….We Seek After These Things!

Here is the lesson outline for #45 Joseph Smith’s Feelings about His Prophetic Mission: I have organized it differently from the lesson manual, and once again, pick and choose what quotes work for you and your ward/branch. (more…)

This lesson outline is slightly different. I will be using the quotes with the Key# as handouts rather than my typical quote#1 etc. I liked the questions in the book, but I also feel that we need to distiguish between those members that are inactive, or leave the church because they don’t feel the need for the gospel, and those that actively turn away from the testimony they have gained and fight against the church. (more…)

This is the basic outline of the lesson I taught in RS this past Sunday. It would make a good FHE lesson. I focused on the topic of Sacrifice and how can we make our sacrifices worthy, and sacred.

As the Prophet of the Restoration, one of Joseph Smith’s most important roles was to testify of Jesus Christ. He was blessed to enjoy a personal knowledge of the divinity of Jesus Christ and to understand His role as the Redeemer of the world. This knowledge began with the First Vision, in which young Joseph saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and heard the Father declare, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17). In this sacred experience, Joseph was privileged to receive instruction from the Savior of the world.
Joseph Smith saw the Savior on April 3, 1836. The Prophet and Oliver Cowdery had retired to the west pulpit in the Kirtland Temple. They bowed themselves in solemn prayer, after which the Savior appeared before them (more…)

I have been pondering the occurrence of personal apostasy for sometime. Over the summer, I learned of an acquaintance that made the decision to leave the church. Not just the inactivity of not attending meetings but asked for her name to be removed from the records of the church. This was neither the first nor the last such story I have heard over the years, but I think the shock and dismay over this situation touched me to the core. I never for a million years would have expected this woman to leave the church, leave her husband and wish to raise her youngest children outside of the principles of the gospel.
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I was thinking about the miraculous way Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were saved from the fiery furnace in Daniel 3.

I thought about other times in the scriptures people were miraculously saved, such as Daniel in the Lion’s den just 3 chapters later. I was struck by something from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego’s experience. It’s in Daniel 3 as well.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

How interesting, I thought, that when the Lord saves someone in such a miraculous way, it is usually for the benefit of someone else, someone other than the one who has been saved. Surely, the person saved has benefited, but so have so many other people, as in the case in Daniel 3. And in Daniel 6.

25 ¶ Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

So I thought of others. Nephi and Lehi were imprisoned in Helaman 5, but they were strengthened and the walls shook.

49 And there were about three hundred souls who saw and heard these things; and they were bidden to go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt.
50 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and did minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were aconvinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received.
51 And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers.

We can think about David slaying Goliath. Esther saving her people. Amazing stuff. But always for the benefit of much more than the person saved or strengthened.

I realized that I feel I have been saved, in a way. Saved from my sins through the Atonement. In this vein, I realize it’s not just for me. Like Paul in Acts 9.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

And Alma the Younger in Mosiah 27.

36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.

I don’t profess to be as amazing as those in the scriptures. But I do see clearly what I am to do with this saving grace utilized in my behalf. Testify, publish good tidings, publish peace, declare that the Lord reigneth.

I just had to share this realization …

- Kim