Answer to the Ends of the Law
I so enjoy coming home after meeting on the Sabbath day and updating this page. I have been thinking about what I wanted to type all week long. Will it come out in typed word the way it has been playing out in my head, probably not, but here we go.
Last week I made a confession. I am sorry it made some of you sad. It was not intended to do so. I just wanted to share what I had been taught through the experience. Laws/Rules/Commandments are given for a reason. We don't always understand those reason, but they are there none the less.
Continuing that thought this week, I have pondered people who live in different parts of the world from me. We received word recently of a friend whose daughter has just received her mission call to the Czech Republic. With all the turmoil in that part of the world right now, my first thought was again, WHY? Why would they send her to an area of the world where they are not really able to teach? But then I remembered, there is a reason.
I recently listened to the talk given in conference this last October again where they talked about "The Freeze" in Ghana. Members were not allowed to meet, missionaries were removed from the area, and yet, the members did their best to live within the Law and still continue to prosper and grow in personal development as well as build up the Kingdom of God in that part of the world. Why did it happen? I don't know. But it did.
Then there are parts of the world today where certain laws, traditions, beliefs, and customs restrict personal freedoms. Women cannot vote, clothing must cover your entire body, dating is not allowed, you cannot marry until after your older siblings are married, men are not allowed to be in the presence of women they are not related to or do not know well, etc... These laws, traditions, beliefs, and customs seem so strange to one who has not been raised according to them. I am sure that for them, many of our freedoms seem strange and bizarre as well. Yet, they exist. There is a reason for them. In some cases, the question is whether those reasons are still valid in today's world or not. I am not sure. The requirement is that we live accordingly until the laws are changed.
The children of Israel lived according to the Law of Moses until Christ came and told them that the law was fulfilled. It did not happen while He was on the earth. It did not happen until after His death and resurrection. While He was on the earth, He lived according to the current law.
Take a moment to think about those laws. Take a moment to determine whether you are living according to them or like the Pharisees going beyond the mark. After you have done that. Take a moment to read 2 Nephi 2:7.
This is where my head has been all week. He, Himself offered a sacrifice for those times when we acted outside of this law. He answers the ends of all law. But it is not a free gift He gives. He only answers for those who sincerely seek Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We must do so Humbly, Actively, Diligently. It is not a check list of things we do once, but a way of life we must learn to live. The goal is to come unto Him that He might answer for us.
That is where my head has been. Now today, I was blessed to hear the testimony of one of our young elders. He was testifying about the importance of being a Member. Being a Member is like being a limb of a tree. We all have purpose and responsibility to the roots and strength of the tree. As he shared his testimony my mind was taken to Jacob 5. A parable was shared.
Sometimes, we as Members, just like this young elder, are taken from our trees and grafted into another part of the vineyard. The purpose is to see if we will strengthen the tree and roots into which we are grafted or if we will be conformed to the weakness thereof.
Combine my two thoughts today. Be a source of power and influence of good no matter where you are currently grafted, family, ward, stake, mission, area, or what not. Yes, there will be growing pains, things that you will have learn about the new tree you are grafted into, but as long as you are adhering to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Principles and Precepts there of, you will be supported, sustained, and give power to strengthen those with whom you associate. Do so in His name!
Okay, that is enough for now. Just go and do.
This week has been pretty good.
I have been busy with meetings all week. I kind of messed with the routine we are trying to re-establish in our neck of the woods. I know my schedule is going to do that again this week, but we are adapting.
The Queen finished another project and has started on the next. She amazes me. Together, we had the opportunity to make some visits this week. It was refreshing to share with others.
The Professor is prepping for those ever enjoyable Parent-Teacher meetings. We know where she will be this week. On top of all of that she has a Super Saturday to prepare for. The joys of leadership.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been busy this week. We are meeting with them today, but not really sure where they have been all week other than searching for new employment as seasonal jobs ended, visiting the doctors, and wrapping up one play only to start set design for the next. Yep, it sounds like they have been pretty idle.
Our schedules have not met up with Songbird's this week, so we don't have much to report there. We will have to work on that.
Yesterday, we had the opportunity to witness the baptism of that little Oakland "A's" kid. It is hard to believe he is growing up so fast. Yet, we were reminded that make things more crazy, little Green Ivy girl will celebrate 11 tomorrow. Yeah, it is crazy.
I hope that you have all had a wonderful week of adventure and look forward to hearing about it soon.
Cheerios!
Last week I made a confession. I am sorry it made some of you sad. It was not intended to do so. I just wanted to share what I had been taught through the experience. Laws/Rules/Commandments are given for a reason. We don't always understand those reason, but they are there none the less.
Continuing that thought this week, I have pondered people who live in different parts of the world from me. We received word recently of a friend whose daughter has just received her mission call to the Czech Republic. With all the turmoil in that part of the world right now, my first thought was again, WHY? Why would they send her to an area of the world where they are not really able to teach? But then I remembered, there is a reason.
I recently listened to the talk given in conference this last October again where they talked about "The Freeze" in Ghana. Members were not allowed to meet, missionaries were removed from the area, and yet, the members did their best to live within the Law and still continue to prosper and grow in personal development as well as build up the Kingdom of God in that part of the world. Why did it happen? I don't know. But it did.
Then there are parts of the world today where certain laws, traditions, beliefs, and customs restrict personal freedoms. Women cannot vote, clothing must cover your entire body, dating is not allowed, you cannot marry until after your older siblings are married, men are not allowed to be in the presence of women they are not related to or do not know well, etc... These laws, traditions, beliefs, and customs seem so strange to one who has not been raised according to them. I am sure that for them, many of our freedoms seem strange and bizarre as well. Yet, they exist. There is a reason for them. In some cases, the question is whether those reasons are still valid in today's world or not. I am not sure. The requirement is that we live accordingly until the laws are changed.
The children of Israel lived according to the Law of Moses until Christ came and told them that the law was fulfilled. It did not happen while He was on the earth. It did not happen until after His death and resurrection. While He was on the earth, He lived according to the current law.
Take a moment to think about those laws. Take a moment to determine whether you are living according to them or like the Pharisees going beyond the mark. After you have done that. Take a moment to read 2 Nephi 2:7.
This is where my head has been all week. He, Himself offered a sacrifice for those times when we acted outside of this law. He answers the ends of all law. But it is not a free gift He gives. He only answers for those who sincerely seek Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We must do so Humbly, Actively, Diligently. It is not a check list of things we do once, but a way of life we must learn to live. The goal is to come unto Him that He might answer for us.
That is where my head has been. Now today, I was blessed to hear the testimony of one of our young elders. He was testifying about the importance of being a Member. Being a Member is like being a limb of a tree. We all have purpose and responsibility to the roots and strength of the tree. As he shared his testimony my mind was taken to Jacob 5. A parable was shared.
Sometimes, we as Members, just like this young elder, are taken from our trees and grafted into another part of the vineyard. The purpose is to see if we will strengthen the tree and roots into which we are grafted or if we will be conformed to the weakness thereof.
Combine my two thoughts today. Be a source of power and influence of good no matter where you are currently grafted, family, ward, stake, mission, area, or what not. Yes, there will be growing pains, things that you will have learn about the new tree you are grafted into, but as long as you are adhering to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Principles and Precepts there of, you will be supported, sustained, and give power to strengthen those with whom you associate. Do so in His name!
Okay, that is enough for now. Just go and do.
This week has been pretty good.
I have been busy with meetings all week. I kind of messed with the routine we are trying to re-establish in our neck of the woods. I know my schedule is going to do that again this week, but we are adapting.
The Queen finished another project and has started on the next. She amazes me. Together, we had the opportunity to make some visits this week. It was refreshing to share with others.
The Professor is prepping for those ever enjoyable Parent-Teacher meetings. We know where she will be this week. On top of all of that she has a Super Saturday to prepare for. The joys of leadership.
Tall Man and Ehl-Bo have been busy this week. We are meeting with them today, but not really sure where they have been all week other than searching for new employment as seasonal jobs ended, visiting the doctors, and wrapping up one play only to start set design for the next. Yep, it sounds like they have been pretty idle.
Our schedules have not met up with Songbird's this week, so we don't have much to report there. We will have to work on that.
Yesterday, we had the opportunity to witness the baptism of that little Oakland "A's" kid. It is hard to believe he is growing up so fast. Yet, we were reminded that make things more crazy, little Green Ivy girl will celebrate 11 tomorrow. Yeah, it is crazy.
I hope that you have all had a wonderful week of adventure and look forward to hearing about it soon.
Cheerios!
Comments