Sunday School Afterthoughts

Reflections on Stake Conference

2009-10-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

This week, the Deer Valley Stake here in AZ held a Stake Conference. The Conference was presided by Elder Foster of the Quorum of the 70, and was accompanied by Elder Villareal, also of the Seventy. Their purpose here was to reorganize the stake presidency, as the the current president had served for the last 10 years or so.

I love stake conference. It is a chance to be uplifted by the Spirit as we are taught by leaders and members of the stake.

Stake reorganizations make for interesting meetings, as everyone is making guesses and predictions as to who is going to replace the current stake presidency. We learned weeks ahead of time that our stake presidency was being released, and names started floating around. Some try and come up with reasons why so and so will make a good stake president. During the meeting's prelude, I was looking around at all the Bishops I knew to see how relaxed they were, as a sign of who may have been called.

In the end, however, it is not up to the members.

The primary message of the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, is that once again, the heavens are open, and God speaks through a prophet of God. Revelation is real. As the 5th article of faith declares, "We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by those how are in authority."

Authorized servants of God walk the earth, and call others to help them through direct revelation from God. Elders Foster and Villareal were directed by an Apostle of the Lord to reorganize our stake. Both men, barely knew each other, and didn't know the stake leaders at all.

At the close of the meeting, Elder Foster testified that both he and his companion, after a few hours of interviewing prospective Stake Presidents, both Elders were able to know beyond any doubt, who the Lord wanted to lead this Stake. The Holy Ghost brought them that knowledge. What I found even more interesting, was that Elder Foster testified that the Lord had revealed what he wanted this new Stake Presidency to do to help the stake grow. Elder Foster witnessed that if we looked back in a few months, or a few years, we will see clearly exactly why the Lord called that man to lead.

Even more interesting, is how this can be revealed to members in a similar manner to that which let me know there would be a Temple in Fortaleza. Among all the names being thrown around, as soon as I heard a particular name, it rung true. Something in my mind clicked, and it just sounded right. It fit, the way the last piece of a puzzle clicks into place. I couldn't be sure until it was actually announced. When the moment came, the Spirit confirmed it.

The Spirit of Truth, and of Revelation

2009-10-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

This week's afterthoughts come not from my usual sunday school lesson, but from some of the impressions I received in my scripture study this week, as well as the General Conference of the LDS Church.

This week as I studied the Doctrine and Covenants, I realized how much the first several sections of it, are about how to learn through the Spirit. The Holy Ghost, being the witness of all truth, was a new concept to the early Saints. They were the first to step out of the veil of apostasy and embrace the truth that God speaks to man, and that by the Holy Ghost, they might know the truth of all things.

Sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 all have instructions and teachings about recognizing the spirit, or instructions to ask God and receive answers. All of these teachings predate the restoration of the Church, and the priesthood. They all teach something about the importance of receiving personal revelation from God, and how to recognize it.

During this conference, one of the major themes I picked up on, was the need to learn and teach by the Spirit of God and the importance of personal Revelation. Learning to recognize the spirit is a tough work at first. It is hard to do. Even after years of working at it, the still small voice is always a still small voice. It is easily drowned by the chaos and static generated by day to day life.

Promptings from the Spirit, and personal revelations always testify of truth, that may not be revealed yet. For this reason, the Articles of Faith teach that we believe that God has many great and important things to reveal unto the Kingdom of God. Often times these promptings come line upon line, and we cannot behold the entirety of their importance at the moment, but it will be given to us at some point. It often requires fixing our eyes of faith upon that unseen moment, and praying that the Lord will validate our faith in that which we have received.

Four years ago, while serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Brazil, I wrote an impression I had in the upper-left corner of a page in my study journal. I was at a Zone conference, and my mission president was expounding upon principles of seeing things with the eyes of faith. He testified with power that the time to start building a temple in our mission was now. He gave us numbers and statistics and helped open our spiritual eyes of faith to the possibility of a temple in Fortaleza someday. He encouraged us to do our part, and help prepare Fortaleza in a way that someday, it would be a home to the House of God.

As he opened our mind to this vision of a temple in Fortaleza, I felt the Holy Ghost whisper to me, "He knows that there will be a temple someday in Fortaleza." As the prompting came, I wrote it down in the corner of the page. As I pondered on it, I realized that somehow, my president beyond any doubt that there would be a temple in Fortaleza. As the President testified of our part in helping build it, the Spirit of revelation shared a portion of his vision with me. I knew that someday, a temple would stand in the city of Fortaleza Brazil.

Yesterday morning, as I sat listening to the opening remarks, President Thomas S. Monson announced that the Lord had revealed it was time to build a temple in Fortaleza Brazil. My heart filled with the Spirit of God, affirming the truths which I had revealed unto me years ago.

The same has happened countless times in my life, and in countless ways. I testify that the Spirit of God is real and he does testify of truth, and reveal the mysteries of God to all those who seek it. I sincerely pray that all can seek to have his companionship and be guided by its influence for he guides all men who seek his spirit back into his presence.

Our Duties as Latter-Day Saints

2009-09-29T12:34:00.000-07:00

Normally I attempt to do this blog on Sunday evenings after dinner with my wife's family (as I currently am leeching off of their internet whenever I'm over there). Two weeks a go we were in a rush over to my sister-in-laws for Family Home Evening there, and last week I was suffering through a bad headache. It worked out well for this week, however, in that my afterthought came yesterday during my lunchbreak at work.

Last week's lesson was a rough one to teach as it dealt mainly with the early years of the Church growth in Salt Lake. It focused mainly on the efforts made to build the Salt Lake Temple, and dwelt a lot on the principle of obedience.

Obedience to the commandments of God is one of the hardest principles of the Gospel to master. Why? Abinidi taught that the natural man is an enemy to God and seeks to satisfy his own will, rather than obey. That is why, day after day, we commit sin and disregard the commandments of God. That is why the Savior atoned for our sins, that we may repent and be forgivin of our sins. That is what repentance basically is: To stop sinning, and obey the commandments of God.

The scriptures are full of various instructions of things we have to do, commandments we have to obey, and the way we should live our lives. During my lunch break, I was studying the Doctine and Covenants and came across the following verse (D&C 11:6):

Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.

In the preceeding verses, the Lord tells Hyrum Smith that if he asks, he will receive. Because he asked and recieved, the Lord gave him two pieces of instruction, which were evident in the lives of the Pioneers: Keep my commandments, and seek to establish Zion.

This was visible in the lives of the early day pioneers. They obeyed the word of the Lord, and passed through much tribulation to reach the Salt Lake Valley. Once in Salt Lake, they sought to bring forth Zion. They set an example of how we as Latter-Day Saints ought to live.

Latter-Day Saints, ask to know if this is the Kingdom of God before entering the waters of baptism. We recieve an answer, and in doing so, take upon ourselves the covenants t keep the Lord's commandments. We renew those covenants weekly in our sacrament services. We are also tasked with the building up of Zion in preparation for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once we understand what our duty is as members of the Church, we are responsible for doing it. Just search LDS.org with the keyword 'duty' at least a dozen responses are from the current Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. It is a call to members of these Latter-Days to "do [their] duty...and leave the Lord the rest."

This week's post is still forthcoming.

2009-09-21T11:43:00.003-07:00

I've had a busy sunday and monday. Haven't had a chance to sit down and write out my afterthoughts. Hopefully I'll have them up in a day or two.

We have the Kingdom

2009-09-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today's lesson discussed the revelation given to Brigham Young in the 136th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

The revelation came as a result of Brigham Young's desire to know the will of the Lord regarding the saints exodus to the Rocky Mountains. A headstrong man named George Miller argued with Brigham Young about the specific plans of travel and colonization of the West. He was one who did not accept the Quorum of the 12 Apostles as the presiding body of the church at the time, and did not think they should have supreme authority over the exodus west. He left the saints while in Winter Quarters, taking a small group to northern Nebraska and settling there with the Ponca indians.

Brother Brigham saw the need for guidance as the dissension could destroy the saints before they reached their prophesied refuge in the west. On Jan 11 1847, Brigham Young related a dream he had in which he discussed with Joseph Smith the best way to settle in the West. A few days later, he presented section 136 to the Church.

The revelation covered the organization, responsibilities, and obligations of the Saints while journeying west. The discussion in class focused on how the members of the Church were put into companies, and under covenant to "will walk in all the ordinances of the Lord." (136:4). They were to be self reliant, and help each other, and to take care of the widows and women whose husbands and sons had departed with the Mormon Battalion.

A man in my class made a point that these covenants were ones that the saints were extremely faithful to. One does not need to look far into the history of these pioneer families to find how close they grew with these trials. He said that there were many in the Church who were not living the gospel to the fullest extent during the days of Joseph Smith. With this covenant, the Lord was asking his people to step up.

Knowing this, the last verses of this revelation are extremely powerful. Verses 39-42 read:

Many have marveled because of [Joseph's] death; but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, that he might be honored and the wicked might be condemned. Have I not delivered you from your enemies, only in that I have left a witness of my name? Now, therefore, hearken, O ye people of my church; and ye elders listen together; you have received my kingdom. Be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you.

In a revelation designed to instruct the saints on how they should proceed, the Lord concludes with this powerful reminder. "You have received my kingdom."

As these pioneers, us members of the Church have received the Lord's Kingdom. We are a part of the Lord's work. We may not be preparing to hike across the plains, but the Lord's words still apply to us. We who have received the kingdom must be diligent in keeping all the Lord's commandments, or the Lord's judgments shall be upon us.

Sidney Rigdon and Modern-day Parallels

2009-09-06T18:07:00.001-07:00

Today's lesson focused on the succession of leadership from the Martyred Joseph Smith to Brigham Young. The first section of the lesson was on Sidney Rigdon's claim to be the anointed successor of Joseph Smith. Despite the Keys of the Kingdom, which Joseph Smith had sealed upon the head of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the winter of 1843-1844, Sidney Rigdon made his case. He even tried to call a vote two days before the last of the Apostles would return to Nauvoo.

On August 5, 1844 Sidney met with the Quorum of the Twelve and told them the following:

‘Gentlemen, you’re used up; gentlemen, you are all divided; the anti-Mormons have got you; the brethren are voting every way . . . everything is in confusion, you can do nothing, you lack a great leader, you want a head, and unless you unite upon that head you are blown to the four winds, the anti-Mormons will carry the election—a guardian must be appointed.’

I read this in the Institute Manual "Church History in the Fullness of Times" and it surprised me, for I heard the same argument in our day by those who might criticize the Church.

Late last year, I was active on a religious discussion board that was mainly frequented by Atheists, Agnostics, and plenty of New Age "feel good" religions. There was a surprising amount of controversy on the board surrounding the influence the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had regarding the passage of California Proposition 8. The proposition added an amendment to the California constitution that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

In 2008, the Church issued a statement and letter from President Thomas S. Monson asking members to give of their time and talents to defend the divine institution of marriage. While many California members took up the call to support this proposition, it offended many members of the Church. I know of some members who turned and called the prophet a hateful bigot. Some thought the Church had no business crossing into politics.

On this discussion board, several members posted articles talking about how the Mormon Church was being blamed for the passing of this proposition, and how it was causing "great dissension" within the Church. One guy even said that the Church was being torn apart by the controversy that ensued. It was interesting to see them say the brethren were divided, that this issue had gotten to them, that they were voting every way, and the Church was in peril unless they united.

On this day, when Sidney Rigdon declared this to the Twelve, Elder George A. Smith, of the Apostles, said:

'Brethren, Elder Rigdon is entirely mistaken, there is no division; the brethren are united; the election will be unanimous, and the friends of law and order will be elected by a thousand majority. There is no occasion to be alarmed. President Rigdon is inspiring fears there are no grounds for.'

This is what my father and I declared to the members of that board. There is no confusion and uncertainty within the leadership of the Church. The controversy around Proposition 8 no longer dominates the media. Yes, there were many who apostasized and fell away from the Church, but such it is when men reject the Kingdom of God and the wheat is sifted from the tares.

Those who criticize the brethren and think such controversies will trip up the progress of this Church, or them that fail to see the unity within the Church and the Brethren, do not truly understand whose Church this truly is. It is the Church of Jesus Christ. No unhallowed hand can stop the progress of this work. The Keys of the Kingdom of God have been sealed upon the head of a prophet of God in these latter days, and upon the Twelve Apostles. They are united in all they do. The Spirit of the Lord unites them and guides them. Occasionally, persecutions may rise, and our faith will be tried. But the Lord is mindful of his people. He will never let us walk alone, without his guidance. Just as the Lord helped the Saints to know, by divine manifestation, who will lead his Church after the death of Joseph Smith, he will help the Saints know who he has called today to lead his Church.

The Foundation of the Gospel

2009-08-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

This week's Gospel Doctrine lesson in my ward was a discussion on the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith, which happened June 27, 1844. Part of the discussion surrounded the point as to why Joseph Smith "has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it."

Joseph Smith, as Prophet and Seer of the Lord Jesus Christ, was charged with the restoration of the Gospel of Christ and his Kingdom upon the earth. He was preserved countless times from the evil designs of those who sought to destroy Mormonism until he had laid down a foundation strong enough to last and grow until Christ returns in power and glory.

As I was studying this, I found a passage I highlighted long ago in my copy of Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It read:

It is in the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood, but when men come out and build upon other men's foundations, they do it on their own responsibility, without authority from God; and when the floods come and the winds blow, their foundations will be found to be sand, and their whole fabric will crumble to dust.

Did I build on any other man's foundation? I have got all the truth which the Christian world possessed, and an independent revelation in the bargain, and God will bear me off triumphant. I will drop this subject. I wish I could speak for three or four hours; but it is not expedient on account of the rain; I would still go on, and show you proof upon proofs; all the Bible is equal in support of this doctrine, one part as another. (June 16, 1844.)

Unlike the many Christian Churches that existed, Joseph Smith built his Church on a different foundation. After 1500 years of apostacy, our Heavenly Father opened a new dispensation as he always did in the past, and built his church upon a foundation of Prophets and Apostles, Priesthood Authority from God, and the principles of modern revelation.

Critics of the Church often use the Bible to prove that Mormonism is right, and Joseph declared that he could go on for hours, and give proofs upon proofs that all the Bible supports this Doctrine.

Would that Joseph had continued speaking and laid out these proofs for us to have. Regardless, with study and faith, and the assistance of the Holy Ghost, we will find them.

The foundation upon which Joseph Smith restored the Gospel is solid and the Kingdom of God continues to spread throughout the earth. As John Taylor wrote in Doctrine and Covenants, The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force." Let us do all we can to further this great work and build upon the groundwork that was prepared for us.

Welcome

2009-08-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

I've found in the weeks I have been teaching Gospel Doctrine in the Rose Garden Ward, in Phoenix, AZ, that I find myself having afterthoughts or ideas of things I wish to speak more about. Most of them tie in to the lesson of the week. Most of them have nothing to do with it at all. Usually they stem from quotes or studying I do for that week's lesson and I end up not using them or they just don't work with the lesson objective.

This blog, will be my attempt to expound upon those subjects, and give my thoughts on more gospel subjects. When I'm released, I hope that I continue to come up with afterthoughts on which to write about.

To the reader, I hope you enjoy what I write and find truth in them.