Outline and materials for talk on Repentance:
First Principles and Moroni 6:1-3
In the Gospel, it’s often the basics that are least understood. Today, we’ll focus on repentance.
“Do you know how to repent?”
Elder Jay Jensen of the Seventy recounted the following:
“Twenty years ago my bishop was interviewing me for my temple recommend. Because I was a member of a stake presidency, I knew all the temple recommend interview questions. I asked them weekly to other members, and I was prepared to answer each question that my bishop asked me. But following the formal questions, he caught me totally off guard with an additional inquiry about my understanding of the gospel.
He asked, “Jay, do you know how to repent?” My first thought was to say, “Yes, of course I know how to repent.” I paused for a moment to think about it, and the more I thought about it, the more uncertain I was of my answer. The standard five or six words we use to describe repentance (recognition, remorse, restitution, reformation, resolution, and so on) did not seem adequate. In fact, they were meaningless to me at that time. They seemed to be too trite, too compartmentalized.”
Think about it brothers and sisters do you KNOW HOW to repent?
What does the word repent mean?
The dictionary says that to repent is:
1. to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc.
2. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.
By the way, have you ever wondered why a prison is called a penitentiary? I suppose they feel it will help people get to that point where they can repent and reform themselves.
Theodore M. Burton, “The Meaning of Repentance,” Ensign, Aug 1988, 6–9
As a General Authority, he often dealt with transgressors in the Church.
Just what is repentance? Actually, in some ways it is easier to understand what repentance is not than to understand what it is.
He says. Many times a bishop will write, “I feel he has suffered enough!” But suffering is not repentance. Suffering comes from lack of complete repentance. A stake president will write, “I feel he has been punished enough!” But punishment is not repentance. Punishment follows disobedience and precedes repentance. A husband will write, “My wife has confessed everything!” But confession is not repentance. Confession is an admission of guilt that occurs as repentance begins. A wife will write, “My husband is filled with remorse!” But remorse is not repentance. Remorse and sorrow continue because a person has not yet fully repented. Suffering, punishment, confession, remorse, and sorrow may sometimes accompany repentance, but they are not repentance. What, then, is repentance?
To find the answer to this question, we must go to the Old Testament. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the word used in it to refer to the concept of repentance is shube.
…
That is the message of the Old Testament. Prophet after prophet writes of shube—that turning back to the Lord, where we can be received with joy and rejoicing. The Old Testament teaches time and again that we must turn from evil and do instead that which is noble and good. This means that we must not only change our ways, we must change our very thoughts, which control our actions.
The concept of shube is also found in the New Testament, which was written in Greek. The Greek writers used the Greek word metaneoeo to refer to repentance. Metaneoeo is a compound word. The first part, meta-, is used as a prefix in our English vocabulary. It refers to change. The second part of the word metaneoeo can mean air, the mind, thought, thinking, or spirit—depending on how it is used.
In the context in which meta- and -neoeo are used in the New Testament, the word metaneoeo means a change of mind, thought, or thinking so powerful that it changes one’s very way of life. I think the Greek word metaneoeo is an excellent synonym for the Hebrew word shube. Both words mean thoroughly changing or turning from evil to God and righteousness.
Confusion came, however, when the New Testament was translated from Greek into Latin. Here an unfortunate choice was made in translation; the Greek word metaneoeo was translated into the Latin word poenitere. The Latin root poen in that word is the same root found in our English words punish, penance, penitent, and repentance. The beautiful meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words was thus changed in Latin to a meaning that involved hurting, punishing, whipping, cutting, mutilating, disfiguring, starving, or even torturing!
It is no small wonder, then, that people have come to fear and dread the word repentance, which they understand to mean repeated or unending punishment.
The meaning of repentance is not that people be punished, but rather that they change their lives so that God can help them escape eternal punishment and enter into his rest with joy and rejoicing. If we have this understanding, our anxiety and fears will be relieved. Repentance will become a welcome and treasured word in our religious vocabulary.
Repentance is essential to our temporal and eternal happiness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.
The Need for Repentance
The Lord has declared that “no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Alma 11:37). Our sins make us unclean—unworthy to return and dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father. They also bring anguish to our soul in this life. Alma says to his son Coriantumer Alma 42:16,18 “Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be. … “Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.”
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our Father in Heaven has provided the only way for us to be forgiven of our sins (see Forgiveness). Jesus Christ suffered the penalty for our sins so we can be forgiven if we sincerely repent. As we repent and rely on His saving grace, we will be cleansed from sin.
2 Nephi 2:6-7
Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
Behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
3 Nephi 9:19-20
And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the holy ghost…..
Alma 5:12-14 (Alma hearing Abinadi)
And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
And behold he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wroguht in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful unto the end; therefore they were saved.
And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts.
Clean Hands and a Pure Heart
Elder David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin’s people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin.
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
What else is involved in that process?
Elder Nelson said: Many of our Saints don’t understand what repentance really is. Repentance is more than just undoing the wrongs you’ve done. It’s a whole change of your outlook on life. You want to think like the Lord. You want to talk like the Lord. You want to act like the Lord. You want to believe, you want to pray, you want to love the way the Lord does. And then you’re converted. Often you see people whose first interest is somewhere else. They will have conflicts, because as they try to serve the Lord they have one foot in the stirrup and one foot dragging on the ground.
Repentance
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Repentance is one of the most vital and merciful doctrines of the kingdom. It is too little understood, too little applied by us all, as if it were merely a word on a bumper sticker. Since we have been told clearly by Jesus what manner of men and women we ought to become—even as He is (see 3 Ne. 27:27)—how can we do so, except each of us employs repentance as the regular means of personal progression? Personal repentance is part of taking up the cross daily. (See Luke 9:23.) Without it, clearly there could be no “perfecting of the Saints.” (Eph. 4:12.)
Real repentance involves not a mechanical checklist, but a check-reining of the natural self. Often overlapping and mutually reinforcing, each portion of the process of repentance is essential. This process rests on inner resolve but is much aided by external support.
There can be no repentance without recognition of wrong. Whether by provocation, introspection, or wrenching remembrance, denial must be dissolved. As with the prodigal son who finally “came to himself” (Luke 15:17), the first rays of recognition help us begin to see “things as they really are” (Jacob 4:13), including distinguishing between the motes and beams. Recognition is a sacred moment, often accompanied by the hot blush of shame.
After recognition, real remorse floods the soul. This is a “godly sorrow,” not merely the “sorrow of the world” nor the “sorrowing of the damned,” when we can no longer “take happiness in sin.” (2 Cor. 7:10; Morm. 2:13.) False remorse instead is like “fondling our failings.” In ritual regret, we mourn our mistakes but without mending them.
Alma said “… I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.” (Alma 42:29. Italics added.)
There can be no real repentance without personal suffering and the passage of sufficient time for the needed cleansing and turning. This is much more than merely waiting until feelings of remorse subside. Misery, like adversity, can have its special uses. No wonder chastening is often needed until the turning is really under way! (See D&C 1:27; Hel. 12:3.)
Real remorse quickly brings forth positive indicators, “fruits meet for repentance.” (Matt. 3:8; see also Acts 26:20; Alma 5:54.) “In process of time,” these fruits bud, blossom, and ripen.
True repentance also includes confession: “Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers.” (Ezra 10:11.) One with a broken heart will not hold back. As confession lets the sickening sin empty out, the Spirit which withdrew returns to renew.
All sins are to be confessed to the Lord, some to a Church official, some to others, and some to all of these. A few may require public confession. Confessing aids forsaking. We cannot expect to sin publicly and extensively and then expect to be rescued privately and quickly, being beaten “with only a few stripes.” (D&C 42:88–93.)
In real repentance, there is the actual forsaking of sinning. “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” (Ezek. 18:30.) A suffering Korihor confessed, “I always knew that there was a God,” but his turning was still incomplete (Alma 30:52); hence, “Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people.” (Alma 30:55.)
Thus, when “a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” (D&C 58:43.)
The Lord said in 1832: “… go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.” (D&C 82:7.)
And so a temporary, momentary change of life is not sufficient.
Alma 41:9:
“And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God … which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.” (Italics added.)
“Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10. Italics added.)
There is an area in Yucatan so fertile and weather-favored that the jungle grows rapidly. Needy peasants make a clearing and plant a crop, but constantly the shrubbery and forest creep in, and unless the owner is diligent and persistent to keep down the undergrowth, it will soon take over his little farm and turn it to jungle again.
Likewise, repentance must be consistent and continuous. To repent of a sin and then to tamper with it again or permit it to invade, even slightly, is to lose the repentance and its benefits, and “the former sins return, saith the Lord God.” (D&C 82:7.)
Restitution is required, too. “Because he hath sinned, … he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found.” (Lev. 6:4.)
Sometimes, however, restitution is not possible in real terms, such as when one contributed to another’s loss of faith or virtue. Instead, a subsequent example of righteousness provides a compensatory form of restitution.
In this rigorous process, so much clearly depends upon meekness. Alma said: “… Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.” (Alma 42:30. Italics added.) Pride keeps repentance from even starting or continuing. Some fail because they are more concerned with the preservation of their public image than with having Christ’s image in their countenances! (Alma 5:14.) Pride prefers cheap repentance, paid for with shallow sorrow. Unsurprisingly, seekers after cheap repentance also search for superficial forgiveness instead of real reconciliation. Thus, real repentance goes far beyond simply saying, “I’m sorry.”
One must simply surrender, caring only about what God thinks, not what “they” think, while meekly offering, “O God, … make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee.” (Alma 22:18.) Giving away all our sins is the only way we can come to know God.
Even when free of major transgression, we can develop self-contentment instead of seeking self-improvement. This was once true of Amulek, who later acknowledged, “I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God.” (Alma 10:4–6.)
Given the relevancy of repentance as a principle of progress for all, no wonder the Lord has said to His servants multiple times that the thing of greatest worth would be to cry repentance to this generation! (See D&C 6:9; D&C 14:8; D&C 15:6.)
Ironically, some believe the Lord can forgive them, but they refuse to forgive themselves. We are further impeded at times simply because we have not really been taught why and how to repent.
As we do repent, however, special assurances await: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18.) “All his transgressions … shall not be mentioned unto him.” (Ezek. 18:22.) “I, the Lord, remember [their sins] no more”! (D&C 58:42.)
Brothers and sisters, we need never mistake local cloud cover for general darkness. The Atoning Light of the world saw to that. It was for our sake that perfectly remarkable Jesus was perfectly consecrated. Jesus let His own will be totally “swallowed up in the will of the Father.” If you and I would come unto Jesus, we must likewise yield to God, holding nothing back. Then other soaring promises await!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Testimony of Christ
This is a combined version of Elder Maxwell's testimony of Jesus Christ and his Atonement as given in several devotionals:
We begin to see in the scriptures the weight
of the Atonement burdening him shortly before
Gethsemane and Calvary:
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say?
Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause
came I unto this hour. [John 12:27]
He became “very heavy,” which, in the Greek
means, “depressed and dejected, in anguish.”
Just as the Psalmist had
foreseen, the Savior was “full of heaviness”
(Psalms 69:20). The heavy weight of the sins
of all mankind was falling upon him.
He had been intellectually and otherwise
prepared from ages past for this task. He is
the creator of this and other worlds. He knew
the plan of salvation. He knew this is what it
would come to. But when it happened, it was
so much worse than even he had imagined!
Hence he was “sore amazed” or, in the Greek,
“astonished,” “awestruck” (Mark 14:33).
Now, brothers and sisters, this was not
theater; it was the real thing. “And he went
forward a little, and fell on the ground, and
prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might
pass from him” (Mark 14:35).
“And he said, Abba, Father, all things
are possible unto thee; take away this cup from
me” (Mark 14:36). And when Jesus used the word
“Abba,” it was a most personal and intimate
familiar reference—the cry of a child in deepest
distress for his father to help him in the midst
of this agony.
Did Jesus hope there might be, as with
Abraham, a ram in the thicket? We do not know,
but the agony and the extremity were great.
The sins and the grossness of all mankind were
falling upon someone who was perfectly sinless,
perfectly sensitive.
But said he: “Nevertheless not what I will, but
what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36).
Through that marvelous Prophet Joseph,
in the book of Alma, we learned that Jesus not
only suffered for our sins, but, in order to
perfect his capacity of mercy and empathy, he
also bore our sicknesses and infirmities that
he might know “according to the flesh” (see
Alma 7:11–12) what we pass through and thus
become the perfect shepherd, which he is.
All the cumulative weight of our sins—the
whole human family—fell upon him. He, and
he alone, bore them! Thus he is able to say,
“I have overcome and have trodden the winepress
alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness
of the wrath of Almighty God” (D&C
76:107; 88:106). This would include all the penalties
that a God who cannot look upon sin with
the least degree of allowance would require (see
D&C 1:31). Could there be any wrath more fierce
than divine wrath? Especially as Jesus encountered
cumulative, mortal grossness including
the vilest of all human sins? Jesus bore them.
Indeed, Christ was alone, for “there was
none with me” (Isaiah 63:3; D&C 133:50). His
astonishing, personal triumph was complete.
Yet he who premortally had promised he
would give glory to our Father kept that
promise, saying after accomplishing the
Atonement, “Nevertheless, glory be to the
Father” (D&C 19:19; Moses 4:2).
…
Jesus bore all mortal sins, mankind’s cumulative
total. Thus Jesus, of his suffering, truly
could later say that “he descended below all
things” (D&C 88:6).
…
On the cross, there came from Christ the
soul-rending cry, “My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; see also
Psalms 22:1). What awful aloneness! What deprivation,
Especially after the special and extended closeness of
Father and Son! Is it possible
that Jesus needed to suffer and experience
aloneness not only so his personal triumph
would be total, but also so that he might
“know according to the flesh” how it is for us
to feel forsaken? (See Alma 7:11–12).
…
All this emptying agony preceded the
empty tomb, which signified the glorious
resurrection. In his comments after the awful
atonement, he uses words like “sore” and
“exquisite.” Jesus tells us that he suffered “both
body and spirit” (D&C 19:18–19). He does not
even mention having been spat upon, struck,
receiving vinegar and gall, being scourged, etc.
Neal A. Maxwell 7
He does say that he trembled because of pain
and would that he might not drink of the bitter cup and
shrink- (see D&C 19:18). But he partook of the bitter cup
and did so without becoming bitter! Mercifully
for all of us, he did not shrink!
And behold, I am the light and the life of the
world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which
the Father hath given me, and have glorified the
Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in
the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all
things from the beginning. [3 Nephi 11:11]
I have overcome and have trodden the winepress
alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the
wrath of Almighty God. [D&C 76:107]
Thus he became our fully comprehending and
fully atoning Savior. No wonder we sing of him,
“How great thou art!” (Hymns, 1985, no. 86).
Why did he do it?
And the world, because of their iniquity, shall
judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they
scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite
him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him,
and he suffereth it, WHY? Because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children
of men.
We begin to see in the scriptures the weight
of the Atonement burdening him shortly before
Gethsemane and Calvary:
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say?
Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause
came I unto this hour. [John 12:27]
He became “very heavy,” which, in the Greek
means, “depressed and dejected, in anguish.”
Just as the Psalmist had
foreseen, the Savior was “full of heaviness”
(Psalms 69:20). The heavy weight of the sins
of all mankind was falling upon him.
He had been intellectually and otherwise
prepared from ages past for this task. He is
the creator of this and other worlds. He knew
the plan of salvation. He knew this is what it
would come to. But when it happened, it was
so much worse than even he had imagined!
Hence he was “sore amazed” or, in the Greek,
“astonished,” “awestruck” (Mark 14:33).
Now, brothers and sisters, this was not
theater; it was the real thing. “And he went
forward a little, and fell on the ground, and
prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might
pass from him” (Mark 14:35).
“And he said, Abba, Father, all things
are possible unto thee; take away this cup from
me” (Mark 14:36). And when Jesus used the word
“Abba,” it was a most personal and intimate
familiar reference—the cry of a child in deepest
distress for his father to help him in the midst
of this agony.
Did Jesus hope there might be, as with
Abraham, a ram in the thicket? We do not know,
but the agony and the extremity were great.
The sins and the grossness of all mankind were
falling upon someone who was perfectly sinless,
perfectly sensitive.
But said he: “Nevertheless not what I will, but
what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36).
Through that marvelous Prophet Joseph,
in the book of Alma, we learned that Jesus not
only suffered for our sins, but, in order to
perfect his capacity of mercy and empathy, he
also bore our sicknesses and infirmities that
he might know “according to the flesh” (see
Alma 7:11–12) what we pass through and thus
become the perfect shepherd, which he is.
All the cumulative weight of our sins—the
whole human family—fell upon him. He, and
he alone, bore them! Thus he is able to say,
“I have overcome and have trodden the winepress
alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness
of the wrath of Almighty God” (D&C
76:107; 88:106). This would include all the penalties
that a God who cannot look upon sin with
the least degree of allowance would require (see
D&C 1:31). Could there be any wrath more fierce
than divine wrath? Especially as Jesus encountered
cumulative, mortal grossness including
the vilest of all human sins? Jesus bore them.
Indeed, Christ was alone, for “there was
none with me” (Isaiah 63:3; D&C 133:50). His
astonishing, personal triumph was complete.
Yet he who premortally had promised he
would give glory to our Father kept that
promise, saying after accomplishing the
Atonement, “Nevertheless, glory be to the
Father” (D&C 19:19; Moses 4:2).
…
Jesus bore all mortal sins, mankind’s cumulative
total. Thus Jesus, of his suffering, truly
could later say that “he descended below all
things” (D&C 88:6).
…
On the cross, there came from Christ the
soul-rending cry, “My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46; see also
Psalms 22:1). What awful aloneness! What deprivation,
Especially after the special and extended closeness of
Father and Son! Is it possible
that Jesus needed to suffer and experience
aloneness not only so his personal triumph
would be total, but also so that he might
“know according to the flesh” how it is for us
to feel forsaken? (See Alma 7:11–12).
…
All this emptying agony preceded the
empty tomb, which signified the glorious
resurrection. In his comments after the awful
atonement, he uses words like “sore” and
“exquisite.” Jesus tells us that he suffered “both
body and spirit” (D&C 19:18–19). He does not
even mention having been spat upon, struck,
receiving vinegar and gall, being scourged, etc.
Neal A. Maxwell 7
He does say that he trembled because of pain
and would that he might not drink of the bitter cup and
shrink- (see D&C 19:18). But he partook of the bitter cup
and did so without becoming bitter! Mercifully
for all of us, he did not shrink!
And behold, I am the light and the life of the
world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which
the Father hath given me, and have glorified the
Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in
the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all
things from the beginning. [3 Nephi 11:11]
I have overcome and have trodden the winepress
alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the
wrath of Almighty God. [D&C 76:107]
Thus he became our fully comprehending and
fully atoning Savior. No wonder we sing of him,
“How great thou art!” (Hymns, 1985, no. 86).
Why did he do it?
And the world, because of their iniquity, shall
judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they
scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite
him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him,
and he suffereth it, WHY? Because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children
of men.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Zion -The City of Heaven-
This is the rough description of some vague visions of a movie that came to my mind while reading the Pearl of Great Price in the Book of Moses, Chapters 5 & 6
Wickedness, persecution of saints. Show the ancients, etc. Adam. They testify of God and of the Gospel—repent and believe in the Son of God—the Messiah.
Jared teaches his son Enoch the Gospel from his childhood. He tells of Adam and how after being cast out of the Garden of Eden, he built an alter and offered sacrifices. How the angel came and explained the sacrifice and proclaimed the coming of the Son of God who should die that all who believe on his name and repent would be saved from sin.
Mocking of people.
Narration of Enoch’s call to be a prophet, etc.
Start now the story of a man Mahijah? who is searching for the truth and is converted by Enoch’s preaching.
Enoch tells of his dreams and visions which show the creation of the Heavens and Earth and the wickedness of the people, God weeping, the flood and the coming of Christ, and the restoration and the last days etc. (This could be portrayed as he preaches, interspersed throughout the story)
Show the gathering of the people, fleeing from armies and saved by miracles: moving rivers, mountains, calling beasts, etc.
Show the building of a city. The goodness of the people.
Show some wars among the wicked and how they fear Zion. Show missionaries sent among them.
End with the whole city being taken up in fire and light (See picture of it in the Church’s set of pictures) as Methusela looks after it.
End Credits and then show a quick clip of Noah pleading as he loads the Ark and then the rain comes, thunder...
Subscript: “Noah came before the flood; we are nearing the time of the fire of the return of Christ…” or something like that. Or maybe that in the last days it will be as it was in the time of Noah…
More credits.
Wickedness, persecution of saints. Show the ancients, etc. Adam. They testify of God and of the Gospel—repent and believe in the Son of God—the Messiah.
Jared teaches his son Enoch the Gospel from his childhood. He tells of Adam and how after being cast out of the Garden of Eden, he built an alter and offered sacrifices. How the angel came and explained the sacrifice and proclaimed the coming of the Son of God who should die that all who believe on his name and repent would be saved from sin.
Mocking of people.
Narration of Enoch’s call to be a prophet, etc.
Start now the story of a man Mahijah? who is searching for the truth and is converted by Enoch’s preaching.
Enoch tells of his dreams and visions which show the creation of the Heavens and Earth and the wickedness of the people, God weeping, the flood and the coming of Christ, and the restoration and the last days etc. (This could be portrayed as he preaches, interspersed throughout the story)
Show the gathering of the people, fleeing from armies and saved by miracles: moving rivers, mountains, calling beasts, etc.
Show the building of a city. The goodness of the people.
Show some wars among the wicked and how they fear Zion. Show missionaries sent among them.
End with the whole city being taken up in fire and light (See picture of it in the Church’s set of pictures) as Methusela looks after it.
End Credits and then show a quick clip of Noah pleading as he loads the Ark and then the rain comes, thunder...
Subscript: “Noah came before the flood; we are nearing the time of the fire of the return of Christ…” or something like that. Or maybe that in the last days it will be as it was in the time of Noah…
More credits.
Financial Literacy
Parable of the Talents
Math 25:14-30
14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he agave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We must be wise stewards over all that the Lord has blessed us with. To that end we will discuss our personal finances.
What we will discuss:
-Terms: Income, Expense, Debt, Asset, Liability, Cashflow, Appreciation, Depreciation, Retirement Plans
-Tracking—Financial Statements
-Targeting—Budgets (Spending Plans) *(Attach a sample budget that could be used)
-Trimming—Goal Setting, Pay God and Self first, Live within means
-Training—Continue to learn about money and Investing
Terms: Income, Expense, Debt, Asset, Liability, Cashflow, Appreciation, Depreciation, Retirement Plans
Income
3 Types of Income
1. Earned Income
-Job, Self Employed
-Highest Tax (50% money)
-Requires time, energy, and me
-No Residual effects
2. Portfolio Income
-Paper Assets, Stocks, Some Real Estate (Based on appreciation)
-Capital Gains, (20% money)
-Little or No Cash Flow
3. Passive Income
-Rental Real Estate—Some Businesses and Royalties from Intellectual Property
-Lowest Tax/Tax Deferred (forever?) (0% money)
-Little or no work
-Residual effect for generations
-Hedge against Inflation
Tracking—Financial Statements
-Track Money Daily—write down every penny you spend. The very process of tracking what you spend will help you cut back on wasteful habits and let you see the cracks that leak out your hard-earned money.
-Create monthly Financial Statements (Financial Report Card) See attached sample Financial Statement (Simple) This lets you know how you are doing financially. Are you on track for retirement, are you meeting your goals, etc. Most people don’t realizing that they are failing life and only get this report card when it’s too late (at retirement or at the bankruptcy attorney’s office.) If you know how you are performing, you can adjust and make changes early while it’s easy and possible.
-Spending Habits—Cashflow Patterns
-Poor people have poor spending habits (generally). They earn money and blow it straight out the expense column.
-The middle class has many liabilities (some of which they think are assets) and few if any assets. They earn money, it goes into their liabilities column and then right up out of the expense column.
-The Rich Earn money and put it towards assets. Their income from assets goes to cover their expenses and liabilities and buy even more assets.
*You become financially free when Income from Assets exceeds Expenses. This is how you can measure wealth: If you stopped working today, how long could you survive? *The rich get richer because they create more income than they spend and reinvest the extra into their asset column to produce even more income. (See also Jacob 2:17-19)
Debt: A powerful tool of leverage—can be used for you or against you.
If used wisely to obtain income-producing assets (business/rental real estate) you can grow your money so much faster—Make sure the asset services the debt adequately: Banks want to see it cover it 130% for commercial properties. Have other people pay your debts and when it’s paid off, you’ll have that much more income for retirement.
Example of Leverage:
Asset vs. Liability
An Asset is anything that produces income or appreciates in value. It puts money in my pocket and feeds me.
A Liability is anything that costs money or depreciates in value. It takes money from my pocket and eats me.
Appreciation vs. Depreciation
Appreciation is a Positive change in value over time
Depreciation is a Negative change in value over time: A useful tax shelter tool in rental real estate. It allows us to write off the depreciation of the property over a period of time even while it’s appreciating in value—must be recaptured when sold, unless you roll it into a new property—can be deferred indefinitely and even forever when done properly.
Retirement Plans
-Used to shelter money from taxes.
-Can be inherited or passed from generation to generation.
-Can be invested in anything allowed by law: Stocks, Real Estate, Gold, etc. (only a few exceptions)
-You can retire at any age with only a few stipulations depending on the type of plan.
Standard IRAs and 401ks vs. ROTH IRAs and 401ks
-Standard gives a tax break now, grow tax free and you pay tax as you take it out. (You’re assuming a lower tax bracket in retirement than currently—you’ll be poorer)
-ROTHs goes in after tax but grow and come out tax free. (Is good if you plan to retire rich and if you grow it quickly) There is a way to get it in a ROTH tax free as well.
Targeting—Goal Setting, Budgets (Spending Plans)
-Plan to get out of debt and establish a financial emergency reserve as soon as possible. When getting out of debt, it’s best to pay off the smallest amount first and snowball the same payments into the larger and larger accounts until they are all paid off. And once paid off continue putting that money towards your emergency fund and assets if possible.
-When we budget, we are not trying to deprive ourselves of things, our plan is to spend the whole paycheck. But we want to make sure that we spend it on the most important and wisest things possible and not waste it frivolously.
You can budget monthly, but I would recommend a mixture of monthly and weekly budgets. Monthly go over what you plan to spend all the monthly bills, tithing, food, gas, emergency/repair fund, entertainment/fun fund, etc. Divide up those things that will be spent weekly into weekly allowances. Weekly go over all your needs and plan when you’ll go to the store and how much you plan to spend. The other benefit is that you will have more time dealing with your finances and keep them more in mind so as not to forget or splurge.
This could be part of your weekly family council or family home evening, etc. It doesn’t need to be anything big or long. Also, it will help you adjust to meet your monthly budget goals.
This is not an exact science, the more you budget and practice and work at it the more you’ll understand where your money goes and how to cut back on waste. You’ll be able to make very accurate budgets. Try to live within that spending plan.
Trimming—Pay God and Self first, Live within means. Learn to live on 80% or less of your income. This is where you try to improve and streamline your budget. Cut back on expenses. If you want to increase your expenses, first increase your means through your asset column. Use your desire to consume to motivate you in creating more wealth.
Training—Continue to learn about money and Investing. Go to workshops and seminars. The more you know the more effective you will be—not only in finances, but you will also be more able to serve and give and build the kingdom of God. It is hard for God to use a financially floundering ship. Learning to responsibly manage our finances will help us learn to better manage other areas in our lives.
*Let us always consult with the Lord in all our decisions (Alma 34:17-27)
May we become better and wise stewards over the things the Lord has given us and use them to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth and establish Zion—that the day may come that the Lord will say to us: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My understanding of Rich Dad's advice from reading his books is not to mortgage your house, business and children out to the max in order to speculate in real estate. I feel that his advice is exactly the opposite. His point on using debt to build wealth faster is simply the idea that the bank lends me most of the money to buy the house, other people pay off that debt for me, give me extra money on top of my mortgage and expenses, the house (might) go up in value, while I'm taking tax deductions in the process--so after 30 years, the house is paid off, I made good income while it was being paid off and saved a lot in taxes. Now that it's paid for, your income from rent jumps up dramatically.
It is never recommended that you do anything of this sort unless you can meet the above criteria—speculation is like gambling, good investing is like good business—unless you consider all businesses and businessmen gamblers. He also never said that you have to do this with debt, it's just that you'll have to save for 30 years to buy your first house and start benefiting from it, while if you buy it with the banks money, you can buy more and more as your financial base becomes stronger and stronger.
I actually think that the "Rich Dad" advise is exactly what LDS people should be doing because then they become more financially responsible, do not have to rely on the government or an employer and are truly self-sufficient, and as we build more wealth, the more resources and time we will have to aid in the building of the kingdom. It's very similar to the parable of the talents--if you are given 1 talent, how much can you increase it. The one that saved his talent in the bank lost even what he was given, the other two invested their talents and were able to bring back more at varying success--only these were accepted and even rewarded. We all face risk with money and life, it's what we do to learn how to manage that risk and reduce our liabilities that we become assets in the hands of the lord.
The difference here is Kiyosaki's distinction between good debt vs. bad debt. Good debt gives you money, creates value and makes you more secure and more free, bad debt drains you of money creates little or no value and enslaves you to money. He does recommend that we have no credit card or consumer debt, that we pay off our cars and houses as soon as possible—I’ve never seen that he suggests otherwise. You don't have to agree with his distinction and can consider all debt bad (which is fine), but I feel that those who use debt to leverage their efforts can do more—faster, than those who insist on being completely debt free.
The difference is that you go into debt to buy a nice, comfortable house, pay it off as quickly as possible to be debt free, I go into debt to buy other houses that pay for my bills, car, and house, so that my earned income can be used to buy another house to help pay for medical bills, insurance, and give to the poor, while my earned income is still generating money to put toward other assets. After 30 years you'll only have a nice house, I'll have a nice house (also paid for) as well as many other houses and apartment buildings (also paid for) that generate so much money every month that I have to think of ways to spend or donate it, most of this money is tax free. Now I have wealth to pass to my children, help the poor, build temples, do missionary work, now I can quite my time-wasting job and serve multiple missions, finish raising my kids, grandkids, etc. I can be a more effective bishop or stake president or teacher; I will be even more useful to my family and my fellow men.
Which is more in harmony with gospel teachings?
1. Spend my life as a slave to money and working for IT all my life (in debt or not), letting fear, ignorance, and the power of money to run my life.
Or
2. Free myself from it and become a master of money; having it work for me (rather than working for IT), gaining mastery of myself and learning how to direct the power of money for good.
Lessons I’ve learned from the Rich Dad books I’ve read:
1. The rich don’t work for money—money works for them
2. First and Only Rule is to understand the difference between assets and liabilities and buy assets
3. Assets put money in my pocket, Liabilities take money out of my pocket
4. Public education is good, but not sufficient to be financially successful—One must become financially literate
5. The poor have only expenses, the middle class has many liabilities and few if any assets, the rich have few liabilities and many assets that pay for their liabilities and expenses
6. There are 3 types of income: earned (50% money), passive (0% money), portfolio (20% money)
7. Debt is a two-edged sword and a powerful tool for creation or destruction. We must handle it carefully and treat it with respect. It accelerates wealth growth or financial disaster.
8. One of the great secrets to getting rich is to "make" money.
9. Controlling the emotions of fear and greed/desire which are often attached to money is the much more important lesson which is applicable to all aspects of life.
Math 25:14-30
14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he agave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We must be wise stewards over all that the Lord has blessed us with. To that end we will discuss our personal finances.
What we will discuss:
-Terms: Income, Expense, Debt, Asset, Liability, Cashflow, Appreciation, Depreciation, Retirement Plans
-Tracking—Financial Statements
-Targeting—Budgets (Spending Plans) *(Attach a sample budget that could be used)
-Trimming—Goal Setting, Pay God and Self first, Live within means
-Training—Continue to learn about money and Investing
Terms: Income, Expense, Debt, Asset, Liability, Cashflow, Appreciation, Depreciation, Retirement Plans
Income
3 Types of Income
1. Earned Income
-Job, Self Employed
-Highest Tax (50% money)
-Requires time, energy, and me
-No Residual effects
2. Portfolio Income
-Paper Assets, Stocks, Some Real Estate (Based on appreciation)
-Capital Gains, (20% money)
-Little or No Cash Flow
3. Passive Income
-Rental Real Estate—Some Businesses and Royalties from Intellectual Property
-Lowest Tax/Tax Deferred (forever?) (0% money)
-Little or no work
-Residual effect for generations
-Hedge against Inflation
Tracking—Financial Statements
-Track Money Daily—write down every penny you spend. The very process of tracking what you spend will help you cut back on wasteful habits and let you see the cracks that leak out your hard-earned money.
-Create monthly Financial Statements (Financial Report Card) See attached sample Financial Statement (Simple) This lets you know how you are doing financially. Are you on track for retirement, are you meeting your goals, etc. Most people don’t realizing that they are failing life and only get this report card when it’s too late (at retirement or at the bankruptcy attorney’s office.) If you know how you are performing, you can adjust and make changes early while it’s easy and possible.
-Spending Habits—Cashflow Patterns
-Poor people have poor spending habits (generally). They earn money and blow it straight out the expense column.
-The middle class has many liabilities (some of which they think are assets) and few if any assets. They earn money, it goes into their liabilities column and then right up out of the expense column.
-The Rich Earn money and put it towards assets. Their income from assets goes to cover their expenses and liabilities and buy even more assets.
*You become financially free when Income from Assets exceeds Expenses. This is how you can measure wealth: If you stopped working today, how long could you survive? *The rich get richer because they create more income than they spend and reinvest the extra into their asset column to produce even more income. (See also Jacob 2:17-19)
Debt: A powerful tool of leverage—can be used for you or against you.
If used wisely to obtain income-producing assets (business/rental real estate) you can grow your money so much faster—Make sure the asset services the debt adequately: Banks want to see it cover it 130% for commercial properties. Have other people pay your debts and when it’s paid off, you’ll have that much more income for retirement.
Example of Leverage:
Asset vs. Liability
An Asset is anything that produces income or appreciates in value. It puts money in my pocket and feeds me.
A Liability is anything that costs money or depreciates in value. It takes money from my pocket and eats me.
Appreciation vs. Depreciation
Appreciation is a Positive change in value over time
Depreciation is a Negative change in value over time: A useful tax shelter tool in rental real estate. It allows us to write off the depreciation of the property over a period of time even while it’s appreciating in value—must be recaptured when sold, unless you roll it into a new property—can be deferred indefinitely and even forever when done properly.
Retirement Plans
-Used to shelter money from taxes.
-Can be inherited or passed from generation to generation.
-Can be invested in anything allowed by law: Stocks, Real Estate, Gold, etc. (only a few exceptions)
-You can retire at any age with only a few stipulations depending on the type of plan.
Standard IRAs and 401ks vs. ROTH IRAs and 401ks
-Standard gives a tax break now, grow tax free and you pay tax as you take it out. (You’re assuming a lower tax bracket in retirement than currently—you’ll be poorer)
-ROTHs goes in after tax but grow and come out tax free. (Is good if you plan to retire rich and if you grow it quickly) There is a way to get it in a ROTH tax free as well.
Targeting—Goal Setting, Budgets (Spending Plans)
-Plan to get out of debt and establish a financial emergency reserve as soon as possible. When getting out of debt, it’s best to pay off the smallest amount first and snowball the same payments into the larger and larger accounts until they are all paid off. And once paid off continue putting that money towards your emergency fund and assets if possible.
-When we budget, we are not trying to deprive ourselves of things, our plan is to spend the whole paycheck. But we want to make sure that we spend it on the most important and wisest things possible and not waste it frivolously.
You can budget monthly, but I would recommend a mixture of monthly and weekly budgets. Monthly go over what you plan to spend all the monthly bills, tithing, food, gas, emergency/repair fund, entertainment/fun fund, etc. Divide up those things that will be spent weekly into weekly allowances. Weekly go over all your needs and plan when you’ll go to the store and how much you plan to spend. The other benefit is that you will have more time dealing with your finances and keep them more in mind so as not to forget or splurge.
This could be part of your weekly family council or family home evening, etc. It doesn’t need to be anything big or long. Also, it will help you adjust to meet your monthly budget goals.
This is not an exact science, the more you budget and practice and work at it the more you’ll understand where your money goes and how to cut back on waste. You’ll be able to make very accurate budgets. Try to live within that spending plan.
Trimming—Pay God and Self first, Live within means. Learn to live on 80% or less of your income. This is where you try to improve and streamline your budget. Cut back on expenses. If you want to increase your expenses, first increase your means through your asset column. Use your desire to consume to motivate you in creating more wealth.
Training—Continue to learn about money and Investing. Go to workshops and seminars. The more you know the more effective you will be—not only in finances, but you will also be more able to serve and give and build the kingdom of God. It is hard for God to use a financially floundering ship. Learning to responsibly manage our finances will help us learn to better manage other areas in our lives.
*Let us always consult with the Lord in all our decisions (Alma 34:17-27)
May we become better and wise stewards over the things the Lord has given us and use them to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth and establish Zion—that the day may come that the Lord will say to us: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My understanding of Rich Dad's advice from reading his books is not to mortgage your house, business and children out to the max in order to speculate in real estate. I feel that his advice is exactly the opposite. His point on using debt to build wealth faster is simply the idea that the bank lends me most of the money to buy the house, other people pay off that debt for me, give me extra money on top of my mortgage and expenses, the house (might) go up in value, while I'm taking tax deductions in the process--so after 30 years, the house is paid off, I made good income while it was being paid off and saved a lot in taxes. Now that it's paid for, your income from rent jumps up dramatically.
It is never recommended that you do anything of this sort unless you can meet the above criteria—speculation is like gambling, good investing is like good business—unless you consider all businesses and businessmen gamblers. He also never said that you have to do this with debt, it's just that you'll have to save for 30 years to buy your first house and start benefiting from it, while if you buy it with the banks money, you can buy more and more as your financial base becomes stronger and stronger.
I actually think that the "Rich Dad" advise is exactly what LDS people should be doing because then they become more financially responsible, do not have to rely on the government or an employer and are truly self-sufficient, and as we build more wealth, the more resources and time we will have to aid in the building of the kingdom. It's very similar to the parable of the talents--if you are given 1 talent, how much can you increase it. The one that saved his talent in the bank lost even what he was given, the other two invested their talents and were able to bring back more at varying success--only these were accepted and even rewarded. We all face risk with money and life, it's what we do to learn how to manage that risk and reduce our liabilities that we become assets in the hands of the lord.
The difference here is Kiyosaki's distinction between good debt vs. bad debt. Good debt gives you money, creates value and makes you more secure and more free, bad debt drains you of money creates little or no value and enslaves you to money. He does recommend that we have no credit card or consumer debt, that we pay off our cars and houses as soon as possible—I’ve never seen that he suggests otherwise. You don't have to agree with his distinction and can consider all debt bad (which is fine), but I feel that those who use debt to leverage their efforts can do more—faster, than those who insist on being completely debt free.
The difference is that you go into debt to buy a nice, comfortable house, pay it off as quickly as possible to be debt free, I go into debt to buy other houses that pay for my bills, car, and house, so that my earned income can be used to buy another house to help pay for medical bills, insurance, and give to the poor, while my earned income is still generating money to put toward other assets. After 30 years you'll only have a nice house, I'll have a nice house (also paid for) as well as many other houses and apartment buildings (also paid for) that generate so much money every month that I have to think of ways to spend or donate it, most of this money is tax free. Now I have wealth to pass to my children, help the poor, build temples, do missionary work, now I can quite my time-wasting job and serve multiple missions, finish raising my kids, grandkids, etc. I can be a more effective bishop or stake president or teacher; I will be even more useful to my family and my fellow men.
Which is more in harmony with gospel teachings?
1. Spend my life as a slave to money and working for IT all my life (in debt or not), letting fear, ignorance, and the power of money to run my life.
Or
2. Free myself from it and become a master of money; having it work for me (rather than working for IT), gaining mastery of myself and learning how to direct the power of money for good.
Lessons I’ve learned from the Rich Dad books I’ve read:
1. The rich don’t work for money—money works for them
2. First and Only Rule is to understand the difference between assets and liabilities and buy assets
3. Assets put money in my pocket, Liabilities take money out of my pocket
4. Public education is good, but not sufficient to be financially successful—One must become financially literate
5. The poor have only expenses, the middle class has many liabilities and few if any assets, the rich have few liabilities and many assets that pay for their liabilities and expenses
6. There are 3 types of income: earned (50% money), passive (0% money), portfolio (20% money)
7. Debt is a two-edged sword and a powerful tool for creation or destruction. We must handle it carefully and treat it with respect. It accelerates wealth growth or financial disaster.
8. One of the great secrets to getting rich is to "make" money.
9. Controlling the emotions of fear and greed/desire which are often attached to money is the much more important lesson which is applicable to all aspects of life.
On Sin, Repentance and the Atonement:
Sin has an actual effect on our souls—both spiritually and to a lesser degree, physically. It also sets a course toward eternal damnation. By repenting, we change our hearts, stop the sin, and do our best to remedy the problems caused by it. But we cannot undo what was done, we cannot erase the effects of our actions or the damage we have done to ourselves. We cannot through our own effort cleanse and purify ourselves or change our course sufficiently to regain the path to God or avoid damnation.
Therefore, repentance—while necessary—is not and never will be enough. Thus God, in his mercy and goodness, sent us a savior to redeem the effects and rewards of sin which is death and hell. He took our sins upon him and overcame them for us. And so when we repent and are baptized as an exercise of faith in Him accepting Him as our savior, His grace becomes sufficient for us. He overcomes the effects of sin in us and which allows us to regain God’s presence. The Holy Ghost comes upon us and has a cleansing and purifying effect on our soul. He sanctifies us, so that we become clean—without spot—holy and pure even as Jesus is. For by the blood are we sanctified and by the spirit are we justified.
Our work is to keep the commandments of God, make and keep sacred covenants and even be perfect as Jesus and his father are perfect. But we, being weak and fallen and subject to the weakness of the flesh cannot be perfect. Thus our works cannot save us for they are insufficient. It is by grace that we are saved after all that we can do. Nevertheless, we must work diligently—for our works are the demonstration of our faith. Do we have the faith in God and Jesus Christ to keep His commandments? Do we have faith enough to repent? Do we have faith enough to deny the flesh and addictions? Do we have faith enough to follow Christ, and do all that He asks of us, even if it leads to the cross and a bitter cup? We must do all that we can, repenting when we sin, and the miraculous atoning power of Jesus Christ will make up the infinite balance lacking—having already overcome the greatest obstacles of death and hell. If we don’t give our whole selves, our full effort—our all, then our faith is not sufficient. Christ says: “give me everything you have, and I’ll make up the difference.”
And so we work diligently to keep the commandments and do God’s will (repenting as we go) because of our faith in Christ. For we know that it is only in and through him that we can be saved. We of ourselves are nothing, but in Christ we can do all things and overcome the world and be perfect in him. This gift of salvation is only available to those who enter into the covenants of baptism and who receive the Holy Ghost as prescribed by Jesus and by legal administrators authorized by him to act on his behalf—who have lawfully received His priesthood.
Not only does the grace provided by the Atonement of Christ redeem us from the effects of sin, but it has the power to transform us into new creatures. It lifts us to levels we could not achieve on our own. And provides us with the inspiration and endurance to perform labors we would not otherwise be able to achieve or maintain. We need a savior to change our nature—to fill us with charity and love for mankind.
A note on mercy and justice: If justice sees that we get what we deserve, then mercy extends to us more than we deserve. Even if we suffer the penalty for our sins… the penalty is paid, but we are still filthy and unholy, and our character/nature would still be contrary to the character and nature of God—thus we would be unable to withstand his presence or the celestial law and glory.
Also, God will put us in the glory or kingdom in which we will be able to stand and find the greatest joy—conducive to the natural state we attained to. If we cannot abide a celestial law, we will not withstand a celestial glory—we won’t be able to take it and will even feel unworthy and unclean and therefore will feel more comfortable in the place we obtained to. Blessings are predicated on obedience to the particular laws and principles required to obtain it.
I believe that the character and love of God is such that he will give us the maximum reward and minimum punishment that His justice and mercy will allow.
Oh the special character of God. Oh the greatness and the goodness and the mercy of God. Indeed, I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me; confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. I tremble to know that for me he was crucified. Oh, it is wonderful to me—For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten and beloved son to be sacrificed and slain for the sins of the world that whosoever should believe on him, should not perish but have everlasting life.
I testify that Jesus is the Christ. That he in fact and in deed did come to show us the way and the way is through Him. He died and rose again the 3rd day. He conquered Death for all that all might be resurrected and Hell for those who believe on His name and keep His commandments.
I would that all men and women everywhere would come unto Him and taste of that fruit which is most precious and most desirable above all else. I would that everyone could experience the sweetness and the miracle of forgiveness and the tender loving kindness of the Savior. He truly is the way the truth and the light, the son of God. Amen.
Therefore, repentance—while necessary—is not and never will be enough. Thus God, in his mercy and goodness, sent us a savior to redeem the effects and rewards of sin which is death and hell. He took our sins upon him and overcame them for us. And so when we repent and are baptized as an exercise of faith in Him accepting Him as our savior, His grace becomes sufficient for us. He overcomes the effects of sin in us and which allows us to regain God’s presence. The Holy Ghost comes upon us and has a cleansing and purifying effect on our soul. He sanctifies us, so that we become clean—without spot—holy and pure even as Jesus is. For by the blood are we sanctified and by the spirit are we justified.
Our work is to keep the commandments of God, make and keep sacred covenants and even be perfect as Jesus and his father are perfect. But we, being weak and fallen and subject to the weakness of the flesh cannot be perfect. Thus our works cannot save us for they are insufficient. It is by grace that we are saved after all that we can do. Nevertheless, we must work diligently—for our works are the demonstration of our faith. Do we have the faith in God and Jesus Christ to keep His commandments? Do we have faith enough to repent? Do we have faith enough to deny the flesh and addictions? Do we have faith enough to follow Christ, and do all that He asks of us, even if it leads to the cross and a bitter cup? We must do all that we can, repenting when we sin, and the miraculous atoning power of Jesus Christ will make up the infinite balance lacking—having already overcome the greatest obstacles of death and hell. If we don’t give our whole selves, our full effort—our all, then our faith is not sufficient. Christ says: “give me everything you have, and I’ll make up the difference.”
And so we work diligently to keep the commandments and do God’s will (repenting as we go) because of our faith in Christ. For we know that it is only in and through him that we can be saved. We of ourselves are nothing, but in Christ we can do all things and overcome the world and be perfect in him. This gift of salvation is only available to those who enter into the covenants of baptism and who receive the Holy Ghost as prescribed by Jesus and by legal administrators authorized by him to act on his behalf—who have lawfully received His priesthood.
Not only does the grace provided by the Atonement of Christ redeem us from the effects of sin, but it has the power to transform us into new creatures. It lifts us to levels we could not achieve on our own. And provides us with the inspiration and endurance to perform labors we would not otherwise be able to achieve or maintain. We need a savior to change our nature—to fill us with charity and love for mankind.
A note on mercy and justice: If justice sees that we get what we deserve, then mercy extends to us more than we deserve. Even if we suffer the penalty for our sins… the penalty is paid, but we are still filthy and unholy, and our character/nature would still be contrary to the character and nature of God—thus we would be unable to withstand his presence or the celestial law and glory.
Also, God will put us in the glory or kingdom in which we will be able to stand and find the greatest joy—conducive to the natural state we attained to. If we cannot abide a celestial law, we will not withstand a celestial glory—we won’t be able to take it and will even feel unworthy and unclean and therefore will feel more comfortable in the place we obtained to. Blessings are predicated on obedience to the particular laws and principles required to obtain it.
I believe that the character and love of God is such that he will give us the maximum reward and minimum punishment that His justice and mercy will allow.
Oh the special character of God. Oh the greatness and the goodness and the mercy of God. Indeed, I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me; confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. I tremble to know that for me he was crucified. Oh, it is wonderful to me—For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten and beloved son to be sacrificed and slain for the sins of the world that whosoever should believe on him, should not perish but have everlasting life.
I testify that Jesus is the Christ. That he in fact and in deed did come to show us the way and the way is through Him. He died and rose again the 3rd day. He conquered Death for all that all might be resurrected and Hell for those who believe on His name and keep His commandments.
I would that all men and women everywhere would come unto Him and taste of that fruit which is most precious and most desirable above all else. I would that everyone could experience the sweetness and the miracle of forgiveness and the tender loving kindness of the Savior. He truly is the way the truth and the light, the son of God. Amen.
On Creation
The 3 most popular theories for the origin of the world are: Atheists’ non-creation and Christians’ Old-earth (God created the world over a long period of time) and Young-earth (God created the world in 6 days and it's only a few thousand years old). Mine is a 4th theory that combines the strong points of both Christian theories and could satisfy some of atheists’ complaints. It is based off of some of the information Professor Hugh Nibley of BYU gave in his lectures about the temple.
I believe—without deviating from scripture—in a different view of the creation—one that I see few discuss or even consider. The fundamental difference is that I believe that the idea of an “ex-nilio” (from nothing) creation was not the original meaning intended by the word 'creation' in the scriptures (that it wasn’t even considered by the ancient Hebrews or early Christians—and only adopted after they accepted Greek philosophy); but rather that matter, spirit, and intelligence are all coeternal with God. Removing the forced “ex-nilio” connotation allows for more flexible theories.
I view eternity not as timeLESSness, but as without beginning and without end—infinite duration; and that all things (as consistent with the 1st law of thermodynamics)—matter/energy can neither be created nor destroyed (fundamentally), but have always existed and always will.
And by creation, it’s meant that God took of this eternal and unorganized matter and created/organized (in the creative sense) the Heavens and the Earth. And thus, by beginning, God meant the beginning of this organization—this new creation. And when God spoke—the matter obeyed the Supreme Being and became even as He commanded.
These creative periods could have taken any length of time—that is irrelevant in this case. They could have been 7,000 years or billions, or 7 actual days as we know them. How could we possibly fathom the methods of an all-powerful God in the creation of such things—whether out of nothing as usually proposed or of unorganized eternal matter as I believe?
This view is also consistent with the findings of science; for when they try to date this material—who knows what state it would have been in when God started forming the Earth, and how His creative works affected the observable age of such things. New molecules forged together would start a new timeline as traced by science. Layers of the Earth could have been made and shaped in violent, drastic ways that our experience and understanding can’t comprehend, etc.
Notably, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which talks about atrophy and the breakdown of matter, is also consistent with my model. For the natural state of things is chaos and disorder. Things die, decay and break down from greater or heavier to lesser or lighter according to the 2nd law. But, seeing that there is order and creation, there must also be an opposing force which creates, organizes, and maintains order—namely God. This is also observed in science. But even so, we see things (the world, men, lives, matter, etc.) breaking down—corruptible and fallen; and there would be no reversal if there wasn’t a similar force to the creative one which could restore, redeem and atone things back to their original orderly and proper state.
As a final note, God must have some means to (most probably through the same afore mentioned power of atonement) reconstitute things not only to their original state, but to a higher, eternal and incorruptible state of perfection that is free from the destructive force.
I’m sure you can see the implications in this model for sin, death, resurrection, etc. In fact, the way I see it is that before the fall of Adam, he and the Earth were in the presence of God, but once Adam transgressed the law, God’s sustaining influence that kept everything in a perpetual pristine and perfected state left (for He can’t dwell in unholy temples). Without His direct influence and obedience to His will, things fell and the natural order of things began to take affect. Through the Atonement of Christ all men and indeed all of God’s creations will be resurrected, cleansed from all imperfections, renewed and restored back to God’s presence. All things will be saved from the destructive forces of nature—death and men who accept Jesus Christ will also be saved from Hell—spiritual death or separation from God, for being cleansed and perfected through the grace and atoning blood of Christ, we will be perfected in Him and live forever in the presence of God.
I believe—without deviating from scripture—in a different view of the creation—one that I see few discuss or even consider. The fundamental difference is that I believe that the idea of an “ex-nilio” (from nothing) creation was not the original meaning intended by the word 'creation' in the scriptures (that it wasn’t even considered by the ancient Hebrews or early Christians—and only adopted after they accepted Greek philosophy); but rather that matter, spirit, and intelligence are all coeternal with God. Removing the forced “ex-nilio” connotation allows for more flexible theories.
I view eternity not as timeLESSness, but as without beginning and without end—infinite duration; and that all things (as consistent with the 1st law of thermodynamics)—matter/energy can neither be created nor destroyed (fundamentally), but have always existed and always will.
And by creation, it’s meant that God took of this eternal and unorganized matter and created/organized (in the creative sense) the Heavens and the Earth. And thus, by beginning, God meant the beginning of this organization—this new creation. And when God spoke—the matter obeyed the Supreme Being and became even as He commanded.
These creative periods could have taken any length of time—that is irrelevant in this case. They could have been 7,000 years or billions, or 7 actual days as we know them. How could we possibly fathom the methods of an all-powerful God in the creation of such things—whether out of nothing as usually proposed or of unorganized eternal matter as I believe?
This view is also consistent with the findings of science; for when they try to date this material—who knows what state it would have been in when God started forming the Earth, and how His creative works affected the observable age of such things. New molecules forged together would start a new timeline as traced by science. Layers of the Earth could have been made and shaped in violent, drastic ways that our experience and understanding can’t comprehend, etc.
Notably, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which talks about atrophy and the breakdown of matter, is also consistent with my model. For the natural state of things is chaos and disorder. Things die, decay and break down from greater or heavier to lesser or lighter according to the 2nd law. But, seeing that there is order and creation, there must also be an opposing force which creates, organizes, and maintains order—namely God. This is also observed in science. But even so, we see things (the world, men, lives, matter, etc.) breaking down—corruptible and fallen; and there would be no reversal if there wasn’t a similar force to the creative one which could restore, redeem and atone things back to their original orderly and proper state.
As a final note, God must have some means to (most probably through the same afore mentioned power of atonement) reconstitute things not only to their original state, but to a higher, eternal and incorruptible state of perfection that is free from the destructive force.
I’m sure you can see the implications in this model for sin, death, resurrection, etc. In fact, the way I see it is that before the fall of Adam, he and the Earth were in the presence of God, but once Adam transgressed the law, God’s sustaining influence that kept everything in a perpetual pristine and perfected state left (for He can’t dwell in unholy temples). Without His direct influence and obedience to His will, things fell and the natural order of things began to take affect. Through the Atonement of Christ all men and indeed all of God’s creations will be resurrected, cleansed from all imperfections, renewed and restored back to God’s presence. All things will be saved from the destructive forces of nature—death and men who accept Jesus Christ will also be saved from Hell—spiritual death or separation from God, for being cleansed and perfected through the grace and atoning blood of Christ, we will be perfected in Him and live forever in the presence of God.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Cutting Edge
“It looks like aliens have landed,” was all my best friend’s father would say. My friend Mike and I stood there with amused, smug smiles on our faces as Mike’s dad stared at the freshly cut lawn with a strange glint in his eye. “It could become a new fashion,” offered Mike, trying to justify the strange pattern we had left on his neighbor’s lawn. Most of the lawn seemed normal, but in one large, square section, my friend had started at the center and spiraled out, creating a large hypnotic circle.
My friend and I often experiment with different designs as we mow people’s lawns. Depending on our mood or requests from the customer, we might mow a lawn diagonally or vertically. Sometimes when we’re feeling tired and lazy, we’ll just go around the border until it is finished. On an odd day, we might do ‘S’ curves throughout the lawn. Lawn mowing can be as interesting and artistic as a sculpture or painting. People tend to think of their yards as works of art. Why else would they often pay large sums of money for me to mow their lawn on a weekly basis? If they just wanted the grass cut, they could hire just any little kid for a fraction of the price.
Many people think, by some stroke of genius, that lawn mowing is hard work. It is. The average lawn requires mowing every week for nearly six months. Here in the desert, the sun beats down mercilessly with temperatures in the eighties and nineties. Each workday reveals the intimate aromas that mingle with the sweat of the lawn mower. Dust, grass clippings, body odor and gasoline are the perfume of choice by all experienced lawn mowers. Cracked, dry lips screaming for water become second nature; chapstick is the lawn mower’s best friend. Heatstroke and dehydration are merely the byproducts of focused, efficient work.
Of all the trials found in mowing lawns, walking in a straight line is by far the most difficult to accomplish. Tiny lumps in the lawn constantly leap out and grab the machine, throwing it careening off course. Drips of sweat, blurring the eyes, distract the mower from his line of sight. As he frantically wipes his eyes and swats at mosquitoes, he follows a zigzag course. Mysterious objects hiding in long tufts of grass must be moved aside, or mowed around.
Emptying the bag can be one of the most annoying and distracting routines of mowing a lawn. Every so often, the mower must stop and empty the bag before it overflows, leaving tiny clumps of grass clippings that cry volumes against the purity and perfection of the green sea. This break causes a complete loss of focus and concentration to the mower. The next few strips of grass mowed often reflect the mower’s frustration at having been interrupted from his reverie.
By far, the worst aspect of mowing lawns is cleaning up. After a hard days work, no one wants to deal with ten huge, black bags full of grass. Perhaps a week later, the offending pile of bags will be noticed by its distinct odor. The mower’s mother most likely displays her liking for more fashionable fragrances around the yard and orders the pile removed. Nothing can compare to the sensation and stench of green ooze running from bag, to arm, to clothes (which retain the smell for some weeks afterward) as they are taken to the nearest disposal area.
Efficient and artistic lawn mowers are hard to come by. Few people have the patience to experience the relaxing joy of lawn mowing found by raking smooth strokes across an endless sea of green carpet. My friend Mike and I, and some few select others, stand alone in a world where people want instant food, constant convenience, and have little appreciation for hard work and creativity. We alone appreciate the joys found in mowing lawns.
My friend and I often experiment with different designs as we mow people’s lawns. Depending on our mood or requests from the customer, we might mow a lawn diagonally or vertically. Sometimes when we’re feeling tired and lazy, we’ll just go around the border until it is finished. On an odd day, we might do ‘S’ curves throughout the lawn. Lawn mowing can be as interesting and artistic as a sculpture or painting. People tend to think of their yards as works of art. Why else would they often pay large sums of money for me to mow their lawn on a weekly basis? If they just wanted the grass cut, they could hire just any little kid for a fraction of the price.
Many people think, by some stroke of genius, that lawn mowing is hard work. It is. The average lawn requires mowing every week for nearly six months. Here in the desert, the sun beats down mercilessly with temperatures in the eighties and nineties. Each workday reveals the intimate aromas that mingle with the sweat of the lawn mower. Dust, grass clippings, body odor and gasoline are the perfume of choice by all experienced lawn mowers. Cracked, dry lips screaming for water become second nature; chapstick is the lawn mower’s best friend. Heatstroke and dehydration are merely the byproducts of focused, efficient work.
Of all the trials found in mowing lawns, walking in a straight line is by far the most difficult to accomplish. Tiny lumps in the lawn constantly leap out and grab the machine, throwing it careening off course. Drips of sweat, blurring the eyes, distract the mower from his line of sight. As he frantically wipes his eyes and swats at mosquitoes, he follows a zigzag course. Mysterious objects hiding in long tufts of grass must be moved aside, or mowed around.
Emptying the bag can be one of the most annoying and distracting routines of mowing a lawn. Every so often, the mower must stop and empty the bag before it overflows, leaving tiny clumps of grass clippings that cry volumes against the purity and perfection of the green sea. This break causes a complete loss of focus and concentration to the mower. The next few strips of grass mowed often reflect the mower’s frustration at having been interrupted from his reverie.
By far, the worst aspect of mowing lawns is cleaning up. After a hard days work, no one wants to deal with ten huge, black bags full of grass. Perhaps a week later, the offending pile of bags will be noticed by its distinct odor. The mower’s mother most likely displays her liking for more fashionable fragrances around the yard and orders the pile removed. Nothing can compare to the sensation and stench of green ooze running from bag, to arm, to clothes (which retain the smell for some weeks afterward) as they are taken to the nearest disposal area.
Efficient and artistic lawn mowers are hard to come by. Few people have the patience to experience the relaxing joy of lawn mowing found by raking smooth strokes across an endless sea of green carpet. My friend Mike and I, and some few select others, stand alone in a world where people want instant food, constant convenience, and have little appreciation for hard work and creativity. We alone appreciate the joys found in mowing lawns.
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