It was a seven year process for me to
recognize and repent of my idolatry. Some people don't have this
problem, but I did. The worship of Jesus Christ needed to replace
the worship of men. As one chapter in my life is closing, there is
another chapter emerging.
So, I ask the Lord again, “What lack
I yet?”
For the last several weeks I've been
thinking about charity. I hear God saying. “Jennifer, you still
lack charity. Talk to me about this, experiment with my word, and I
will teach you.” I don't know what this process entails, but I
trust the Lord will teach me just as he has in the past.
I thought to study Moroni 7. I found
it full of hidden treasures.
1 And
now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he
spake concerning faith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did
he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which
they had built for the place of worship.
2 And
now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the
grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy
will, because of the gift of his calling unto me, that I am permitted
to speak unto you at this time.
3
Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are
the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a
sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from
this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.
4 And
now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your
peaceable walk with the children of men.
Moroni is speaking to the peaceable
followers of Christ. So I ask myself “Do I walk in peace with my
Husband? Children? Family? Neighbors? Friends? and Enemies?”
5 For
I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know
them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For
behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good;
for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it
with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For
behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For
behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly;
wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the
gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And
likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not
with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God
receiveth none such.
10
Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither
will he give a good gift.
11
For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither
can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being
a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ
he cannot be a servant of the devil.
In teaching us about charity, why does
Moroni talk about the intentions of the heart? Could
it be that I need to understand that charity is a condition of the
heart not an action? The heart governs actions. Actions don't
change the heart.
12
Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is
evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and
fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin,
and to do that which is evil continually.
13
But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good
continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do
good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14
Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that
which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of
the devil.
Why do we judge that which is evil to
be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil? Is it
human tendency to get good and evil confused? Why? How do we let
false spirits deceive us?
A man
must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight
this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its
soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a
greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence
of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God.
Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful
effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and
pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been
convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood,
carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed.
The
Turks, the Hindoos, the Jews, the Christians, the Indian; in fact all
nations have been deceived, imposed upon and injured through the
mischievous effects of false spirits.
As we
have noticed before, the great difficulty lies in the ignorance of
the nature of spirits, of the laws by which they are governed, and
the signs by which they may be known; if it requires the Spirit of
God to know the things of God; and the spirit of the devil can only
be unmasked through that medium, then it follows as a natural
consequence that unless some person or persons have a communication,
or revelation from God, unfolding to them the operation of the
spirit, they must eternally remain ignorant of these principles; for
I contend that if one man cannot understand these things but by the
Spirit of God, ten thousand men cannot; it is alike out of the reach
of the wisdom of the learned, the tongue of the eloquent, the power
of the mighty. And we shall at last have to come to this conclusion,
whatever we may think of revelation, that without it we can neither
know nor understand anything of God, or the devil; and however
unwilling the world may be to acknowledge this principle, it is
evident from the multifarious creeds and notions concerning this
matter that they understand nothing of this principle, and it is
equally as plain that without a divine communication they must remain
in ignorance. The world always mistook false prophets for true ones,
and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false
prophets, and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the
true prophets, and these had to hide themselves "in deserts and
dens, and caves of the earth," and though the most honorable men
of the earth, they banished them from their society as vagabonds,
whilst they cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds,
hypocrites, impostors, and the basest of men. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 205-206 , DHC volume 4 page 573
How can I know good from evil?
15
For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may
know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may
know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark
night.
16
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may
know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for
every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in
Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye
may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in
Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a
perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the
devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither
do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18
And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may
judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge
wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also
be judged.
19
Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search
diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil;
and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye
certainly will be a child of Christ.
Having both desire and knowledge of how
to search in the light of Christ is essential.
20
And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon
every good thing?
21
And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I
will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.
22
For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to
everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of
men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ
there should come every good thing.
23
And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ
should come.
24
And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto
the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good
cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good
thing come unto them.
25
Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which
proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith
in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good
thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
26
And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and
by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth
he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye
shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing
that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
How does one come to even believe in
the existence of Christ? Angels come from the presence of God and
make manifest concerning the coming of Christ. Prophets are mortals
who also come from the presence of God teaching the coming of Christ.
Who does Christ come to?
Verily,
thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who
forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and
obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and
know that I am; And that I am the true light that lighteth every man
that cometh into the world; D&C 93:1-2
How can a prophet teach the pattern of
coming unto Christ? Because they have followed the pattern and know
for themselves. As people follow the pattern, they too come into
God's presence and become prophets. It would be great if everyone was
a prophet and knew for themselves. Moses plainly taught the children
of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his
people that they might behold the face of God, but they would not
come.
And
Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the
Lord’s people were prophets,and that the Lord would put his spirit
upon them! Numbers 11:29
19And
this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth
the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the
knowledge of God.
20Therefore,
in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21And
without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood,
the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22For
without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and
live.
23Now
this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the
wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they
might behold the face of God;
24But
they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence;
therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against
them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the
wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25Therefore,
he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also; D&C 84
9 Not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not,
saith the Lord.
10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they
shall be to me a people:
11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least
to the greatest. Hebrews 8
Is the law of God in my heart? Have
miracles ceased? Have angels ministered unto me?
27
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ
hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of
God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon
the children of men?
28
For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those
who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave
unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the
children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
29
And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles
ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to
minister unto the children of men.
30
For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the
word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and
a firm mind in every form of godliness.
To whom do they show
themselves? Why?
31
And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and
to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he
hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the
children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen
vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
32
And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of
men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in
their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner
bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto
the children of men.
Why do prophets testify? When you hear
the testimony of a personal witness of Christ who has come into God's
presence and talked with him face to face, does it inspire hope that
you too can become a witness of Christ?
33
And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power
to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
34
And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me,
and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be
saved.
Who is calling? How am I saved? When he
says “Come unto me,” does he really mean come?
35
And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things
are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you,
with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and
if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or
have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he
withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long
as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one
man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37
Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are
wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men;
wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of
men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
If angels aren't appearing and miracles
have ceased, what's the reason?
An
important distinction is made in D&C 63:9 “But, behold, faith
cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.” One
group seeks for signs before they will believe. The second group
receives signs as an evidence of their belief and faith.
38 For no
man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall
have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then
has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for
they are as though there had been no redemption made.
According to the words of Christ, there
is one way to be saved. If the ministry of angels, miracles, and
coming unto Christ has ceased, it's evidence that faith has ceased
also. Signs follow those who believe and have faith.
39
But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I
judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if
ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the
people of his church.
How did Moroni judge if someone has
faith? Meekness . . . How do faith and meekness relate to each other?
Who is numbered among the people of his church?
40
And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning
hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have
hope?
41
And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye
shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his
resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of
your faith in him according to the promise.
What promise? Have I heard the voice
of God promise me eternal life?
3Wherefore,
I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that
it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which
other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is
recorded in the testimony of John.
4This
Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even
the glory of the celestial kingdom;
5Which
glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the
holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son— D&C 88
And what is this other comforter
promised in the testimony of John?
Jesus answered and said
unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father
will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with
him. John 14:23
Here we have it again. It is not
possible to have faith and hope unless I am meek and lowly of heart?
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have
hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have
faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is
acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man
be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy
Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he
have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
If I see that I am not meek and lowly
of heart, what do I do? How do I become acceptable before God?
45
And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not
puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no
evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth,
beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth
all things.
46
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are
nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity,
which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and
whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with
him.
Charity is a condition of the heart not
an action. Its not something I do, or something I work on, but it
is definitely something I can possess. How do I receive this gift?
48
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the
energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath
bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ;
that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we
shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have
this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. Moroni 7
“Pray unto the Father with all the
energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.” When do I
pray? . . .When I need it. . .
When do I need it? . . . When I struggle and am not feeling
charitable. There's a lot of energy flowing through me when I
am angry, impatient, jealous, etc. When I feel less than loving is a
good time to pray with energy. Pray until the welcome release comes.
Jesus does come to the rescue to fill me with his love. All of the
negative emotions turn to peace, joy, and love in the presence of
God's light.
This pattern of praying through every
difficulty and having Jesus transform me into a being of light makes
me a new creature in Christ.
25And
the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and
women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;
yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a
state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and
daughters;
26And
thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in
nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Mosiah 27:25-26
“When he shall appear we shall be
like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope;
that we may be purified even as he is pure.”
He does appear :) As he continually
bestows charity upon his followers, he purifies his sons and
daughters.
This same teaching is found all over
the scriptures. Here are a few examples:
41 No
power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the
priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and
meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By
kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul
without hypocrisy, and without guile—
43
Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost;
and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom
thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
44
That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of
death.
45
Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the
household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly;
then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the
doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews
from heaven.
46
The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an
unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall
be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall
flow unto thee forever and ever. D&C 121
What are the requirements to maintain
power and influence? What is the result? It is to have confidence
while standing in the presence of God, a scepter, a dominion, and
communion with our Lord :)
22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.
25 If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying
one another. Galatian 5
These are Christ's. Begotten sons and
daughters.
I will
declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this
day have I begotten thee. Psalms 2:7
