This morning I was studying the story of Joshua and falling of the walls of Jericho in Joshua 6 and I came across this quote by Elder James E. Talmage in the Old Testament Student Manual that I thought was great!

“Some of the latest and highest achievements of man in the utilization of natural forces approach the conditions of spiritual operations. To count the ticking of a watch thousands of miles away; to speak in but an ordinary tone and be heard across the continent; to signal from one hemisphere and be understood on the other though oceans roll and roar between; to bring the lightning into our homes and make it serve as fire and torch; to navigate the air and to travel beneath the ocean surface; to make chemical and atomic energies obey our will—are not these miracles? The possibility of such would not have been received with credence before their actual accomplishment. Nevertheless, these and all other miracles are accomplished through the operation of the laws of nature, which are the laws of God.” (Talmage, Articles of Faith, pp. 222–23.)”

It is not a far stretch from this quote to say that the things that we do every day with technology is a miracle. Building applications, publishing to a worldwide audience instantly… pretty amazing!

Finding Answers from Conference - April 2008 Ensign

Several stories about how Conference has helped people receive inspiration and guidance in their lives. - Receiving Answers - Implementing their Counsel - Serving Again - Learning His Will - Filing the Hungry - Helps for Home Evening

• “Pray that one of the messages at conference will give you the personal revelation you need.” I knew that prayers could be answered through conference, but it never occurred to me to pray for the speakers in advance. Deciding to follow that advice, my wife and I specifically asked the Lord to direct our path through the conference speakers. We prayed for weeks as we eagerly awaited conference.
• To my amazement, the very first conference talk, Elder Richard G. Scott’s “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer,”1 gave me the answer I so desperately sought. During his talk I recalled several impressions I had
• That experience really solidified my testimony of conference and prayer. The talks we hear during conference truly are the words of the Lord, and if we put our trust in Him and earnestly seek Him in fervent prayer, He will guide us in our decisions.
• After watching the Saturday sessions of April 2007 general conference, I began preparing for Sunday by implementing what the Brethren encouraged us to do
• During this time, the missionaries invited me to attend October general conference. What stood out most from the messages was not the content but my feelings
• I felt in both my mind and heart that I was listening to a prophet of God. I felt inspired and strengthened in my convictions; I also felt peace.
• Helps for Home Evening
  • We got a great idea from a friend of ours. We have small children and it is constantly a struggle to get them to listen at conference. We have tried coloring and reading, but we end up spending most of our time telling the kids to be quiet. Well, this past Monday night at FHE we taught our kids the story of King Benjamin and focused on the tents all the families brought and how they faced their doors to the temple. We then decided that we would set up our tent in our house and let everyone come inside and watch General Conference out the door. We talked about making our tent a temple and what it meant when we entered the temple. To help us out, our 6 year old made steeples for our tent with an angel Moroni on the top. They will take off their shoes before entering our sacred temple. I am very hopeful that this will help them understand the sacredness and importance of Conference. comment by Jeff VanDrimmelen

I just read a GREAT commencement talk by Hugh Nibley given in 1983 at BYU.  This is his opening to the talk:

He goes on to talk about the difference between a leader and a manager.  The conclusion is awesome (remember this is to a class of graduating students from BYU!):

“Most of you are here today only because you believe that this charade will help you get ahead in the world. But in the last few years things have got out of hand; “the economy,” once the most important thing in our materialistic lives, has become the only thing. We have been swept up in a total dedication to “the economy,” which like the massive mud slides of our Wasatch Front, is rapidly engulfing and suffocating everything. If President Kimball is “frightened and appalled” by what he sees, I can do no better than to conclude with his words: “We must leave off the worship of modern-day idols and a reliance on the `arm of flesh,’ for the Lord has said to all the world in our day, `I will not spare any that remain in Babylon’” (”The False Gods We Worship,” Ensign, June 1976, p. 6). And Babylon is where we are.

In a forgotten time, before the Spirit was exchanged for the office and inspired leadership for ambitious management, these robes were designed to represent withdrawal from the things of this world–as the temple robes still do. That we may become more fully aware of the real significance of both is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Anyone else read this talk?  If not, I recommend it.  Great stuff!

So, I’m sure that many of those who read this blog already heard that Pres. Hinckley passed away last night.  For me this is the third prophet I can remember passing away.  I was six when President Benson was called to be the prophet.  He led the church for most of my young years (almost 10 years), Then President Hunter led for a the first couple of my high school years. 

It was, however, President Hinckley who was prophet for most of high school.  It was he who issued me a call to serve the wonderful people of Germany for two years.  It was he who led this church when I got home from my mission.  It was he who my wife and I listened to in our early years of marriage for guidance and inspiration from the Lord.  And it was he who we listened tas we began having children and all these past years.

How grateful I am for a man that was willing to literally give his life in service to the Lord.  He is such an amazing example of optimism in a deteriorating world.  And to me, a man who kept his covenants, no matter what.  Giving his all to God and the building of his kingdom on the earth.

It just bring a smile to my face to think about him reunited with his beloved wife again.  He lived a great life with her and it was clear to everyone in the church how much he loved her and missed her after she was gone.  In my mind, he will always be remember for famously saying he can’t ever remember having a disagreement with his wife.

In the MTC they have pictures of all the prophets in the context of what service they provided to the world and the church during their earthly ministries.  I have no doubt that one of the things the President Hinckley will be remembered for his focus on the family and focus on temple work.  Soon after he became prophet we received the Proclamation On The Family.  Then in ‘99 was the push to have 100 temples by 2000 and the introduction of the mini temple.  Our temple here in Raleigh is one of those mini temples.  Were it not for his outside the box thinking, we would still be driving 4 1/2 hours to the Washington D.C. Temple. 

From the tech side, we lose a great proponent of technology.  I believe it was he who led the charge to create video temple sessions.  I believe it was also he who started all these video campaigns we see on TV now a days.  Under his direction I’m sure the church tech guys have grown many many fold.  The church website alone has come a long way. :)  I just looked and it was while he was prophet that we first got a church website…

Thank you President for all you taught me and will continue to teach me.  You have left a legacy that has affected millions.  God be with you till we meet again President Hinckley. :) 

We learn in the scriptures that “remembrance” plays an important role in the gospel plan.  We constantly need to be reminded about who we are, where we come from, and what we are doing here.  For that reason I subscribe to e-mail listserv’s that send out good quotes every day. I usually get them on my blackberry at different times throughout the day and make it a point to read them where ever and what ever I am doing. 

So that it doesn’t get to be an annoyance, but it just keeps reminding me about what is important I only subscribe to two (although there are lots out there!).

• LDS-Gems - Daily quotes from leaders that “offer inspiration and increased gospel knowledge for both members and nonmembers”
• The LDS Daily WOOL (Words Of Our Leaders) - pretty much the same as above, but I have never have overlapping quotes to my knowledge.  Good stuff!

The quote from today on WOOL is just AWESOME!

“Nephi-like, might we ask ourselves what our children know? From us? Personally? Do our children know that we love the scriptures? Do they see us reading them and marking them and clinging to them in daily life? Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? Have they heard us not only pray with them but also pray for them out of nothing more than sheer parental love? Do our children know we believe in fasting as something more than an obligatory first-Sunday-of-the-month hardship? Do they know that we have fasted for them and for their future on days about which they knew nothing? Do they know we love being in the temple, not least because it provides a bond to them that neither death nor the legions of hell can break? Do they know we love and sustain local and general leaders, imperfect as they are, for their willingness to accept callings they did not seek in order to preserve a standard of righteousness they did not create? Do those children know that we love God with all our heart and that we long to see the face—and fall at the feet—of His Only Begotten Son? I pray that they know this.” - Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Prayer for the Children,” Ensign (CR), May 2003, p.85

So what listserv’s do you subscribe to?  How do you “remember” all the great things the Lord has done for you?

I have always been very involved in music.  I sang in choir in high school and played in bands through college.  It comes as no surprise that many parts of my testimony first started by feeling the power of good spiritual music in my life.

This morning my 7-month old son was up during my study time again, and it is my duty to take care of him till 6:00 so my wife can sleep.  That means I can’t really study, so I turned to trusty ol’ BYU TV for a little spiritual uplifting.

BYU TV online deserves a post by itself.  It has some great features that allow you to watch online, anywhere, and pretty much anything they have.  So I browsed around till I found this awesome program: “America’s Choir: The Story of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.“  I highly recommend it.  It really shows how the choir has evolved and the wonderful work they have done.

On a sidenote, they have ALWAYS been on the front of adoption of technology and now stand as the longest running radio program in the nation.

If you don’t have time to watch the whole thing, watch start watching at around 49 minutes and watch through 54 minutes.¹  Here is some of the words from that part of the show…

It is a tremendously beautiful performing organization and is recognized as such and valued as such.” (President Hinckley)

This band of teachers, engineers, doctors, accountants, mothers and dads, have sung from coast to coast, country to country, at music festivals, in great halls, stadiums, and parades, and in outdoor settings reminiscent of their desert beginnings.

In these days of political, personal and economic disintegration.  Music is not a luxury, it is a necessity.  It is the persistent focus of our intelligence, aspiration, and good will. (Robert Shawl)

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has touched and lifted audiences and individuals.  360 voices strong, they sing as one, of sacred yearnings, of their deepest convictions, when they offer “here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it” they mean it.

The choir then ends by singing the most beautiful rendition of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” I have ever heard.

1. Note to the tech folks there if they read this… it wouldn’t let me link directly to this spot on the e-mail option… it kept sending me to the wrong day… oh, and it would be nice to just put a time in the start/end time to share instead of having to click the button…[↩]

This morning I came across an article in the CNN news “Believer bitter over prosperity preachings.” The article basically lays out the history of other church’s prosperity gospel… or in simpler terms… the principle that if you pay money, God will bless you with riches. A couple of thoughts:

1. This is just another example of how Satan takes a pure doctrine and twists it. Yes, God will pour out the blessings of heaven when we pay our tithing.¹ So Satan twists that and has people paying money (notice, NOT tithing) to PEOPLE… not the church.

2. There is this misconception… even within the church… that if we are doing what is right we won’t have any trials. Yes… we will be blessed, but blessings sometimes come in the form of trials.

3. Paying money to get the blessings of heaven… hmmm… isn’t that the basic premise of Martin Luther’s Reformation in the 16th Century?² When are we going to learn? We can not buy our way into heaven.³ We have to do our best, and then Christ will make up the rest.⁴

1. Malachi 3:8-10[↩]
2. Wikipedia Article - Indulgences Controversy and the Start of the Reformation[↩]
3. Acts 8:20; 1 Timothy 6:10[↩]
4. 2 Nephi 25:23[↩]

This morning I was studying out of Preach my Gospel and there was a scripture study question asking how the Lord wants us to approach gospel study. It gave several scriptures as references. One was from 2 Nephi 32:3.

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

It is really interesting to me that Nephi chose to compare studying the scriptures to a feast. My first thought, and frankly the thought I have had my whole life, is to compare studying the scriptures to a TEENAGER thanksgiving feast. Let me explain.

A TEENAGER thanksgiving feast is one where there is tons of food and you eat until you are SICK. I realized this morning for the first time that this may not be exactly what the Lord had in mind. Now that I am approaching middle age, I can’t eat like I used to… and if I do there are consequences for my body, both short and long term.

I belive the Lord was alluding to an adult version of feasting… a moderated one¹ in which we realize with an eye of vision that there is TONS of spiritual food in the scriptures, and we don’t have to eat till we are sick. This spiritual feast we have before us is not going to go bad, and is not going to be cleared before we get back to it. It will be there tomorrow, just as perfect and ready for us to eat as it is now. So…

Take your time. Delve into the scriptures. Really savor the food so you don’t get too full. Eat until you are full, realizing that there is PLENTY of food for me and that there will be tomorrow. But don’t eat to excess… remember, slow and steady wins the course.

1. Topical Guide: Temperance; D&C 59:20; D&C 89:11-12[↩]

So yesterday my sweet companion and I watched a little BYU TV for our companionship study. We decided that since it was Christmas we would watch some Motab and their wonderful singing… well… it was well worth it.

We had the awesome privilege of hearing the story “A Christmas Bell for Anya” accompanied by music and song. It was fantastic. Now I don’t cry much, but I cried yesterday. Not just misty eyed either… tears rolling down the cheeks cried.

I highly recommend it.

A couple of days ago I had lunch with a good friend of mine and at some point the discussion turned toward religion, God, and most specifically in this case, the scriptures. He doesn’t see how scriptures are any different than any other book. They are, after all at their very essence, a historical record of God’s dealings with man. ¹ Both he and I agree that there are great principles to be learned from all sorts of literature.² So what is it that makes scriptures different?

Principles

One of my points was the principles that can be learned. Scriptures are packed full of great principles for us to learn from. And that is true, even in the oft-neglected Old Testament. This morning I was reading in 2 Chronicles and came across a great story about the importance of priesthood authority.³ I have read the OT several times, but it has been 7 or 8 years since the last time and I am finding all sorts of little nuggets again. But time inbetween readings doesn’t make the difference. Circumstances and experiences are the real indicator of the scriptures in our lives. I imagine if I read the same passages tomorrow that I read today I would learn something different. Scriptures are like Ogre’s… they have layers. ⁴

Pattern for our Lives

As I read today I also saw something else that leads to the efficacy of the scriptures. There is a very quick record of what happens when we forget God in our lives. It is a constant pattern that we talk about a lot in the church called the pride cycle. Since I am writing I will just do a small vertical representation of it.

1. Man is Righteous
2. God Blesses Man
3. Man Becomes Prideful
4. Man Begins to Sin
5. Man Forgets God
6. God Humbles Man
1. Man is Righteous

This pattern repeats itself again and again in human history and is documented in all sorts of places.⁵ The scriptures are great for this too!

Bringing Men unto Christ

This morning I did a quick search on LDS.org and came across the Gospel Topic Library Entry for ‘Scriptures.’⁶ There are a ton of resources to go from there, but there was a perfect one line sentence summing it all up:

The principal purpose of scriptures is to testify of Christ and to guide the children of God so they can come unto Him and receive eternal life.⁷

Awesome. Yes, of course. Really the things above are just appendages to this. The central purpose of the scriptures, the one that makes them different than all other books is their purpose. Scriptures are written as a tool to help people understand Christ and his atonement, and apply it in their lives so they can return to live with God again. The Book of Mormon’s subtitle is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” That implies that the first is the Bible, and the Book of Mormon stands as a complimentary tool.

When I think about myself and my conversion to the gospel they have played, and continue to play a daily role in my growth. They provide not only knowledge, but more importantly strength to do what is right. When I read them in the morning I have a greater desire to go and make my life more like the righteous examples in the book, and less like the unrightous examples. Because so many of those good examples ‘talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ,’ and ‘preach of Christ’⁸ I have the same desire. As I act on those desires I am blessed.

How grateful I am for the scriptures in my life.

What about you? What do the scriptures mean to you? What other reasons are there for the scriptures? I know I probably missed some big ones.

1. 1 Nephi 1:1-3, 17; 3 Nephi 5:11, 14, 16-18; 1 Nephi 19:1-4[↩]
2. That is why I studied literature for so long! We used the example of Goethe’s Faust. Faust searches his whole life for something that will bring him joy and never finds it in all the worldly things. He finally finds that joy that he wants while serving others. Also in th end he is supposed to be damned to hell, but he is redeemed through the love of another, love the he didn’t deserve.[↩]
3. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21[↩]
4. 2 Gold stars to the first one to tell me what that reference is from…[↩]
5. People in our church often point to the Book of Mormon, but it is in all books. This morning I was reading in 2 Chronicles 23-28. It seems that almost every other chapter you see an example of a person who is either righteous and prospers, or is wicked and destroyed. Because the time frame that the chapters cover is so great it is easy to see the results of unrightous actions.[↩]
6. Website[↩]
7. see John 5:39; 20:31; 1 Nephi 6:4; Mosiah 13:33–35[↩]
8. 2 Nephi 25:26[↩]