Old Testament.  This week's lesson focuses on Noah.  So I was reading the chapters dealing with Noah, his family, and the building of the ark.

Maybe it is a sign that I am not reaching my full spiritual potential, but all the while I was reading, I kept hearing a small but distinct voice in my head.  It wasn't the Holy Ghost speaking to me.  It was Bill Cosby.

Mt. Cosby did a bit in his stand up routine long ago about Noah and the Lord speaking to him about flooding the earth and God's command to build an ark.  Norah's reaction in the comedy classic?  "Riiiight.  Who is this, really?"

Irreverent, perhaps.  But really quite funny too, if you think about it.  The Coz was just keeping Noah real, if you know what I mean.

It's probably a good thing I don't get to go to Sunday School this week--I'm teaching Primary during that hour.  I'd just cause trouble giggling every time thought about it.

Just a Subtle Reminder

My [child], peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;  And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-9



Liken the Scriptures

I have begun reading The Book Of Mormon again recently and today I read something I never noticed before.  In 1 Nephi 19:2 Nephi is telling us that he made plate from ore and then began to keep a record of his people.  THEN the Lord commands him to keep the record, but to include the spiritual aspect in it so his people, and everyone else who reads it, will be brought to Christ.

Did I ever know that Nephi was keeping a record BEFORE the commandment came to him to do that? 

Then, he was inspired to do something that the Lord would later command him to do, before he was ever commanded.  I see this in my life right now. 

No, I am not keeping a journal that will scripture someday--Oh, I hope not!

We are making some improvement to the structure we want to utilize for organizing Girls' Camps in the future.  The process of identifying and adjusting has only shown us that some ward YW groups were already making similar adjustments on their own, and now we are just asking everyone to do it.

They were inspired to do something that we are formally going to ask them to do.  Just like Nephi.

Crazy, how the scriptures you read can take on different meanings--or the meanings are made more clear to you--as the situations you encounter demand.  You've gotta love the Spirit for stuff like that!    I know I do!

A Matter of Doctrinal Import...Really

In our family scripture reading last night, we began the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon. You'll recall that King Mosiah died and none of his sons wanted to be king--too busy being missionaries to the Lamanites--so the people are now ruled by the Chief Judge, who happens to be Alma.

Alma's first case comes in the form of Nehor, who goes out preaching all things contrary to the church's teachings and even kills Gideon in a fit of highly impassioned disagreement over doctrine. The people bring him before Alma, who deems his crime worthy of the death penalty.

The couple of things from Alma chapter 1 that I find very curious for our time--remember, Nephi told us to apply all scripture like unto ourselves--but even more than likening them, we are living recreations of the same situations.

In verse 20 we are told: "Yea, they did persecute them and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price."

Then in verse 25, it says: "Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith: nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them."

Any of you see what is happening in front of temples across the country? I got a new email yesterday about what was happening at the Manhattan Temple. Are there persecutions being heaped upon faithful church members? Uh, yeah. I'd say so.

I am sure other faiths who supported the Proposition 8 efforts in California have not had it easy either, but it sure seems the negative attention given to the LDS Church by the Oppose 8 Coalition is a little disproportionate. Maybe it is just because the Church is an easy target.

What I keep thinking about is this: Could this be the kind of challenge that will cause even the 'elect' to be deceived? Will this kind of persecution lead to violence like the persecution heaped on the pioneers? Have I instilled the seeds of testimony in my own kids well enough that they will be firm in their convictions? Will our faith be strong enough to withstand this potential in-your-face persecution? Will mine?

We have always known that we had to stand up for what we believe. But know we also need to stand up for what is right. There can't be a lot of wishy-washy, fence sitting participation any more. The youth are constantly being told to "stand strong and immovable" and "be an example of the believers". These two mutual themes, back to back, cannot be coincidental. The leadership of the church is preparing our youth to be able to withstand what is coming to them, and to us.

We know the eventual outcome in the case of Alma's people. Their civilization was eventually killed off because of their unbelief. But we also know that the Lord has promised that this Gospel will never be taken from the earth again; that it will grow to fill the earth; that in time, the Savior will come again to reign here, with us. In this, we must trust the Lord and follow the instruction "Be still, and know that I am God".

2 Nephi 15:11: The Diet Coke Verse

We were reading in the Book of Mormon as a family last night. This chapter is Nephi quoting Isaiah again--which makes me nod off generally--but verse 11 stirred me from my drowsiness. It reads:

"Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night, and whine inflame them!"

Lately I have been tired from getting "up early in the morning". That causes me some "wo". True!

"That follow strong drink"--well, the hardest thing I drink is Diet Coke and you can find me at Hart's once a day at least, and sometimes it begins early in the morning.

I "continue until night" with the Diet Coke, and occasionally that isn't even enough.

"And whine inflame them"--OK, I added the "h" in the word wine, but the WHINE does inflame me.

OK, I'm told I should liken the scriptures unto myself: So, is this verse telling me I should STOP drinking Diet Coke, or is it an outright validation of my reasoning and justification for drinking Diet Coke?!

Yeah, that is what I thought too. Thanks for backing me up here. See you at Hart's later!