The Second Coming

 I have noticed, lately, (and maybe it's only me) that there has been some emphasis from the General Authorities about the Last Days and the Second Coming of the Lord. Two talks in the last conference, for instance, reiterated the need to have food/supply storage and personal spiritual preparedness as end times approach. 

I have been emphasizing our need to start using the storage we currently have, as we have had to toss out much of what we had stored due to its being outdated and/or just nasty smelling. I doubt we will ever use all the wheat we have stored, so we are back to grinding and baking (we being Olivia, of course). We need to reassess everything else and update some of the things we lack.

Because of the emphasis that I have perceived, I recently began listening to Gerald Lund's book The Second Coming of the Lord, which is an updated version of the one he wrote in 1971 entitled The Coming of the Lord. There is much to learn about, and much is missed just listening because of competing distractions, but I am enjoying the insights. One thing that struck me is that the Lord made it clear that we are supposed to be aware of the signs of the times; actually, we are commanded to do so, even though it has been 2000+ years since He said he would return in glory. The other thing that struck me is the myriad times the scriptures mention the Second Coming with either positive or negative connotations. Brother Lund is asked why talk about the negative aspects, as fear is not a great motivator. He answers with a quote by Elder Todd D. Christofferson stating that if we are aware of a danger and fail to warn, it would be negligent (such as warning a child about putting a hand into a fire). The positive things are mentioned more often in the scriptures, and he dwells more on the positive in his book, while not neglecting the warnings.

Can we calculate the date of His return? No. We live in a time of precise calculations. Olympic events are timed to the 1000th of a second. I am lost if there is not a clock in the room where I happen to be at any given time. That was certainly not the case in the days when Jesus told his disciples of his coming. It wasn't even the case in Joseph Smith's day. Even though clocks and pocket watches were available, they typically existed in the homes and vests of the wealthier class. People spoke in rounded times; approximations. Even now, if something happened 990 years ago, it would not be unusual to say it was a thousand years ago. We often state that certain things that occurred during the restoration, such as the first vision, the visitations in the Kirtland temple, the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods happened about 200 years ago. Because we know the dates or approximate dates, we could be much more precise, we still round up or down. Is one earth day exactly equal to 1000 years to the Lord? We don't know, but likely it is an approximation. There has not been a generation since the resurrection of Christ that did not believe that the second coming of the Lord was at the door. Why should be believe it now? Because the prophet Joseph was told that this is the last dispensation, that the time is soon. As we see, 200 years have passed, so soon is relative. With signs of the times being fulfilled rather rapidly, it is unlikely that it will be another 1,000 years.  The important thing is to be prepared and to know the signes.

Attributes of a Temple

 Many look at the attributes of a temple as spelled out in Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 and apply them to a home. I think it is fine to do so, even though it is meant to apply to a holy temple that the Lord was commanding the saints to build in Kirtland, Ohio. Our homes should be temples and the attributes specified in this scripture should be those of a holy home, as well.

However, I was impressed during this last conference to determine if I am missing something in my personal temple worship by looking at these attributes as they apply to the temple. If the temple is a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, and a house of God, am I receiving all the attendant blessings? I think I am receiving only a small portion of them, so I want to look at them more closely.

Prayer

We are cautioned that we should not use the Celestial Room as a place for personal prayer, nor any other place in the temple for that matter. However, there are a couple of areas that are most appropriate. First, the prayer circle is where a temple ordinance worker offers a prayer on behalf of the company that is there for the endowment session, as well as those whose names are on the prayer roll. It is, or should be a prayer offered by listening to the promptings of the Spirit. The first few times I offered that prayer, I felt the promptings and there were new thoughts and words that came to me. I have used those phrases on several occasions since, but I have to be cautious not to make them vain repetitions and miss important promptings. Second, there is no more appropriate place to have a prayer always in my heart. I have had some very important promptings as I have prayed before, during and after a session of temple worship.

Fasting

We have been told not to fast excessively. The scripture seems to imply that every time we go to the temple, we should go there fasting. That could be excessive, depending upon how often we go to the temple and the time of the session(s) we attend. We are, however, invited to attend the temple when we seek answers to our challenges, seek relief from the hurts and inequities that life may bring, seek insight when making decisions or when we will be attempting to offer counsel or relief to others. There are, of course, a myriad of other special reasons for attending the temple. Any of those may receive more clarity if we attend the temple while fasting.

To me, though, it seems that we should always go to the temple fasting from worldly concerns, fasting from anger, from frivolity, from evil thoughts, from petty hurts, from anything that would take us from the promptings that are available while in a holy place. Those promptings are available, but if our worldly concerns are dominating our minds, those promptings are unavailable. So just like putting aside our concerns for  food and hydration can enhance our worship during a fast, other worldly concerns can be left behind to enhance our temple worship. We can fast from them.

Learning

All of the ordinances in the temple are rote. The words are the same with the exception of the prayers given in the prayer circle. Often, the sealers will convene a teaching session along with their performing the sealing ordinances, but there is no such opportunity in endowment, initiatory, baptism, confirmation, or any other ordinance performed there. The temple presidency give instruction for those receiving their own ordinances, which is usually the first time the patrons have been in a temple. So, when President McKay said that he attended the temple every week and learned something new each time, how did he do that? What was he learning? Are the ordinances so multifaceted, that I am missing the nuances available? Are there so many facets that I could learn a new one each week for over 80 years?

I think there are, in fact, many facets that I do miss. When I hear someone talk about something they just realized in a session, I wonder how I managed to miss that. I am certain that there is much to be learned from deeply listening to the words of the ordinances and pulling out the information there. I am also certain that the teacher is the Holy Ghost and that it is not just the meanings found within each ordinance, but much is learned just from being in a holy place, with a holy attitude, ready to hear what the Spirit would teach.

I have had glimpses of what I should do, where I should be, or who I should contact while attending a session in the temple. I suspect that many (probably most) who attend regularly, have had similar experiences. John A. Widstoe reported that he had a particularly troubling problem related to his professional life that was solved by revelation in the temple, though he had set that issue aside to attend the temple. He stated that the temple is the place where revelation may be expected. He stated that if we attend the temple these revelations will come to us in or out of the temple and provide solutions to the problems that vex our lives.

Glory

The literal meaning of glory is related to a great light. That is why Christ, Mary, the saints and other religious people in the medieval paintings are given a halo, or light around their heads. In the Bible and even now, it is a term used in a much broader sense. Glory and glorious now means a high degree of honor, reputation, resplendence, beauty, and so forth. 

In the beginning of this dispensation, the glory of the temple was literal in the case of the Kirtland Temple. Many of those in the community reported a great light coming from the temple during the dedication ceremonies. Angels and the Savior were seen in the interior, and the glory of the Lord was present. Today, the temple is a place of glory in many of its aspects. Certainly, the beauty is resplendent, from its architecture, landscaping, cleanliness, and care. There is great glory for those who enter to have their marriages sealed under the New and Everlasting Covenant. Glory is an appropriate term for those who receive their ordinances and perform ordinances for the deceased and are given a glimpse of the purpose and efficacy of those ordinances. It is also the appropriate term for those who are given additional light and truth from inspiration received there. 

The real promise of glory is found in a couple of sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, primarily in Section 97:15 - 16 Where the Lord promises that if no unclean thing is permitted to come into it, "...my glory shall rest upon it; ...my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God." 

Order

Early in Church history, following the revelations related to baptism for the dead, there was a lot of disorder. Women baptized for their deceased fathers, and men for their mothers, baptisms done without any record being made, and so forth. Quickly, the Lord revealed the need for accurate records, ordinances for the dead to be conducted in the temples, and other steps taken to insure that all was done in order. 

Today, order in the temple is paramount. Records are kept with great precision. Ordinances are performed verbatim. Those who are entering for their own ordinances are given instruction by the temple presidency and are given escorts to make sure order is maintained. 

The result of this degree of order assures that not only are the ordinances less likely to be duplicated or invalid, but it is a source for patrons' positive experience. Reverence is possible because orderliness allows them to focus on the Atonement, rather than chaos. Focus on prayers, language of the ordinances, sensitivity to the presence of the deceased, and internal peace are all magnified by the orderliness of the House of the Lord.

House of God    

This, according to the Doctrine and Covenants, is meant to be literal.  Sections 36,42, and 133 state that the Lord will come suddenly to his temple. Section 88 says that the temple is to be the house of God. Section 97says he will come into it. Section 110 says the Lord will manifest himself to his people in his house. I have not personally seen his face as promised in Sections 93 and 97. Has anyone? Of course, we know about the appearance of the Lord in the Kirtland temple. We know that Lorenzo Snow saw the Lord in the Salt Lake temple when he doubted his being prepared to assume the presidency. Others certainly have. Elder Boyd K. Packer said "Those who know don't tell and those who tell, don't know." That we can be in the presence of God in the temple is quite literal when you remember that the Holy Ghost is a god. While we look forward to the literal presence of Jesus Christ in the temple and have faith that we can, we do have the presence of the Holy Ghost any time we attend the temple worthy and prepared.

As I review this a little more closely, I realize that I have received many of the promised blessings that I had not thought of before. I also realize, however, that there are promised blessings of which I should be more aware as I enter the temple in the future. What a blessing for this generation!

Some Accidental Lessons from Alma and Amulek

Our Everyday Work is Sacred

A few Sundays ago our Elders' Quorum President commented that we sometimes forget our spiritual thoughts because all during the week we are involved with non-spiritual things like punching cows (he is a rancher) and doing our daily work. I thought at the time (and I should have said) when did punching cows stop being a spiritual activity?

The thought came up again when a couple of weeks ago, I  had the privilege of teaching one of our Pathway gatherings. The woman who was supposed to lead the discussion was not going to be in the class and much of the week we were in Reno for a doctor's appointment, so I didn't take the time to ask another student to take the class. The students had read and studied Alma 33 - 42. I have written about my thoughts on Alma 34:17-27 in the past, but because it was a good reminder, I will touch on it again.

Prior to verse 17, Amulek is teaching the atonement. He continues his discourse by saying "...call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; (18) Yea, cry unto him for mercy, for he is mighty to save." Then he writes a litany of items this prayer of mercy ought to contain:
19. ...continue in mighty prayer.
20. Cry unto him ...in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
21. ...in your houses, yea, over all your household...
22. ...against your enemies.
23. ...against the Devil...
24. ...over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. (Emphasis added)
25. ...over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. (Emphasis added)
26. ...pour out your souls in your closets and your secret places...
27. ...let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. (Emphasis added)

To me this is saying that if we live every day to be worthy of the blessings of the atonement and draw out our souls in prayer, our daily attempts at making a success of our jobs and businesses can be realized.

In the holy temple, we committed ourselves to consecrate everything we are and have to the building up of the Kingdom of God on earth. Not 10%, but all we have and all our education, experience, health, and spirituality, as well. If we are serious about this, we live our lives in a consecrated manner. We do not have to segregate our Sunday selves from our rest-of-the-week selves.

Listening to the Holy Ghost Leads to Thanksgiving

It has been brought to my attention that I need to heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost better and more often. I think my life would be more blessed, if I did. Twice that I can think of in the last month, I have missed wonderful opportunities and realized it only after it was too late.

In one case, we were in Idaho picking out features for the house such as flooring and cabinets. During the conversation, the young woman we were working with mentioned her genealogy. She and her mother had sent in their kits for DNA testing and were a little surprised by the results. The thought came to me that I should pursue this further and turn it into a Gospel conversation. It was a fleeting thought that was lost in the conversation with all the other people in the room. Only after I left the store did it occur to me that I could have at least left a pass-along card.

Just this past Thursday I had to get some medication. When I arrived at the pharmacy, the lady at the counter took my name and birth date, but found nothing. I had to talk with the pharmacist and get some problems worked out. It was going to take some time, so we left the store and did some shopping for the week and returned an hour later. When I returned, this lady remembered my name and birth date, even though she had helped a least a score of patients in between. I realized that she had associated my missionary name badge with my information, but I didn't say anything about it. Only after leaving the store did it dawn on me that I could have turned the conversation to a brief discussion about the Church.

Alma 34:38 says in part, "...contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but...receive it, and ...humble yourselves...worship God in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

It had not occurred to me until I re-read this verse that accepting the promptings of the Holy Ghost not only brings blessings to us and those whom we serve, but it also allows us to live in thanksgiving. If there were no other blessing, I would want to pay heed to the promptings, just to live in thanksgiving daily. In my experience, this principle is very true.

Spiritual Murder

Do you want to experience inexpressible horror? You won't find it in the movies. Horror, yes - it is the  stuff of nightmares, but it is not inexpressible horror. I have seen the effects of deeply experienced horror when associating with combat soldiers and others who have lived through situations where they somehow survived a violent, life-threatening episode, or several. With counseling and over time, those horrific experiences can be put away and, if not forgotten, placed in a compartment of the brain where they need not bother them any more.

Alma tells his son Heleman of his conversion experience and states, "...I had murdered many of his [God's] children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror." (Alma 36:14 Emphasis added)

Matthew 10: 28 states, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather rear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

That is horror I hope never to imagine, let alone experience.

The Purpose of Scripture

When Alma handed the plates over to Heleman to keep and to update, he stated that there was a sacred reason for doing so. In Alma 37:8 he gives four reasons for preserving a sacred record that is likely to become scripture. "And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have (1) enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and (2) convinced many of the error of their ways, and (3) brought them to the knowledge of their God unto (4) the salvation of their souls."

Our memories are limited to our experiences, and many of those we no longer retain. The advantage of the scriptures is that we now can relate the human experience we share with those who have gone before and learn from their successes, errors, and observations, without having to re-experience grief unnecessarily. We can stand on the shoulders of these giants and rise to greater heights, if we will.

The scriptures can convince those of us who are humbly willing to learn, of the error of our ways and take advantage of the healing power of the Atonement.

Bringing us to the knowledge of God, the scriptures, both ancient and modern, allow us to live a higher existence. It is truly the only way to experience progress. Progress is vain that only allows us to experience what millions of others before us experienced. While that is important and even necessary, real progress is made when our efforts lead us to greater achievements than those who have gone before us.  Today, it was announced that a group of scientists in Israel have discovered a cure for cancer. Immeasurable hours, money, education and research has gone into finding a cure. I hope it is true, but even if it is not, significant progress has been made.

I will not discover a cure for the common cold, or anything like it. My progression may look very similar to the progress of millions of others, but God knows there are things I have discovered that are unique to me. Some may not be easily shared, others I have shared in teaching, preaching and by example, others I need to share in these pages, even if they are read only by myself.

Why? Because if taken at their deepest level, the scriptures, both ancient and modern, will bring us unto the salvation of our souls.

No Excuses

An observation from C.S. Lewis that has pricked my conscience and is often brought to my mind is that when we ask for God's forgiveness, we are really asking Him to excuse us. Here is the quote from the section on forgiveness in his book The Weight of Glory:

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him to do something quite different. I am asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says “Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us two will be exactly as it was before.” But excusing says “I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.” If one was not really to blame then there is nothing to forgive. In that sense forgiveness and excusing are almost opposites. 

Alma points this out to his rebellious son, Corianton when he says, "...she [the harlot, Isabel] did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son." (Alma 39:4) There are one or two more places when Corianton is told that his excuses are not valid.

I have to be careful in my conversations with others and, especially in my prayers. I have to think, "Do I want to be excused or do I want to be forgiven?" I know the answer. God will allow the true excuses, without my asking. I want forgiveness.

It's About Time

I was asked on two different occasions while serving in Sweden whether I believed the earth was only a few thousand years old. I responded by telling of a young boy who, in praying to God, told Him that he wanted to talk to Him face to face, because he had some questions. To his surprise, God appeared to him. The boy began by asking a question.

"Is it true that a minute to you is like a hundred years to us on earth?"
"That is true."
"Is it true that a crown to you (we would say a penny) is like ten million crowns to us?"
"That is also true."
"Could I have a crown?"
"Sure, in a minute."

We are stuck with marking time by the revolutions of this earth. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow are all in accordance with the rotation of the globe. The tilt and relationship of the earth to the sun determine the seasons. Not that long ago I was 40; today I am well over 70. I don't feel older because of my age - that is arbitrary because of the way we tell time here on this planet. I feel older because my body has gone beyond prime and will continue to do so until my time on this planet is ended.

Alma tells Corianton, "...all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men." (Alma 40:8).

That God literally sees the end from the beginning raises all kinds of terrestrial questions. How does that effect the agency or free will of men? That sounds like predestination. To quote poor Scrooge at the end of the visit with the Ghost of Christmases to come, "Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me."
"Spirit!" he cried, tight clutching at its robe, "hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?"
For the first time the hand appeared to shake.
"Good Spirit," he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it: "Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!"

That some understand, at least to a degree, the space/time continuum, which is well beyond my abilities at this point, none have the capacity to comprehend time, or the absence of it from God's perspective. For that, we will have to await a celestial sphere. Until then, we act in faith knowing that God holds our agency in the highest regard, for it is in our choices that we grow in every aspect of our lives, now and in eternity.

Pride and a Haughty Spirit

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is a scripture with which most of us are familiar. Often it is shortened to "Pride goeth before a fall." Either way, it is a volume of wisdom expressed in a short sentence.

In reading Alma 39, again, I found a verse to which I had not paid much attention, before. The chapter concerns Corianton's leaving the ministry, going after a charming harlot, setting a bad example for the people who then cannot believe Alma, and Alma's invitation to him to listen to counsel from and follow the example of his older brothers.

What I had missed was the verse that describes the root of Corianton's fall from a powerful missionary to an adulterer.

It is found in verse 2. "... Now this is what I have against thee; thou didst go on  unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom."

C. S. Lewis in his Screwtape Letters has the demon Screwtape instructing his student imp. In one case, the imp explains that he is getting nowhere with his "patient" because of his humility. With humility, comes a heart willing to hear and obey God.

"I see only one thing to do at the moment. Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, “By jove! I’m being humble”, and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. "

Obviously, Corianton had wisdom, strength and abilities to influence others. At first, he was a powerful missionary. At some point, he began to feel that it was all him; that is, he forgot that these were gifts that should be nourished and strengthened by humbly receiving counsel. Having focused on himself and his personal strength and wisdom, his pride led him to believe that his superiority exceeded the wisdom of his father and brothers. In fact, it exceeded what they taught and he, like so many others before and since, thought he was being a spiritual pioneer when, in fact, he was simply heading for destruction.

We get the feeling in reading the chapters dedicated to him that he had hit bottom, was prepared to humble himself and repent. Alma lets him know it will not be easy because Alma had to rehearse all the sinful acts and "harrow up" those difficult feelings. (v. 7) Also, Corianton would have to return to the Zoramites and admit his folly. (v. 13)

It is an easy trap to fall into. There is some emotional reward when we recognize that we have done a good thing, become a person of some repute, accomplished some spiritual feat or that we have gifts not possessed by others. It is a good thing to know, when it leads to gratitude. If it turns to pride, we are in danger. It requires vigilance.

The Innocent Adam and Eve

I gave the lesson in Sunday School yesterday about Adam, Eve, and the Fall. A couple of thoughts were developed from the scriptures I read.

First, there seems to be a struggle with the idea that the partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a transgression and not a sin or that it was a necessary evil. We know it was necessary, because they were in a state of latent mortality. Bodies that were incorruptible, but also incapable of producing mortal children. Absent the Fall, they would have remained as such. 2Nephi 2:22-23 states: 

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. (Emphasis added)

It seems to me that we are missing an important concept: they were "...in a state of innocence." Have you known someone who was in a state of innocence? They will believe anyone. Until children have adequate experience, they are completely gullible. For example, we recently received an email letter from our grandson, Jacob. Here is an excerpt: "One time I had a CTR but then I lost it, I made a wrong choice because I didn't have my ring, then the Holy Ghost gave me back my ring, he was keeping it, forever. Then I made a right choice and I got my CTR ring."

It is so laughably cute that it is precious to us, because Jacob is only a young child. It would indicate serious problems if he wrote this at age 18, for instance. 

Adam and Eve were without experience. The whole idea of consequences for sin, or even sin, itself, were unfamiliar territory. Eve partook of the fruit innocently.  When the consequences became obvious, Adam apparently recognized that Eve was not going to be able to remain in the Garden and he partook of the fruit, also. 

I have heard some people state that Adam was trying to shift the blame to Eve with his response to God. I don't think so, because he was innocent and incapable of that kind of sophistry. Moses 4: 17-18  has the exchange. 

17 And I, the Lord God, said unto Adam: Who told thee thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat, if so thou shouldst surely die?

18 And the man said: The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat. (Emphasis added)

My thought, as I expressed above, is that Adam was given Eve as his wife and commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. Without her, it would be impossible. He ate because he had been commanded to remain with her and would not have been able to do so if both had not partaken of the fruit. I suspect that after the Fall, innocence would go away rather quickly. As mankind advanced over the millennia, sophistry grew along with the loss of innocence. 

Maybe you have a different take and would like to share it. To me, it explains a lot.

My Time is not Your Time...

Alma 29: 8
8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

Another scripture I have read so many times and have not noticed. Perhaps it seemed appropriate this time because President Youngberg and I had a long conversation regarding what to do about the problem of immigrants and refugees in this country. Apparently, there are some who have discovered that being Christian is a way of not getting deported back to a Muslim country, so they fain interest in the Church. However, only one has requested a letter of good standing for that purpose. They are refused baptism if, after a close interview, they are determined to be in danger of returning to a country where being Christian is a dangerous status.

The problem that generated the conversation is that there are no Farsi or Arabic speaking missionaries in Europe, so interviews are conducted by Skype with missionaries in Los Angeles, CA rather late at night due to the time difference. I argued that there ought to be some of those missionaries appointed to Europe where they would be accessible to all missions in the same or a close time zone.

I have wondered for some time how the Gospel will go to the people of these Middle Eastern countries where it is a capital crime to change religions. The solution seems to be the refugees that receive the Gospel in adopted countries who then share with their families and friends. Over time, it seems to me, they will create enough political pressure to change things in their homelands. Maybe it is rose-colored glasses, because I have no real inkling how God will accomplish his purposes.

This scripture put me in my place by stating that not only will the Lord grant to all nations, in their own nation and tongue, but it will be done in wisdom, as he seeth fit.

I suppose we all, in some degree, want to see the signs of the end times and second coming of Christ. We know that it will come as a surprise, but we would like it to be obvious and in our own time. Time to let God do what he will as he wishes and in his time.

Short on Faith? Make a List

Alma 9:20+

Background: Alma has been instructed to return to the city of Ammonihah after having been unsuccessful in calling them to repentance. He meets Amulek and asks for shelter and food. Amulek had been prepared by an angel to receive Alma and complies with the angel's instructions. It seems that Amulek was not a religious man, but a man of integrity. Therefore, he enjoyed a good reputation in the community. While he had thoughts of religion, he was busy building his business and had little time for anything else, it seems. The visit from the angel and then from Alma allowed his spirit to be open to receiving the message of repentance and living the standards of the gospel.  Alma stays with him and teaches him for some time. He is a quick study and obviously has learned spiritual concepts deeply. He loves and teaches them as he accompanies the high priest of the Church.

Alma and Amulek step out to teach the people and to call them to repentance. Alma begins in an interesting way. He restates how many times God has blessed this people, provided spiritual gifts, prosperity, provided prophets, revelation, visions, healings, relief from famine, delivered them out of bondage, and preserved them in battle. It is quite a long list of only some of the blessings received by the people of Nephi as well as the others who joined them as recorded in Mosiah. Reading it, my thought was that if they were not touched by this recitation,  they would have predetermined that no matter what this prophet said, they would not hear, but would reject it out of hand. "...your hearts have been grossly hardened against the word of God..." (v. 30)

Many times I have thought about why in moments of weakness I have chosen to hold fast to faith. This time the thought occurred to me that I have had numerous spiritual blessings in my life when I was especially inspired, blessed, healed, provided blessings, received direction, was in the right place at a time when someone needed my insight, and other gifts of the Spirit.

If that is the case, maybe I should do like Alma and write them down. I hesitate to do so here, as it may appear prideful or it may expose sensitive spiritual blessings that should be kept sacred. I am fine with sharing them on a personal basis, so when we meet sometime, you may ask and I will do so.

As I think of something that is a direct blessing of the Spirit or an answer to a prayer or fulfillment of a blessing, I write it down in a notebook that I carry with me. So far, I have written 28 instances. I know there are many I have not yet remembered and more to come. It has been a blessing to me on so many levels. I know many who keep a gratitude journal, and this is similar because these are experiences for which I am profoundly grateful, but different in that I am not recording everything for which I am grateful (though I am glad that so many do), just about those instances where divine intervention of one kind or another has been evident in my personal life.

I recommend it. I don't know how long I will keep it up, but for now it is an amazing blessing of strength and joy.