Parallels Principles and Prophets

Fifteen chapters make up the book of Ether.  Translated from records approximately 2,800 years older than his time, and faithfully commentated by Moroni, he placed this story at the tail end of The Book of Mormon before closing with his own final words.  Interesting parallels are contained within Ether’s 15 chapters of the Jaradites that echo similar themes found within the records of the Nephite and Lamanite nations which chronologically come after Ether’s account:  The Book of Mormon and Ether both start with families that are commanded to build ships and embark into the unknown.  Both books heavily preach faith, hope, and charity through Christ.  Both contain records of terrible war driven by pride, greed, envy, hatred, and secret combinations.  Both show a pattern of prophets, and both conclude with a lone prophet who ends up witnessing total annihilation of his own nation.  

Pattern of Revelation

There is something truly beautiful and wonderful about the unknown when it is placed before us by the hand of God.  What glory will be revealed as the blindfold is removed from our eyes and we see exactly how the Lord has been guiding us along our own journey through life. There is a great pattern of revelation exemplified in both Lehi and the Brother of Jared’s family to build a ship after the manner of the Lord, to leave behind all their comforts and embark in uncharted waters, knowing fully and completely that God was leading them towards a promised land.  Both fasted and prayed much and went to the mountain often to seek direction and as they did so, the Lord in His goodness instructed them and blessed them according to their desires.

“Here we go, going in alone, into the dark and wonderful unknown, let us go, let us go.” (Ingrid Michaelson - Wonderful Unknown)  

Pattern of Principles

Both records contain deeply rooted principles of faith, hope, and charity in and through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Alma gives a beautiful sermon on what it means to plant the seed (the word of God), to nourish it with full faith and complete hope that it will grow.  As the soil of our hearts are open and receptive - carefully and consistently cultivated,  the seed will grow into the most beautiful tree and bear the fruit of pure love, the love of Christ or charity.  

“These divine attributes should become fixed in our hearts and minds to guide us in all of our actions. We read in Moroni, ‘Cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all. … Whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.’ Charity can be the outward expression of faith and hope. If sought and obtained, these three foundation elements of celestial character will abide with us in this life and beyond the veil into the next life.” - (Joseph B. Wirthlin - Cultivating Divine Attributes - October 1998 General Conference)

Pattern of Pride

Among the virtues preached in these books, there is also a great warning of a horrible vice.  It was pride that led individuals, families, and nations to war and ultimate destruction.  The pattern is made clear as we observe the many contentious souls driven by, greed, envy, and hatred.  Spiritual things matter nothing to them for they cannot see beyond their own face.  With stiff necks, high heads, and blind minds - their souls are ugly, cankered and diseased by vanity and selfishness.  

“The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the Book of Mormon is the ‘record of a fallen people.’ (D&C 20:9.) Why did they fall? This is one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon. Mormon gives the answer in the closing chapters of the book in these words: ‘Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction.’ (Moro. 8:27.) And then, lest we miss that momentous Book of Mormon message from that fallen people, the Lord warns us in the Doctrine and Covenants, ‘Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.’ (D&C 38:39.)” - President Ezra Taft Benson - Beware of Pride - April Ensign 1989

Pattern of Prophets

We have a Father in Heaven who loves us, He loves all His children. He doesn’t want to see us fall like these nations did. Witnessing His children destroy themselves or each other brings great sorrow to His heart (Moses 7:28-33).  This is why He constantly sends prophets, to call us to repentance so we have fair warning and so we may be healed (3 Nephi 9:13). Time and time again the prophets come and tragically they are rejected over and over.  In the October 2014 General Conference, Sister Carol F. McConkie taught:

“We heed prophetic word even when it may seem unreasonable, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. According to the world’s standards, following the prophet may be unpopular, politically incorrect, or socially unacceptable. But following the prophet is always right.” - Carol F. McConkie

Pattern of Courage Through Conversion

It may be hard to do what is right especially when we have opposing pressure from peers, family, friends, or coworkers.  They may argue over our decisions.  They may ridicule or mock us, telling us that we need to lighten up or relax.  But we must be firm in keeping the standards of the church, even if it means standing alone.  Dare to be strong and let go of worry over opinions or approval.  President Monson counseled in the April 2014 conference:

“It is impossible to stand upright when one plants his roots in the shifting sands of popular opinion and approval... Needed is the courage...to hold strong and fast... to do not that which [is] easy but that which [is] right... We will all face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us—all of us—have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully but also as the determination to live decently.” - (President Thomas S. Monson - Be Strong and of a Good Courage)

This kind of courage stems from conversion.  It is the soul that is so deeply converted that they will not compromise covenants and the things they know to be true even if they have to “stand alone.”  These two great prophets, Ether and Moroni, stood alone and they both witnessed the fall and total annihilation of their people. Even still, they remained firm and were true at all times.

“And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled; and he finished his record” - Ether 15:33

“I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.” - Mormon 8:3

Being true until the battle was over instilled within the souls of these prophets a Godly confidence.   Like Paul, they could say, “I have fought the good fight.” They could trust and know with certainty that great blessings awaited them for their faithfulness.  

“I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge” - Moroni 10:34

“Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.” - Ether 15:34

I’m sure that Moroni felt a deep connection to the prophet Ether even though almost three-thousand years spanned between them.  They were bound in principles of truth.  Perhaps  Moroni was strengthened as he abriged Ether's record knowing that there was one who had walked a similar road as he did, who felt many of the same emotions, burdens, and lonliness carried by those called to be prophets of God. They both witnessed the same patterns among their people: Patterns of revelation, of principle, of pride, of prophets, and of conversion.  How do we connect with these righteous men? What can we learn from their records that will help us in our own journey?  I testify that their writings are made for just that - to help us along our way.  They are sacred and true.  The patterns of Ether and Moroni’s time also parallel our day.  I am forever grateful for all who sacrificed to bring them into my hands.  They are the word of God unto salvation.  I know this!!

-Alicia

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• Pattern of Revelation

1. “inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.” - 1 Nephi 2:20
2. “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.  Nevertheless I went forth.” - 1 Nephi 4:6,7
3. “Surely the Lord hath commanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord?” - 1 Nephi 4:34
4. “I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.... the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.  And I said: Lord, wither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown me?” - 1 Nephi 17:7-9
5. “As ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” - 1 Nephi 17:13
6. “I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me… and I Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.” - 1 Nephi 18:2-3
7. “after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land” - 1 Nephi 18:23
8. “The brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner...according to the instructions of the Lord.” - Ether 2:16
9. “The brother of Jared cried unto the Lord”  “and he cried again unto the Lord” “he went forth unto the mount,...and cried again unto the Lord” - Ether 2:18,22 & 3:1
10. “they got aboard their vessels… and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.” - Ether 6:4
11. “And thus they were driven forth three hundred and forty and four days upon the water.  And they did land upon the shore of the promised land.” - Ether 6:12

• Pattern of Principles

1. “Now as I said concerning faith - faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” - Alma 32:21
2. “And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.” - Alma 32:42
3. “I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy” - 1 Nephi 8:10 “It is the love of God… the most desireable of all things, the most joyous to the soul” - 1 Nephi 11:22,23
4. “Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” - Ether 12:4
5. “Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore dispute not because ye see not” - Ether 12:6
6. “I remember that thou has said that thou has loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life… I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity”- Ether 12:33,34
7. “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. 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” - Moroni 7:47,48

• Pattern of Pride

1. “There are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught” - 2 Nephi 33:2
2. “there were many… who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.” - Helaman 6:2
3. “How could you have forgotten your God in the very day that He has delivered you?  But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men...ye have set your hearts upon the vain things of this world” - Helaman 7:20:21
4. “O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?” - Mormon 8:38
5. “He that will contend against the word of the Lord let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed” - Ether 4:8
6. “And [the secret combinations] were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power” - Ether 8:16

• Pattern of Prophets

1. “there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent” - 1 Nephi 1:4
2. “the Lord God hath sent His holy prophets among all the children of men” - Mosiah 3:13
3. “God should redeem His people...all the prophets… have prophesied ever since the world began”- Mosiah 13:33
4. “O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out” - 3 Nephi 8:25
5. “there came prophets among the people who were sent from the Lord, prophesying that the wickedness and idolatry of the people was bringing a curse upon the land, and they should be destroyed if they did not repent”- Ether 7:23
6. “there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance” “but the people believed not the words of the prophets, but they cast them out” - Ether 9:28,29

• Pattern of Courage Through Conversion

1. “I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.” - Mormon 8:3
2. “Blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day” - Ether 4:19
3. “And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled; and he finished his record... Now the last words which are written by Ether are these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.” - Ether 15:33,34
4. “I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge” - Moroni 10:34

Made Strong

My professor shared a quote in my religion class yesterday that seemed to speak right to me. After her lecture, I walked down hill from campus and found an isolated spot.  Still pondering upon the words Sister Platt shared, I sat in the pouring rain under my umbrella. With my face hidden by the cover of its canopy, I offered up a tearful prayer that the Lord would please hold together my weak heart.  I just don't feel very strong at this moment in my life.  I know God is good.  I know my weakness will be turned into strength. And I know that through this humbling trial, I will learn lessons I couldn't learn in any other way.  I have faith in God.  He is the Gardener and cuts me back because it's what is best. It just hurts sometimes.
- Alicia

"Where do you suppose we get these weaknesses?... The Lord tells us the answer to this question very plainly in the Book of Mormon. He says:

'And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.' (Ether 12:27)

So where do we get our weaknesses? We get them from the Lord; the Lord gives us weaknesses so we will be humble. This makes us teachable....  It seems that all men have weaknesses in one form or another, character traits that make one more subject to a particular temptation than another. Lehi states that God 'hath created all things, both the heaven and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon... Giving us weakness, however, is one of the Lord's ways of getting our attention. He says this is the means he uses to make us humble, but he also says that if we will come unto him and have faith in him, he will make us strong wherein we were weak. I know this is the truth. There are numerous examples in the scriptures that vividly illustrate this principle—Alma and the sons of Mosiah...Peter and Paul in the Bible, to name just a few... Paul became one of the greatest missionaries we have record of in the Bible. (Acts 9:1-3) In his own words, he declared: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me." (Philip. 4:13)" - Hartman Rector Jr.

Child of Light

With our girls at church today, we discussed preparations for our upcoming Young Women's in Excellence night. Memories from 10 years previous came into my mind of planning for the very same thing when I was serving in another ward YW's presidency...  I couldn't help but remember this song "Child of Light." It was a song I had discovered from an album written for 2004's EFY .  We used it with our girls the following January to sing for their special program.  I'd love our young women in my ward now to sing it sometime. I think it's absolutely beautiful!  I love it because it proclaims two truths about our identity - We were made to fly and we were meant to shine!  It is woven into our spiritual DNA!  We are literal sons and daughters of God, the Father of Light.  Do we realize the power we have been endowed with? How differently would we view one another, the stranger, the outcast, the sinner and the saint... if we could always see ourselves and everyone around us through this lens of truth?

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day" 

- 1 Thessalonians 5:5

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." 

- Isaiah 40:31

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

I'm a believer!!
-Alicia

Child of Light

by, Mindy Gledhill

Do you ever wonder who you are

do your ever wonder as you stare into the stars

Where you began

And how you got this far

from home?

Have you ever walked along the shore

Have you ever seen the water dancing back and forth

Did you look inside

To see if there was more to life

There's a dream taking wing

There's a voice that wants to sing

Even in the deepest darkest night

The Torch is raised to the sky

There are hands that hold it high

You were born to keep it burning bright

You were made to fly you were meant to shine

Child of light

You will never ever stand alone

You were never called to bare your burdens on your own

Where there's fear

Love will take control

And lead you on

There's a dream taking wing

There's a voice that wants to sing

Even in the deepest darkest night

The Torch is raised to the sky

There are hands that hold it high

You were born to keep it burning bright

You were made to fly you were meant to shine

Child of light

A Pattern of Prophets

President Hugh B. Brown had a conversation with a former justice of the supreme court of England in the which he gave a "brief on Mormonism."  The former justice believed that there were no prophets of God on the earth today and that they stopped after biblical time.  The following is taken from President Brown's account:

............

“Why do you think it stopped?”
“I can’t say.”
“You think that God hasn’t spoken since then?”
“I am sure He hasn’t.”
“There must be a reason. Can you give me a reason?”
“I do not know.”
“May I suggest some possible reasons? Perhaps God does not speak to man anymore because He cannot. He has lost the power.”

He said, “Of course that would be blasphemous.”

“Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps He doesn’t speak to men because He doesn’t love us anymore and He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.”

“No,” he said, “God loves all men, and He is no respecter of persons.”

“Well, then, if He could speak, and if He loves us, then the only other possible answer, as I see it, is that we don’t need Him. We have made such rapid strides in science and we are so well educated that we don’t need God anymore.”

And then he said—and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war—“Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why He doesn’t speak.”

My answer was: “He does speak, He has spoken; but men need faith to hear Him.”

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Now, this is the part I want to emphasise from the conversation, the part where the former judge admits, “there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now."

Over these last few months, in my study of the Book of Mormon, I've noticed what I like to call, "a pattern of prophets."  These past couple of days I've gone through the whole book and highlighted this pattern.

There's been so much discussion over the words of the Brethren lately.  There are political changes in law and in organizations that are controversial to say the least.  But the brethren have been crystal clear and yet still so many within the church kick at what their position is.  I wince at this kind of resistance to the prophet's words because I've observed the pattern of events that follow.  I've seen what happens when the prophets are rejected or criticized.

About 11 years ago I gave a lesson in church among a large group of sisters.  The topic was all about following the Prophet.  For fun, I decided to take a popular hymn, revise it a little, and have the sisters sing it in class.  I wanted to drive home to the sisters that our conversion is deeply rooted to how we respond to the standards of the church laid out by the prophets and apostles.

Are we "cherry-pickers?"  For example, do we say;
"Yeah, I listen to the brethren but when it comes to modesty, that doesn't really apply to me"
"It only applies on certain occasions, I have 'special occasion' to ignore this one"
"I'll live by that standard when I feel like it."
"I want different answers besides the same old simple 'prayer and scripture study.'"

I was rather proud of my "Revised Hymn" but there was one woman who approached me after class who it obviously ruffled.  I explained to her that it went right along with the quote from the lesson.  Maybe the truth was hard for her to take?  I don't know where this woman is today in the church but I submit that it's a dangerous road to be on when we get angry or upset by, or ignore the standards they lay out for us.  They are true messengers... are we giving strict heed?

-Alicia

Revised Hymn

(For those who “claim” to believe.)

We thank thee O’ God for a prophet

To guide us in these latter-days

Provided he teaches what we want

And provided we like what he says

We thank thee for every teaching

Our hearts do reflect these great hymns

Sometimes it’s a pleasure to serve thee

If you suit to our fancies and whims*

We support all our local church leaders

On Sundays we give them a smile

But after the Sabbath is over

We will do our own thing for a while

We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness

We are sure he is pleased with our lives

If we only ignore just a few things

He’ll be certain to answer our cries

When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us

And threaten our peace to destroy

Then maybe we’ll listen completely

And their words will not seem to annoy

Thus on to eternal damnation

We’re ok, we will turn out just fine

For here in our day of probation

We will do what we want with our time

Revised By: Alicia Rawlins 2003

(See also 2 Nephi 28:21)

*          “We sing and have done so constantly, ‘We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet to guide us in these latter days.’ There are a great many who put a postscript to that and say: ‘Provided he guides us to suit our own fancies and our own whims.” -Heber J. Grant

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Pattern of Prophets -

1. 1 Nephi 1:4 - “there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent”
2. 1 Nephi 1:2 - “they were angry with him; yea even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned and slain”
3. 1 Nephi 3:18 - “they have rejected the words of the prophets”
4. 1 Nephi 5:10-13 - “Lehi... did search [the records, the scriptures] from the beginning… and beheld that they did contain… the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning even down [until his time]”
5. 1 Nephi 7:14 - “they have rejected the prophets”
6. 1 Nephi 10:5 - “how great a number [of the prophets] had testified”
7. 1 Nephi 13:23 - “[the Bible] containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets”
8. 1 Nephi 19:21 - “he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them”
9. 1 Nephi 19:24 - “hear ye the words of the prophet”
10. 1 Nephi 22:2 - “all things are made known unto the prophets”
11. 1 Nephi 22:20 - “a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you”
12. 2 Nephi 6:12 - “for the Lord God will fulfil His covenants...for this cause the prophet has written these things.”
13. 2 Nephi 9:2 - “[God] has spoken… by the mouth of His holy prophets”
14. 2 Nephi 25:9 - “never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord”
15. 2 Nephi 25:28 - “for by denying [Christ] ye also deny the prophets and the law”
16. 2 Nephi 26:3 - “and they perish because they cast out the prophets”
17. 2 Nephi 27:5 - “ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets”
18. Jacob 4:6 - “we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy”
19. Jacob 4:13,14 - “for God also spake them unto prophets of old... but...they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets”
20. Jacob 5:2 - “Hearken… and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord.”
21. Enos 1:22 - “there were exceedingly many prophets among us.  And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand.”
22. Jarom 1:10 - “the prophets of the Lord did threaten the people...according to the word of God”
23. Words of Mormon 1:18 - “laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in the Land”
24. Mosiah 2:34 - “the records… contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets”
25. Mosiah 3:13 - “the Lord God hath sent His holy prophets among all the children of men”
26. Mosiah 3:15 - “holy prophets spake unto them concerning [Christ’s] coming”
27. Mosiah 13:33 - “God should redeem His people...all the prophets… have prophesied ever since the world began”
28. Mosiah 15:11 - “all the holy prophets… have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord”
29. Mosiah 18:19 - “teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets”
30. Alma 18:36 - “laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets”
31. Alma 20:15 - “they are just men and holy prophets of the true God”
32. Alma 30:6 - “the Anti-Christ.. began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets”
33. Alma 37:30 - “they murdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them”
34. Helaman 8:19 - “there have been many prophets that have testified”
35. Helaman 13:24 - “ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them”
36. Helaman 13:33 - “oh that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets”
37. Helaman 15:7 - “believe the holy scriptures, yea the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord and unto repentance”
38. Helaman 16:13 - “the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled”
39. 3 Nephi 1:4 - “the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled”
40. 3 Nephi 1:16,18 - “many, who had not believed the words of the prophets” “the prophets had testified of these things for many years”
41. 3 Nephi 5:1 - “there was not a living soul among all the people… who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets”
42. 3 Nephi 6:25 - there were “judges who had condemned the prophets of the Lord”
43. 3 Nephi 7:10 - the leader of secret combinations “had given his voice against the prophets”
44. 3 Nephi 8:25 - “O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out”
45. 3 Nephi 9:5,7,8,9,11 - “the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.”
46. 3 Nephi 10:12 - “the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who received the prophets”
47. 3 Nephi 11:10,15 - prophets have always testified of Jesus Christ
48. 3 Nephi 12:12 - “for so persecuted they the prophets”
49. 3 Nephi 25:5 - “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day”
50. 3 Nephi 29:2 - “the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled”
51. Ether 7:23-25 - “there came prophets among the people” “the people did revile against the prophets, and did mock them” “[the king] did execute a law throughout all the land which gave power unto the prophets… by this cause the people were brought unto repentance”
52. Ether 8:25 - “they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning”
53. Ether 9:28,29 “there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance” “but the people believed not the words of the prophets, but they cast them out”
54. Ether 11:1,2,5 - “there came… many prophets”  “the prophets were rejected” “all the prophets… should be put to death”
55. Ether 11:12,13 - “there came many prophets, and prophesied again” “the people hardened their hearts, and would not hearken unto their words”
56. Ether 11:20,22 - “there … came many prophets” “they did reject all the words of the prophets”
57. Ether 12:2,5 - “a prophet of the Lord… began to prophesy unto the people” “they did not believe because they saw them not”
58. Moroni 7:23 - “God also declared unto prophets”
59. Moroni 8:29 - “after rejecting so great a knowledge… they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior”

60. (And this doesn’t include the  numerous occasions where I found verses that said “according to the words of the prophets” or “spoken by the mouths of the prophets”)

Keepin' it Real

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your dreams, ideas before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
 Chained by their certitudes, they are a slave: they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is truly free.

– Anonymous

This has been a favorite poem of mine since I was in high school. The part that stands out to me each time I read it is "appearing the fool." Oh, how many times in my life have I made myself look like the biggest fool! It seems to define who I am.

Last fall my friend, Heidi, told me about a Ted-Talk called, "The Power of Vulnerability."  I looked it up to listen to again today.

The concepts Dr. Brown lays out here are comforting because I have often viewed my vulnerability as something to be ashamed of...  but she says that in her studies, she has found over and over again that vulnerability is also the "birthplace of connection" of being whole-hearted and loving more fully.  She says, "In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen, really seen."

If being vulnerable is the key to human connection... then I'll take that risk - no matter how many times I might appear the fool.  I value connection so much more than I value my image.

Keep on keepin' on my friends but most importantly.... never be afraid to be real.  It's worth it.

-Alicia (Keepin' it Real)

........

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

- C.S. Lewis

Born to Fly

I've had this old favorite Christian hymn of mine playing in my head these last several days, I'll Fly Away.  I suppose it's because I've been thinking of "A Living Prayer" by, Alison Krauss and she sings both of these.

When we are born into this world, it's expected of us to learn to walk and eventually run.  But could it be possible our earth-bound souls have been created for more than this?

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin observed:

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience,"  

With this in mind and the lyrics to that old Gospel hymn, I've been thinking of what it means to fly.

"Some bright morning when this life is over

I'll fly away

To that home on Gods celestial shore

I'll fly away"

It's a description of an angel's transition from this mortal place to their heavenly home.  Many Christian religions believe angels actually have wings.

"We know through the Prophet Joseph Smith that “an angel of God never has wings” (History of the Church, 3:392), most depictions of them show them with wings, and some scriptures describe them as having wings. Why?"

I love the answer to this question.

"Wings represent 'power, to move, to act' (D&C 77:4). Prophets who described angels as having wings (see, for instance, Isaiah 6:2) may have referred to wings in order to communicate these ideas figuratively." - David A. Edwards- Dec. 2014 Ensign

When we understand that the wings are a representation of the power to move and act, the imagery of the hymn is beautiful and takes on a higher and more holy meaning.  We come to understand more the identity of the spirit that lives within us.  We were made for so much more than walking and running... we were truly "born to fly."  

In the book of Revelation it says,

" I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." - Revelation 14:6-7

Who is the angel spoken of in this verse?  It's Moroni.  

Most definitely, he exemplified a life of 'power, to move and act' in the saving doctrines of the Gospel.  He lived it with his whole soul, even when he was the last one standing.  The everlasting truths of salvation were etched in his courageous and valiant heart.  And listen to this… at the end of his life, Moroni seems to echo that old Gospel hymn, "I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air" - He knew he was born to fly. 

I love what my religion professor shared this morning about this incredible man: "Oh how I love the Angel Moroni. Once he was the loneliest of lonely and now he stands atop the Temples as a symbol of gathering." -  Jennifer Platt

This wonderful prophet of God calls for us to "awake, and arise from the dust" (Moroni 10:31).  In other words he's saying, "Jump up with both feet, brothers and sisters.  Jump off the ground and rise to what you were born to do... to move and act in power, the power of God fearlessly and full of faith.  FLY!"  His spirit lives within us. This is who we are meant to become.

-Alicia

There truly are angels among us! I don't just believe it, I know!

Angels Among Us - by, Alabama

Any Last Words?

If you knew you were going to die and you knew that millions of people would someday read your final words.  What would you say?

How carefully would you choose them especially if you had just witnessed the self-destruction of your entire people and you knew what could have prevented such a tragic loss?

It has been said by many in similar ways that "wise people learn from their mistakes and never repeat them but truly wise people learn from the mistakes of others and never make them."  We can learn from other's mistakes and most certainly can learn from other's successes too.

Mormon was a great prophet who kept and abridged writings of people over the span of a couple thousand years.  Through study and his own personal observation, he came to know and understand very clearly what leads man to destruction and what brings true success.  He had some final words to give.  I believe he chose them very carefully.

In essence Mormon's last breath revealed the key to success and happiness in this life and in heaven.  He said, "Lay hold upon the Gospel of Christ." (Mormon 7:8)

What is the Gospel of Christ?

He sums it up in the next two verses.  He says the Gospel is contained in the scriptures, namely the Book of Mormon and the Bible, which complement one another.

The Gospel is: Faith in Christ, Repentance, Receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. (Mormon 7:9-10)

• First FAITH:  Mormon grew up in a time of terrible war and bloodshed.  The people weren't always in this constant contentious and hateful state.  "They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their Shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father." (Mormon 5:17) But now, they "did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them." (Mormon 5:2) They "rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive [them]." (Mormon 6:17)  What pain must have plagued his soul to see such hard-heartedness among his people?!  It makes this prophet's plea all the more poignant "Behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth... for this cause... that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ" (Mormon 3: 18-21 emphasis added).

• Second REPENT:  Mormon cried unto his people, "Repent" for "the Lord had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance" but it was all in vain for they "did harden their hearts against the Lord their God" (Mormon 3:2,3)  Indeed, they "repented not... but persisted in their wickedness continually." (Mormon 4:10)  Did they forget that repentance was a personal invitation from the Savior to be healed??! (3 Nephi 9:13) Or maybe they didn't feel like they "needed healing," because they viewed themselves as strong enough and found every occasion to boast of their own strength. (Mormon 3:9, 4:8)  How frail and weak indeed is the soul who leans on "self" for repose -that thin and hollow shell.  It is only in and through Christ that there is "victory." (Mormon 7:5)

• Third BAPTISM: When we think of baptism, we most often think of being immersed in water and rising up again.  It's the perfect imagery! -A symbol of laying down our life, completely "losing ourselves" and turning it over in exchange for a new life, transformed and risen again, a life of covenant with Christ.  This is when one's heart, mind, and soul says, "I'm all in! I will hold nothing back.  Everything you ask of me Lord, I will give you.  I will lay it all down." We are baptized only once as an ordinance but there will be countless opportunities in our life to prove to our Father in Heaven that we are "all in" completely and totally His.  They may be some of the hardest choices we will ever make in our journey.

Nevertheless, this is what baptism means, to “Give up yourself...  you will find your real self. Lose your life... and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favorite wishes every day and death of your whole body and in the end submit with ever fiber of your being... and you will find eternal life.  Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead...  look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”  ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

• Fourth RECEIVE the HOLY GHOST: The reception of the Spirit in our lives is in direct connection to baptism, this "losing ourself" it is the key that unlocks the door to heaven's gate, a pouring out of Christ's spirit into our "empty souls." (Malachi 3:10) This is the baptism "by fire" the purification, sanctification that burns away the dross and polishes us into gold.  Like the first ordinance, it too is performed only once but we are given countless opportunities to receive and re-new this great gift.  This is the "sword of truth," our defense in battle (Ephesians 6:17).  We want this "always to be with us." (Moroni 4:3, 5:2) "For the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not... it speaketh of things as they really are and of things as they really will be." (Jacob 4:13)  Oh what battles could have been won during the time of Mormon if the people could have grasped the significance of this vital piece of "armor!"

• Fifth ENDURE to the end:  Perhaps our greatest challenge will be to persevere especially when the road gets rough and our souls are weary.  Hope is the guiding light.  We do not see the end from the beginning.  We don't know what lies ahead but we are in this committed life for the long-haul, however long and hard the road may be. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland encouraged, "I am asking you not to give up 'for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.' That 'great work' is you—your life, your future, the very fulfillment of your dreams. That “great work” is what, with effort and patience and God’s help, you can become. When days are difficult or problems seem unending, I plead with you to stay in the harness and keep pulling. You are entitled to 'eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days,' but it will require your heart and a willing mind. It will require that you stay at your post and keep trying."

 I submit that enduring, especially enduring well means being grateful in any of our circumstances.  

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:  "We can choose to be grateful, no matter what. This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer. When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.  We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is Mormon's final message to us, his plea... to "LAY HOLD" upon it.  And he promises us that if we do, "it shall be well with [us] in the day of judgment." (Mormon 7:10)  I add my testimony to his.  This is what matters most.  This is the core of success and happiness.  I know this to be true.

-Alicia

A Greater Measure of the Spirit

I wrote this post almost a week ago but didn't publish it... It has just been sitting on the side as a draft and I almost forgot I had written it until I was reminded about these principles in my religion class today.  How desperately do we want the Spirit to guide us in our lives?  I love the intent and desire in the hearts of the disciples in 3 Nephi 19.  If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?  These men desired most of all to have the Holy Ghost.  (3 Nephi 19:9)  How is this obtained?  How can we know we are being guided by the Spirit?

When you scan through this chapter, the word "pray" is mentioned twenty-eight times.  It's found in 22 of the 36 verses and if you include the verses that are referencing prayer but don't necessarily say the word, then it is found in 26 of the 36 verses.  I love discoveries like this!

 When the resurrected Lord ministered unto the ancient inhabitants of this land, He gave the sermon on the mount, He administered the sacrament more than once, many were baptized, and He taught and exemplified a very clear pattern of prayer.

The Lord calls twelve disciples who are baptized in His name and they are blessed with the power of His Spirit (3 Ne.19:4,9-13). As they kneel to pray, the Savior's "countenance did smile upon them, and the light of His countenance did shine upon them" (3 Nephi 19:25).  Now this is so cool because something happened to the disciples as they were praying...  They began to shine! "behold, they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus."
The Savior recognized this and thanks the Father in prayer saying, "I thank thee that thou hast purified those who I have chosen, because of their faith." (19:28)  They were shining because they were purified!

Let's look at that word "purified."
Purified = free from anything that debases, pollutes, cheapens, or contaminates.
sanctified, made holy, set apart, consecrated.

This is what they desired with all of their souls.  This is what they plead and prayed for! (19:24)
Do we desire this too?  How do we obtain it?  Christ says we can.  He says that as we hearken and believe on the words of these twelve we will also be purified, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me."(19:28)

This solidifies to me the necessity to be aligned with the Bretheren! They are true messengers.

Can you imagine what that must have been like to witness, to be in the presence of, to see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears, prayers offered by the Savior Himself and His twelve disciples?!  "And the mulitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which He prayed... so great and marvelous were the words which He prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man." (19:33,34)

After this chapter the Savior administers the sacrament again.  Christ has declared that He is the "Bread of life" (John 6:35)  He gives this bread to the twelve and "when they had eaten He commanded them that they should break bread, and give unto the multitude." And He does the same with the wine. (3 Nephi 20:4-7)

This is significant because the sacrament has everything to do with sanctification and purification.  If we listen to the words of the prayer, we learn that this renewal of our covenants, this re-committing ourselves, opens us to refinement, that we may "always have His spirit" to be with us. (Moroni 4:3 5:2)

Prayer is a powerful, powerful tool.  It is an expression of faith!
I believe that the everyday prayers, morning and night, and the heart-felt ones in-between, all throughout our week, help to prepare us for the sacred ordinance of the the sacrament on the Sabbath.  I believe that when our desire is the the same as those twelve disciples, our hearts will be receptive.  We will hunger and thirst for His spirit to always be with us, we will be open to the words of the disciples He has chosen.  Their teachings will become our daily bread, they will become part of our very being, and we will be filled!

- Alicia

A Living Prayer

I imagine that a great deal of people have a song or two they've requested to be played when they die. My desire when I leave this world is for someone to play "I Hope You Dance" by, Lee Ann Womack"  The lyrics reflect the wish I'd have for all of my loved ones.

But what if we could choose a specific song when we entered into this world?  If I could go back to that day and request one, this would be the song I'd choose for my life.  This is my prayer.

"A Living Prayer"

by, Alison Krauss

In this world I walk alone with no place to call my home

But there's one who holds my hand

The rugged road through barren lands

The way is dark, the road is steep

But He's become my eyes to see

The strength to climb, my griefs to bear

The Savior lives inside me there

In your love I find release

A haven from my unbelief

Take my life and let me be

A living prayer my God to thee

In these trials of life I find

Another voice inside my mind

He comforts me and bids me live

Inside the love the Father gives

In your love I find release

A haven from my unbelief

Take my life and let me be

A living prayer my God to thee

take my life and let me be

A living prayer my God to thee

I am richly, richly blessed.  I thank God for my life.  I am happy, truly happy with all that I have... and it's all because of Him.

- Alicia :)

Let's just call her a ghost cat.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: “Over the course of my life, I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the most competent and intelligent men and women this world has to offer. When I was younger, I was impressed by those who were educated, accomplished, successful, and applauded by the world. But over the years, I have come to the realization that I am far more impressed by those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile.”

My best friend was called to be the new Young Women's President a few months ago.  The morning she was called she was asked to speak a few words to the congregation.  As she stood, I saw a powerful woman, a spiritual giant who has been an incredible example to me. I couldn't help but cry tears of joy!  She is as President Uchtdorf describes as one of those "wonderful and blessed souls who [is] truly good and without guile."

Later that afternoon, as the young women trickled into the classroom and before the new presidency arrived, one of the girls said with sort of a sigh, "I'm not happy about this change.  I don't know her."
I imediately responded with excitement, "Oh, don't you worry, as you get to know her, you will LOVE her, absolutely love her!"  Then I asked if she had seen the recent movie with Ben Stiller, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."
"Yes."
"Well, you remember how the photographer, Sean O'connell, is at the top of a mountain trying to get a photograph of the snow leopard, or 'ghost cat.' He tells Walter that his discovery is a big deal because 'ghost cats' are extremely difficult to find, they don't show themselves to people or try to make themselves known... and then there's that awesome line...
Beautiful things don't ask for attention."
"Yeah, I remember that part of the movie," the young woman answered.
"Well that's how Sister Nimer is.  She is one of the most amazing, most thoughtful, most giving friends I have ever had and yet she would never assume that."

How beautiful is a person who is genuine, who never needs to boast who never needs to draw attention to themselves!  They are content quietly fulfilling their responsibilities.  They do so honorably often giving credit to others and are constantly grateful to God.  This rare beauty isn't found in fashion magazines, or re-pinned on pintrest.  It can't be bought or sold.  It's not paraded or pretended.  It comes from purity of heart, from real intent, and deep humility.

"In a world where praise, position, power, accolades, and authority are sought on every side, I honor those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile, those who are motivated by a love of God and their neighbors, those great women and men who are 'more anxious to serve than to have dominion.'" - Elder Michael T. Ringwood

 - Alicia