A straight path and a strait path

Dear friend

The time we spend on earth is often described as a journey. On that journey there are many paths we can choose to follow. The path analogy is commonly found in scripture. The directional challenge of channel choosing seems to be one of finding, entering and staying on the right path. The Psalmist knew where to go to find that path; from the Old Testament, Psalm 25:4.

4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

King David, who is credited as the writer of the psalm, certainly asked the right person for directions. A later prophet, Isaiah, explained how those who don't know the way can be lead to the true track. He describing them (us) as "blind" since we can't see what way to go. Isaiah speaks Messianically in the Old Testament, Isaiah 42:16.

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

A near contemporary of Isaiah, Nephi, expressed similar sentiments in the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 33:9.

9 ... But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.

Notice how Christ's path can be both "straight" and "strait". In mathematics a straight line is defined as the shortest distance between two points; that is to say, unbending. While a strait is type of waterway characterised by being narrow. So God's paths are both direct and determinate, linear and lean. One reason for this is given in Doctrine and Covenants 3:2.

2 For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.

So let us be both pointed and pent in our passage along the right path. His way is the only way back to where we belong. It can be strict at times but the Divine destination is well worth the joys and jeopardies of the journey.

Samuel.

Big sins and little sins

Dear friend

We might think to simplify the categories of disobedience to God's commandments as either "big sins" or "little sins". While this might be conveniently concise, it may also be devilishly dangerous. It is a simple step to see little sins as of little significance. Satan loves this thinking. In fact, he thought it up.

I wonder if the trivial transgressions are not actually the tacit test of trustworthiness. I like the truism contained in the Lord’s couplet as recorded in the New Testament, Luke 16:10.

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

There is a lesson here for the casual convert. We might discern the dallying disciple not so much by looking for serious sins, but by noticing the minimised misdemeanours.

Although guilty of very self-destructive and demeaning deeds, young Corianton was counselled by his father, Alma, to be scrupulous in spurning sin, even to the least level. His fatherly advice on the topic comes from the Book of Mormon, Alma 42:30.

30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavour to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.

Sin is sin, and wickedness never brings happiness. So yes, while perfection in obedient performance comes step by step, we should always remember the stationary stipulation of complete compliance as specified in Doctrine and Covenants 1:31.

31 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;

It has been wisely said that the most important commandment is the one we are currently having the most trouble keeping. I pray we will be rigorous in righteousness and daily seek that strict obedience which Jesus taught us to aspire towards.

Samuel.

Look at it this way ... or that way

Dear friend

It is possible for two people to look at the same thing, but perceive it differently. The classic example is the glass half full or the glass half empty. This is generally thought of as a rough test of optimistic or pessimistic personality. Our attitude to gospel principles can also be affected by our personal perspective. Such an insight is suggested in the Old Testament, Proverbs 27:7.

7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

I suppose the full soul sees a half empty glass as a trial to finish. The hungry soul sees a half full receptacle as a start to filling their void. A further illustration of seeing things differently comes from the Lord, as recorded in the New Testament, Luke 24:1-4.

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

This is an example of divine discernment; a more perfect perspective. How we see things can strongly influence how we respond to them. Some people see commandments as restrictions to personal freedom ("thou shalt not ..."). Others see obedience as the chance to accrue beneficent blessings ("if you do this then you get that").

I think it is helpful to occasionally analyse our perspective, in case we are obstructing our options or missing the mark. I believe that in situations of unclear vision, by applying the principle of hope it will help us to see opportunities out of opposition instead of hurdles to happiness.

So I hope we will try to see things more as God sees them, for He sees them as they really are. I pray that our perspectives will be increasingly positive through the Spirit enlightening the eyes of our understanding.

Samuel.

Mildness is not weak, it's gentle power

Dear friend

In the movies the power or voice of God is usually represented by deep, loud, earth-shattering utterances that terrify the people and cause ostentatious displays of omnipotence. How real is this? Consider the example of two humble missionaries, imprisoned for imparting the word of God, and who were in mortal danger from a massive mob closing in to inflict their death. This would surely make an ideal setting for some Godly grandstanding through an impressive intervention. At the point of the malicious mob nearing, the incident is described in the Book of Mormon, Helaman 5:28-30.

28 And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them.
29 And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings.
30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—

So the Hollywood hullabaloo of divine displeasure didn't materialise. Mildness, perfect mildness, masked the manifestation of God's authority. He didn't need to shout. That's not how Spirit speaks to spirit.

King David recognised this principle of peaceful preternatural presence even in his own monarchical majesty; as from the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 22:36.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

God's preferred personality trait is gentleness; a mildness sustained by underlying magnificence. The lesson for us is to mimic His mildness. For example, even when raising a proselytising warning voice, as taught in Doctrine and Covenants 38:41.

41 And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbour, in mildness and in meekness.

So mildness is not weakness but meekness. Gentleness is understated might. I pray we will continually seek to develop the Messiah's mild manner.

Samuel.

If life is a school, will we pass the test?

Dear friend

Mortal life is often summarised by the suggestion that our time in this world is one big test. Some extend the analogy by describing earth life as being like a large school, where there are teachers, rules to follow, where we study, are set tests, practice skills, learn from our mistakes, have final exams and leave as a qualified scholar ... or not.

If this life is a school, it is certainly a tough one at times. Some of the lessons are really hard, the practical applications challenging, and our fellow classmates can be downright troubling; including bullying, belittling, and generally behaving badly. But it seems that difficulties are all part of Creation's curriculum. Consider this counsel from Doctrine and Covenants 101:1-5.

1 Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance—
2 I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions;
3 Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels.
4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.

So, to be sanctified (made holy) in this academy of adversity, we must change through chastening and be tractable through trials. This can include affliction, persecution and rejection. By so doing there is the hidden gem of a promise, that the day will come when the Lord will select us as His precious jewels. We will be His, with all that includes - which is everything the Father has.

That prospect is certainly a prize-giving ceremony we don't want to miss. I hope we make the best of our schooling by being productive, patient, and pliant pupils. I pray we will learn the essential lessons of life by doing our best to pass the test.

Samuel.

Love as a motivation

Dear friend

What motivates God to do all the things He does for us? It is not a hard question. The answer is confirmed in this verse from the Old Testament, Isaiah 63:7.

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

What a great phrase, "the multitude of his lovingkindnesses". The Father and the Son love us and are kind to us in a multiplicity of ways. And how did we, the people of this world, show our thanks for this infinite magnanimity when He came among us in person? Again, the question is not a difficult one. The answer is starkly summarised in the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 19:9.

9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

Even after the rancorous regicidal event, it is hard to conceive how people could so readily conspire to kill their God. Of course, it was eternally necessary that Jesus Christ should be sacrificed, but our fellow earthlings did the deed most despicably. Yet His response to the prejudicial persecution was to submit with an act of "greater love".

The Lord's key message was to follow Him and to do the things He did. The key virtue He exemplified was love. So for the third easy question, what does that mean we need to develop? If there were any doubt, the Apostle Paul summed up the answer in the New Testament, Ephesians 4:32.

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

"Lovingkindness", it sounds so sweet a word to say. I pray we can find it as something sweet to do, and even sweeter to be.

Samuel.

Asking God for gifts

Dear friend

Many families have the tradition at Christmas of children writing letters to Santa. Normally the little ones will compose a wish list of the presents they would like to receive. I suppose it helps parents know what to get and hopefully avoid a gift gaff.

There are obvious parallels with us going to our Heavenly Father with a wish list of blessings we seek from Him. One big difference is that unlike Santa - and maybe some parents - our Father in Heaven knows what we need before we ask. We should remember, though, that as part of our earthly experience, we need to have the capacity to choose, even to choose what we want. We need that full agency. So it must be frustrating for God if we keep asking for the wrong things, or just don't ask but expect. He will not impose righteous choices on us. We must ask before the gift is given.

This concept is impressively illustrated by the Lord Himself during the superlative Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the New Testament, Matthew 7:7-11.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

There is a certainty about the promises of asking, seeking and knocking. The receiving, finding and opening applies to everyone. However, we likely know from personal experience that we don't always get what we want. We may be asking amiss, or the time may be wrong. But we can be confident in our God's gracious giving. He is always ready to open the windows of heaven for the blessings to rain upon us - so long as it is right for us.

Whether it's Christmas or any other time, we may not be seeking gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh on our wish list, but among our righteous requests there could be peace, hope and joy.

Samuel.

Even His birth brought salvation

Dear friend

The birth of Jesus Christ happened in a small town near the holy city of Jerusalem. Best estimates suggest the population of Bethlehem at the time would be no greater than 1000 people. That sounds like a small rural farming village, although it is referred to as the "city" of David. Maybe city meant something different back then.

The blessed babe's birth in that tiny township surely went unnoticed to most in the world. A few people may have remarked on what looked like a new star or some other sign, but they likely would not understand the significance. The holy family eventually settled in Nazareth, which was an even smaller settlement than was the birthplace. Despite the very limited provincial parameters of His existence, Christ's life and death, and life again, was affective for the whole world, not just Judea. He died that we all might live. He brought universal salvation.

But in at least one part of the world it was the birth of the Babe that initially provided salvation, years before His Atoning act. This event is found in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 1:4, 5, 9.

4 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.
5 But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.
...
9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

The believers were in grave danger, but their faith in the face of fatality was rewarded when the Lord revealed a reassuring rescue the day before the dire deadline. His words are recorded in verse 13.

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Everything about Christ's life blesses someone. In this case His followers were vindicated for their faith in Him. He saved their mortal lives by His birth; their eternal salvation would come later.

It is absolutely right to focus on the events that brought an end to Christ's mortal ministry as the major moments of His saving grace. He died that we might live. But as this story illustrates, even the event of His earthly entry saved some diligent disciples who were in danger.

As we contemplate the joyful arrival of the Babe of Bethlehem, I pray that we will look to Jesus to save our lives as we demonstrate our faith in Him, even when faced by our modern unbelieving world.

Samuel.

Joseph: proxy parent to Emmanuel

Dear friend

Some of the prophecies about Jesus Christ's birth were very specific, for example, from the Old Testament, Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2.

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Joseph, who was betrothed to Mary, would surely have known of these prophecies. However, upon discovering that Mary was expecting a baby, these prophetic pronouncements may not have been at the forefront of his mind. At this point one of the prophecies became pointedly pertinent; as seen in the New Testament, Matthew 1:20-24.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Emmanuel or Immanuel, was to come into the world and he, Joseph the carpenter, was to be the foster father. He and Mary would literally experience "God with us". And the soon to be announced need to go to Bethlehem would only reconfirm the legitimacy of the angelic announcement.

Have you ever thought how Joseph must have felt? What a turmoil of emotions he had to experience all at the same time. How would you have felt? I hope we remember to appreciate Joseph’s role in Christ's condescension. Praise be to God for faithful fathers.

Samuel.

Heirs to heaven by covenant

Dear friend

The development towards divine destiny - through people making covenants collectively and individually - has been a core concept in scripture from the earliest of times. At a pivotal point in the covenant chain sits the Patriarch and Prophet Abraham. Abraham received a conditional commitment from Christ that all the nations of the earth would be blessed. This would be achieved through the patriarch's posterity taking the Priesthood and true gospel of Jesus Christ to all people in the world. Every person who accepts the truth are aligned or adopted into Abraham's lineage. They are heirs to inherit the promises of eternity made with Abraham; to become the blessed children of God.

The Apostle Paul taught about the all-encompassing nature of the Abrahamic Covenant. He also confirmed the Covenant's capacity to break down the barriers that label us as different from each other. These barriers of bogus bias provide the basis for the discriminations that divide peoples. Paul's words are recorded in the New Testament, Galatians 3:26-29.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In the spirit of Peter's proclamation that "God is no respecter of persons", Paul provides the levelling lesson that covenant makers (as covenant keepers) are "all one in Christ Jesus". There is no differentiation based on wealth, race, education, gender, ability or any other way of dividing people up. We all have a fair chance at salvation. Our Father does not play favourites with forever.

We can take comfort in the covenants and their essential equity. Faith in Jesus Christ is the key that opens the door to Perfection's pathway. Anyone can choose that for themselves, no matter who they are (we are). I hope we will see ourselves as innate inheritors, heirs, joint heirs with Christ, to the greatest of all blessings, that is, eternal life in the glorious kingdom of our God.

Samuel.

Holding title 3

Holding content 3

Holding title 2

Holding content 2

The belittling behaviour of backbiting

Dear friend

The scriptures contain various listings of what we should or shouldn't do so that we will be welcome in God's holy habitation. Among the "listers" was the Psalmist, David. One of his enumerations of positive and negative attributes contains an example of a "what-does-that-mean?" word. It is found in the Old Testament, Psalm 15:1-3.

1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

"Backbiteth" or backbiting sounded so strange to my young mind when I first came across it; and the unpleasant picture in my head made no sense either. Basically it means fault-finding, malicious gossip, making up or embellishing stories about someone, in particular "biting" into their good name or reputation ... behind their back. Originally it came from the antiquated "sport" of bear-baiting when there was an unsporting attack from the rear.

It seems like backbiting continued to be a problem at the time of the early Church. The Apostle Paul, with another list, included these items that he taught would incur the wrath of God; from the New Testament, Romans 1:30.

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Backbiting is a sin in many religions; some raise it to the level of a mortal sin. The Qur'an even compares it to eating the flesh of your dead brother (and now that's another unpleasant picture in my head). Sadly this tedious tendency towards "evil speaking" seems to pervade the passages of time. In modern revelation there is this further example, from Doctrine and Covenants 20:54.

54 And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;

It sounds like backbiting is definitely a behaviour to banish from our being. So I hope as we consider this serious matter, that we can honestly assess our conversations and communications. I pray we will apply the Golden Rule of "do unto others ..." and treat others' reputations with the same respect we would want; especially behind their/our backs.

Samuel.

Spiritual understanding vs. worldly wisdom

Dear friend

It sounds blatantly braggadocious to boldly claim to know more, or know better, than others. Yet people of faith the world over make just such challenging claims of greater knowledge in their expository exchanges with non-believers. Of course, believers often receive more than their share of criticism for suggesting as real their support for the supernatural, such as; miracles, life after death, and answers to prayers from an unseeable deity. The ubiquitousness of the unbelievers' lack of understanding has been a problem for centuries. The Apostle Paul warned against manifestations of sceptical secularism as recorded in the New Testament, Ephesians 4:17-21.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Those not-of-the-faith ancients are characterised in ways which have their equivalences in our times. These features include: mental vanity which can mean anything from intellectual emptiness to moral depravity; darkened understanding, as in, not illuminated by gospel light; alienation from God due to ignorance; hearts that are blind, cold or hard; being past feeling which is possibly somewhere between apathy and spiritual insensitivity; and, having a tendency towards immorality, impurity and excess.

Paul reminds the Church members in Ephesus how they have been taught about Christ. They have the greater light and knowledge that distinguishes them from non-believers.

I hope we can see through worldly wisdom and it's predictable predilection for wicked ways. But let us strive to be humble, non-confrontational testators of truth.

Samuel.

Know yourself

Dear friend

The terse directive to "know yourself" is nowadays not always offered as sound advice, but as a rejoinder or even a put-down. (As in, "You think I'm the one overreacting? Well you need to 'know yourself' my friend".) It turns out the maxim, or aphorism, to "know thyself" (gnothi seauton) is of ancient origin. Back then it was seen as a lifelong aspiration, a personal pursuit for ultimate understanding.

So then, how well do you know yourself/thyself? What is your essence, your substantive self; meaning those core components that make you you? Who and what are you, fundamentally?

A great starting point from which to answer these existential questions is found in Doctrine and Covenants 93:33-35.

33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.
35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.

The reductionist would approve of the idea that the elements are the core stuff that come together to form our physical body, our tabernacle, us. This includes the lowly dust of the earth, the minerals, water, proteins, fats, and the rest, right down to cells, and then to the literal elements of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and more. At one level that is what we are, an organism, a well organised collection of mainly organic material. But surely we are more than the sum total of a bunch of chemicals, topped up by essential food groups. "You are what you eat" only goes as far as the body, mostly. So is that how we should see ourselves, as just a chemical concoction?

No, our true essence is that of spirit. In trying to comprehend spirit formulation, I imagine the substance of spirit as being a highly refined material of far greater quality and purity than earthly element; completely transcendent of coarse physical terrestrial matter. Yet these two, spirit and element, are necessarily both eternal. Indeed, for the man or woman to have full joy, we learn there must be an "inseparable connection" between body and spirit. This must mean both a resurrection to immortality and an exaltation to the highest glory, since that is the only opportunity for complete perfect endless happiness.

The optimal state of our existing is then, a fully developed spirit in a fully perfected body. At this point while residing on earth, we are practicing this conjoined condition in preparation for forever. A key task is to keep the body/temple clean. Our body belongs to God so we need to be tidy tenants and obedient occupants. Plus, if we inherit our bodies at some time in the future, we want them to be in as good a condition as possible. I believe such corporeal purity is a function of the spirit using the body in increasingly and exclusively more excellent ways. We don't want our temple destroyed by dishevelled disobedience.

I think knowing yourself involves knowing "Who's" you are before you can know who you are. To know thyself also includes seeing beyond our current reality of mortal limitations and forward to what we are destined to be.

Samuel.

Dedicating our whole self to God

Dear friend

When a building is constructed as a place for serving and worshipping God, it is common for a special ceremony or service to take place. This is often called a Dedication Service. Such an event is to signify that, unlike other buildings, this particular building has a devout divine designation. It is given over to spiritual affairs and activities. While other properties may be assigned for use in commerce, or as workplaces, or educational venues or leisure facilities, those especially sacred spaces are wholly committed to God's work.

An obvious example is the dedication of a temple, as in the Old Testament, 1 Kings 8:63.

63 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord.

Although there is not currently a requirement to incorporate ritual sacrificing in our ceremonies, the principles underpinning dedication are the same in modern times; unreserved commitment of the entire edifice to Godly goals. The object remains the same down the ages. It is the setting apart from other constructions those special buildings consecrated to God for His work and glory.

Central to the ceremony is the Dedicatory Prayer. King Solomon himself offered that prayer (prior to the demise of the oxen and sheep). In this dispensation the Prophet Joseph Smith offered such a prayer at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, including this verse from Doctrine and Covenants 109:78.

78 O hear, O hear, O hear us, O Lord! And answer these petitions, and accept the dedication of this house unto thee, the work of our hands, which we have built unto thy name;

But often the dedication of a place can be extended to include the dedication of a people, especially those people who will work and worship within the walls. So how is the dedicating of the disciple achieved? I think one of the best summaries describing dedicatory desire comes from Doctrine and Covenants 4:2.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

"Heart, might, mind and strength"; surely that means everything. All our desire and passions, all our power, all our intellect, and all our capacities, literally everything. Yes it is a "big ask", but it is a little ask alongside the "big give" of the Atonement. And it doesn't mean we have an excuse to stop regular life activities such as work or schooling to be exclusively engaged in Church work. Rather, we do our divine dedicating while doing our daily do; "in the world but not of the world".

I hope we can be a person/place that is increasingly dedicated to the glory of God. I pray we are determined to get better each day; better by giving over just a bit more of ourselves to the Lord. It takes dedication to achieve dedication.

Samuel.

Freedom belongs, captivity excludes

Dear friend

I think there are two innate characteristics of being human that are very strongly embedded. One of these is our sense of freedom to think, say and act according to our desires and beliefs. The other is our sense of collective identity with family, faith and friends of a like mind, to the extent that we want to freely associate with them.

In the scriptures we can read how the ancient Israelites lost both their freedom and their collective identity (at least geographically) as a result of their wicked ways and rebellious resistance. They were taken into captivity and scattered, as had been foretold would be a consequence of apostasy. However, because of promises made with the Patriarchs, the Lord covenanted to comfort and once again convene His people; saving them from the dissociation and the suffering subjected due to sin. Perhaps most meaningful to modern mankind are the lessons to be learned from their consequential captivity.

One summary of the prophetic promises comes from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 30:1-4.

1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.
4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:

If we think of their "return" in terms of turning away from sin and aligning themselves with the Almighty, then freedom and belonging are restored together. Despite the world's protestations, choosing sin is restrictive. Consequences are confining and contrary to future free choice. Obedience is the real choice towards liberty and autonomy; to inherit total freedom in God's Kingdom, where we belong.

If we have undergone our own version of apostasy, great or small, we too can rely on the promises of a loving Lord. No matter the seriousness of the sins or our perceived distance from salvation, God will "fetch" us. He will rescue and restore. I hope we can overcome our personal captivity, whatever it is, and move towards that joyous free association with God, only available through His Grace and Spirit. I pray we choose the path to infinite capacity over the course of constricting captivity. The promise is true, I firmly believe it.

Samuel.

What does it mean to behold?

Dear friend

There are words and phrases we read in the scriptures which we may pass over, because we assume we understand what they mean. For me one such word was "behold". It turns out that on many occasions, just as I had thought, it simply means "look". However there are instances when an occurrence of behold holds much greater significance. This is especially true when spoken in some form of announcement.

The word "behold" has very interesting roots and variants including from Greek, German, French and Latin. It is used as an interjection for emphasis. When you read "behold" it could be saying, "be sure to see", "don't miss this", "don't neglect to take notice", "remember this", "this is of utmost importance". With this expanded meaning in mind consider (or reconsider) these instances of "behold" by inserting these etymological emphasis phrases in place of behold.

Firstly, John the Baptist and then Pilate from the New Testament, John 1:29 and John 19:5.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

And then the words of the Father announcing to the people at Bountiful the arrival of Christ following His Resurrection, as found in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:7.

7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

I think that sometimes, if we replace in our mind as we read, the word "behold" with phrases like "take notice because this is very important", or "be sure to see this and never forget it", it adds to our understanding of the speaker's or writer's full intent.

Perhaps we should "behold" how all of the examples quoted relate directly to the Lord Jesus Christ (and there are more). He is certainly the one we must see as beong of utmost importance, remember, not miss, and look to every day of our lives. I hope we will always "Behold the Lamb of God, ... the Man, ... the Beloved Son".

Samuel.

Agrippa almost accepted

Dear friend

There are a number of incidents in the scriptures that I would love to have witnessed. One of these was the Apostle Paul appearing before Festus, Berenise and King Agrippa. The story reads like a Shakespearean excerpt, but of course it is from the New Testament, Acts 26:24-28.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Paul has been held in prison under threat of execution, but he speaks not to stay that fate but still to be the willing witness for Jesus Christ. In doing so he is accused of being mad. This is not unlike Christ-believers today who face the ridicule of the worldly-informed intelligentsia for holding to superstitious concepts like resurrection. Just as we should in such settings, Paul did not either "fight or flight" from the situation, rather, he calmly and assuredly restated the truth.

Paul's perception leads him to focus on the person in the room who is beginning to respond to the message, Agrippa. He builds on the King's knowledge of things that were "not done in a corner" (what a wonderful turn of phrase). He asks the King to confirm his acceptance of the prophetic pronouncements; already discerning the answer. Then come the words every missionary must have heard a version of "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian".

Sadly, as with Paul and Agrippa, not every person to whom we witness will respond to the Spirit of truth. We may be mocked, maligned or marginalised but we must not be mute if we feel someone might respond to the message. I hope we can draw inspiration from the example set by Paul. He did not fear to open his mouth. I pray that through faith in the Lord's promises we will be ever ready to relate our testimony of what we hold as true.

Samuel.

Seeking refuge from all the storms

Dear friend

The growing incidence of people seeking refuge has become a global issue, one which our leaders seem unable or unwilling to resolve in any meaningful way. There are whole hosts of people in different parts of the world who are given the "status" of refugee. They are fleeing war zones, persecution, famine or some other life-threatening plight. It must be truly traumatic to be forced to leave home and treasured possessions in an attempt to escape from mortal danger. We may ask ourselves soberingly how we would cope.

When I was younger my limited concept of what it meant to seek refuge related to refuge "from the storm". I assumed the storm was basically bad weather, and refuge was simply shelter. Now I think I am gaining a rather more expanded understanding of the various storms from which we may need refuge, and where we might find such relief. To this end, consider these verses from the Old Testament, Psalm 9:9, 10.

9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

While in no way seeking to dismiss or minimise the tragic travails of those displaced person we call refugees, I think the verses here include and extend refuge-seeking into a more diverse set of dire difficulties and desperate dilemmas. Yes war, yes persecution, but also refuge from sorrow, from sin, from loneliness, loss and longing.

Whatever the challenge or problem or fear, the Lord Jesus Christ is our refuge. Oppressed, troubled, tired, facing chronic conditions, potential prosecution, dreading depression, or contemplating confession, all of these and so many more fall within the capacity of Christ's comfort.

I do so hope that we remember our Redeemer when we require refuge. He will not forsake us, I feel sure of it. I pray that as spiritual refugees, far from our true Heavenly home, we will find a safe haven in His loving arms and caring consolation in His condescension.

Samuel.

Some learning about yearning

Dear friend

To "yearn" is to feel an emotion very deeply. Yearning has an effect on the person beyond simply sensing. The feeling can escape past the mind and heart to be felt like a physical sensation of the body.

There are a couple of examples of yearning from the scriptures. The first involves Joseph of Egypt at the moment he is reunited with his little brother Benjamin (while still unbeknownst to his assembled brethren). It is from the Old Testament, Genesis 43:29, 30.

29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.
30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

Joseph was so greatly affected by seeing his younger brother after all those years that he felt a deep yearning, so much so he had to rush to his room and weep.

The second incident concerns the Prophet Enoch as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:41.

41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook.

From his vision, Enoch's panoramic perception of worldly wickedness and the misery it caused made this sensitive Seer yearn deep within himself. He too wept.

We are all touched by deep emotions, and sometimes moved to tears. We have to be, it is part of the human condition. At times human emotions are wonderful, at times woeful. And yearning seems to be an enlarged and elevated emotional experience. As such - and although the word is not used - I imagine the Lord yearned at the zenith of the Atonement, deeper than anyone ever has or ever will. He had to, it was an essential part of His human experience on our behalf. I also believe the Father yearns for us, that we will follow His Son on the path back to Him.

I hope any yearning we experience is the result of Christlike love for others. I pray we will yearn for God's salvation to come to all mankind, yearn for a withering of worldly wickedness, and yearn for the love of Jesus Christ to fill the earth.

Samuel.

"If I ask not amiss"

Dear friend

The little word "if" - perhaps because it is so small - is sometimes easy to miss. Unfortunately when this concise conditional conjunction does go unseen it can lead to considerable misunderstanding and no less disappointment. Not noticing the conditions attached to a desired or anticipated outcome is likely to lead to an unrealised expectation.

In a gospel context we should always look out for the "if" when we want to get the resulting blessing. For example, look for the if in this verse from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 4:35.

35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

I'm sure you saw it, the if. The Prophet Nephi joyously exclaims a veritable truth about the willingness of God to give us freely of that for which we ask. That is an exciting promise and one of which we may wish to frequently avail ourselves. After all, there must be a lot we could ask to be given. Ah, but in our enthusiasm to put the promise to the test, don't forget the if.

"If I ask not amiss" is the condition. Using the word "amiss" suggests a gentle way of describing a mistake, an error, something not quite right. The scriptural amiss may be a bit more harsh, but the key to the lesson is to carefully consider our prayer requests. The Lord will simply not give us something when He knows, in His far superior knowledge, that it will not be good for us.

I wonder if that conditional clause, to ask not amiss, is there because some people pray with a personal motive, trying to get God to back them up, or just so they can say they "prayed about it".

Let us identify the ifs to every opportunity. Let us analyse our asking to ensure it is a righteous desire we seek. It may not be granted exactly as we want, but if we are sincere, He will bless us with what we need. (Notice the if.)

Samuel.

Don't delay doing a good clear out

Dear friend

"Procrastination is the thief of time". It is a classic saying penned in 1742 by the English writer Edward Young from his epically long poem "Night Thoughts". As an acknowledged universal truth his saying has become as quotable as a biblical proverb. Putting off doing what we know we should seems to be a common human failing. We let time slip by while we don't enjoy full happiness from full compliance with what is right. We allow the evil one, with all his subtly, to convince us to let him have our precious time. He is the real thief, but we encourage him by not locking the door to our heart to keep him out.

Concern over delayed discipleship has been a message of the Prophets throughout mortality. Consider this verse from the Old Testament, Jeremiah 4:14.

14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

Here, Jerusalem represents all of us who have chosen to be resident in the "City of God", but who have not kept to our covenants of righteousness. We are to thoroughly wash out our hearts (figuratively, our houses) of all uncleanness. We need to evict the lodgers of laxity, lapsing and lusting after the satisfaction of appetites. This washing away of wickedness is necessary for salvation since we know God cannot dwell in unclean tabernacles, houses or hearts.

So what is stopping us (the "how long" question)? The Prophet Jeremiah tells us it is "vain thoughts". Vain thoughts are alternatively translated to mean: hesitation between right and wrong (sometimes called double-mindedness); or evil thoughts; malicious thoughts; folly; inconsistency; or simply wicked thoughts. So, what can we do to stop stopping ourselves?

Charles Dickens wittily but rightly responded by embellishing Young's saying, "Procrastination is the thief of time, collar it". He recommends doing what we should do with all thieves, "collar" them, meaning arrest, charge and imprison them so they can no longer do us any harm.

I hope we take the Dickensian advice by arresting any lack of progress towards our personal righteousness. I pray we regularly review how well kept are our houses and our hearts to be homes fit for the Spirit to dwell within us. And remember, if you need to do some clearing out, do it today.

Samuel.

Don't try to hide from the truth

Dear friend

I think some people are scared of the truth; although I doubt they'd readily admit it. The truth I'm talking about is the wonderful truth that there is a God in Heaven who is our Father. It's the good news truth about a special Son of that God who came to earth to show us the path to follow; a straight and narrow path that will lead us back to His hallowed Heaven from whence we came. It's the truth of His taking on Him our sins and sorrows to overcome the fall of man. The truth that we must obey His commandments and deny ourselves all forms of ungodliness. The truth of a universal, unconditional resurrection to be followed by an individual face-to-face judgement. It's the truth of exaltation for those who keep their covenants with honour.

I think it's the bit about keeping the commandments and resisting ungodly behaviour that scares them (and us sometimes); plus the judgement bit. I guess they think if they don't let themselves be exposed to the truth then they cannot be held accountable. The Lord spoke of such people in the New Testament, Matthew 13:15.

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them

Denial and avoidance behaviour is no defence against Divine decree. Choosing not to see, or hear, or feel, for fear of discovering that they need to change is perhaps a tacit admission that they already suspect they are in error and should submit to God's greater knowledge. But that's just too inconvenient, right?

The irony is He can heal them, (and us too). The power to progress towards perfect happiness is free. The ungodly attractions are actually contradictory to freedom and real, lasting happiness. So let us ensure that our eyes are open, our ears are attuned, our hearts prepared. There is nothing to fear from God's truth.

Samuel.

Can you be too temperate?

Dear friend

There are various "thou shalt not ..." commandments to stop us doing, saying, thinking, eating, drinking, or otherwise engaging in specific proscribed activities. These include stealing, taking the Lord's name in vain, having lustful thoughts, partaking of forbidden substances, and many more. These matters normally involve quite straightforward choices either to obey or not.

But there are some things we might do, or say, or think, etc. that are neither proscribed nor prescribed. These could include playing computer games, eating sweets or candies, (or just eating a lot), sleeping in, watching TV, and many others. These things are not inherently wrong, indeed they are often fun, pleasurable, and relaxing, but they can become habit-forming, time-consuming or addiction-tending.

The Prophet Alma once gave some fatherly advice to his son, Shiblon. He had something to say on this topic, and we can apply it to ourselves. The key line is found in the Book of Mormon, Alma 38:10.

10 ... and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.

To be temperate is to act in moderation, or to show self-restraint. For Alma this relates to those things in which we might overindulge. The counsel is to be temperate in everything. We are not to get "hooked" on anything in a way that makes us lose some degree of control, pulls us away from doing what's right, or is just not good for us in excess.

Further, in relation to our use of the bounty of the earth, the Lord restated the moderation principle in Doctrine and Covenants 59:20.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, ...

And also, in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 9:25.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things ...

If we know we are indulgent or intemperate in some way, that specific issue may have come into our mind as we read this. If so that might well be a sign we need to improve. I believe we can learn self-mastery by controlling our appetites, desires and passions through the grace of Our Redeemer. We can be moderate, measured and modest in everything; except in our discipleship of Jesus Christ.

Samuel.

Understanding a suffering Saviour

Dear friend

Is it possible to speak too often of the Lord Jesus Christ? I say no, as long as we maintain respect for His sacred name and person. Certainly the scripture writers never held back. However, has there ever been a person so frequently discussed but so regularly misunderstood as Jesus the Christ? Consider the Apostle Paul, he understood, and we are blessed to have his insights; such as those from the New Testament, Hebrews 5:5-9.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

There is so much doctrine from these few verses that builds our true faith in Christ because it teaches us the truth. We learn that He was a high priest. As such, He officiates at the alter for us, but unlike other high priests who make symbolic offerings, Jesus Himself was the offering. Despite that unique high-profile role, He was mighty in humility, having always credited the Father for any glory. We are taught that Christ's Priesthood authority as a high priest was decreed in another place, surely referring to the pre-earth life. The earthly name for that power was known in Christ's times, being called after the great King Melchizedek. The Apostle Paul confirms how the Lord's powers began to be with Him long before His mortal life and mission.

While on earth, Jesus Christ used His powers to their greatest extent as He made His offering in Gethsemane, Golgotha and the Garden tomb; being the fullness of the Atonement. It included  "supplications with strong crying and tears" and caused Him to "fear"; no doubt when He felt the enormity of the unimaginable burden. Then we see something of enormous importance. Christ, even Christ, learned obedience through suffering; and He was the Son. How much more should we learn to obey even as we suffer?

Suffering made the Saviour of mankind "perfect". Following Christ's example of obedience in suffering can make us perfect too, eventually. I hope that as we come to know the truths "about" Jesus Christ we also come to "know" Jesus Christ personally as our Master and Friend.

Samuel.

A vision of the Father for when we pray

Dear friend

Prayer is a quite unique form of communication. We normally close our eyes before we pray. When else would we do that to talk with someone? Perhaps it helps us be less distracted by visual stimulus. Or perhaps it signifies our utter unworthiness in comparison to God, to the extent that we should not, cannot, look upon His glory in our corrupt mortal state; a blessed mercy maybe. Whatever the reason, when our natural eyes are closed what do we picture in our mind's eye? Do we have an image of Heavenly Father as He lovingly listens to our stumbling statements of praise and petition?

If you want a visual image, you could borrow one from the Prophet Ezekiel. He had a vision of God on His throne. The description is brilliant, in both senses. It comes from the Old Testament, Ezekiel 1:26-28.

26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

So, in order to capture for yourself this Regal revelation, send your mind above the sky, past the upper atmosphere to the far reaches of the furthest stars. See a throne spectacularly shining with a bright blue hue. See Father seated thereon, with a golden glow of glorious fire emanating from the core of His whole person; a shimmering white-hot wonderment. Feel the warmth of pure love tingle on your face as He smiles at you personally and nods approvingly. You bask in His absolute affection and beautiful boundless beneficence. Surrounding this marvellous mirage is a full spectrum of rainbow-like radiance, an aura too magnificent for mere words. The holiness is humbling, the perfection is palpable. Hold that visualisation with as much mental clarity and spiritual sensitivity as you can muster. Let it sink deep into your soul.

Having imprinted our own version of Ezekiel's vision into our psyche, I hope we can recall it and use it to enhance our prayer experience. It made the Prophet fall on his face in complete obeisance. I pray that we might share in a portion of what resulted and so say with him "I heard a voice of one that spake".

Samuel.

Prophecy, parables and pyrotechnics

Dear friend

Some of the ancient prophets were shown our day, the latter days. I can't help wondering what they thought about what they saw. Surely some things must have appeared very odd to them. But whatever they thought of helicopters and hovercraft, we gain great benefit from what the Lord told them about these days. For example, from the Old Testament, Ezekiel 20:45-49.

45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

While prophets of olden times might have wondered about worldly works of our day, for our turn we too can wonder about the strange ways of the ancients; including how they wrote. From these verses it is helpful to understand that the Prophet Ezekiel was living in Mesopotamia at the time, and Judea was the land to the south of his location. Judea represents His chosen people who at times have been disobedient. "Drop thy word", according to other verses, simply means to preach the gospel. The forest refers to the people as if they were trees, like fruit or olive trees; which is a common device in scriptural prophecy. Many of these trees are unfruitful, good for nothing but to be burned. In the last days there will be a burning removal of the useless trees. This will be in preparation for Christ’s glorious return. And all the world will know of it.

The continual use of analogies, parables and such constructions is instructive, but we must put in some effort to discover the meanings, to seek out the mysteries that are in plain sight if we will but look for them.

I pray that we will "hear the word of the Lord", search it, and that it will "kindle a fire in us".

Samuel.

God's servants' love for God's children

Dear friend

There are special people who have been called by God to represent Him; to lead, teach and serve His children. Down the years they have been known as prophets, patriarchs, presidents, pastors, priests, and many other titles (that don't all start with the letter p), not least of these other callings being simply that of teacher. They are all imperfect men and women sent out by a perfect God to do His will and His work. In performing their duties they strive to pattern their lives after the Saviour Jesus Christ. This includes learning to have the same type of pure love Jesus has for all people. The Lord called this ultimate love charity.

There are several examples in the scriptures of the Lord's servants exhibiting the pure love of Christ in the way they serve and lead. For example in the Book of Mormon, Alma 13:27.

27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;

Notice the truly heartfelt emotion of pure love the Prophet Alma expresses as he desires the people to repent. There is no obvious personal gain for Alma that would cause him to be so concerned for others' salvation. Indeed he and his companion Amulek would end up imprisoned, maltreated and worse. Alma uses language that emphasises the intensity of feeling and selflessness, with words like anxiety and pain.

This is surely an inkling into the kind of love Jesus Christ has for us. It was His pure charitable caring for our spiritual wellbeing and eternal future that motivated the acceded agony of the Atonement. I believe that true servants of Jesus Christ have a testimonial understanding of Christ's sacrificial suffering and the feeling behind it. They want to help us attain to a glorious eternal future. Like the Lord, they too find it intensely saddening to imagine anyone being assigned or resigned to a place that is not with the Father. They also have come to understand the familial connection between every living soul as children of God, even loving us as literal brothers and sisters.

I hope we appreciate the sincerity of God's chosen teachers and leaders. We should pray for them as they serve us. And we too should seek to have that same pure Christlike love for others.

Samuel.

Being one, but not alone

Dear friend

If there is one of something it stands alone, separate, unique, singular. However if there is one of something and that something is a collective noun, it is not so easy to see its singularity. I'm thinking of a pod (of dolphins), a family (of beavers), a quorum (of Apostles), a parliament (of owls). As a collection of more than one it is not so easy for a collective to make a claim to uniqueness or singleness. But a group is a separate, distinct, lone entity, albeit a group has at least two and usually more members.

I'm quite interested in the dynamics of how groups act together "as one". The concepts of synergy and economies of scale would suggest there is inherent value in "some" becoming "one". The results can be powerful, even beautiful; such as with a murmuration of starlings and their undulating, mesmerising flights during the roosting season.

The concept of "many as one" is interesting as used in the scriptures, especially as the Lord sometimes applies it. For example in Doctrine and Covenants 35:2.

2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

A great debate in Christendom is the nature of the Trinity. Without giving a full treatment to that doctrinal dispute, this verse clearly teaches how a "we" may be a "one" in Christ, comparing it to Christ's oneness with the Father. Obviously in both cases this is not about being the same literal embodied person. Further insight can be found in the New Testament, Romans 12:4, 5.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

In this case a "many" is a "one". The benefits of being "at one" as a Church body in Christ include; unity, mutuality, peer support, interdependence, collective achievement and more. Indeed the Lord says elsewhere that if we are not one we are not His.

Of course the perfect example of unity, especially of our being in and at one with Christ, is when we partake of the great "at-one-ment" (Atonement) of Christ. I hope we can see the value of being at one with Christ so He can verily be in us. I pray we will learn how to be unified with Our Lord as we come to understand the complete unity of purpose that exists between the Father and the Son.

Samuel.

Service is essential to salvation

Dear friend

There are a few very essential reasons why we are on the earth. We must obtain a physical body so as to become more like our Father. We must learn to live by faith which includes keeping God's commandments. We must make sacred covenants; purifying promises with God. When we err we must repent, learning from our mistakes as well as our achievements.

While we are completing this blessed bucket list, we pad out the rest of our mortal moment with work, play, rest and the miriad of minutiae that fill our lives, 24 hours at a time.

As we live with our eyes fixed on the eternity to come, I believe it is still important to focus on the geotic journey. In fact, I think the journey - the way we get through our terrestrial test - is a key aspect in determining our destiny. One of the basics of living a good life is described in the New Testament, Romans 15:1-3.

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

I am convinced it is an essential element of earth life that we strive to assist each other to get through it. I love the idea that "you cannot help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself". Serving others as a lifestyle lynchpin is, I believe, as important to our eternal prospects as is living by faith. In some ways they are the same thing.

Jesus Christ is the One in whom we must have faith. We demonstrate that faith by how we live our lives. The best way to ensure you are living a good life is to pattern it after the Lord; to do the things He did. And at the core of His life was service to others, helping those in need, bearing the infirmities of the weak.

I hope that it will be an item on our daily bucket list to help someone where we can; to "please our neighbour". I pray that we will develop service giving as a defining part of who we are - a core characteristic of our better nature - to take the time or make the time to seek opportunities and be responsive to situations where we can improve the lot of others. Service is a spiritual lifestyle choice.

Samuel.

See God moving in majesty and power

Dear friend

I remember times when I was quite young, and it would be a clear but not too cold an evening. I would lie on the ground, on my back, looking upwards into the night sky. I would look up at all the stars, so many of them. Then I would look harder and see so many many more. I would try to stretch my finite mind towards comprehending the infinity that filled my vision, hoping for a glinting glimpse of galactic grandeur. I thought of each star being a glowing sun in its own system; a million million million of them (and that's just the visible Universe). It was truly awesome and I loved it.

I believe the scriptures encourage us to do a little "big thinking" every so often, so that we might contemplate the eternity on our doorstep. One such passage comes from Doctrine and Covenants 88:45-47.

45 The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.
46 Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand?
47 Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.

If we could travel through the expanse of space to see the stars closer up, we surely could not help but be overwhelmed by these massive spheroids. And as believers, how much more appreciative would it make us of the organisational omnipotence of the Being who created them all, without number?

It is all held in place by the power of Our God. The more we learn about His creative completeness, the more we see we have still more to learn. But even the merest morsel of understanding allows us to "see God moving in His majesty and power".

I hope that when you do your big thinking, it gives you a greater sense of the immense power and glory of God. And to think, in spite of all that work and responsibility, He still makes time for you and me.

Samuel.

Your sorrow shall be turned into joy

Dear friend

Despite our best efforts to avoid troubles and woes, they still happen. Our problems can get us down, sometimes very down. There is recorded in scripture an incident when the Saviour explained to some of His disciples that He would need to leave them for "a little while". He predicted how it would affect them (He knowing the horrific nature of His leaving). But He promised them joy in the end.

I believe we can apply the teaching from this situation to our own troubles, especially if they come upon us regardless of our genuine attempts to live righteously (or maybe at times because of our living the gospel). The key elements of the story come from the New Testament, John 16:20-22.

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

How true of our woeful world that the troubles experienced by Christian peoples can be a source of merriment to the wicked. How comforting then to have the assurance that our sorrows will be turned to joy. The example of the woman in labour is so very real and relevant. It is sometimes described as the pain that is quickest to be forgotten. The joy at the arrival of a new life almost instantly swallows up the not inconsiderable pain of giving birth.

Our life on earth is short from the perspective of eternity. Pain is par for the course. But we can rejoice in the hope and assurance that we shall see our Saviour again. And as we try to follow His course while He is not personally, physically with us, there is the pleasurable prospect of a joyful reunion; a joy that can be ours forever. I pray that in our sorrows we will remember the joy to come.

Samuel.

Turn to the Lord for help

Dear friend

There will be times in all of our lives when we really need divine help. It will be that special kind of help that only God can provide. Our need may be due to sin, sorrow, pressure or pain. The good news is that He will help us find the respite of repentance, or the comfort of consolation, the relief of reinforcement, or the blessing of a balm. In this regard I love these words from the Old Testament, Joel 2:12, 13.

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

What is there to learn from these wonderful verses about receiving God's help when we really need it? Firstly we should do it "now". The sooner we seek Him the sooner He can fix us. Second, when we do decide to turn to Him, do it "with all your heart". No half measures, no lingering desires for the wrong things, no presumption that you are too far gone, no doubts about either His power or your capacity for faith. Put your whole heart into becoming whole again. But be prepared because that may take fasting, or tears, or sorrow like mourning.

Rather than an outward show of emotional turmoil such as the ancient practice of rending (or tearing) your clothes in a public display, the Lord would much prefer it if our hearts are rent. I see this as being connected to the need for a broken heart and contrite spirit as we turn to Him for help beyond ourselves. Then comes the assurance, and what a promise it is: infinite and perfect grace, mercy, patience and kindness. The knowledge of this promise alone can begin to bring the peace and rest we seek. It is the light at the end of the tunnel.

I really do hope and pray that we avail ourselves of the saving powers of Jesus Christ. He is all mighty and all loving. Trust Him.

Samuel.

Sons and daughters of the Father

Dear friend

What would it be like to have the perfect relationship between ourselves, as the child, and Heavenly Father, as the parent? The relationship may already be there, but is it an ideal one? As with so many aspects of the gospel, the example of perfection in this regard is found in (and through) the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the point just after His greatest achievement, the Atonement, Christ announced himself to His followers in the New World; as found in the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 9:15-17.

15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, ...

These verses give us an insight into the perfect Father/son or Father/daughter relationship. They also point the way towards achieving that blessed state. Like Jesus, we too can state our claim as children of God by virtue of Him being the Father of our spirits; although Christ's Sonship goes beyond that fundamental familial affinity. We too were with the Father in the beginning, but here's the question: are we now, at this time "in the Father" and can we sense "the Father in me"? Also, do we live our lives such that we bring glory to the name of the Father?

The way to reach that unity or "oneness" which is necessary for the Father to be in us and us in Him is to receive Jesus Christ fully into our lives, starting with believing in Him. He is the only one who has the power to elevate us to the kind of sonship or daughterhood that Christ Himself enjoys.

I feel sure the Father wishes to have the same closeness with us that He has with Jesus. And it is possible, if we seek it.

Samuel.

The idolatry of things

Dear friend

If you ask most people what they could not live without they might well list things like their smartphone, their car, their games console, their home computer, laptop or tablet, or some other possession. These sorts of things have become very useful, even enjoyable and convenient, or simply essential to our lives. But I think there is a danger that this kind of materialistic thinking - the pleasure of having "things" - is stopping people from recognising what is truly essential to a happy life. More than this, people are elevating these objects to a status of veneration that begins to match the behaviour of worship. If we adore, exalt, extol and praise these man-made things, I believe we are in danger of the charge of idolatry.

If we idolise something, if we treat it as a special treasure, this could indicate a false God has taken over our heart. Consider a verse from the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:4.

4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.

I've come to think of an idol as any man-made object we revere to excess. And I don't just mean statues or totems to which we might bow down, pray, or sacrifice to. If we lend some object a status of elevated respect, it begins to look like a verse from the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 21:17.

17 Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;

We must not let ourselves worship the work of our hands. The reason is given in Doctrine and Covenants 1:16.

16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish ...

I hope we will be aware of the potential dangers of the idolatry of man-made things. No object should become so essential that it replaces God, gospel or goodness.

Samuel.

Like clay in the Potter's hands

Dear friend

Some of the best object lessons are found in the scriptures. I find it helpful when everyday items or situations are used to illustrate and simplify concepts that might otherwise be abstract or metaphysical. One such analogous aphorism is found in the Old Testament, Jeremiah 18:1-5.

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

We may consider ourselves to be of the house of Israel, either by lineage birth, or by adoption after accepting Christ and His kingdom on earth. Due to our spiritual limitations we might struggle to concretise concepts like us being in the hands of the Lord. How literal is that? Does being in His hands relate to control or protection or something else? How is being in His hands different, or not, from being in His eye, or His heart?

In these verses the Lord teaches Jeremiah, and us, something deeply meaningful, and I think comforting too, about how our God works with us. Like a potter He gently moulds the basic clay into something useful. It might be simple or ornate; the potter knows what is needed.

We too should aspire to be like clay in the Potter's hands; malleable, allowing the One who knows us better than we know ourselves to shape us. It has been well said that he can do more with our lives than we can do with them. If we make a mistake and become a marred vessel, He can figuratively and literally reform us.

I love the inspired image of us being like clay in the Potter's hands.

Samuel.

Nothing to gain from gainsaying

Dear friend

The ancient peoples that made up the children or house of Israel were given many promises. One of their opportunities was to be the means of blessing all the other people of the world as messengers or witnesses of God. Sadly Israel often spurned their chances to be chosen, electing instead to indulge in the practices of heathens. Perhaps recognising that in his day things had not changed much for Israel, the Apostle Paul spoke of them in the New Testament, Romans 10:21.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

"Disobedient" is a word with which we are sadly all too familiar, but "gainsaying" is one of those King James Version words long since dropped from modern parlance. It is defined as denying the truth, opposing, disputing, contradicting what is right. Gainsaying is a choice people make to rebel against an authority by refusing to accept what is true. A further, more descriptive treatment of gainsaying Israel is found in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 6:4-6.

4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would 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 towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.
6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?

Some truths are "inconvenient" or so it would appear, particularly if they tell us something we don't want to hear. In justifying their disobedience to some requirement people often try to suggest that the underlying principle of truth is somehow not correct. They block their need to comply by refusing to accept what they know deep down is right.

So let us learn the lesson of Israel's inconsistency and not harden our hearts by becoming gainsayers. Rather let us cleave to God with full purpose of heart. I pray that we will be true to truth and the only thing we deny is ungodliness.

Samuel.

The Psalms can help our prayers

Dear friend

The Psalms are a treasure trove of exemplary communications with God. If in our own prayers we sometimes struggle with knowing the right things to say or the best way of saying them, the Psalms can inspire us with their simple pleadings and humble praises. The language is beautiful and at times quite exquisite.

As we prepare to pray by reveringly contemplating and comparing our standing before God - the vast differences in our respective wisdom and worthiness - we can draw instructional insight from such passages as found in the Old Testament, Psalm 73:22-26.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

The Psalmist acknowledges how crude and rudimentary is our knowledge. We are like an animal in contrast to God's omniscience. Yet, despite that gulf in relative glory, we are caused to recognise His willing presence in our lives. He is, or can be if we let Him be, continually beside us as if walking hand-in-hand. As we obediently follow His counsel we can see more and more how it is designed to lead us back to Him. But we must place Him first in our lives, beyond our personal preferences or pleasures.

As mortals we are often subject to our "flesh and our heart failing". These are the very matters we can take to the Lord to seek a blessing at His hand; either to remove our weaknesses or help us endure and learn from them. Can you picture yourself borrowing the sentiments and maybe even some of the words from these verses as you compose your communing with the Almighty? I think that is one reason they are included in the holy writ.

I hope that the scriptures can ever help us to commune competently with God. I pray we too can say that He is "the strength of my heart".

Samuel.

Seek God, the earlier the better

Dear friend

I worry that too many people - and I include myself on occasion - can become casual in their relationship with God. I recognise that we simply cannot be totally at our righteous peak all of the time, but a casual attitude to God can quickly turn into a comfortable habit. One way to recognise this happening is by noticing less than earnest prayer practices; such as being inconsistent, using vain repetition, missing the occasional prayer, not kneeling if you can, or not really concentrating. Such laxity can also be the thin edge of that sneaky wedge; the wedge that gradually drives us away from God and towards Satan's influences.

There was a time when the ancient kingdoms of Judah and Israel were far beyond casual in neglecting their divine duties. They were going through that iniquitous phase of another of their apostacy, humility, prosperity, pride cycles. They were not seeking the face of their God. They were too busy looking for happiness in wickedness. Speaking in the voice of the Lord the Prophet Hosea knew what the outcome would be, as described in the Old Testament, Hosea 5:15.

15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

How true it is that the quality of our seeking the Lord all too often correlates with our level of needing His help. And too often that help is needed to get us out of a problem we got ourselves into in the first place. In this regard I especially like the phrase "they will seek me early". We can read a similar sentiment in Doctrine and Covenants 88:83.

83 He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken.

This version turns the phrase into the positive. Without needing a pressing blessing, we do well to seek God first thing; not second, or last. Doing those things that nurture the circumstances so that God can be involved in our lives should be early in our daily to dos; at the top end of the list.

I hope we never take our God for granted. Yes, He is always there for us, but are we always there for Him? I pray we will be early engagers in Father's fellowship.

Samuel.

The stopping effect of damnation

Dear friend

The Lord is constantly moving forward with His plans for this world; and probably others too. He is the agent of change in the universe. He controls the mechanisms of mobility, while we benefit from, and are part of, His kinetics. The forces which are at play are unstoppable, particularly by "unhallowed hands". Hopefully we are contributing positively, in a hallowed way, by assisting God to achieve His eternal purposes.

But have you ever considered what it would be like to get stuck? We have probably all, at some time, been stopped in a journey by a traffic jam, a broken down train, or other barrier that stops us moving towards where we want to go. It can be frustrating, even annoying. Can you imagine what it would be like if there were an immovable end to your progression, a final and fixed barrier to your personal process of moving forward? It is not a pleasant prospect.

The scriptures describe such a drastic end to the progress of an individual soul, as in these verses from the Book of Mormon, Helaman 12:25, 26.

25 And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast out, yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;
26 Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of endless misery, fulfilling the words which say: They that have done good shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil shall have everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen.

Being cast out or cast off from God's presence is surely to be avoided at all costs. It would result in endless misery. The key word is "damnation". If we persist in choosing evil, come the Judgement, a "dam" is placed in our path. That dam is fixed, like a water dam. All and any progress is stopped, forever. That is damnation.

Hopefully we will never face a dam to our personal progress. I pray rather that we are judged to have "done good" and so obtain eternal life, which is eternal progression. Only through the Lord Jesus Christ is this possible.

Samuel.

Preserving our soul

Dear friend

The word "soul" is one of those words used in scripture that can have different meanings. Soul can mean:

- a premortal or postmortal spirit being (that is not in a physical body of some kind), or
- a spirit and body united in the mortal state (our life now), or
- an immortal resurrected person whose spirit and body are connected never to be separated.

The different meanings can be worth pondering over in certain scriptural contexts, such as from Doctrine and Covenants 101:35-38.

35 And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory.
36 Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.
37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.
38 And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.

This revelation came in an environment of extreme persecution facing the Lord's people. They were suffering terribly for their faith. They were enduring threats, loss of possessions, assaults and even mortal danger. The Lord chose that moment to teach them a hard but overall comforting lesson. He said that losing your life for the Lord opens the door to His glory. And that divine door is a portal to the fullness of joy; whereas in mortality the ultimate joy is simply not available.

The Lord then explains a stark perspective. It is our soul that we must care for most particularly, not the body. The mortal manifestation of terrestrial life, our earthly body, is not nearly as important to preserve as is our soul. It is inevitable that the mortal body will die at some point, but our essential spirit is immortal. So our spirit/body "soul" should be our core concern. And I see this as meaning our prospective eternal soul.

Sometimes we just need to be patient through mortal trials; even though at the time that can be asking a lot. If we concern ourselves with always seeking the Lord’s face then our soul will find that most desirable joy, and rest from our trials, in a glorious eternal life.

So preserving life is important, but saving souls is crucial, especially our own.

Samuel.

Our weaknesses can be a strength

Dear friend

Do you ever get annoyed at yourself because of a personal weakness? Have you prayed more than once that this imperfection in your character be removed? The Apostle Paul was troubled in this way and he spoke candidly about it in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

If you have a "thorn in the flesh", such as being drawn to some sin, or a negative mindset, or an inability to do something, then there is likely a reason for it. It sounds like Paul's weakness kept him grounded. It didn't stop him praying for its removal; that is, until he understood the purpose of having weaknesses.

Have you ever considered how "strength is made perfect in weakness"? Paul realised that his weakness caused him to require God's good grace to come upon him; and it was surely "sufficient". Indeed, it turned around Paul's thinking. He was glad to glory in his imperfections if it meant he experienced Christ's power.

Can you imagine taking pleasure in the reproaches, distresses or persecutions that result from your weaknesses? Maybe we need to think about our challenges differently. If you didn't have them there would be no need for Christ to be a force in your life. But we want Him in our life, surely. He allows us to demonstrate humility, faith and how we are making gradual progress as we master our weaknesses, with Christ to strengthen us.

I hope we can reappraise our weaknesses, in particular how they increase our need for the Lord to be involved in our lives. I pray we come to see more clearly how, when in our weakness if we call on the grace of Jesus Christ for help, we may actually be at our enhanced strongest.

Samuel.

Believe in Christ to gain salvation

Dear friend

Believing in Jesus Christ is the key to making our life on earth worthwhile. His mission in coming into the world was to save all people. Part of that salvation was unconditional, part was conditional. These truths should be the central message of any efforts to bear witness of the gospel: the "good news" of Jesus Christ.

This doctrine of Christ is taught repeatedly throughout the scriptures, such as in the Book of Mormon, Alma:11:40, 41.

40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.
41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

Unconditional salvation is achieved through the resurrection of all to immortality. Christ wins the victory over the grave completely. Nobody shall be left behind. All shall rise again. But to where shall we arise? That is determined by the conditional part of salvation. We must believe in Christ, obey His commandments and endure to the end in faithfulness. Once we come to know of Jesus, this is then the only way to gain eternal life; which is to enjoy our immortality in the presence of the Father because we are judged worthy to live with Him forever.

This message is so important. The Apostle John was one of the more prolific writers of scripture. He explained why scriptures were written, in the New Testament, John 20:31.

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

So scriptures are written to bring us to Christ. That is their purpose. I pray that we will come to believe more in Christ through reading the scriptures and so be on the path to salvation.

Samuel.