Be Committed

Happy Sabbath Day to  those who are reading this today and hope it was happy for those who are reading post Sabbath.

It has been a good week.  It goes by all too fast sometimes.  I have been working a weird alternating shift again.  It really messes with my sleep patterns, if I even have a sleep pattern, but that is what it is.

My mind has been directed down an interesting thought pattern the past several days.  

First, my thoughts go to Alma 22:11, 15.

Then, Acts 5:1-4.

Then, Matthew 9:2.

Final scripture is D&C 84:19-22.

Then I have a quote that just tied it all together for me today.

As I have been reading in Alma, I was totally impresses with the King of the Lamanites.  At this point in the geneologies of the Americas, the King has seen the influence and change the gospel has had on his son.  I am sure he has come back to his own palace and started questioning.  When Aaron shows up to teach him, he is excited and desirous to learn more.  As Aaron starts expounding, the King willingly except all that Aaron has to share.  He commits himself to believing/accepting the gospel, because he wants to have the joy that he sees others having.  We then learn that after willingly committing himself, he asks "...What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou has spoken?  Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy..."

For Aaron, this was one of the most exciting things he had witnessed in a very long time.  He was teaching someone who wanted to learn.  This someone had been prepared, by someone else mind you, not Ammon, but the Spirit.  Now he was he wanted more.  Without knowing or understanding all that would be required of him, he was committed.

Then, we jump to the Bible, the book of Acts.  Christ has ascended to the heavens.  The apostles and body of the church have been left to be governed through prophecy.  Like the King of the Lamanites, many have committed to do all that is required to obtain this "eternal life" and "be filled with joy".  The Holy Ghost had testified to them of the truthfulness of what was being taught, but now?  They were being tested in their commitment.  The church as a body was asked to give all that they had.  All that had been given to them was asked to be given back and re-divided as the apostles were directed.  Does that sound familiar?  Here in Acts, we have an example of some who, though they said they were committed, were not willing to give all that they had.  To make matters worse, when confronted on the matter, they were not honest, with themselves, the leaders of the church, but most importantly, with God the Father.

On to Matthew, I know, I am jumping around a great deal in history, but that is not what I am trying to share.  Here, Jesus Christ tells a man, a son of man, who is sick with not only palsy, but tormented spiritually that his sins are forgiven.  I love that it was pointed out recently in a conference talk that at this point, Jesus had not made a sacrifice that would atone for the sins and transgressions of this man.  Yet, he was committed to do whatever would be asked of him that He, and this man with palsy, might gain "eternal life" and "be filled with joy".  He was not only committed for this man alone, but for you and me as well.  All he asked of us?  That we be committed as well.

Now today, we had a wonderful lesson in priesthood.  One of the references was from D&C 84.  The priesthood has been restored to the earth that we might have the "key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God." That the "power of godliness is manifest" in the acts of administration of the priesthood.  That man might gain eternal life, seeing the face of God, even the Father, and live in joy forever.

 

Wow, so much to think about.  More importantly, so much to do and be committed to.  All of these thoughts I have shared thus far require a level of commitment.  The gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be manifest to us until we have committed ourselves to Him, exercised faith, and are willing to do whatever it takes to have eternal life and be filled with joy.  That commitment is individual.  It requires action, every day, every day, every day.  We cannot stop, though in our flesh we do.  When that happens, we must recommit ourselves to do better.  We do that each week at the sacrament table.  Weekly, we are able to participate in the only live ordinance we repeatedly partake of throughout our lives.

The prophet Joseph Smith reminded me of this from his teaching:

“Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them,can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose.”

As stated in D&C, taught to us through Jesus' example, shown us what can happen when we don't by Ananias, and what can happen when we do as demonstrated by the King of the Lamanites, we must commit and experience this joy for ourselves.  No one can give it to us.  It is something we must do individually.  We may be encouraged by others actions, thoughts, and experiences, but to obtain it ourselves, we must do.

I love you all.  It has been a good week as I stated previously.

The Queen is busy preparing for girl's camp and studying for her current class at the university.  In her spare time she is working, trimming denim, and running our home.

The Professor is preparing to return to the classroom.  She received her class list this week and started communicating with students and parents.  She is also diving into her college classes.

Tall Man has started rehearsals.  It is not as exciting as he wanted it to be yet, but it promises to get better.  I hope it does for his sake.

SnackPack continues to fill his days with adventure, whether they pan out or not, he fills the days.  

Outside of the family walls, we are excited for Tay, has he has committed himself to a pretty young lady as he put a ring on it.  We will share details as we get them.  Tall Man probably knows more than I do, but that is normal.

Have a great week!