Cleaving unto God.

I have loved this verse for some time:

"Wherefore...repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended toward you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts."  -Jacob 6:5

I love the idea of God cleaving to us, and that meaning has expanded for me as a mom. I imagine how much I love to hold Ethan and Caleb close--to calm their hurts and fears, to teach them new things, to keep them safe. And they cleave to me; they run to me with their hurts and their frustrations, their wants and needs, and I am always happy that they do so. This is the kind of relationship I can have with my Heavenly Father. In order to obtain, I have to follow the instruction to become as a little child, "submissive, meek, humble, patient, easy to be entreated," etc etc.  It is so wonderful and comforting and amazing.

The King's Image

Image from http://www.2-clicks-coins.com/article/how-to-collect-and-maintain-your-coins.html

I know I've been posting a lot of Widtsoe quotes, but I LOVE this:

     "A lump of silver is but a lump of silver in the marketplace, sold by weight under the changing market price. If that lump of silver be passed through the mint it becomes something more than a lump of silver. The King's Image pressed upon it makes it coin of the realm. Thenceforth with a value above its weight and market price it is in the King's service.
     "A human life is but a human life, lost in the multitude of indifferent lives, unless it enters the King's service, unless the King's image be impressed upon it. Then it becomes current coin of the King's realm, which may purchase joy, happiness, satisfaction, otherwise unattainable. Does a life bear the King's image? That is a vital question.
     "How may we so coin our lives? How secure the impress of the King's image? It is not a secret. By losing and forgetting ourselves in a great work, a mighty cause. Thus, we enter the King's service. Thus, we come to bear the King's image. Unselfishness! Selflessness! Great words; greater ideals! Keys to the solution of the world's problems! He who forgets himself in noble service will have success thrust upon him. Whoever mingles with his eating and drinking, with his daily toil and moneymaking, with his pleasure and his pain, the act of loving service of his noblest ideal, will rise to the heights, above the clouds, with the envying multitude below. He will be in the King's service. There is really no other way to true success.
     "You ask for the parts of the spiritual minting press? Here I sum! Faith in God; love of truth; obedience to law; courage to say no; sincerity in labor; temperance in all things; generosity, virtue, and industry. These are elements out of which unselfishness is born, and by which the King's image is impressed upon human lives.
     "...[M]ore seeking after truth, more sharing of it with others, until all of life becomes a mission of service in the King's Cause, until all may know that we are in royal service, in the service of the King of Kings. So is success won and joy obtained--everlastingly."


-John A. Widtsoe, in Alan K. Parrish, John A Widtsoe, A Biography, pg. 512.

The armour of love

"[T]he truth of the restored gospel is becoming understood in the world. . . . If persecution from without is diminishing, contention within is fanned into livelier flame. Of the two methods of destruction--persecution by untruth or discord among those who have accepted truth--the latter is deadlier. . . . Persecution from without is gradually vanishing. . . . But, at the same time, the danger of jealousy, strife and evil speaking among the members of the Church increases. . . . There must be an honest endeavor to love our brethren and sisters as well as the Lord in heaven--the first law of Gospel living. Love begets love. Whenever Latter-day Saints live in love together, their armour and their shield, all their weapons are of heavenly workmanship."


-John A. Widtsoe, CR October 1933

Scriptures = Friends

I loved how Elder Scott described the scriptures in his October Conference talk. I particularly liked how he spoke of the scriptures as friends. Who wouldn't want a friend like this?

Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.

Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change.

Pondering a scripture like that gives great direction to life. The scriptures can form a foundation of support. They can provide an incredibly large resource of willing friends who can help us. A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not weakened with the passage of time.

Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing.

-Richard G. Scott, October 2011 General Conference, Saturday Morning

Organize yourselves...

Last night our "Scripture Picture," as we like to call it with our boys, was a picture of the Kirtland Temple, and this verse:

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.     -Doctrine & Covenants 88:119

My first thought was this: "Ouch! That does not describe my house!" I have never been really good at organizing, but I don't think I have ever had things as bad as they are currently. I just can't seem to get things cleaned and put away, and EVERYTHING in this house needs a scrub-down. Sometimes I really can't get to it, and other times I just don't feel motivated to work on it.

But as I was telling the boys about the temple I envisioned the cleanliness and beauty and order of that place and knew I needed to create that environment here for them. There is a really important reason for doing so in the next verse:

That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.   -Doctrine & Covenants 88:120

In short, Christ cannot be the focus if we are surrounded by mess and distraction. The Spirit can't dwell where there is dirt and disorder. That seems like reason enough to get myself going when I am lacking energy.

But if that isn't enough, here is an interesting thought: our Father is an expert organizer!  He organized all of the intelligences before the world was (Abraham 3:22). He organized the heavens and the earth (Abraham 4:1). He organized man's mortal body (Abraham 4:27)--and if you've studied the human body, that really is something amazing! So it is no surprise that God asks His people to organize according to His laws under His covenant. As we do so, we learn important skills necessary to become like He is.

Giving and sowing

I know I posted once before about what it means to give yourself to your spouse in marriage. But I was thinking about it again recently and did a little studying on the word give. I think it applies to all of our relationships: with God, with our spouse, with those we are called to serve, etc.

I skimmed through the Topical Guide under the word "give," and these 4 scriptures pretty much leaped off the page at me:

1. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
-2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Highlights:
He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly. It's funny that so often we expect to receive more without giving more. At least I do anyway. It's easy to think of all the things that want or that I would like other people to change or do better. It isn't as easy to think of how I can give more and love more. As much as I would like to think that I am not a selfish person, I think selfishness and self-centered-ness are the default settings for the natural man.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. I think often it's better not to give than to give with ulterior motives or expectations. We should first "cleanse the inner vessel" so to speak, and make sure our motives are loving and pure and not manipulative or selfish.

God is able to make all grace abount...that ye...may about to every good work. Remember: God is a partner in an eternal marriage, and he has an interest in all of our relationships! His grace can make our relationships abundant if we give cheerfully.

2. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor. He covetech greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
-Proverbs 21:25-26

Highlights:
[T]he slothful...refuse to labor. ... but the righteous giveth. It's interesting that giving is the antedote to slothfulness. Why? Giving requires work! And it takes our minds away from ourselves. Slothfulness here is related to covetousness--wanting something we aren't willing to work and sacrifice and give for.

The righteous giveth and spareth not. Righteous giving means we don't hold anything back. We shouldn't reserve any part of ourselves.

3. Freely have ye received, freely give.
-Matthew 10:8

Highlight: In any relationship, we should remember both what the other person(s) has given and also what Christ has given for us. More reason not to hold back or hold out.

4. Give, and it shall be given unto you; ...for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured unto you again.
-Luke 6:38

Highlight: This principle of giving is a part of human nature! People respond to fairness, kindness, generosity and love, while demands and accusations put them on the defensive. Sometimes we just have to trust that our giving will come back around to us.

Preach My Gospel and Life's Key Indicators

For some time now (several months at least) I have been feeling like I should go back and study Preach My Gospel. There were things I needed to review and remember, habits from my mission that I should re-establish, and a focus on conversion that I hope to preserve as I teach in my family. But things kept coming up that separated me from my copies of the book (I have at least 3!), and I admittedly didn't pursue it as I should have. So of course John and I just received a calling that requires us to use it.

It reminds me of the biography of Elder Russel M. Nelson. Some time before his call to the Twelve, he felt impressed that he should learn how to play the organ and that he should get up extra early (you know, because as a surgeon he didn't get up early enough) to study the scriptures more thoroughly. He followed the Spirit and did both. And sure enough the call came, and he has been the organist during the meetings of the Twelve since then. Of course I didn't learn my lesson from the biography like I should have, but I finally did dig through our boxes to find a clean, new copy (#4?) of Preach My Gospel, and I've got some catching up to do.

After feeling a little bit stung and a lot inspired by Elder Arden's talk on using time wisely, I jumped to Chapter 8 this evening. A lot of the chapter focuses specifically on the key indicators for missionary work, and I was inclined to skip over it because it doesn't apply directly to me or my current callings (not to mention that I had gone over these hundreds and hundreds of times on the mission). But the first paragraphs of the chapter reminded me how the principles that apply to missionary work apply to all facets of our life. It doesn't even require that much creativity. Here they are, with my ideas added in:

You are assigned to do the Lord's work in a specific area [my home and family, my visiting teach-ees, my ward]. He wants you to watch over your area with love and great care. Your purpose is to help others come unto Him through baptism and confirmation [and temple covenants, and persisting in the gospel].

Do all you can to leave your area stronger than you found it. Meaningful goals and careful planning will help you accomplish what the Lord requires of you. As you care for the people in your assigned area, you will account to Him and to your mission leaders [my husband, my Relief Society Leaders, other ward leaders].

Your missionary call letter [patriarchal blessing, Church manuals of instruction, priesthood blessings, counsel when set apart, temple covenants, the scriptures] states:  'You will also be expected to devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs [law of consecration]. As you do these things the Lord will bless you and you will become an effective advocate and messenger of the truth. We place in you our confidence and pray that the Lord will help you meet your responsibilities in fulfilling this sacred assignment.' This chapter will help you know how goal setting, planning, and accountability can help many people [my own children!, all who surround me] receive the restored gospel.

Stung again! So being thus inspired, I started thinking about what key indicators I should consider in my current callings. For more counsel on how all members should use Preach My Gospel, go here. Back to PMG (Preach my Gospel):

Perhaps you have wondered which of your many duties are the most important. To be able to answer this question, you must understand your purpose and know how effective use of time can help you fulfill this purpose. 

And here is the missionary statement of purpose:

Your purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

This really isn't far from my purpose and calling. But I think one word is a bit narrow and another too broad for me as a wife/mom/VT/ward missionary/regular Church member.

The first word is invite. The missionaries do the inviting. They find and teach and challenge and baptize. But it is up to the rest of us to do the rest of the work. For example, I do need to invite my children to come unto Christ. But as a parent I have a responsibility that goes beyond inviting; it includes providing and preparing and often even proscribing and enforcing. So my key indicators need to be a bit more broad in their overarching objectives.

The second word is others. Not surprisingly, this word is a bit broad for my current callings. I do have a duty to everyone I meet (all my neighbors!), but I have been called to carry out a deeper and more focused work for specific people (my husband and children, people I visit teach, new members who need to be nurtured). So my personal key indicators need to reflect that the majority of my work is with a few important people.

I won't share my personal key indicators here (they're not formed yet, this post is already too long, and they will be different for everyone), but the important part of this study for me was reevaluating my purpose and considering what daily activities will contribute most to that purpose and what I should eliminate. It's something I think we all could do more often.