Can I just tell you all that this is such an excellent time to be a student of MARRIAGE and the FAMILY!
Let me tell you why...
First of all, the FAMILY has never been more under attack, not in all the history of the world, than it is right now.
(And listen- it's going to get worse.)
Which makes this the perfect time to ARM yourself with eternal truths about the FAMILY. Yes, ETERNAL TRUTHS are armor!!
-lest we be like "...children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive..." Ephesians 4:14
It's time for those of us who want to avoid these whirlwinds and pitfalls dug by the adversary himself to grow up spiritually and really come to know the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
This week the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints made an announcement that the Church's Administrative Handbook had been updated with needed clarifications about same-sex marriage, and children living with same-sex parents.
This, of course, sends some of the "on the fencers" into a frenzy. Some even say things like, "That's it! That's the LAST STRAW- you hateful FAMILY BIGOT Mormons!" (ok-I made that name up)
Is it just me or does it seem like these controversies have been happening a lot lately?
Well, I- like everyone else, spent a lot of time on social media reading all of the emotional blogs, news stories, and videos- including the very informative video with Elder D. Todd Christofferson, which helped me to understand the context of these updates. Remember that they are UPDATES- not changes in doctrine.
Here is the video if you didn't see it.
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/handbook-changes-same-sex-marriages-elder-christofferson …
Here is the video if you didn't see it.
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/handbook-changes-same-sex-marriages-elder-christofferson …
Yesterday I put my headphones on and went for a long walk with my dog and listened to our reading assignments for the week.
I was amazed.
It's like it was the most perfectly picked reading assignment for the circumstances of the week.
Perhaps this was because I was spiritually searching for some added peace in this troubled world.
I felt my convictions strengthened, peace came into my heart and finally my spirit felt rest.
Especially as I heard these loving and compassionate words of the Savior:
Matt. 11: 28-30
28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I also LOVED the parables taught by Jesus!!
In an Ensign article written by Frank F. Judd Jr., he explains why the Lord spoke in parables:
"One day when a great multitude was gathered to hear His teachings, the Savior taught in parables. Soon thereafter the disciples asked Him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" He responded, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given" (Matt. 13:10-11). Alma taught Zeezrom the same principle: "It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God...according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full" (Alma 12:9-10; emphasis added).
Those who heard the Savior's parables of instruction, therefore, were able to understand those principles they were prepared to receive. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, "As the Master Teacher, Christ tailored His tutoring, depending upon the spiritual readiness of His pupils." In this way the parables both reveal and conceal at the same time. The Savior was was so concerned with concealing when He used parables of rebuke. To His enemies, He said, "Unto you that believe not, I speak in parables; that your unrighteousness may be rewarded unto you" (JS Translation, Matt. 21:34; emphasis added).
The Master Teacher's parables show both the justice and mercy of God at work among those who hear them. "Two men may hear the same words," wrote Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933). "One of them listens in indolence and indifference, the other with active mind intent on learning all that the words can possibly convey; and, having heard, the diligent man goes straightway to do the things commended to him, while the careless one neglects and forgets. The one is wise, the other foolish; the one has heard to his eternal profit, the other to his everlasting condemnation."
It seems like maybe we need to be taught in parables today as well.
So many people, even members of the church, "listen in indolence (laziness) and indifference (lack of interest, concern or sympathy)" concerning the eternal truths of doctrine taught by the Savior and his modern-day messengers.
If we want to stand firm in these Latter-Days, we must choose to be one that listens with an "active mind intent on learning all that the words can possibly convey; and having heard, [diligently] goes straightway to do the things commended to him...[listening] to our eternal profit".
I'd add that we may have to do so even when our dear friends and members of our own families will not.
How many times over the years have we read this powerful quote and either thought we understood, or perhaps wondered what that time would look like?
"To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it.
If you do not you will not stand...The time will come when no man, nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light.
Each will have to be guided by the light within himself...If you don't have it you will not stand; therefore seek for the testimony of Jesus and cleave to it, that when the trying time comes you may not stumble and fall." (Heber C. Kimball, counselor to President Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, 1967)
These are those days folks, and this prophesy is happening right now.
We know what we must do to stand- we must know the doctrine for ourselves. We have been warned for as long as I can remember.
We must choose to seek it and not cease until we obtain it.
There is no way that we will be able to stand against the ongoing persecutions regarding the FAMILY unless we do.
As I write these words, I am reminding myself.
No one is safe from this subject. The more personal it gets, the more difficult it will become.
That's why I love my major- I put on the ARMOR of ETERNAL TRUTH concerning the family every day,
and I'm convinced that this armor is absolutely necessary to remain standing.
I was amazed.
It's like it was the most perfectly picked reading assignment for the circumstances of the week.
Perhaps this was because I was spiritually searching for some added peace in this troubled world.
I felt my convictions strengthened, peace came into my heart and finally my spirit felt rest.
Especially as I heard these loving and compassionate words of the Savior:
Matt. 11: 28-30
28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I also LOVED the parables taught by Jesus!!
In an Ensign article written by Frank F. Judd Jr., he explains why the Lord spoke in parables:
"One day when a great multitude was gathered to hear His teachings, the Savior taught in parables. Soon thereafter the disciples asked Him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" He responded, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given" (Matt. 13:10-11). Alma taught Zeezrom the same principle: "It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God...according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full" (Alma 12:9-10; emphasis added).
Those who heard the Savior's parables of instruction, therefore, were able to understand those principles they were prepared to receive. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, "As the Master Teacher, Christ tailored His tutoring, depending upon the spiritual readiness of His pupils." In this way the parables both reveal and conceal at the same time. The Savior was was so concerned with concealing when He used parables of rebuke. To His enemies, He said, "Unto you that believe not, I speak in parables; that your unrighteousness may be rewarded unto you" (JS Translation, Matt. 21:34; emphasis added).
The Master Teacher's parables show both the justice and mercy of God at work among those who hear them. "Two men may hear the same words," wrote Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933). "One of them listens in indolence and indifference, the other with active mind intent on learning all that the words can possibly convey; and, having heard, the diligent man goes straightway to do the things commended to him, while the careless one neglects and forgets. The one is wise, the other foolish; the one has heard to his eternal profit, the other to his everlasting condemnation."
It seems like maybe we need to be taught in parables today as well.
So many people, even members of the church, "listen in indolence (laziness) and indifference (lack of interest, concern or sympathy)" concerning the eternal truths of doctrine taught by the Savior and his modern-day messengers.
If we want to stand firm in these Latter-Days, we must choose to be one that listens with an "active mind intent on learning all that the words can possibly convey; and having heard, [diligently] goes straightway to do the things commended to him...[listening] to our eternal profit".
I'd add that we may have to do so even when our dear friends and members of our own families will not.
How many times over the years have we read this powerful quote and either thought we understood, or perhaps wondered what that time would look like?
"To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it.
If you do not you will not stand...The time will come when no man, nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light.
Each will have to be guided by the light within himself...If you don't have it you will not stand; therefore seek for the testimony of Jesus and cleave to it, that when the trying time comes you may not stumble and fall." (Heber C. Kimball, counselor to President Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, 1967)
These are those days folks, and this prophesy is happening right now.
We know what we must do to stand- we must know the doctrine for ourselves. We have been warned for as long as I can remember.
We must choose to seek it and not cease until we obtain it.
There is no way that we will be able to stand against the ongoing persecutions regarding the FAMILY unless we do.
As I write these words, I am reminding myself.
No one is safe from this subject. The more personal it gets, the more difficult it will become.
That's why I love my major- I put on the ARMOR of ETERNAL TRUTH concerning the family every day,
and I'm convinced that this armor is absolutely necessary to remain standing.
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