My Sacrament Meeting Talk -- How the Plan of Salvation Affects My Life

Tammy’s Sacrament Meeting Talk

January 31, 2016

How the Plan of Salvation Affects My Life

“In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father prepared a plan to enable us to become like Him and receive a fullness of joy.”¹ This plan is often referred to as the plan of salvation or the great plan of happiness.

“The plan of salvation is the fulness of the gospel. It includes the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all the laws, ordinances, and doctrines of the gospel. Moral agency, the ability to choose and act for ourselves, is also essential in Heavenly Father’s plan.”¹

We should all feel really good about ourselves.  Each one of us made the wise choice to follow our elder brother Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation as was explained to us in the pre-mortal existence.  Unfortunately one third of our brothers and sisters instead chose to follow Satan. They relinquished the opportunity to receive a body and experience mortality.

Our purpose here on Earth is twofold.  To gain a physical body and learn how to master it. And to be tested, to learn and grow through trials and temptations and to paraphrase the prophet Abraham, “to prove ourselves to see if we will do all things that the Lord commands us.”²

Our bodies are a tremendous gift from our Heavenly Father.  They are also what make us more powerful than Satan and his hosts. They will never have bodies and are very sore about that.  They will do everything in their power to destroy our agency and make us miserable like them.

Elder David A. Bednar said, "In the school of mortality, we experience tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, pain, and even the challenges of physical limitations in ways that prepare us for eternity. Simply stated, there are lessons we must learn and experiences we must have, as the scriptures describe, “according to the flesh”…”³

"Satan relentlessly works to distort the most important elements of the Father’s plan. He does not have a body, and his eternal progress has been halted.…Because a physical body is so central to the Father’s plan of happiness and our spiritual development, Lucifer seeks to frustrate our progression by tempting us to use our bodies improperly. One of the ultimate ironies of eternity is that the adversary, who is miserable precisely because he has no physical body, entices us to share in his misery through the improper use of our bodies. The very tool he does not have is thus the primary target of his attempts to lure us to spiritual destruction."³

The second aspect of our mortal experience is to be tested and to prove ourselves.

I've heard people say things like, "Why do I have to go through such hard trials when I'm trying to do what's right?"  Or to sum it up succinctly, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  The answer is easy.

Let's compare our earth life or mortality to school.  There are many degrees available in a variety of subjects from institutions of higher learning.  Everybody who opts for a higher education receives some kind of degree upon completing the requirements.  Our experience here in mortality is much the same.  We are here to learn and work towards a degree of glory.  Depending on the degree we choose to work towards, the requirements may vary greatly.  Working towards an associate degree requires less time and effort than does working towards a doctorate degree.  Similarly, working towards a celestial degree of glory requires more of us than does a lesser degree of glory.  Our individual knowledge and experiences vary greatly whether in academia or mortality. Those who choose the easier path don’t learn as much and don’t progress as far as those who choose a more advanced degree.

Sometimes we go through difficult trials because we need them to learn and grow.  This is how we progress towards becoming more like our Heavenly Father.  And sometimes we go through trials as a consequence of our own or someone else’s bad choices.  Since agency is so central to our Heavenly Father’s plan, He will never take away someone’s agency.  This is why sometimes bad things happen to good people.

Those who are able to face difficult trials and overcome them learn more and become closer to being like Heavenly Father and thus progress farther and more rapidly than those who sail smoothly through life.

Whenever I face a difficult trial I think that Heavenly Father must love me so much to let me take the advanced course.  It also gives me confidence to know that He will never give me more than I can handle. So when I face adversity, I have confidence that I can conquer it.  Knowing that it will help me become more like my Heavenly Father and progress toward exaltation. Much like taking a difficult course in college helps us progress towards obtaining our desired degree.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “…adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy.”⁴

A couple of weeks ago I was re-watching the last General Conference.  Something Sister Linda S. Reeves said really jumped out at me, “I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, “Was that all that was required?” I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter …what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?”⁵

To me, that puts a different perspective on how we should view our lives here in mortality. We should view this experience as a gift from a loving Heavenly Father, who wants the very best for us and wants us to become like Him.  Mortality is not a punishment that we just have to muddle through to reach our eternal reward.  I like to view it as an intense educational experience that we are privileged to have.  I imagine we rejoiced in our pre-mortal life at the opportunity.  Getting to come to earth and experience mortality is like getting into a prestigious university.  Both of which provide many challenges and require hard work, yet can be very rewarding.

Even though it’s a test and an intense learning experience, mortality is also meant to be happy.  Nephi said, “… men are that they might have joy.”⁶ If you are one of those people who says, “I’ll be happy when…” -- stop it. Take the time to re-examine your life and count all the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon you, and you will find that they far outweigh the adversity in your life.  Focus on the good and not the bad.  If we are trying to do what’s right and follow the Lord’s commandments, he has promised us much joy and happiness in this life.

When my sister and I were both in college I went to visit her at her university while I was on spring break at mine.  I was on campus with her when she went to check her grade in one of her classes.  As we were walking to the building where it was posted, she told me that if she didn’t get a certain mark in the class that she would not be able to graduate.  So when we got there and saw that the score was lower than she had hoped – she decided that she would go directly to the registrar’s office and drop all of her classes and drop out of school completely.  As we were hastily walking to the registrar’s office I gently reminded her that all hope was not lost. She would still be able to graduate.  Granted it would take more effort, but you don’t throw away four years of hard work because of one failing grade. Thankfully it was a long walk to the registrar’s office and by the time we got there I had convinced her to stay in school and complete her degree.  Which she did.

Do we sometimes get discouraged like my sister and feel like we’re failing and will never be able to obtain the degree we’re working towards?  A university will not kick you out for failing one test or even one course.  Likewise, all hope is not lost because we occasionally fail in mortality.  In academia we can retake classes and continue our quest for a degree. In mortality we can repent and get back on the straight and narrow path toward our celestial degree.

Don’t ever give up hope brothers and sisters. No matter how bad things seem, they will get better.  This life is too short to get discouraged, lose hope and fail.  Remember, this too shall pass and if we endure it well, the rewards are unfathomable.

Because the gift of moral agency is central to the plan of salvation, I want to turn my focus now to consequences of choice.  We’re all well aware of consequences to bad choices, so I’m going to focus on the consequences of our good choices.

The easiest example I can think of is The Word of Wisdom.  By choosing to live the Word of Wisdom, the consequence is a healthy body.  Another example is tithing.  When we pay our tithing, the consequence is financial and spiritual blessings.  Some of which may not be transparent. For instance, we may not always get an unexpected check in the mail when we pay our tithing.  The Lord might bless us by our car not breaking down and not having the added expense of repairs.  Or perhaps we may not get sick and therefore save money on doctor bills.  Those are consequences of paying tithing we may not recognize.  Obeying the law of chastity is another example. Some of the consequences of obeying the law of chastity are universal consequences to obeying God's commandments including: an increased outpouring of the Holy Ghost, increased happiness, and one we might not think about much but it is certainly true -- increased self-confidence and self-worth.

After my accident, the future I had envisioned for myself in this life changed drastically.  But it didn’t change my eternal perspective or who I am or how I feel about myself.  I don’t base my self-worth on superficial things like what I look like or how successful I am according to the world’s standards but, rather, I base my self-worth on who I am and how I’m living my life.  Therefore, my self-esteem is as high as, or higher than it’s ever been.  Self-confidence and self-worth have never been something I have struggled with because I know who I am.  I know that I am a daughter of God and, am of royal birth. I have the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know the plan of salvation.  I know where I came from, why I'm here and where I'm going.  I think this is something we as members of the Church often take for granted.  Most people in the world don't have the knowledge that we have.  Nor the blessings that come from knowing it and living it.

When I was on my mission -- I served in the Florida Tampa Mission -- my companion and I were out tracting one day, which is something we did quite often.  After knocking doors for a few hours and having no success, we discussed how lucky we were to have the gospel and knowledge of the plan of salvation.  We were offering everybody a priceless gift -- far greater than rubies or diamonds or gold -- yet nobody wanted it.  If everybody actually understood what we were offering them when we knocked on their door, they would have dropped everything and begged us to teach them.

It brings to mind a line from a hymn, “While they who reject this glad message, shall never such happiness know.”⁷  The glad message is the plan of salvation.  If we follow it, we are promised exceeding happiness – not only in this life, but in the life to come.

I like to think of the plan of salvation as a treasure map. The treasure being exaltation. How many of us use the treasure map every day to guide us towards the treasure?  And how many of us roll it up and put it in the corner to collect dust? 

What is the secret to using our treasure map daily to keep us on the right path? The answer is daily prayer and scripture study.

President Monson said, “Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line.”⁸

President Uchtdorf said, “I understand that, at times, some may wonder why they attend Church meetings or why it is so important to read the scriptures regularly or pray to our Heavenly Father daily. Here is my answer: You do these things because they are part of God’s path for you. And that path will take you to your “happily ever after” destination.”⁴

A university will not give you a degree if you do not complete the required coursework—even if you’re just one class short. Likewise, we cannot receive our celestial degree if we do not endure to the end.

When I was on my mission my companion and I tracted into an elderly lady one day.  She invited us in and proceeded to tell us that she and her husband were members of the Church.  Which we found odd because we were the only missionaries in that area and knew all of the members.  She went on to tell us that when they retired and moved to Florida, they also retired from the Church.  Both had served many years in various callings in the Church including him in a bishopric and her in a Relief Society presidency.

Brothers and sisters we can never retire from the Church.  We must not only endure to the end but we must endure it well. How sad to work so hard towards completing a degree just to quit a few credits shy of earning it.

The plan of salvation provides the syllabus and instructions on how to earn our celestial degree.  By following it, we will not only find peace and happiness in this life but we will also earn our celestial degree of glory.

The plan of salvation brings peace and comfort to my life.  For I know my Heavenly Father lives and loves me.  I know my elder brother and Savior Jesus Christ atoned for me and made it possible for me to live with Them again.  I know why I'm here -- the plan of salvation provides the blueprint on how to reach exaltation. I know I will be resurrected one day and my broken and scarred body will be made perfect.  I know that our short time here in mortality is but a blink of the eye, even a nanosecond compared to eternity.  And if we endure it well, how great shall be our joy in the eternities. 

May we all strive to follow our Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness and endure it well.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

References:

1 – True to the Faith, Plan of Salvation, 2004

2– Abraham 3:25

3-- David A. Bednar, We Believe in Being Chaste, April 2013 General Conference

4 –Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Your Happily Ever After, April 2010 General Conference

5--Linda S. Reeves, Worthy of Our Promised Blessings, October 2015 General Conference

6 – 2 Nephi 2:25

7 – “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”, Hymn Number 19

8– Thomas S. Monson, The Race of Life, April 2012 General Conference

Gordon B. Hinckley-- "The Need for Greater Kindness"

The following are excerpts from a General Conference address given by President Gordon B. Hinckley in the April 2006 Priesthood session. President Hinckley is addressing men in this talk but it also applies to women.  :-)

I love President Hinckley.  He was the prophet of my young adulthood.  I have learned much at his feet and he will always hold a special place in my heart.

These excerpts stood out to me as I read this talk.  Enjoy!  :-)

"I have wondered why there is so much hatred in the world. ...there is so much of jealousy, pride, arrogance, and carping criticism; fathers who rise in anger over small, inconsequential things and make wives weep and children fear."

"Now I indicated earlier that I did not know why there was so much conflict and hatred and bitterness in the world. Of course, I know that all of this is the work of the adversary. He works on us as individuals. He destroys strong men. From the time of the organization of this Church he has done so. President Wilford Woodruff said this:

“I have seen Oliver Cowdery when it seemed as though the earth trembled under his feet. I never heard a man bear a stronger testimony than he did when under the influence of the Spirit. But the moment he left the kingdom of God, that moment his power fell. … He was shorn of his strength, like Samson in the lap of Delilah. He lost the power and testimony which he had enjoyed, and he never recovered it again in its fulness while in the flesh, although he died [a member of] the Church” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff[2004], 105)."

"William W. Phelps, who was close to the Prophet Joseph, betrayed him in 1838, which led to Joseph’s incarceration in Missouri. Recognizing the great evil of the thing he had done, Brother Phelps wrote to the Prophet, asking forgiveness. The Prophet replied in part as follows:

“It is true, that we have suffered much in consequence of your behavior—the cup of gall, already full enough for mortals to drink, was indeed filled to overflowing when you turned against us. …

“However, the cup has been drunk, the will of our Father has been done, and we are yet alive, for which we thank the Lord. …

“Believing your confession to be real, and your repentance genuine, I shall be happy once again to give you the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice over the returning prodigal.

“Your letter was read to the Saints last Sunday, and an expression of their feeling was taken, when it was unanimously Resolved, That W. W. Phelps should be received into fellowship.

“‘Come on, dear brother, since the war is past,

“‘For friends at first, are friends again at last’” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 165–66).

"Brethren, it is this spirit, expressed by the Prophet, which we must cultivate in our lives. We cannot be complacent about it. We are members of the Church of our Lord. We have an obligation to Him as well as to ourselves and others. This sinful old world so much needs men of strength, men of virtue, men of faith and righteousness, men willing to forgive and forget."

"There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us."

-- Gordon B. Hinckley, The Need for Greater Kindness, April 2006

May we all strive to be more like the prophets in living Christlike lives by increasing our kindness to others and strengthening our faith that we may always radiate the light of the Gospel wherever we are.

That's my two cents.

Prophetic Quotes On Apostates

“Among the assaults on families are the attacks on our faith, for which parents should prepare their children. Some of it is coming from apostates who had testimonies and now seem unable to leave the Church alone. ...Persecution is not new to the devoted followers of Christ. More recently, however, the anger and venom of our enemies seems to be increasing."

-- James E. Faust, April 1983

The following quotes are all from Brigham Young:

"This is precisely the position of those who leave this Church; they go into the dark, they are not able to judge, conceive or comprehend things as they are. They are like the drunken man—he thinks that everybody is the worse for liquor but himself, and he is the only sober man in the neighborhood. The apostates think that everybody is wrong but themselves."

"Those who leave the Church are like a feather blown to and fro in the air. They know not whither they are going; they do not understand anything about their own existence; their faith, judgment and the operation of their minds are as unstable as the movements of the feather floating in the air." (DBY, 84)

"If the Saints neglect to pray, and violate the day that is set apart for the worship of God, they will lose his Spirit. If a man shall suffer himself to be overcome with anger, and curse and swear, taking the name of the Deity in vain, he cannot retain the Holy Spirit. In short, if a man shall do anything which he knows to be wrong, and repenteth not, he cannot enjoy the Holy Spirit, but will walk in darkness and ultimately deny the faith (DBY, 85)."

"It is most astonishing to every principle of intelligence that any man or woman will close their eyes upon eternal things after they have been made acquainted with them, and let the … things of this world, the lusts of the eye, and the lusts of the flesh, entangle their minds and draw them one hair’s breadth from the principles of life (DBY, 82)."

"It was said here this morning that no person ever apostatized, without actual transgression. Omission of duty leads to commission (DBY, 82)."

"If the people would live their religion, there would be no apostasy..."

"Let those apostatize who wish to, but God will save all who are determined to be saved (DBY, 86)."

-- Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 1997, Chapter 12

Fractured Femur Update Seven Months Post Surgery

These x-rays are taken seven months after surgery.  It's still very obvious where the fracture is, although the fracture line is obscure. Indicative of healing.

The surgeon says it's healing and I go back in three months for another follow-up.

It would be interesting to compare these films with the films from three months ago.  But I don't feel like finding them and putting them on here.  :-)

AP view January 18, 2016

Lateral January 18, 2016 

Internal oblique January 18, 2016

External oblique January 18, 2016

Thanks to Juliet for picking up the CD for me.  :-)

Scripture of the Day

Alma 12:13-15

13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.

14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.

15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance.

Don't Tell Me What to Do

Somehow I got on a Pam Tillis kick.  She was one of my favorites back in the 90s.  Post-mission college days.  Anyway, one of my favorite songs of hers came back to my memory.  So I want to quote part of it here.

Don't Tell Me What to Do

"We've tried and we've tried but it's over
Guess I didn't fit the image in your mind...
You tell me to...
Oh but baby, aren't you getting out of line?

Don't tell me what to do,
you've already said we are through.
I'm a page that you have turned,
I'm no longer your concern,
so don't tell me what to do,
I'll love you forever if I want to.

Well, I'm a big girl I can take care of myself.

So, don't tell me what to do,
you've already said we are through.
I'm a page that you have turned,
I'm no longer your concern,
so don't tell me what to do,
I'll love you forever if I want to."

This is what I say to all of you manipulative control freaks who try to control everyone else's lives because you have relinquished all control of your own. And also to those who are hoodwinked by them. Don't tell me what to do!

Another great song by Pam Tillis that seems apropos at this time is "Cleopatra, Queen Of Denial".
These lyrics epitomize the aforementioned, "just call me Cleopatra everybody 'cause I'm the queen [or king] of denial".

That's my two cents.

Some Things I've Learned Recently

Some things I've learned recently:

1 -- speaking truth = being mean
2 -- not accepting sin = not being forgiving
3 -- stating facts = being judgmental
4 -- not ostracizing someone = choosing sides
5 -- trying to live my religion by keeping God's commandments = being holier than thou
6 --Believing in any religion = being brainwashed
7 --Strong emotional feelings for faith = not being able to see clearly
8 -- having faith = blindly following like a sheep
9 --Allowing yourself to be manipulated by apostates = being Christlike
10 -- coddling and being buffaloed by an apostate family member = holding the family together

WRONG!  How is it that the person who suffered a severe traumatic head injury is the only one thinking clearly?  Wake up and face reality people. Before it's too late.

That's my two cents.

Interesting Comparison

Apostates are an interesting breed. Their behavior is extremely predictable and has been for millennia. Ironically, every time they say something, they are fulfilling prophecy and validating the scriptures almost verbatim.

Alma 3:18 "Now the Amlicites [Apostates] knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God... nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God"

Here are just a few examples from my recent experience with an apostate. First I will cite the Scripture which quotes an apostate from millennia ago. Then I will cite the parallel quote from a modern-day apostate directly from e-mails I have received from them. The similarities are eerie.

1-- King Noah speaking to his priests about Abinadi: Mosiah 13:1 "...Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad."

Abinadi replying to King Noah: Mosiah 13:4 "...because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad."

Korihor -- an Anti-Christ -- speaking to the people of Zarahemla,: Alma 30:16 "... But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so."

And here's a direct quote from a modern-day apostate: "You are [expletive] crazy." One of many similar quotes.

If I had a dollar for every time an apostate called someone crazy -- I would have more money than Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffett combined.  :-) 

Calling people crazy seems to be a favorite pastime of apostates.  Any time they feel like someone has wronged them in any way -- especially someone they perceive as religious -- they will call them crazy.  Very predictable behavior.  It's been done for millennia.

2-- An Amalekite [apostate] speaking to Aaron [son of Mosiah, missionary] Alma 21:8 "...We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come."

Korihor again: Alma 30:14 "Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers."

Korihor continuing: Alma 30:16 "...and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so."

Korihor speaking to Giddonah [a high priest]: Alma 30:23... And Korihor said unto him: Because I do not teach the foolish traditions of your fathers..."

And the direct quote from a modern-day apostate: "the false traditions that were passed down to me from my ancestors"

It’s uncanny how close the modern-day apostate’s words are to the many references in Scripture.

3-- Jacob 7:7 "And now behold, I, Sherem [An apostate], declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me [Jacob, brother of Nephi].

Jacob 7:9 "And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be."

Alma30:12 "And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor,... began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying:

Alma 30:13 "O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come."

Alma 30:15 "How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ."

Alma 30:17 "And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime."

Modern-day apostate: "If that means going to church and trusting in a savior that you are in need of, ok! I choose to believe that nobody is responsible for my happiness but me. No church leader, no family member, no savior, nobody at all. I am."

How convenient.  If there is no God, there are no commandments, no judgment, no accountability.  It makes the bitter pill of sin easier to swallow. That Satan is a brilliant fellow.  Convince people there is no God and therefore there are no consequences to sin.  Eat drink and be merry for all is well – that seems to be his anthem.  I just can’t believe people actually fall for it.

4-- Alma 30:18 "And thus he [Korihor] did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof."

Modern-day apostate (paraphrasing from an oral conversation): "There is no life after death.  This life is it."

Convenient philosophy for someone who doesn't want to face their maker on judgment day. Also goes along with the "eat, drink, and be merry" philosophy as stated above.

2 Nephi 28:7 "Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us."

5-- Isaiah 65:5 "Which say, ...come not near to me; for I am holier than thou...."

Modern-day apostate: "...stop with your holier than thou attitude."

Classic case of projection.  Apostates like to see themselves as above everybody else.  As is evident in the above scriptural quote.  When in reality they have low self worth as a consequence of their continual poor choices.

"You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible!...Satan would have you believe that happiness comes only as you surrender to his enticements, but one only needs to look at the shattered lives of those who violate God’s laws to know why Satan is called the Father of Lies."  -- Ezra Taft Benson, October 1977

6 -- Alma 21:5 "...behold there arose an Amalekite [Apostate] and began to contend with him [Aaron], saying: ...Behold are not this people as good as thy people?"

Alma 21:6 “Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a righteous people?..."

Alma 21:7 “Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins?”

Alma 21:8 “And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions....”

Alma 21:10 “And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him..."

In the above scriptures the apostates are saying to the missionary, in essence, "we are as good as you" -- obviously feeling inferior --and then asking, "how do you know we need to repent?"  "You don't know the intent of our hearts" so the missionary asks them "do you believe in Christ, the Savior of mankind?"  And the apostates said, "no, that is foolish." Proving that the missionary was right to call them to repentance. Then the apostates get angry and mock because they know they are wrong. 

Ironically, the apostates accuse others of the very thing they are guilty of.

Modern-day apostate: "I only wish I could attain that level of holiness so that I too could sit on my high horse and make accusations and judge others in the same way."

"judgmental like all you jaded holier than thou Christians"

"sit around judging others for the way they choose to live theirs."

"think you are in a position to judge me because of your perceived level of superior spirituality"

More projection.  Apostates tend to anger very easily and mock and persecute those who they perceive as spiritually superior to them. Especially when being called to repentance.

7-- Alma speaking to the people of Ammonihah calling them to repentance. Alma 9:32 “And also because I said unto them that they were a lost and a fallen people they were angry with me, and sought to lay their hands upon me, that they might cast me into prison.”

Alma 21:10 “And it came to pass as he [Aaron] began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake.”

The Prophet Abinadi speaking: Mosiah 13:4 “…and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me…”

Mosiah 11:26 “Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them they were wroth with him, and sought to take away his life…”

Alma 9:31 “Now it came to pass that when I, Alma, had spoken these words, behold, the people were wroth with me because I said unto them that they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people.”

Modern-day apostate: “Am I angry?  Absolutely.”

This is one of the hallmarks of apostates – quick to anger.  There are many more examples from Scripture but I just quoted a few.  Apostates don’t like being told the truth and despise being called to repentance.

The Prophet Nephi: 1 Nephi 16:2 “And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.”

Quoting the Prophet Abinadi: Mosiah 13:7-8 "Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities. 8 “Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger.”

I’ve seen firsthand how quick to anger apostates become when you speak the truth to them.  It’s a sad way to live.  Always on the defense.  To quote one of my favorite country songs, “I don’t know why you’ve got to be angry all the time.”

All of that anger leads to mocking and persecution.

8-- Followers of Nehor another apostate Anti-Christ: Alma 1: 19 “But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.”

Alma 1:20 “Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words..."

Amulon, wicked priest of King Noah: Mosiah 24:8  "...and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children."

4 Nephi 1:29 "And again, there was another ...which denied the Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them"

Modern-day apostate: "Your religion is crap. You were born into it, you have latched onto it, and you follow it like a blind little sheep."

"Your faith in your religion is just as blinding to you as any other religions are to their followers."

"There is no way to reason with someone who is that brainwashed by any religion."

Speaking of children: "Religion hasn't brainwashed them with intolerance and hatred yet."

“a bs religion.”

“your mind is being controlled by a certain set of beliefs you have allowed yourself to be controlled by.”

Just to quote a few of the persecutory statements directed towards me by an apostate. All because I speak the truth.  I guess I should feel privileged to be in elite company such as the prophets and others who have been persecuted for speaking the truth.

The thing about the truth is that it is constant whether you believe it or not.  There is a God.  He has given us commandments that He expects us to obey.  There are consequences for breaking His commandments. The consequences are eternal if we do not repent.  There will be a final judgment where we will be held accountable for our choices and actions.

Whether you choose to believe it or not is your prerogative. The consequences are the same regardless.  Truth is truth whether you believe or not.

It’s very interesting to compare the words of apostates from millennia ago to apostates now.  Their philosophies and arguments are so eerily similar they are almost verbatim.

Satan has been doing his gig since the pre-mortal existence and he is very skilled at it.  It’s very interesting that his philosophies and lies and deceptions remain unchanged.  It’s because he doesn’t need to change them, they are very effective.

It’s amazing to me that people who are so seemingly intelligent are so easily deceived by the same lies that have been told for millennia.  Why people allow themselves to be completely controlled by Satan is beyond me.

In fact one of Satan’s lies he uses to deceive is that following him brings freedom and following the Lord brings bondage.  Obviously the opposite is true.  Following Satan brings nothing but bondage and chains and following the Lord’s commandments brings freedom and happiness.

Alma 12:6 “And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity.”

2 Nephi 2:27 “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

It all comes down to agency.  We choose our own destiny.  Why anyone would allow Satan to take away their agency by believing his lies and letting him completely control their lives is baffling to me.  But that’s exactly what apostates have done. They have chosen captivity and death over liberty and eternal life.  Ironic isn’t it?

To any apostate who may read this blog post I echo Alma’s words to Korihor:

Alma 30:46 “And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.”

That’s my two cents.

Quote of the Day

"Reaching out to rescue one another, under any condition, is an eternal measure of love."

—Ronald A. Rasband

Church Is a Privilege

A lot of people complain about going to church.  They take for granted the wonderful opportunity it is.  I'm not talking about religious freedom or the right to worship as we wish.  Although that could be another blog post.  :-)

There have been a couple times in my life where I was unable to attend church for several months due to health reasons. During those times I really missed being able to "meet together oft".

I'm not a social butterfly so I didn't miss the social aspect of it.  But I did miss the spirit that is there and the peace it brings to the soul. When you are doing what you're supposed to be doing and are where you are supposed to be, you feel good.

Church is a place where your spirit is rejuvenated for the week and it truly is a privilege to be able to attend every week.  Every time I get to go to church I feel blessed.  And when I don't get to go, I'm sad.

During those times that I was unable to attend church on a weekly basis, I began to really appreciate what a privilege it is to be able to attend church weekly.  I've never believed the old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but -- for me at least -- in this case it's true.

For those of you who dread going to church and think up every excuse not to go-- remember those who can't attend church but would love to.  And maybe you'll begin to see it as the privilege that it is, and not a chore.

That's my two cents.

Scripture of the day

"And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things." -- Alma 24:30

"But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!" -- 2 Nephi 9:27

Happy 24th Anniversary

24 years ago today I embarked on my mission and entered the MTC.  Best decision I ever made.

Me with my MTC district --January 1992

In case you don't know which one I am, I'm the good-looking sister in the black sweater.  :-)

Happy 24th Anniversary!  

Samson

Samson is my favorite dog we've ever had.  I always wanted a big white fluffy dog. Samson is a lot like me.  Very independent and likes to do his own thing. We get along swimmingly.  :-)

Samson romping through the fields -- 2007

2007

Good buddies -- Abinadi and Samson overlooking the valley

Samson is a good good good boy!

Price of Bananas

The average price of bananas in the United States in 2015 was $.58 a pound.

Globally the average price of bananas is $.76 a pound.

I read that the price of bananas may go down in 2016 due to worldwide oversupply.

Average price of bananas from 1980-2015

Sorry the numbers didn't copy on the graph. X-axis is date 1980-2015, y axis is price.

The above graph represents banana production by country in Central America.

The above graph represents the percentages of where your money goes when buying a banana.

The above graph represents the amount of fresh food consumed in the United States by pounds per person.  Note that bananas are now the most consumed fresh fruit in the United States overtaking apples.  :-)

Self-Righteous Hypocrites

There is a line from a song by Reba McEntire that goes something like this, "in this world there's a lot of self-righteous hypocrites that call me bad". I've been accused of being such on many occasions recently. It seems as though those pointing the finger at me are, in reality, the self-righteous hypocrites.

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

"Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye." -- Luke 6:41-42

As members of the Lord's true church we will inevitably face persecution and unrighteous judgment just for being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Elder Holland made this clear a couple of years ago:

"With admiration and encouragement for everyone who will need to remain steadfast in these latter days, I say to all and especially the youth of the Church that if you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, The Cost And Blessings of Discipleship, April 2014

People don't like being called to repentance -- history has proven that many times.  As Elder Holland points out, people seem to confuse or misunderstand the difference between forgiving sin and condoning it.

"Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once)." -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, The Cost And Blessings of Discipleship, April 2014

In the world we live in if you do not condone (accept, tolerate and even welcome) sin, you are not Christlike and are being judgmental and not forgiving. And therefore are a judgmental self-righteous hypocrite.  That's what the world teaches. 

Well, guess what!  They are wrong.  Sin should not be tolerated, accepted, or condoned. Christ himself did not tolerate, accept, or condone sin.  In fact He called sinners to repentance. So being Christlike does not equate to condoning sin.  Christ taught us to judge righteously. 

"And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit."  --Doctrine and Covenants 11:12

"Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward..." -- Alma 41:14

All judgments aren't bad.  We can and should judge righteously.

We can love our fellow man and forgive him when he wrongs us --without accepting and tolerating his bad choices and sins. 

Not condoning sins and even calling people to repentance is not being judgmental, hypocritical or self-righteous.  It is being Christlike.

That's my two cents.

Happiness Part Two

"God’s commandments are not given to frustrate us or to become obstacles to our happiness. Just the opposite is true. He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just how we need to live our lives in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible." 

 -- Thomas S. Monson, October 2015

Happiness

In reading the Ensign this month, the following quote stood out to me:

"Any choice not to keep the Lord’s commandments can cause the Spirit to withdraw from our hearts. With that loss, happiness diminishes."

-- Henry B. Eyring, Happiness for Those We Love, January 2016 Ensign

It's very clear through scriptures, "Wickedness Never Was Happiness" -- Alma 41:10, and modern-day prophets that there is a direct correlation between keeping the Lord's commandments and level of happiness.

It's a very simple concept yet something that most people don't comprehend.

That's my two cents.

What Are We Busy about?

"It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?"

-- Henry David Thoreau

I love this quote because it seems like everybody is so busy doing nothing worthwhile. Everybody is always too busy to do the important things in life.  I really noticed this during my mission when we would follow up on people.  It seems like everybody had the excuse that they were too busy to get around to doing what they had committed to do. I.e. reading their scriptures and praying. 

It was then that I realized that busyness is not a matter of time but a matter of choice.  How do we choose to fill our time? 

Here are a few quotes from a talk given by President Uchtdorf at the October 2010 General Conference:

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. ...Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

"It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Overscheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks."

"The wise... resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life."

"Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most." 

 -- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of Things That Matter Most, October 2010

Life is too short to waste it on nonsense.  Choose to fill it wisely and do those things that matter most.

That's my two cents.

So True

It's a helpless feeling to love somebody and want to help them but all offers of help are rejected.  But it's much worse to be manipulated and buffaloed by an addict who is in denial.  Enabling destructive behavior -- in the guise of helping or reaching out -- does everybody a disservice.

This pretty much sums it up:

That's my two cents

Ring out the Old, Ring in the New

As I contemplate the beginning of a new year, I look back and realize how blessed my life is.  2015 was not very kind to me or my family.  Life is full of trials, pains, and sorrows -- and 2015 seemed to dole out more than my fair share.  But that is what mortality is all about.  That is why we are here.  We are here to prove ourselves--to see if we will obey the Lord's commandments.  We are here to learn and grow from our experiences.  It's how we progress.

Along with all the heart aches and hardships come many blessings.  The Lord will always bless us when we try to do what's right and follow Him. Despite all of the pains and sorrows 2015 brought, I have been extremely blessed!  I am so thankful to have the gospel to guide and direct my life.  I'm so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and elder brother, Jesus Christ who bless and watch over me.  I'm so thankful for the plan of salvation and the peace that knowledge brings me.

Here's to a wonderful, richly blessed 2016 full of much joy and happiness!  And may we all be able to endure it well!  :-)

That's my two cents.

Quote

"You have the Savior of the world on your side. If you seek His help and follow His directions, how can you fail?"

—Gary E. Stevenson, April 2014, "Your Four Minutes"