Higher or Lower, which do you live?
Howdee All,
It has been an interesting week. My thoughts have been all over the place, but where I start today, but not where my thoughts originated is Article of Faith 3.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all man kind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
As I studied this week's priesthood lesson (Chapter 9) and thought about several happenings in my family, my mind was drawn to what needs to be done to be saved. Not only here in the Article of Faith, but in many other places, we are reminded of the importance of obeying the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel. With that thought, I started making a list in my mind, eventually, on paper, and finally a study journal of what these Laws and Ordinances are. I started first with the Laws.
Can you list them?
Obedience
Sacrifice
Justice
Mercy
Tithing
Health
Chasity
Charity
Offerings
Honesty
Harvest
Abundance
Fast
Consecration
Compensation
Are just a few that I came up with. Then I started thinking, what about the Law of Moses - i.e. the 10 Commandments? Aren't they part of the Law of the Gospel? But then, didn't Christ fulfill the Law of Moses? So do they really count? This is where my thought have been going.
So what did I learn?
The Law of Moses is a foundation. It is considered to be the Lower Law governed by Aaron and his descendants or the Priesthood of Aaron. It was given to the House of Israel to prepare them in living the Higher Law governed by Melchizedek or the Priesthood of Melchizedek. As you think about them this way, can you see how the Lower Law can be lived in a Higher Law manner?
If we are commanded not to steal, what would be a Higher Law than not stealing? My thoughts suggest that if I am doing more than not stealing, I would be serving, giving, sacrificing of myself for the benefit of others. Can you see that in Higher Law of Gospel? i.e. Charity, Offerings, Fast...
If we are not bearing false witness, what would the Higher Law be? Being Honest in all our dealings with our fellow man? What do you think?
I see that all of these Lower Laws, lead to Higher Laws, which lead us all to living according to the covenants and ordinances we receive in and up to being able to enter the temple. Each one requires that we Obey. Sometimes we are asked to Sacrifice something or a little bit of ourselves. This is what it is all about, isn't it?
I hope my thoughts have given you something more to think about, study, and ponder out in your lives. I know it has given me a great deal of material to do so with.
I also know, though we do see this governing power (Melchizedek Priesthood), we do see the effects of its power in our lives. With out it, we are nothing. I know that by living according to it, our lives will be blessed by those effects, we will have power to overcome the obstacles and challenges put in our path, whether made by our own choices or the choices of others.
On with the week.
It has been a good week. I spent several days in Chicago. It was challenging to maintain the program, but seems to be paying off. I enjoyed the training. It was all good reminders to help prepare me for the worst.
The Queen stayed home with the family. It was kind of challenging as she took the Blue Ark in for a maintenance check. We all found ourselves juggling schedules and activities to make it work.
The Professor spent most of the week attending a conference in the mountains. She came back with good material and ideas for her classes to come.
Tall Man tried out for a play, as did his Ehl-Bo. It looks like they will both be playing fun parts in an upcoming musical.
SnackPack worked and played after a long week touring.
Each of us are doing our best to find a routine, it does not seem to be happening as the summer unfolds. The coming days are filled with Youth activities, camps, weddings, passports, and more. It all makes this life worth it.
It has been an interesting week. My thoughts have been all over the place, but where I start today, but not where my thoughts originated is Article of Faith 3.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all man kind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
As I studied this week's priesthood lesson (Chapter 9) and thought about several happenings in my family, my mind was drawn to what needs to be done to be saved. Not only here in the Article of Faith, but in many other places, we are reminded of the importance of obeying the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel. With that thought, I started making a list in my mind, eventually, on paper, and finally a study journal of what these Laws and Ordinances are. I started first with the Laws.
Can you list them?
Obedience
Sacrifice
Justice
Mercy
Tithing
Health
Chasity
Charity
Offerings
Honesty
Harvest
Abundance
Fast
Consecration
Compensation
Are just a few that I came up with. Then I started thinking, what about the Law of Moses - i.e. the 10 Commandments? Aren't they part of the Law of the Gospel? But then, didn't Christ fulfill the Law of Moses? So do they really count? This is where my thought have been going.
So what did I learn?
The Law of Moses is a foundation. It is considered to be the Lower Law governed by Aaron and his descendants or the Priesthood of Aaron. It was given to the House of Israel to prepare them in living the Higher Law governed by Melchizedek or the Priesthood of Melchizedek. As you think about them this way, can you see how the Lower Law can be lived in a Higher Law manner?
If we are commanded not to steal, what would be a Higher Law than not stealing? My thoughts suggest that if I am doing more than not stealing, I would be serving, giving, sacrificing of myself for the benefit of others. Can you see that in Higher Law of Gospel? i.e. Charity, Offerings, Fast...
If we are not bearing false witness, what would the Higher Law be? Being Honest in all our dealings with our fellow man? What do you think?
I see that all of these Lower Laws, lead to Higher Laws, which lead us all to living according to the covenants and ordinances we receive in and up to being able to enter the temple. Each one requires that we Obey. Sometimes we are asked to Sacrifice something or a little bit of ourselves. This is what it is all about, isn't it?
I hope my thoughts have given you something more to think about, study, and ponder out in your lives. I know it has given me a great deal of material to do so with.
I also know, though we do see this governing power (Melchizedek Priesthood), we do see the effects of its power in our lives. With out it, we are nothing. I know that by living according to it, our lives will be blessed by those effects, we will have power to overcome the obstacles and challenges put in our path, whether made by our own choices or the choices of others.
On with the week.
It has been a good week. I spent several days in Chicago. It was challenging to maintain the program, but seems to be paying off. I enjoyed the training. It was all good reminders to help prepare me for the worst.
The Queen stayed home with the family. It was kind of challenging as she took the Blue Ark in for a maintenance check. We all found ourselves juggling schedules and activities to make it work.
The Professor spent most of the week attending a conference in the mountains. She came back with good material and ideas for her classes to come.
Tall Man tried out for a play, as did his Ehl-Bo. It looks like they will both be playing fun parts in an upcoming musical.
SnackPack worked and played after a long week touring.
Each of us are doing our best to find a routine, it does not seem to be happening as the summer unfolds. The coming days are filled with Youth activities, camps, weddings, passports, and more. It all makes this life worth it.
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