My chickens are wicked...

…well, some part of them is anyway. 

This past spring we got 10 new baby chicks from IFA.  On an impulse, I also picked up a turkey pullet. I thought it might be fun to raise our own Thanksgiving dinner.

When I brought them all home, the turkey was about the same size as the baby chicks.  It didn’t take long, however, for that to change.  Soon he was much, much larger than the hens.  Being raised along with the chickens, he fit in pretty well and probably thought he was just another chicken. 

He kept growing at a faster pace, though, and within a couple of months he towered over the other chickens.  The smaller ones could even walk between his legs.  This led to the perfect name for him—Goliath.  (I’m told it is not usually wise to name your food as it can make it harder to eat when that time comes. But Goliath didn’t seem too endearing, and the name fit him well.)

All was pretty blissful at the coop through the summer.  The chickens matured and started laying their first eggs in beautiful brown and pastel green shades.  The turkey was maturing too and began puffing up his tail-feathers and strutting around the yard.

We’ve all heard the saying ‘proud as a peacock’, but it turns out that peacocks don’t have a corner on pride.  Turkeys can give them a run for their money any day. 

The problem is that when Goliath is all puffed up, he can’t see anything behind him.  He is partially blinded.  It is this “blindness” that gives the chickens their opening.  They seem to take great delight in sneaking up behind him and pecking him right on his exposed backside, sometimes hard enough to draw blood.  I'm sure it hurts.   Each time, Goliath squawks and jumps and the tail-feathers come back down in a protective position.  The offending hen struts away apparently very pleased with herself.

Goliath never learns.  After a few moments, the feathers come back up.  The strutting begins anew.  And soon another hen moves in for a strike.  It’s all part of life in the coop, I guess.

It strikes me though, as a good analogy for our own pride.  Whenever pride creeps into our lives it leaves us blind and exposed in some areas.  Left unchecked for very long, life has a way of nailing us in just the right spot.  I don’t know that I learn much faster than Goliath as I often repeat the same mistakes over and over in my life.

For most of my life I have had far too much pride.  It is something I would like to set aside and remove from my life.  I sincerely apologize and ask your forgiveness for my pride, and especially to the members of my family who have probably been most afflicted by it.  

Nate's First Letter Home

We dropped Nate off at the MTC one week ago today.  He was excited to get started.  It was harder for me than I thought it would be.  I hadn't thought of the sacrifice that parents make in sending their kids on missions.  I am so grateful for the missionary program.  There is no way that we could provide the same growth and same blessings to Nate in two years.

Here is his first letter:

Dear Family,

I just finished my first day at the MTC and it was harder than I expected.  I am still confused about a lot of things and I don't know if I will like it here.  I kinda wish that I could just go to Georgia right now.  But I do like my companion.  His name is Elder Silvey and he seems like a pretty cool guy.

Sorry it's kinda short.  No details this time mom because I have to go to bed but I miss you guys and I hope these two years will go by as fast as everyone says they will.  I know I will come to love it but its a little hard right now.  But anyways I love you guys and I will pray for you.

Love,

Nate

Posting resumes

I haven't posted the past few weeks due to lack of time and trying to get all of the covenant stuff collected into a paper.  What was here on the blog, I've expanded, refined and clarified.  I'll send you all a copy of the final thing via email, hopefully, sometime this weekend.

Thanks for your feedback and input and proof-reading.

:-)

Name change

The blog's new name comes from one of my favorite scriptures.  It is a Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah 61 verse 3.  Speaking of the Redeemer's role it states:

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;  that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Some of Isaiah's words are so poetic.  How often do we find ourselves in the ashes of life? Or find that despite our best efforts everything has turned to ashes around us?  But here we find this glorious promise.  If we give these ashes to the Savior he will turn them into something beautiful in our lives.  All things shall be for our good.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

Congrats to Jess and Devin on their one year anniversary!!  They are such a special couple.  Devin treats Jess like a queen.  He always compliments and builds her up.  We love and appreciate him.  The day of their wedding, one year ago, was definitely one of the highlights of my life.

The harvest is great...

14- And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 – And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 – And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.  (Revelations 14:14-16; emphasis added)

The Savior lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.” -- Matthew 23:27

“What was the object of gathering the Jews, or the people of God in any age of the world?  The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby he could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.  It is for the same purpose that God gathers together His people in the last days, to build unto the Lord a house to prepare them for the ordinances and endowments, washings and anointings, etc.”  – Joseph Smith, TPJS 307-308

Brigham Young stated, ““we have a work to do just as important in its sphere as the Savior’s work was in its sphere.  Our fathers cannot be made perfect without us; we cannot be made perfect without them.  They have done their work and now sleep.  We are now called upon to do ours; which is to be the greatest work man ever performed on the earth.” 

The first modern temple was completed in Kirtland in 1836.

The second, the Nauvoo temple, about a decade later in 1846.

The third dedicated was St. George in 1877, a little over three decades later.

By 1966, the year I was born, the Church had 13 temples in operation, which averages to about 1 per decade.

In 1985, while I was serving a mission, there were 38 temples, an addition of 25 new temples in about 20 years.  This pace of about 1 new temple a year continued until 1995 at which point the Church had 47 temples operating.

From 1996 to 2006, under President Hinckley 76 new temples were announced and completed—an average of 7.7 per year.

Today there are 136 temples in the church; 3 under renovation; 15 under construction and 15 more announced.

I am grateful that the Lord has seen fit to hasten his work.

Truly the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are still few. (Matt. 9:37)

Mom's surgery

Mom--

Thanks for your kind note this morning.  I can speak for all of us kids in saying how grateful we are for your influence in our lives and for all the sacrifices you've made for each of us.  Thanks for your example; for teaching us the gospel; for teaching us to work; and for loving each of us.  None could be blessed with a better mother.

You are in our thoughts and prayers today.  We pray your surgery will be successful, your recovery quick, and that this will be a blessing to you.  How blessed we are by the miracles of modern science and medicine.

Get well soon...

We love you!!

Perspective

Last week I taught an Easter lesson on the Savior in our teacher's quorum.  Before realizing it was Easter Sunday, I had planned a lesson to introduce the new strength of youth booklet.  I ended up combining the two topics, but struggled to find a good way to communicate a couple of ideas that I wanted to share with the young men.  Part of my lesson follows:

One of the highlights of my life is an experience that I shared with my daughter Jessica a few summers ago.  We traveled down to Tucson, Arizona and spent a few days together.  One of our purposes was to visit Kitt Peak which is located on the top of a mountain about 50 miles outside of Tucson.   Kitt Peak is one of the world's premier astronomy research facility.  Jess had been taking an astronomy course in college and astronomy is always something that has interested me as well.  Kitt Peak has a program where you can experience a taste of an astronomer's life for an evening.  We showed up in the afternoon and took a tour of the telescopes and facilities.  After the tour, they put us up in the same dorms that the astronomer's live in during their stay.  We slept for part of the afternoon waiting for nightfall.  We had dinner in their cafeteria before dusk and then went with a guide to our telescope for the night.

We chose one that had a completely retractable dome which let us sit out under the stars all night long.  The weather was pleasant, perfectly clear, and far enough from the city that the milky way appeared to almost be a cloud of light across the sky.  The moon rose about 3:30 or 4:00 that morning, but from about 11 pm until then the sky was spectacular.  We took pictures of nebula, galaxies, and a comet.  Aiming the telescope even at an area of sky that appeared to be completely dark would reveal millions of stars.  It was an incredible experience.  I felt we were looking upon some of God's handiwork.

Astronomers have learned much about the universe.  There is much more we still don't understand.  But I used some examples of what we have learned to illustrate a point.

This illustration highlights the differences between the size of our earth and some of the other planets in our solar system.  Including the remaining planets, the scale shifts.

Notice how small the earth is in comparison with Jupiter and Saturn.  (Poor Pluto isn't even considered a planet any longer.)

Let's assume that these planets represent the lives of people in the world.  Some have greater capacity and greater talents than others.  Some accomplish much.  Others but little.  Some do great good.  Others do great evil and harm.  There are differences.

Now look at the size of our sun in comparison to the planets.  It dwarfs Jupiter.  I told the boys to let this represent what the Lord expected from their lives.  They have been given much and much is expected of them in return.  The Lord expects them to serve honorable missions, to make covenants and to marry in the temple, and to raise a righteous family.

Next compare the size of our sun with other local stars in our galaxy.

Sirius, the bright white one, is one of the brightest stars in our night sky.  At this scale, Jupiter is about 1 pixel in size and Earth is invisible.  Arcturus dwarfs our sun. 

Finally, let's consider one more scale.

This shows our sun in comparison with some of the great stars in our galaxy.  At this scale, our sun is 1 pixel in size.  Jupiter is invisible at this scale.  Even Sirius and Arcturus are miniscule in comparison with Antares.

The point I was trying to illustrate is simply this:  concerning our salvation, if the sun represents what the Lord expects of us (and indeed it represents our all) then Antares represents what the Savior does for us in comparison (his contribution towards our salvation).  My analogy is flawed though in that it still understates the Savior's contribution.

Our contribution, miniscule as it may be, is still crucially important.  (Without it, much of the Savior's work on our behalf is for naught.)  I hope that our discussion of covenants has helped you sense how serious our small portion is in the whole thing.  But we contribute a drop in a vast bucket.  To me this is what it means to be saved by grace.  King Benjamin is right--we are unprofitable servants!  Isaiah is also correct--our righteousness is as filthy rags by comparison.

I hoped that this illustration would help the boys glimpse how much they are loved and how precious they are to their Savior and to their Father in Heaven.

I hoped that it would help them feel a sense of humility.

I also hoped that it would help them feel love and compassion for others.  As we hold ourselves to high standards (and especially as we live them with some degree of success) it is easy to look down on others who may not be living the same standards. 

The Savior taught a parable to illustrate this point:

9 - And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 - Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 - The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 

12 - I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 - And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 - I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.

 (Luke 18:9-14)

  

There is so small a gap between the very best and the very worst of us when viewed from God's perspective.  Isn't one of the first lessons of the temple, as we all dress alike in white, that we are all equal before God?  Jacob counsels us to "think of our brethren like unto ourselves" (Jacob 2:17).  What a contrast to a world that is constantly ranking us, rating us, and comparing us one with another.

Most saints have a past, and sinners have a future.  Let us look upon others with charity, particularly those who are struggling.  Who knows but what they may be converted and the Lord may heal them.  May we also walk with deeper reverence for what the Savior has done for each of us.

The more I learn about it, the more it amazes me.  Isaiah prophesied that "as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so [Christ] opened not his mouth." (Mosiah 14:7).  This doesn't merely refer to the fact that he suffered nobly in silence, but rather that he endured it willingly.  He had but to speak at any time and he could have ended it or walked away.  Yet he did not!  The scripture records that when the time arrived, he "set [his] face like a flint" (2 Ne. 7:7).  He determined to do His father's will in all things.  He also knew what it meant for each of us.  "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. Confused at the grace which so fully he proffers me."

"I believe that none of us can conceive the full import of what Christ did for us in Gethsemane, but I am grateful every day of my life for His atoning sacrifice in our behalf. At the last moment, He could have turned back. But He did not. He passed beneath all things that He might save all things. In doing so, He gave us life beyond this mortal existence. He reclaimed us from the Fall of Adam. To the depths of my very soul, I am grateful to [the Savior]. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. He secured our salvation."  –President Monson

Covenants, part 12 - conclusion

Covenants did not originate in mortality.  Joseph Smith taught, “Everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages…are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator.” (TPJS 190).  Gospel covenants had their origins before the foundation of the world. (D&C 124:40-41)

Prior to entering the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior prayed for his disciples and for those that would believe on him “that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (John 17:21).  How is it possible for us to be one with the Savior and with the Father?  It is only possible through His atonement and through our covenants.

 “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” (AF3).  According to this Article of Faith, three things are necessary for our salvation:  the atonement, laws, and ordinances. 

Obedience to gospel laws is essential, but as Lehi points out we are all condemned by the law (2 Ne. 2:5) since we don’t keep it perfectly.  We need access to the Atonement.  Ordinances bridge the gap.  They are the means, which the Lord has established, for the blessings of the atonement to flow into our lives.  They are crucial.  We cannot be saved without them.  (John 3:5, Mark 16:16, 1 Pet. 3:21, 3 Ne. 11:33, D&C 84:74)  By keeping the covenants associated with ordinances the power of the Atonement becomes efficacious in our lives (D&C 84:20-21).

Most gospel ordinances contain several elements, including: 1) the making of a covenant with associated blessings and cursings; 2) some external physical action, which can be witnessed or recorded as testimony to the covenant entered into; and 3) symbolic teaching(s) in many cases pointing to or enacting future events with respect to our salvation (e.g. baptism points to our eventual death, burial, and resurrection, temple ordinances point towards receiving robes of righteousness, crowns of glory and garments of salvation (D&C 109:76,80)).

“Can we not be saved without going through all those ordinances?  I would answer, No, not the fullness of salvation” (TPJS 331).

“Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances.” (HC 3:392)

“All men who become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ will have to receive the fullness of the ordinances of his kingdom; and those who will not receive all the ordinances will come short of the fullness of that glory.” (TPJS 309, emphasis added)

“If a man gets a fullness of the priesthood of God he has to get it in the same way that Jesus Christ obtained it, and that was by keeping all the commandments and obeying all the ordinances of the house of the Lord.” (TPJS 308, emphasis added)

Joseph taught that “there are three grand orders of priesthood” (TPJS 322), Aaronic or Levetical, Melchizedek, and Patriarchal.  Speaking of Patriarchal priesthood, he stated “Go to and finish the temple, and God will fill it with power, and you will then receive more knowledge concerning this priesthood.” (TPJS 323)

"He shall send Elijah the prophet, and he shall reveal the covenants of the fathers in relation to the children, and the covenants of the children in relation to the fathers." (TPJS 321, emphasis added).  Here Joseph ties covenants and priesthood together (see D&C 2).

By entering into and honestly striving to keep our covenants we offer up our sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit.  This in turn provides access to His grace, which answers the ends of the law in our behalf.  “Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.”  (2 Ne. 2:6-7)

Historic Christianity has gotten this wrong.  The word ‘Testament’ could also be translated as ‘Covenant’.  Many have supposed that the ‘Old Covenant’ of works and justice and the law of Moses was replaced by the ‘New Covenant’ of salvation by grace.  By taking this concept too far, the creeds of Christianity have become abominable in Christ’s sight. (JSH 1:19)  While it is overwhelmingly true that we are saved by grace (2 Ne. 25:23), and that Christ’s grace can shield us from full exposure to the law (Romans 6:14, Romans 10:4, Gal. 2:16, Gal. 3:13, James 2:10), such grace does not remove our covenant responsibility.

Contrary to the notion that the strict ten commandments and law of Moses were replaced by an easier way, Christ actually raised the bar higher.  Those who believe otherwise do not understand his sermon on the mount.  The battle was taken from merely controlling one’s actions to mastering one’s heart, thoughts, and emotions.  Rather than simply refraining from killing, disciples are to forsake anger. (3 Ne. 12:21-22)  Not only is adultery (fornication) forbidden but so are lustful thoughts (3 Ne. 12:27-29).  Those wronged are not to seek justice or an “eye for an eye” but are to forgive and to turn the other cheek.  We are to return good for evil and to love our enemies. (3 Ne. 12:39-44).  Such was the character of the Savior.  Such are the demands of his ‘New Covenant’.

Our best efforts and sacrifices in keeping our covenants pale in comparison with his grace and with what the Lord offers in return.  As Isaiah poetically put it our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  Or in King Benjamin’s words we are unprofitable servants (Mosiah 2:21).

Two things give us great hope:  1) The Lord always keeps his covenants.  There is probably nothing he takes more seriously.  And 2) He remembers us in mercy as we walk uprightly before him (D&C 109:1). 

In conclusion, let us consider the story of Jonah as a type for each of us.   Through disobedience and casualness towards his covenants, Jonah finds himself in the belly of hell.  (I can’t imagine much worse than being in the stinking belly of a whale).  He testified that “the waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head” (Jon. 2:5).  What a poetic description of the degree of trouble, difficulty or trials we find ourselves in at times.

In the midst of this despair, Jonah remembers the temple!  He states “I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” (Jonah 2:4)  What a great example!  In the midst of his trouble, Jonah remembers the temple.  Jonah testifies, “Out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice…When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.” (Jonah 2:2,7) 

He concludes, “I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed.  Salvation is of the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9, emphasis added)

May we, like Jonah, call upon the Lord even if we find ourselves in the belly of hell.  May we remember the temple in our hour of distress or temptation.  May we too pay that which we have vowed.  May we keep our covenants.

In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Covenants, part 11

Returning to Dr. Trumbull’s observation that relationships created by covenants are more binding even than relationships by birth (“blood is thicker than water”), we find a similar idea in the gospel.  Christ stated “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me”. (Matt. 10:37)

In addition to the Savior, we also have a covenantal relationship with our spouse.  “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.” (Moses 3:24, Gen. 2:24, Eph. 5:31, Matt. 19:5)  Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25).  In light of our discussion of covenants does the Lord’s intention for marriage take on added significance?

So important is marriage that we are taught that we cannot be exalted without entering into the ‘new and everlasting covenant’ of eternal marriage (D&C 132:4,7)

God married Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  In God’s eyes, it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18).  Only a woman could complete what was missing.  Together they were the “image of God” (Gen. 1:27).  “Neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:11)   

The story of Eve’s creation is allegorical, not literal.  Her being created “from a rib” from Adam’s side (Gen. 2:21-23) shows us how she is to be regarded.  As part of him.  The two are to become one.  Adam referred to his marriage as “the woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me” (Moses 4:18; italics added).  We should strive for a “remain with me” marriage.

Throughout history, women have probably been much more successful overall in meeting their obligations as wives and mothers than men have as husbands and fathers.  Many women have patiently ministered in love and righteousness for years to a difficult, even “churlish” husband, as did Abigail (1 Sam. 25:3).  But either partner can make a marriage relationship difficult.

One young bride joyfully exclaimed on her wedding day, “Oh, mother, isn’t it wonderful?  Finally, I am at the end of my troubles.”  To which her mother wisely replied, “Yes dear, but which end?”  The mother understood that the fairy tale where the prince slays the dragon and rescues the princess and lives happily ever after is just that—a fairy tale.

There must be an opposition in all things.  Eve asked, “Is there no other way?”  The answer.  There is no other way.  But there is a joy awaiting us on the other side of the opposition.  Joy, which comes in no other way.  It isn’t easy.  Wasn’t meant to be.  Do we expect to share in Christ’s glory without also tasting something of his sufferings as well?

Relationships with our family are potentially the source of our greatest joy and fulfillment and also our greatest sorrow and heartache.  One of my wife’s professors at BYU used to say, “You either married or gave birth to your greatest trial.”  This is so true.

It is in these very difficulties that we find the opportunity to develop and learn Christ-like devotion, even charity.  Nowhere is there greater chance to develop our capacity to love, bless, forgive and serve than in our own families.

Some time ago, I learned of a mother who had several daughters.  All but one were active in the church, several served missions, married in the temple and started righteous families of their own.  The youngest daughter, however, took a completely opposite course with her life.  Her decisions and the consequences of those decisions brought much heartache and grief to her mother.  For years this mother struggled to help her youngest daughter.  Through this process the mother’s soul was stretched and grew.  Later, in a moment of reflection she stated, “I am so grateful for my youngest daughter.  If I have any chance of developing a celestial character it will be because of her.  Because of her, I have learned to give up my pride.  Because of her, I have learned what it means to truly love another with charity.”

Many are in heartbreaking marriages and situations.  Men and women who are worthy and keep the faith will suffer no loss because of a failing spouse.  Nor will anyone be stuck for eternity in an awful relationship that they don’t desire.  Such relationships will not last.  Our temple sealings are conditioned upon our faithfulness.  The marriage must become something worth preserving.

A good test is this simple question:  If my spouse could still have his/her children without me in his/her life, would they still want to have me there?  If the answer to that question is not a resounding yes, then perhaps we have some work to do. 

Perhaps nothing has blessed my marriage more than weekly temple attendance.  It is changing my life, and, in turn, blessing my marriage.  Next to the Savior, my wife is the greatest blessings in my life.  She is truly a comfort, my help-meet and my best friend.  It is my greatest desire that we may live in such a manner that our marriage might be sealed eternally by the Holy Spirit of Promise (D&C 132:19).  Joseph taught this will bless our posterity as well.  “When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother.” (TPJS 321).

A great key to developing celestial relationships came to me from an unexpected source.

One of my children has struggled for the past six years.  Growing up we enjoyed a very close relationship.  Despite all of our efforts to help her, as a teenager she began making choices that were not in her best interest and not in harmony with the gospel or how she was raised.  These choices have brought heartache to her and to us as parents.  At one point, her life was in such a downward, destructive spiral we felt we needed help.

We turned to a wilderness program in Arizona called Anasazi.  Originally developed at BYU, the Anasazi program takes troubled teens into the wilderness for six weeks where they are taught survival skills and important principles and gospel concepts through nature.  It is rather amazing.  Most of the young people entering this program have serious problems with drugs, immorality, or other self-destructive behaviors.  Six weeks later, many leave the trail with miraculous changes in their lives.

What surprised me was Anasazi’s focus.  They don’t focus on the specific behaviors at issue but rather on helping the teen have a change of heart. 

           

They talk about having a ‘heart at war’ vs. a ‘heart at peace’.

Most of these young people enter the program with anger, bitterness, frustration, and rage in their hearts.  They feel victimized and blame others for their problems.  Many hold pain from damaged relationships.  They have hearts at war.

President Benson, years ago in his talk on pride identified the core of pride as being enmity with God and enmity with our fellow man.  Enmity means a state of opposition, antagonism or hostility towards.  He identified pride as the great stumbling block to Zion.  A heart filled with pride is a heart at war. 

The good news is that we can choose how our hearts will be.

The opposite of a heart at war is a heart at peace.  The savior described himself as meek and lowly at heart.  He had a heart at peace even in great adversity.  He had a heart filled with humility and with charity.  Mormon speaks to those followers of Christ that “have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven. And now my brethren, I Judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk the children of men.” (Moroni  7:3-4, emphasis added)

Well why does my heart matter?  Because as Alma tells us that what you send out will return to you again (Alma 41:15).  If my heart is at war, it often provokes war in the hearts of others.  If my heart is at peace, it invites others to have peace as well. 

A few days after returning from Anasazi, one of my other children made a poor choice and did something that she shouldn’t have done.  Now, she rarely needs to be corrected.  So this particular choice was not typical of her behavior.  However, it upset me because it was something I had specifically told her not to do.  I was hurt and angry by the situation.  I gave her a father’s blessing, a.k.a. a stern lecture and an appropriate punishment to fit the crime (i.e. she was grounded for the next day.)  Now, I want to clarify a few things.  I wasn’t yelling at her and nothing that I said was inappropriate or incorrect.  The punishment I gave was also probably appropriate.  However, at the time my heart was at war and not in the right place.  The result was that she became defensive and a little defiant and tried to justify her poor choice.  She angrily left the room feeling like I was being a jerk.  And she was right. 

Having just returned from Anasazi though, I asked myself the question:  Is my heart at war or is my heart at peace towards my daughter.  I realized that my heart was not in the right place.  I was responding more to my hurt and anger than from an honest effort and desire to help my daughter.  So after giving a little time for the emotions to subside, I tried to put myself in her shoes for a few minutes.  I realized there were some things in her life that she was struggling with and were hard for her and that probably influenced her choice.  I went down to her room and as I entered I could see that there was still anger in her eyes.  However, once I started to explain that I understood such-and-such a situation and some of the challenges she was facing, her heart immediately softened.  She responded by stating what a dumb choice she had made and she was sorry about it and was happy to be grounded.

Now what was the difference?  In both scenarios there was a behavior that needed to be corrected and there was an appropriate consequence.  But when my heart was in the right place it helped my daughter to learn and grow from the experience rather than resisting it.  And our relationship was strengthened in the process.

Virtually anything in life can be done with a heart at war or a heart at peace.  Compare for example the heart of Captain Moroni who did not desire to be a man of blood and did not desire to slay his brethren the Lamanites but did so to protect their families, land, liberty, and freedom.  Captain Moroni went to battle with a heart at peace.  He showed it when he spared the defeated Lamanites and allowed them to depart with a promise of peace.

When we change ourselves, we invite those around us to change as well.  We should ask ourselves:  how have I contributed to this situation?  The great news is that this is something we have complete control over.  There are really only three things we do control:  what we think, what we say, and what we do.  But in those three things is great power for change. 

Is there anyone in your life toward whom you have a heart at war?  If so how can you come to have a heart of peace?  The savior stated “He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.  Behold this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.” (3 Nephi 11:39-30)

Covenants, part 10

8.  Witness of the Covenant –

Often a physical reminder of the covenant was put in place.  Two such witnesses commonly found in the scriptural record are rocks and trees.  Both have a degree of permanence and would likely last beyond the lives of the original, covenantal parties.  Both have symbolic meanings attached.

Jacob and Laban used a pillar of stones as a witness of their covenant (Gen 31:44-55).  These stones would not only stand as a reminder, but also formed a boundary.  Neither party was to pass the heap of stones with the intent to harm the other (Gen. 31:52). 

This "heap of stones" was likely an altar.  Jacob and Laban shared a meal upon the heap (Gen. 31:46) probably a sacrificial animal.  The heap of stones (altar) represented the Lord (Deut. 32:4, 1 Sam. 2:2, D&C 50:44) who was to continue to watch over the two parties once they parted (Gen. 31:49).

One of Christ’s titles is the “Rock of Heaven” (Moses 7:53).  He is the rock upon which we are to build (Hel. 5:12); the rock of our salvation (2 Nephi 9:45); the rock from which we are hewn (2 Nephi 8:1); the rock that brings forth living water (2 Ne. 25:20, 1 Corinthians 10:4); the chief corner stone (Eph. 2:20); the stone which the builders rejected (Matt. 21:42); and the stone of Israel (Gen. 35:14).

Years earlier Jacob had placed another pillar of stone as a witness of a covenant made with God:

And he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac…And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest…And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not…And he said…this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone had he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el… And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house (Genesis 28:12-22)

The name beth-el means house of the Lord.  Speaking of this scripture, Marion G. Romney said, “Jacob realized that the covenants he made with the Lord there were the rungs on the ladder that he himself would have to climb in order to obtain the promised blessings—blessings that would entitle him to enter heaven and associate with the Lord….Temples are to us all what Beth-el was to Jacob.” (Temples—The Gates to Heaven, Ensign, March 1971)

When Joshua and the Israelites crossed the river Jordan and entered into the promised land, just as the Lord had covenanted with Abraham centuries earlier, the Lord commanded Joshua to have 12 stones carried from the riverbed and piled in a heap on the other side as a memorial.  This heap was a reminder of the miraculous crossing but also of God’s covenant with Abraham being fulfilled.  It was to be a witness to future generations.  “This may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?  Then ye shall answer them…and these stones shall be a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.” (Joshua 4:6-7; see vs. 1-9)

Later, after they had secured the promised land, Joshua challenged Israel to remain faithful to God with his well known words: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh. 24:15).   When the people chose and witnessed that they would serve God, it is interesting to note that Joshua put them under covenant on that day.  Following which he took a great stone and set it up under an oak tree next to the tabernacle.  “And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.” (Josh. 24:27).  Here we find the use of both a stone and a tree as a covenant witness.

Earlier, we find a tree utilized in the covenant between Abraham and Abimelech.

Abimelech, a Philistine King, recognized that God was with Abraham (Gen. 21:22).  [Incidentally, Abimelech means ‘father of a king’ and was likely a title, similar to Pharaoh, as this name-title was born by more than one person in the Old Testament.]  When a conflict broke out over the well at Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Abraham make a covenant.  Abimilech desired the treaty to be multi-generational extending to his son and his son’s son. (Gen. 21:23).  Abraham gave a gift of seven ewe lambs as a testimony of the truth of his words (Gen. 21:28-30).

As a witness to their covenant, Abimelech planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba and called upon the name of the Lord (JST Gen. 21:31).  This tree(s) would stand as a reminder of the covenant between Abimelech and Abraham, not only to them, but to the generations which would follow.

The idea of a tree as a covenant witness or symbol is appealing to me.  It is appropriate in a gospel context and points to three other gospel trees.

The first tree is the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.  One of our purposes in coming to this Earth is to partake of this tree ourselves—we learn to distinguish between good and evil by our own experience.

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of this tree, they were driven from the Garden of Eden (the world’s first temple) and Cherubim were placed to guard the way back to the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:23-24).   There was time and space given unto man to repent and to learn what he needed to learn (Alma 42:4).

The Savior opened the way for our return as he redeemed us, first in The Garden of Gethsemane where other trees witnessed his atonement, and then on the tree from which he hung as He suffered crucifixion.

In the temple, along with our covenants, we are given knowledge that will allow us to pass these angelic guardians and return to partake of the Tree of Life.  The whole making a beautiful chiasmus of our fall away from and return to the Tree of Life.

Trees are also fitting symbols of covenant partnership.  Trees are not man-made.  We can plant. We can nurture—but it is the Lord that causes the growth.  We share in the fruits.  (Alma 32:28-43).  I testify this is true because I have experienced and am experiencing it in my life.  The Lord has changed me and is continuing to change me.

In Lehi’s vision, he saw the Tree of Life contrasted with the great and spacious building.  The great and spacious building represents the works of men.  As impressive as some of the accomplishments of our modern world may be, all of it will eventually crumble to the dust.  With all of our science and technology, man cannot create a tree, let alone a sprout, or even a seed. 

Not only do those in the building mock those partaking of the fruit, they don’t value one another either.  It is a dog-eat-dog world over there with everyone clawing and scratching their way to the top regardless of whom they must step on to get there.  Those at the top jealously guard their positions fleeting though they may be.  When one falls there is always another waiting to take their place.  It is all pride, vanity, and foolishness.

Contrast that mayhem with the peace and joy found at the tree of life.  Here we see the great worth of our souls unto God.  We get a sense of our worth through what He suffered for us.  We also get a glimpse of our worth through covenants and God’s great condescension in being willing to enter into covenant relationship with us. 

We are left with a choice.  Zion or Babylon.  We can never transplant the Tree of Life into the great and spacious building.  It just doesn’t work.

The temple endowment presentation is not about “history”.  It is “our story”, the dilemma facing all mankind.  It points the way out.  It will lead us to the Tree of Life.

Temples stand as monuments and reminders to our covenants.  They are our beth-el.  May we live so that our lives are also monument to our covenants.

Happy Easter

When I saw His resurrection, I was surprised to see it was still dark.  I had always thought it occurred at sun up, as the return of daylight symbolized the return of life.  But it was dark.  The Gospel of John is the only one which records the darkness of that morning. Even so, it never registered with me that Christ rose in the darkness of that early morning...


Christ does not appear to Mary until after the Apostles left.  The accounts differ in the details.  All four are set out to allow us to consider their similarities and differences... The last account records that Christ told Mary: "Touch me not."  In the Joseph Smith translation the words are changed to read: "Hold me not." (JST- John 20:17).  Joseph's change of the text was warranted.


When Mary realized it was Jesus, she embraced Him joyfully.  She did not timidly reach out her hand, but she readily greeted Him with open arms, and He, in turn, embraced her.  It is difficult to describe what I saw of the incident, apart from saying the Lord was triumphant, exultant, overjoyed at His return from the grave!  She shared His joy.  I was shown the scene and do not have words to adequately communicate how complete the feelings of joy and gratitude were which were felt by our Lord that morning.  As dark and terrible were the suffering through which He passed, the magnitude of which is impossible for man to put into words, these feelings of triumph were, on the other hand, of equal magnitude in their joy and gratitude.  I do not think it possible for a mortal to feel a fullness of either.  And having felt some of what He shares with His witnesses, I know that words are inadequate to capture His feelings on the morning of His resurrection.  He had the deep satisfaction of having accomplished the most difficult assignment given by the Father, knowing it was a benefit to all of His Father's children, and it had been done perfectly.


Mary and Christ embraced.  There was nothing timid about the warm encounter she had with Him.  Then He said to her, "Hold me not" because He had to ascend, return and report to His Father. Joseph Smith was correct when he revised this language.  I then saw Him ascend to heaven.  I saw the golden heavenly light glowing down upon Mary as she watched His ascent.  All this happened while it was yet dark on the morning He rose from the dead.  He has shown this to me and I can testify to it as a witness.

(An excerpt from the book, Come Let Us Adore Him, by Denver C. Snuffer Jr., Millcreek Press, 2009)

How great the cost

In the Garden of Eden, Eve asked a very profound question:  “Is there no other way?” To which Satan answered: “There is no other way.”

The Savior asked essentially the same question in another garden:  Father, is there no other way?

The Father’s answer was the same.  There is no other way. 

But, oh how great the cost!

Good Friday

We'll finish up our discussion of Covenants over the next few days, but today is Good Friday, the day the Savior was crucified, a day which is widely celebrated in Christianity but less so among the LDS.  This year it happens to fall on April 6th.


In remembrance of our Savior, I wanted to share an excerpt from the book, He Chose the Nails, by Max Lucado.  To me it remains one of the most beautiful descriptions of the crucifixion that I've read.  I hope you enjoy it and invite you to ponder it today along with me.

Come with me to the hill of Calvary.

Watch as the soldiers shove the Carpenter to the ground and stretch his arms against the beams.  One presses a knee against a forearm and a spike against a hand.  Jesus turns his face toward the nail just as the soldier lifts the hammer to strike it.

Couldn’t Jesus have stopped him?  With a flex of the biceps, with a clench of the fist, he could have resisted.  Is this not the same hand that stilled the sea?  Cleansed the Temple?  Summoned the dead?

But the fist doesn’t clench…and the moment isn’t aborted.  The mallet rings and the blood begins to drip, then rush.  Then the questions follow.  Why?   Why didn’t Jesus resist?

Because he loved us, we reply.  That is true, wonderfully true, but—forgive me—only partially true.  There is more to his reason.  He saw something that made him stay.  As the soldier pressed his arm, Jesus rolled his head to the side, and with his cheek resting on the wood he saw:

A mallet? Yes.

A nail? Yes.

The soldiers hand? Yes.

But he saw something else….

The crowd at the cross concluded that the purpose of the pounding was to skewer the hands of Christ to a beam.  But they were only half right.  We can’t fault them for missing the other half.  They couldn’t see it.  But Jesus could.  And heaven could.  And we can.

Through the eyes of Scripture we see what others missed but what Jesus saw.  “He canceled the record that contained the charges against us.  He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.”  (Col. 2:14 NLT)

Between his hand and the wood there was a list.  A long list.  A list of our mistakes:  our lusts and lies and greedy moments and prodigal years.  A list of our sins.

Dangling from the cross is an itemized catalog of your sins.  The bad decisions from last year.  The bad attitudes from last week.  There in broad daylight is a list of your mistakes.

This is why he refused to close his fist.  He saw the list!  What kept him from resisting?  This warrant, this tabulation of your failures.  He knew the price of those sins was death.  He knew the source of those sins was you, and since he couldn’t bear the thought of eternity without you, he chose the nails.

The hand squeezing the handle was not just a Roman infantryman.

The force behind the hammer was not just an angry mob.

The verdict behind the death was not decided by jealous Jews.

Jesus himself chose the nails.

So the hands of Jesus opened up.  Had the soldier hesitated, Jesus himself would have swung the mallet.  He knew how; he was no stranger to the driving of nails.  As a carpenter he knew what it took.  And as the Savior he knew what it meant.  He knew that the purpose of the nail was to place your sins where they could be hidden by his sacrifice and covered by his blood.

So Jesus himself swung the hammer.

The same hand that stills the seas stills your guilt.

The same hand that cleansed the Temple cleanses your heart.

The hand is the hand of God.

The nail is the nail of God.

And as the hands of Jesus opened for the nail, the doors of heaven opened for you.