O that thou hadst hearkened

"Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Isreal; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea;. . . . "

This scripture is found both in 1 Nephi 20 and in Isaiah 48. It's a great chapter all around. But I was reminded tonight of my constant need for evaluation, for my need to check myself against the goals that the Lord has in mind for my life's success.

First, He lets me know that His interest is in my profitting in life. He wants to see me succeed. And then he is yearning to have seen more from Isreal, and if I'm applying the scriptures to me, and from me.

Then He really wants me to know that there are real blessings that come from obeying or living in line with His ways. If I just walk the walk that is best I'll have great peace. In this life, who doesn't want that?!

I know I fall short. I sure try not to but I'm not quite all of the way there yet. I'm just very grateful for reminders like this that help me to know that the Savior is willing and merciful.

Can He Soften All Hearts?

Today we were talking about the importance of the scriptures in our lives. The discussion was wonderful. So many great thoughts. Our teacher, Emily, led off with a story from a talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson entitled: "The Blessing of Scripture". Here is the story that he told:

"On October 6, in the year 1536, a pitiful figure was led from a dungeon in Vilvorde Castle near Brussels, Belgium. For nearly a year and a half, the man had suffered isolation in a dark, damp cell. Now outside the castle wall, the prisoner was fastened to a post. He had time to utter aloud his final prayer, “Lord! open the king of England’s eyes,” and then he was strangled. Immediately, his body was burned at the stake. Who was this man, and what was the offense for which both political and ecclesiastical authorities had condemned him? His name was William Tyndale, and his crime was to have translated and published the Bible in English.

"Tyndale, born in England about the time Columbus sailed to the new world, was educated at Oxford and Cambridge and then became a member of the Catholic clergy. He was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Tyndale was a devoted student of the Bible, and the pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply. In a heated exchange with a cleric who argued against putting scripture in the hands of the common man, Tyndale vowed, “If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!”

"He sought the approval of church authorities to prepare a translation of the Bible in English so that all could read and apply the word of God. It was denied—the prevailing view being that direct access to the scriptures by any but the clergy threatened the authority of the church and was tantamount to casting “pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6)."

"Tyndale nevertheless undertook the challenging work of translation. In 1524 he traveled to Germany, under an assumed name, where he lived much of the time in hiding, under constant threat of arrest. With the help of committed friends, Tyndale was able to publish English translations of the New Testament and later the Old Testament. The Bibles were smuggled into England, where they were in great demand and much prized by those who could get them. They were shared widely but in secret. The authorities burned all the copies they could find. Nevertheless, within three years of Tyndale’s death, God did indeed open King Henry VIII’s eyes, and with publication of what was called the “Great Bible,” the scriptures in English began to be publicly available. Tyndale’s work became the foundation for almost all future English translations of the Bible, most notably the King James Version.¹

William Tyndale was not the first, nor the last, of those who in many countries and languages have sacrificed, even to the point of death, to bring the word of God out of obscurity. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. "

First does the point that King Henry the VIII was the kings whose heart was softened? Amazing.

Our discussion really took off when woman after woman spoke of her conversion story. I am amazed by the response that I get when I have religious conversations with others who love the scriptures and the gospel and the Savior but have never been told by their clergy to read and pray for their own answers! This is so shocking to me. Why wouldn't a clergy be willing to encourage anyone desiring for truth to seek it to the fullest?
These women speaking of their own gospel discoveries found that one common denominator was the opportunity to not only read the scriptures for themselves but to ask and know that they would receive answers to their prayers. It's such a liberating way to live the gospel.
Each of us is so different.-each with different personalities, life experiences, cultures, family issues, etc. So why wouldn't we be approaching the Lord in different ways needing a different take on how to maneuver in life?
Yes, many things are a constant-morality, charity, love, the Atonement, the 10 Commandments, etc. The constants are the road signs of life, the speed bumps, the lines in the road. But how we travel on the road with those that we have chosen or maybe not chosen at times to travel with takes asking and answering from someone who really knows us and those around us, no?
So when we say that we have a personal relationship with the Lord, we really need to take a look and see if we are asking Him for the answers that bring our lives to a fullness and help us to be a better person.

Two other thoughts:
If the Lord can soften the heart of a leader like King Henry the VII, then why should we be tentative about Him doing the same in our day with the many wicked or hardened men and women in leadership?

And when reading about faith:
Defin: " And now as I said concerning faith—^afaith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye ^bhope for things which are ^cnot seen, which are true."(Alma 32:21)

When we, in faith, seek for answers and get an answer we know that it's up to us to see that answer through. We act on the answer even if it shakes us a little. If we have enough faith to follow through on the answers we get we can very well come to a point each time where we gain perfect knowledge on that thing we are praying about. A great scripture for this:

"27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a ^aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a ^bseed may be planted in your ^cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your ^dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to ^eenlighten my ^funderstanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own ^alikeness.

32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

34 And now, behold, is your ^aknowledge ^bperfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your ^cfaith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your ^dmind doth begin to expand.

35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is ^alight; and whatsoever is light, is ^bgood, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?

36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.

37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with ^apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree ^bspringing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your ^adiligence 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 ^bfruit 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.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall ^areap the ^brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth ^cfruit unto you." (Alma 32)

Wonderful discussion today on the gift and blessing of having the scriptures and the things we gain from having them in our lives!

"The day obedience becomes a quest and not an irritation is the day you gain power."

Is My Line of Communication Open?

In RS today our cool teacher, Sis. P. Heilig, asked us at the end of a great lesson (of a lesson on the life of Christ) to do some word association. She said "My Beloved Son" and asked,"what does this make you think of?"
I thought of something that I've learned lately. Throughout the last 20+ years of raising our 5 children, I've noticed that when they are making really good choices, I can "feel" or receive pretty constant promptings as to what they need or how they are doing. I can understand quickly in many instances what to say or do for them to best take care of them in any area of their lives.
But sadly, when a child has made a negative or sinful enough choice to block the Spirit from their lives, it puts up a wall for me, too. I find this devastating. I love the Spirit working in our lives to teach us, build us up, protect us, and nurture us. With one child for almost 6 months I couldn't figure out why we couldn't "connect" in our communications. This son is by nature so kind and good. When on track, he's an amazingly intuitive person, hard working and social. But with his sins came this negative, argumentative, reclusive side that I couldn't work through. For a Mom who has relied with great success on the Spirit working miracles in our home, I really didn't find this fun at all! I did all of the things I could think of. I talked to him, prayed for him, fasted for him and worked to watch closely for hints of what might be wrong.
Once my son took steps to repent, that barrier lifted. I couldn't believe the difference!!! I had never felt this as a parent-the stark contrast of having and not having ability to use the power of the Spirit in our home.
Sadly I thought of a year in my life when I chose out of righteous living. At the time that I went through repentance, I felt my own distance from Heavenly Father and the struggle to enjoy the Spirit again. I felt the rush of peace when I had received forgiveness and the commitment to work from that point on to live in a way to never lose the Spirit again.
I have now felt the pain that my very good parents must have felt. I openly apologized to my Dad when he was in town last week in front of some of my siblings at the temple for creating this kind of a barrier. It pains me now to know that I was capable and selfish enough to do that to such great people (parents of 10 children). I had had no idea the pain that a parent could feel in this way.
So when I heard the words, "My Beloved Son", I immediately thought of the gratitude and overwhelming (if anything for our Father is overwhelming) or fully encompassing joy that our Heavenly Father had to have felt when His Son followed through on the plan from so long ago in the pre-existence. When He could say that everything was done completely on track with all of the covenants and events happening in line with His understanding as our Father. How much more trusting I am now of our Savior's love for us.
He did EVERYTHING "right" thereby not blocking the relationship with our Father in Heaven. We can trust everything that he did because he never lost the Spirit. By so doing, He really was one with the Father. He knew exactly what was needed and acted completely in tune with The Great Plan of Happiness.
What a glorious Brother we have. What a great example. How he loves us to be so unselfish for 33 years of mortal living as well as in the time before and after his earthly life.
It's motivating for me to try to do better and to learn from the scriptures more of what Heavenly Father would like for me to learn and be.

What Belongs to You When You Die

From my Dad:

I bought a used church book and between a couple of the pages was a clipping from what looks like a newspaper, newsprint paper anyway, that said:

"Today's Thought: Remember that what you possess in this world will be found on the day of your death to belong to somebody else. But what you are will be yours forever. Henry Van Dyke

Some of the greatest battles will be fought
within the silent chambers
of your own soul.
Ezra Taft Benson

Lifeline

I have been "reading with our daughter. She has had me tell her the stories about the life of Jesus Christ as we turn the pages of the gospel art book that I purchased. Each picture is wonderful and so artistic. One particular painting has put an indelible stamp on my mind. In the picture that I am referring to, is a water scene. The waters are choppy and the sky, stormy gray. Several men are in a boat but the central subjects of the story are not. To the right and standing on the water is the Savior. In the water is Peter reaching for the Savior. Most are familiar with this stunning recorded event. Most are aware of the soon to be Apostles seeing the Savior walk on water and Peter wanting so badly to try it out. In his efforts he succeeded, for a moment, then noticing the impossible, he sank. He asked for the Savior's assistance in his moment of failure and the Savior reached out and saved Peter(Matthew 14:22-32).

I, personally, have always loved this story. I love that the Savior could walk on water. I love that Peter was able to walk some, too. That just seemed so great and brought it to a place that made me think that I could try it out someday (with Jesus' help).

But right now for me, this story has more dimensions.

The Savior asked the disciples to head on out on the water.

They were very familiar with water having been fishermen.

The Lord took the time to go to a mountain to pray after spending the day preaching the gospel.

After quite a while (what looks like between 3 and 6am) He came down from the mountain and saw the disciples.

They were obedient and were working hard to get to where the Lord had requested that they go. He saw their struggle with the elements and walked to them.

In the pressure of dealing with the storm at sea, the disciples didn't know who the Savior was. They thought that he was a spirit on the water.

When the Savior declared that it was Him, Peter asked the Lord to essentially prove it by allowing Peter to walk on the water, too.

It was still stormy.

It was, in our mortal knowledge and experience, a very awkward and strange thing to even walk on water. Would it ever occur to you to consider doing it? No one else does this. I've never seen anyone do it. I wouldn't think it something normal to consider doing.

Yet, here was Jesus walking, for what sounds like quite a distance, to His Disciples in the storm.

How many times have we been told by the Spirit that we needed to do something and we turned away from the prompting dismissing it because it seemed so illogical, strange, out of date, uncomfortable, etc? How many times have our trials been impossible in our eyes? Isn't it in the scriptures that we read that we won't receive a trial that we can't handle? And yet we reason our way out of doing things the Lord's way in order to fit in or keep cool or not make waves with our families and friends. Were we put here to go with the flow of society? Did the Lord go with the flow of society?

now one might want to say that with the storm others wouldn't see this all happening but the Lord saw His disciples from where He was on the shore. So we might assume that others would, if awake, be able to see the whole event unfold.

Well, not only did Jesus do such a strange thing (he could have procured a boat for himself), but then Peter asked to do the same thing!

Now let's talk about Peter.

Here he is seeing something ridiculous and he says that he wants to do it, too.

This should indicate that he's pretty bold and daring in nature.

Peter indicates that he knows that if it is indeed the Savior that the Savior would have the power to make it possible for Peter to walk on water.

So Peter has a lot of faith to start with.

Peter is ok with doing this during a storm so he's not easily deterred from a challenge.

And if anyone was watching, he didn't seem to care either.

The Savior was totally fine with giving Peter this unexplainable experience of walking on water. He didn't lecture him on asking for a sign. He didn't tell Peter that Peter wasn't capable.

So there must have been a reason for the event.

Just in my mind,

I wonder if the Lord thought that it was important to let Peter and the disciples see the real power that He had over the elements.

I wonder if the Lord, knowing Peter's future roll in the church as the head after He would be gone, thought it wise to allow Peter to exercise his faith. Peter, like a child, did so well! And then. . .

Like a normal human being realized the implications of what he was doing.

Notice that I say, "what he was doing". It was Peter walking on water. He made a conscious choice. Peter was exercising his faith successfully. Peter in the midst of a storm at sea, WALKED ON WATER.

This is stunning. It is not normal for anyone to even consider it and yet Peter actually did it.

Well, like I said also, like a normal human being, Peter looked around and considered this event and faltered.

This is what really has been on my mind lately.

I face real challenges that are seemingly completely out of my control. There is a huge storm in the world. This storm is a perfect storm of lacking morality, empty of faith, destitute of personal responsibility, full of the strength of anger, lacking in hope, wavering in the characteristics of charity, and burdened with pride.

Men on every continent live to enslave humankind.

Humankind is complacent in general to the onslaught.

It's a terrible storm. There aren't many willing to fight or weather it.

There aren't many with faith to WALK ON WATER.

When Peter questioned, he began to sink. As President Thomas S. Monson said, "Your future is as bright as your faith."

Do we have the options at this point to question? Do we have time? Can we afford to sink? (well we always have the choice)

Many of us are working with all that we have (for some it's a lot and for some it's a little) to defend our God, our Families, our Freedoms and the same blessings for others. We sit in our homes, go out in public, type on the computer, get on the phones and faxes. We work really hard to educate ourselves. We are trying to walk but I'm afraid that each one of us at various times has a bad night or discouraging events. Each one of us struggles to know the next step and if it's even possible in the raging, stormy sea. Many of our friends think we're crazy. They look from the shore and shake their heads. "Give up. What you're doing is nuts!", we hear.

Some won't give up.

Some can't give up.

Some love their God and their Families and their Freedoms more than the storm.

These are those that the Lord can lift up.

The Lord said to Peter, "Oh thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt?" but he was just making a statement of fact. An evaluation for the moment. In fact the Savior knew where Peter's faith would take him and who can deny the strength we read about and are inspired by further on. Peter was labeled a rock for a reason. Peter led so many to the Savior's gospel. Peter lifted people up then and still does with his writings. Peter not only traveled and taught among the Jews, he did even more with the "Gentiles" as a free man in the Roman Empire.

If we liken the scriptures unto us, we'll be able to see that we can and should exercise our faith no matter how goofy the prompting is to us. Each of us has a life to live. Each of us is here to help another and to make a difference. All roads are a little different but can get to the same place.

We, like Peter, might "check it out" so to speak and walk for a little bit and then get bombarded by the storm. It might really worry us to the point that we think we can't make it.

But as He always will, when we cry out for Jesus Christ to save us, He will.

And not only will he save us when we make the effort to turn to Him . . .

He will calm the storm.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of the that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." (Alma 36:3)