Was a fountain of living water in Lehi's dream?

One thing that caught my attention during my first attempt to read the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is that Nephi mentioned that the fountain of living water represented the love of God in verse twenty-five of first Nephi chapter eleven:

“And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.” (1 Nephi 11:25)

When I discovered this recently, some colleagues that I spoke with in the temple acknowledged that a fountain of living water was mention in Lehi’s dream.

Since I started from the beginning of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon to share my discoveries with you, I am going to expound on this because I just finished reading Nephi’s account of Lehi’s dream in the book of first Nephi chapter eight. When I reviewed chapter eight of first Nephi, I discovered that the word fountain was mentioned twice in Nephi’s account. He did say that the rod of iron “led by the head of the fountain,” and the second time that the fountain was mention is grim, stating in verses twenty-nine through thirty-two:

“And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father. But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree. And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building. And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.”

Nephi’s original account of Lehi’s dream barely mentions the fact that there was a fountain of living water in Lehi’s vision. Nephi’s account is only an abridgment of his father’s writings. It seems that he assumed that we would have the plates of Lehi in the latter-days. One may think that it is ironic that Nephi’s very brief abridgment of the plates of Lehi will replace the Book of Lehi, since the original manuscript, containing his writing, was lost during the translation of the Book of Mormon in the latter-days. Lehi probably stated that the fountain contained living water.

The following two questions may arise from this circumstance: Why did multitudes drown in the fountain when they sought the great and spacious building, traveling through the fountain of living water? Secondly, why does the fountain of living water and the tree of life both represent the love of God? The second question was asked from my wife last week as we discussed this.

Why did multitudes drown in the fountain when they sought the great and spacious building, traveling through the fountain of living water?

My answer to the first question is that when people learn of the love of God, tasting of the fruit of the tree of life, these people are more accountable, since they traveled along the “strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron”. (1 Nephi 8:20) The iron rod is a representation of the word of God, which is also known as a two-edged sword. One must be careful of the edge of the sword facing you; furthermore, we must balance our knowledge of God as we are to fear and love him. Fear should come from our accountability to God to keep his covenants and commandments, for there are consequences and justice that needs to be answered for the knowledge of his covenants and commandments, if we do not keep them.

Why does the fountain of living water and the tree of life both represent the love of God?

When Jessica asked me this question, I answered her that I think that the tree of life represents the love of Heavenly Father, and the fountain of living water represents the love of Jesus Christ, for “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never athirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

“And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.” (1 Nephi 8:10-12)

Ponder these representations and descriptions of the love of God, and I further invite you to follow the promptings therefrom to feel the love of God. Pondering is a form of prayer, and God will send his spirit to abide with you as you remember and think of him.

Persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham

I am starting to read 1 Nephi chapter 7 in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. I was inspired by the words of Nephi in chapter 6 verse 4 & 5:

“For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.”

I thought to myself what I would write “that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.”

A lot of my writing teaches about the nature of God. I just concluded a series of articles, seeking to persuade man that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost has been the God of all nations from the beginning. A verse that I read from our “Come, follow me” family scripture study yesterday expounded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is 2 Nephi chapter 31 verse 21:

“And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.”

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Christ. 

God has an orderly, simple, and clear path. He is a God of truth. Heavenly Father seeks that all men will be happy and that they may understand the everlasting joy of the gospel, which will lead to eternal life. Eternal life is a life with our families. Heavenly Father has everlasting joy, and he would like all men to join him; however, no unclean thing can enter into his Kingdom, and a path is laid for everyone to be cleansed. Jesus Christ is the central figure in preparing the way, for all mankind would have been lost without him. His perfection and divine nature enabled him to be a mediator of man to forgive them of their sins, preparing man to obtain the Kingdom, if they follow the Godly way within his gospel. Heavenly Father oversaw the atonement of Jesus Christ that he can rightfully redeem all man of their sins. The orderly, simple, and clear path includes obtaining faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of your sins, following the covenant path from baptism to the temple ordinances, and enduring to the end. Heavenly Father has taught all nations that only through Christ can salvation be obtained.

Nephi wrote similarly in verse 20 of the same chapter of 31 of his second book:

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Please schedule a home visit of the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, if you would like to learn more of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ at the following link:

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/requests/missionary-visit

“I am able to do mine own work”

During family scripture study, we explored the following questions from “Come Follow Me”, concerning 2 Nephi 27:20-21: What might the Lord mean when He says, “I am able to do mine own work”? How does this truth influence the way we serve in His Church?

Previous to the session with Jessica, I was reading of the sons of Lehi’s attempts to retrieve the brass plates from Laban. I asked Jessica God’s purpose for her new calling. She said something like to help the youth come unto Christ by mental, social, physical, and spiritual achievements. I was prompted to ask her if she believed in God’s purpose because your belief is expressed in your effort.

Laman asks Laban for the brass plates.

Laman received the commandment of God, but he did not believe in the commandment of God. He probably relied on God too much. He merely asked Laban for the brass plates, explaining that the genealogy of his fathers are on the plates. Who can say whether this is the best way to fulfill the commandment to obtain the brass plates?

2 Nephi 27:21 states “I am able to do mine own work.” Nephi believed this. We may face daunting roles to fulfill in work and callings, but if we believe that God can guide us, we can fulfill the commandments of the Lord.

How do we not rely on God too much? How can we get God’s guidance?

I said that Laman relied on God too much because he expected that God would provide the plates merely by asking. God said the following to teach Oliver Cowdery:

“You have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”

Do you expect that God will do things for you without your due diligence?

I already gave you the path to receive God’s guidance in the verses that I quoted above.

The point of this article is that to fulfill the commandments of God. You need to believe that God has the power to fulfill his word through you or in your life. Nephi believed this in many people’s favorite scripture.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Nephi 3:7)

"Manifesting himself unto all nations" part 3

     After reading the verses for our "Come, Follow me" family scripture study this morning, I found that Heavenly Father is guiding the content of “Once Upon a Precept” as this is part three of “Manifesting himself unto all nations". I was not looking to continue this series of articles. We read the following verses from 2 Nephi chapter 29 verses 7 – 9:

“Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.”

     Reviewing these verses again for the article today, I am thinking that faith in Jesus Christ is not a cultural tradition of the western countries. Faith in Jesus Christ is not a modern religion. The name of the Lamb of God was revealed to the Nephite nation hundreds of years before his birth. They knew the name of Christ. The Jaredite nation also knew of Jesus Christ, and they arrived on the American continent about a thousand years before the Nephites had. I mentioned in my last article that the three kings that visited the Christ child were of foreign nations. Jesus Christ had his disciples establish the church in many nations after his death and resurrection. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sustained by the Holy Ghost as well today, testifying to all the nations of the earth that Jesus Christ did suffer for the sins of man. He has obtained the mercy and judgement-seat[1], being our advocate to the father, if we are faithful to our covenants.

     Please “condemn not the things of God”[1]or not “murmur…because that ye shall receive more of my word”. Read the Book of Mormon sincerely and embrace the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been restored. Jesus Christ is leading the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through his prophets as he has done since the beginning.

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[1] Title Page of the Book of Mormon

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[1] Title Page of the Book of Mormon

"Manifesting himself unto all nations" part 2

I have a simple precept to write about; although, there are many options. I will keep it simple today, a testimony of Christ, expounding on what I wrote about last time. I wrote about how Moroni testified that Jesus Christ manifests himself to all nations.

This morning Jessica and I read 2 Nephi chapter 26 verses 12 and 13, a family scripture study opportunity from “Come, follow me”. The verses states the following:

“And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.”

When I read this, I thought of the three kings that visited Jesus Christ as a child. These kings had the luxury to travel to Bethlehem; however, I expect many other people of their nations would have loved to have joined. They did observe the mighty “signs, and wonders”. That is my simple precept. You don’t have to trust me that there are evidences that God manifested himself unto the Chinese people as I have written last time. The Bible states a story “that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”

The activity invited me to express how Christ was manifested to me by the power of the Holy Ghost. I have had many experiences, and I did not recall one this morning. We don’t need to have one conversion experience to recall. I said that I remember feeling the love of God in the temple. Remembering Christ is what the sacrament prayer states that we may have his spirit to be with us after obedience to his commandments.

"Manifesting himself unto all nations"

Today in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, I read the reformatted title page. This title page was written by Moroni. The only difference between the text of the study edition and the standard edition of the Book of Mormon is that parenthesis are added around the statement concerning the “abridgment taken from the Book of Ether”. These parenthesis were added to emphasize the editor’s belief that the following phrase applies to the entire book; not only Moroni’s abridgment:

“Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations”

The current scripture set that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is commonly known as the “quad”, including the Old Testament, New Testament, Another Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Three of the four parts of the quad was written by the House of Israel (I think that this may be due to the Abrahamic covenant.); however, Jesus is the Christ, and he manifests himself unto all nations.

I have visited China and have friends with ties to the country, and they have seen evidences that Jesus Christ has visited the people of China. We mainly have the records of the House of Israel. All things will be revealed in the millennium. 

Jesus Christ is the savior of the whole Earth. He has suffered for the sins of all mankind that he may forgive them of their sins. Jesus Christ also resurrected, having power over death. This enables all mankind’s resurrection.

I will conclude by quoting the last words that Moroni wrote on his title page of the Book of Mormon. “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.” I love this quote because it testifies of Christ’s role that he is a merciful judge. Pondering this, I have a precept to write about next time. Please do not condemn the Book of Mormon. Give it a chance. Read the Book from the beginning with a sincere attempt to find that it is true. I believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it restores many truths that were lost in the translation of the Bible.

Bonus

I also wrote the following, but I removed it because I don’t believe that it is the true interpretation; however, I will include it because it is pondering of a prophecy:

One understanding of ‘the first shall be last and that last shall be first’ phraseology is that the House of Israel may be understood to receive the Gospel first; then, they will receive the fullness of the Gospel as they are being gathered in the Latter-days by the Gentiles.

There are many understandings of this phrase. I also believe that it means that the Earth was created in a different state than what is it in today called the paradisiacal state or the glory of the Terrestial kingdom. The Earth’s glory fell to a state of Telestial glory after the fall of Adam; however, at the second coming of Jesus Christ the Earth will be raised up again to the paradisiacal state and the glory of the Terrestial Kingdom. I am on a tangent.

Or maybe the Gentiles are the first and the last, since the Jews will reject that Jesus is the Christ until the second coming. The word Gentile alludes to all the nations other than the House of Israel. Adam raised the first families, preaching to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the beginning. The many nations of Adam’s seed, which bottlenecks down to the immediate family of Noah after the flood, are Gentiles. Abraham’s seed and the House of Israel was established a long time after the flood, and there are many other nations covering the Earth before the House of Israel, including the Jaredite nation. The restoration of the fullness Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Latter-days was through the Gentiles.  

The quote was going to be after the second paragraph, and the third paragraph was going to be at the end of the fourth paragraph.

An Introduction to the Sword

     I concluded reading the introduction of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. From my experience reading to 1 Nephi chapter 18 in my first attempt to read the book, I have found it more insightful than reading the standard version of the Book of Mormon. There are a few things that I would like to point out from the introduction. I will address the following: the book is designed with a scholarly perspective, context is preserved better, and reference to the original translation is abundant.

     I am not too scholarly; however, the book keeps in mind the Royal Skousen’s studies of the Book of Mormon. The book states the following concerning him in the Brief History of the Text section: “Royal Skousen, a professor of linguistics and English language at Brigham Young University, is the central figure in the academic analysis of the Book of Mormon text, including its origins, transmission, variants, and grammar.” The current Book of Mormon offers a lot more footnotes with bold chapters with headings. The Maxwell Institute Study edition reduces the extra headings and footnotes to a minimum, respecting that the original golden plates do indicate different chapters; although, the transcript was given to the printer at first without paragraphing or punctuation. The type setter, who is named John Gilbert, organized the transcript with punctuation. One may realize that one person deciding the punctuation of the text can cause variations of meaning in the writing. Clarification have been made throughout the years by the church, but I have found that there has been very minor changes to the original translation.

     The Book of Mormon was originally publish in a paragraph format, and I have come to appreciate this. I would say that Book of Mormon’s context is preserved better this way. The current verse structure can fragment the context of the scriptures. Some verses may be ignored because it is not the rich doctrinal statements that we love. Complete contextual messages are more obvious, since they are in a paragraph, while one might stop reading in a middle of a paragraph without the paragraphing that is found in the current edition of the Book of Mormon.

     I have a reference and a clarification that I would like to relate to you that I have found meaningful in the Maxwell Study Edition of the Book of Mormon as it is a reference to the original translation, which I said that I was going to address. The verse that a word was clarified in is verse 18 of 1 Nephi chapter 12 read as follows:

"And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever."

Coincidently the word that was clarified was the word “word”. I have italicized it in the quotation. In the original transcript the “word” was sword. The ‘sword of justice… beareth record’. The word and sword have the same meaning. 

The word might be the sword of Justice, yet the book of Alma chapter 31 verse 5 says the following:

"And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

However the word has been referred to as the sword many times. Most notably is in the Book of Revelation chapter 19 verse 15, stating the following: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” An interesting thing is that Joseph Smith translation removes the sword again as shown the following quote: “And out of his mouth proceedeth the word of God, and with it he will smite the nations; and he will rule them with the word of his mouth; and he treadeth the winepress in the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Okay. Now that Joseph Smith’s clarification confirmed that God will rule by his word. I need to look into this more. I found the following verses relating the word to a sword or a rod. I also looked up the word rod because it can be related to a hilt or handle of a sword.

• Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Helaman 3:29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.
• sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph. 6:17.
• word of God … sharper than any twoedged sword, Heb. 4:12 (D&C 6:2).
• out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword, Rev. 1:16
• And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 1 Nephi 21:2 (Isa. 49:2.)
• sword of justice hangeth over this people, Hel. 13:5.
• take … the sword of my Spirit, D&C 27:18.
• I would let fall the sword of mine indignation, D&C 101:10.
• repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, D&C 19:15.      
• rod of iron … was the word of God, 1 Ne. 11:25 (15:23).
• he did straiten them … with his rod, 1 Ne. 17:41.
• he shall rule them with a rod of iron, Rev. 2:27 (12:5; 19:15).
• smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, Isa. 11:4 (2 Ne. 21:4; 30:9).

     The word is referred to in the scriptures many time as a sword, and the words of sword and rod is referred to as the word as well. Why is this important? In our homes, we may be tempted to rule with fear for that is the way of the natural man, seeking to accomplish the things that we desire with the least amount of effort; however, many prophets and Jesus Christ himself teaches that his word is sharper than any two edged sword, which is quick and powerful, yet Doctrine and Covenants section 121 verse 41 states “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;”

     I believe that the word sword can be attributed to the nature of God as a person of justice, judgement, and order. We should fear the justice of God. We should fear the consequences of sin.

     The power of the word can also be used as a tool to bless the earth by bring others to God, for it is true. The truth is more powerful than fear. We have been charged to take the sword of the Spirit to fight “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) The word, when we hearken to it, holding on to the iron rod, “shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil.” (Helaman 3:29) Let us take heart and feast of the word of God that we may face the world without fear.

A speech can help guide you through the LGBT discussions and situations

This speech can help guide you through the LGBT discussions and situations. It is by Dallin H. Oaks, a living apostle of Jesus Christ. Click here to read the official website’s publishing of the speech.

Two Great Commandments

By President Dallin H. Oaks

First Counselor in the First Presidency

We must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love.

My dear sisters in the gospel of Jesus Christ, I greet you as divinely assigned guardians of the eternal family. President Russell M. Nelson has taught us, “This Church was restored so that families could be formed, sealed, and exalted eternally.”¹ That teaching has important implications for persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, commonly referred to as LGBT.² President Nelson has also reminded us that we don’t “have to [always] agree with each other to love each other.”³ These prophetic teachings are important for family discussions to answer the questions of children and youth. I have prayerfully sought inspiration to speak to this audience because you are uniquely affected by these questions, which directly or indirectly affect every family in the Church.

I.

I begin with what Jesus taught were the two great commandments.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

“This is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”⁴

This means we are commanded to love everyone, since Jesus’s parable of the good Samaritan teaches that everyone is our neighbor.⁵ But our zeal to keep this second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We show that love by “keep[ing] [His] commandments.”⁶ God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is.

In his recent talk to the young adults of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson spoke of what he called the “strong connection between God’s love and His laws.”⁷ The laws that apply most significantly to the issues relating to those identifying as LGBT are God’s law of marriage and its companion law of chastity. Both are essential in our Father in Heaven’s plan of salvation for His children. As President Nelson taught, “God’s laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.”⁸

President Nelson taught: “Many countries … have legalized same-sex marriage. As members of the Church, we respect the laws of the land … , including civil marriage. The truth is, however, that in the beginning … marriage was ordained by God! And to this day it is defined by Him as being between a man and a woman. God has not changed His definition of marriage.”

President Nelson continued: “God has also not changed His law of chastity. Requirements to enter the temple have not changed.”⁹

President Nelson reminded all of us that “our commission as Apostles is to teach nothing but truth. That commission does not give [Apostles] the authority to modify divine law.”¹⁰Thus, my sisters, the leaders of the Church must always teach the unique importance of marriage between a man and a woman and the related law of chastity.

II.

The work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ultimately concerned with preparing the children of God for the celestial kingdom, and most particularly for its highest glory, exaltation or eternal life. That highest destiny is possible only through marriage for eternity.¹¹ Eternal life includes the creative powers inherent in the combination of male and female¹²—what modern revelation describes as the “continuation of the seeds forever and ever.”¹³

In his talk to young adults, President Nelson taught, “Abiding by God’s laws will keep you safe as you progress toward eventual exaltation”¹⁴—that is, to become like God, with the exalted life and divine potential of our Heavenly Parents. That is the destiny we desire for all we love. Because of that love, we cannot let our love supersede the commandments and the plan and work of God, which we know will bring those we love their greatest happiness.

But there are many we love, including some who have the restored gospel, who do not believe in or choose not to follow God’s commandments about marriage and the law of chastity. What about them?

God’s doctrine shows that all of us are His children and that He has created us to have joy.¹⁵ Modern revelation teaches that God has provided a plan for a mortal experience in which all can choose obedience to seek His highest blessings or make choices that lead to one of the less glorious kingdoms.¹⁶ Because of God’s great love for all of His children, those lesser kingdoms are still more wonderful than mortals can comprehend.¹⁷ The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes all of this possible, as He “glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands.”¹⁸

III.

I have spoken of the first commandment, but what of the second? How do we keep the commandment to love our neighbors? We seek to persuade our members that those who follow lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender teachings and actions should be treated with the love our Savior commands us to show toward all our neighbors. Thus, when same-sex marriage was declared legal in the United States, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve declared: “The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same-sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully.”¹⁹

Further, we must never persecute those who do not share our beliefs and commitments.²⁰ Regretfully, some persons facing these issues continue to feel marginalized and rejected by some members and leaders in our families, wards, and stakes. We must all strive to be kinder and more civil.

IV.

For reasons we do not understand, we have different challenges in our mortal experiences. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. After suffering and repenting for violations of laws we have been taught, we are all destined for a kingdom of glory. The ultimate and final judgment will be by the Lord, who alone has the required knowledge, wisdom, and grace to judge each of us.

Meanwhile, we must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love—keeping the commandments and walking the covenant path, while loving our neighbors along the way. This walk requires us to seek divine inspiration on what to support and what to oppose and how to love and listen respectfully and teach in the process. Our walk demands that we not compromise on commandments but show forth a full measure of understanding and love. Our walk must be considerate of children who are uncertain about their sexual orientation, but it discourages premature labeling because, in most children, such uncertainty decreases significantly over time.²¹ Our walk opposes recruitment away from the covenant path, and it denies support to any who lead people away from the Lord. In all of this we remember that God promises hope and ultimate joy and blessings for all who keep His commandments.

V.

Mothers and fathers and all of us are responsible to teach both of the two great commandments. For the women of the Church, President Spencer W. Kimball described that duty in this great prophecy: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different … from the women of the world. … Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.”²²

Speaking of that prophecy, President Russell M. Nelson declared that “the day that President Kimball foresaw is today. You are the women he foresaw!”²³ Little did we who heard that prophecy 40 years ago realize that among those the women of this Church may save will be their own dear friends and family who are currently influenced by worldly priorities and devilish distortions. My prayer and blessing is that you will teach and act to fulfill that prophecy, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Strength that comes from Temple Covenants

     I am still in the introduction pages of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. I made an article about the difference between the study edition and the current version of the Book of Mormon. I am currently reading a section called “Brief History of the Text”. I like teaching doctrine, so I am not going to get into the history of the Book of Mormon; unless, you want me to. Let me know, if you would like additional insight into the history of the publishing of the book throughout the years. This section of the book is only in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon.

     During family scripture study this morning, we reviewed the following verses of the Book of Mormon, which is a quotation of Isaiah, in 2 Nephi chapter 12, covering verses 1-3:

“The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

“Come, follow me” invites us to ‘share how temple covenants are helping you “walk in [the Lord’s] path.” (2020 ‘Come, follow me’ manual; page 32)

      Thinking of the temple covenants, I am so grateful to live in the latter-days, where we can literally relive taking on the covenants through other people by performing proxy work, helping deceased people receive the covenants for themselves.

      The baptism covenants are not carried out in a formally instructive way as well as the temple covenants, and the temple covenant process is more formal now than before. “The God of Jacob…will [truly] teach us his ways” in temples. I believe that the temple covenants do help me “walk in [the Lord’s] path” because the covenants have a high accountability and quality of instruction. The endowment covers specific individual covenants that that we take upon ourselves.

     Covenants enable us to obtain eternal life, and there is a covenant path. Baptism is not the only covenant. The baptismal covenant expects the individual to obtain all the covenants. Eternal life is not given to people that refuse to take upon themselves all of the covenants of the temple.

Some people may be deceived, thinking that they do not deserve to be “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) or we are not worthy to be given God’s lifestyle; however, Heavenly Father loves all man so dearly that he desires that they enjoy his joy in the life to come. Eternal life is God’s life. The covenants have high standards, but your best effort qualifies you the grace of God.

     The peace of having the Holy Ghost with me daily is a Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is given during the confirmation of baptism, and I am so grateful for this gift. The sacrament is a great instruction tool too, and the chapel becomes an extension of the temple. This is why the chapel is a holy room in our churches.

     Covenants are a great strength for me because it is a promise that I have made with God, and he promises blessings too, if we are obedient to them.

A Children's Book to Teach the Value of Flossing

A church brother was giving out this book, which was a children book to teach the value of flossing, because the ward has an unusual number of dentists in the ward. Click here to download the PDF.

A Parable About Reading the Scriptures Daily

The following parable was part of a Sacrament talk in my ward last Sunday.

The Bible and the Coal Basket

A child admired his grandfather. Seeking to be like him, he read the Bible daily to obtain the wisdom that the grandfather expressed. He was discouraged because he did not understand the Bible and quickly forgot what he understood, bringing his concern to his grandfather.

The grandfather told him to fetch water in his coal basket for him, but it was empty by the time that he return. The father told him to run back. He tried again. The child did not see his logic. Grandfather told him to run faster. The child tried, showing his logic was accurate. The grandfather showed him the point of the exercise, saying that the coal basket was clean; although, it did not retain the water. 

We may not retain everything that we learn, but the spirit that abides with you will cleanse you.