Conversations with our Father

Many years ago, while serving as a missionary, I developed a deep love for the scriptures and learned the value of starting my day by reading the scriptures every day. It was pretty easy to read every day because it was part of our daily routine as missionaries. When I came home from my mission I found that it was harder to read every day when my day was full of other non-missionary experiences. I'm afraid I was pretty sporadic in my reading and my resolve to read every day for the rest of my life seemed to be falling by the wayside. I'd been home about a month when I rode to General Conference with my Dad. It was the Conference when Harold B. Lee was sustained as the President of the Church. I was sitting in the tabernacle when President Lee said something that had a great influence on me. He shared some things that he was taught by the Spirit early one morning when he was studying the scriptures and pondering. I remember the way the Spirit touched me and told me that I was hearing the answer to my dilemma. So when I got home I resolutely set my alarm a half an hour earlier than I had ever gotten up so I could study the scriptures every day. I'd do some situps and take a shower to wake up then carefully read the Book of Mormon and made notes of what I learned, following some counsel my mission president had given us about studying the scriptures.

That was a long time ago and the Lord has blessed me greatly when I have lived up to this resolve to study the scriptures every day. Recently I have felt more strongly the truth of the axiom that Elder Robert D. Hales shared in a recent Conference address. He said that when we want to talk to Heavenly Father we should pray and when we wanted Him to talk to us we should read the scriptures. Recently I have felt again as I have read the scriptures that Heavenly Father was talking to me personally. What a blessing to have our Father, the great Almighty, speak directly with us as we read His words and to have the Spirit help us to see how they apply in our lives and to strengthen us by reading them.

I talked to all of the temple holders in our ward recently when we issued new temple recommends to them. Because this was simply a re-issuing of a recommend they already held I didn't need to ask all of the Temple Recommend questions so I simply asked if they were still worthy to have this recommend. All of them said they were. During this time a woman asked if she could meet with me privately after our brief interview. She said she felt concerned after our interview that maybe she had not been completely truthful with me. She said she yelled a lot in their home and was not as loving of a wife and mother as she felt she should be. I asked her about her daily prayers and if she read the scriptures daily. She said her prayers weren't as consistant as they could be and that she never read the scriptures. I asked her if she was willing to take counsel and if she would do what I was going to ask her to do. She said she would follow my counsel. I challenged her to pray every day, to read the scriptures every day, and to start a scripture journal where she would write down what the Spirit taught her as she read. She said she would do it. I asked her to come back in a month and to bring her scriptures and her scripture journal and to share with me what she had been taught. A month passed and we met again. She was amazed at what had happened to her. In addition she had found a paper her seminary teacher had given to them when she challenged them to read the scriptures the rest of her life. This woman wondered why she had ever stopped and was very grateful that I had helped her start once again. Oh things weren't perfect at home but she acknowledged that a great change had taken place in herself because she was reading from the scriptures every day.

I hope all of us can have this blessing in our lives. I know this doesn't mean a half an hour early for everyone. When I was so busy when I went to WSU the best I could do was to read a verse or two just before I went to bed each night. I think all of us could read at least a verse of scripture every day.

Love Dad

A sweet experience

We had a sweet experience today being with Matthew and Nicole when Matthew blessed Rylin. He was a little nervous. He has given a few priesthood blessings but this was his first experience giving a blessing to a baby. Matthew did a nice job. Among other things he blessed Rylin that she would be a good friend and would have a positive influence on her friends. It was a sweet experience which touched all of us.

Many youth and adults asked me during our time at Church if I was Matt May's dad. And many told me how much they enjoyed having Matthew and Nicole in their ward. It made me grateful for this wonderful Church we belong to that continues to bless the lives of our children even though they live far away from us. I am grateful for the Church callings that my children have that give them a chance to serve and to grow in the gospel. I am growing in the gospel myself and often learn things I wish I could find a way to share with my family. But if I were to try to share everything I learn or feel I'm afraid I'd sound preachy. But as long as my children attend Church and serve in it they will also be learning the important lessons that Heavenly Father wants to teach them. I'm grateful for that.

I pray every day that I and my family--my children, and my grandchildren will have the experiences that will draw us closer to our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for the ways that these prayers are answered.

I am the true vine

I have been in a "funk" for the last few days and have not been able to figure out why. Life has its ups and downs. Sometimes we feel up and sometimes we feel down. I woke up this morning to Jackie's alarm at 4:30. She had to be to work at 5:00 am. I couldn't go back to sleep so I got up to read. I thought I'd like to be taught so I randomly opened the New Testament and found myself in John 15 where Jesus says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches" (Jn 15:5). I recently started reading Preach My Gospel. We have been encouraged to read it by our Stake leaders. President Wamsley taught us recently in a ward counsel meeting that it was the "Fifth standard work." So I have been reading it sometimes in the morning. In one of the early chapters it asks the missionaries to read John 15:1-5 to learn how the Lord expects them to work hand in hand with him. (PMG, 5)

I read John 15 then decided I'd look at the rest of what the Savior taught at this last teaching opportunity with His disciples and see what he had to say that would help me to feel more joy in my life. (Don't misunderstand--I'm not seriously depressed. I'm just feeling that I'm missing something. I'm just kind of in a "funk.") So I wrote as a heading, "looking for keys to joy in Him."

Here is what I noticed. (this is a shortened list)

John 12:36 Believe in the light (Jesus & his teachings) to become children of the light
John 13:2-17 He washed the disciples' feet
John 13:14 Ye ought to wash one another's feet. [I was taught once that this was considered one of the most degrading jobs that anyone could do. Which helps us to understand Peter's reaction. In serving one another we must be willing to do things we would not normally want to do.]
John 13:17 Happy are ye if ye do these things.
John 13:34 A new commandment -- love one another as I have loved you.
John 14:6 Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We come to the Father by Him.
John 14:15 If ye love me keep my commandments.
John 14:21 If you have my commandments and keep them it shows you love Me and I will love you and you'll by loved of our Father.
John 14:23 Heavenly Father & Jesus will come to us and abide in us.
John 14:27 Peace comes from Christ
John 15:2-5 Jesus is the vine. We're the branches. We must bear fruit.
John 15:6-7 We must abide in Him.
John 15:10 If we keep His commandments we will abide in His love.
John 15:11 These things were spoken that your joy may be full.
John 15:12 Love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:13 Lay down your life (sacrifice) for your friends.
John 15:18-21 The world will hate you.
John 15:26-27 The Comforter will testify of me. Ye shall also bear witness of me.
John 16:23 Ask the Father in my name & it will be given you.
John 16:33 In me ye might have peace. I have overcome the world.

From these verses I made the following list of things that will lead to peace and joy.

* We must believe in Christ and abide in Him.
We must always remember Him and connect with Him.
Prayer and scripture study are important ways to do this.
*We must keep His commandments and follow the Spirit's promptings.
(Like Him--He always did/said what Father gave Him to do/say.)
*We must love one another.
Serve one another.
Sacrifice for one another.
*We must pray for the strength/guidance/help to do these things.
*We must stand true even when it is hard.
Must be willing to stand with Him even if we are persecuted.
*We must testify of Him.

And if we do these things ...
* We will be happy
* We will have joy
* We will feel peace
* We will be led
* Heavenly Father and Jesus will abide with us
* We will feel their love

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17)

"My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36)

It's interesting how things we read in different places sometimes go together. I've been studying the New Testament and was struck recently by Jesus' response to Pilate when he asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews. Jesus responded, "My kingdom is not of this world." I thought of how the world presses in on us and our challenge to keep an eternal perspective. Then this morning I was reveiwing some comments of Michael Wilcox on the Wilderness experience of the children of Israel when Moses led them out of Egypt. I include it below, along with a picture I took of King Tut's death mask in the Cairo museum in 1999.

Brother Wilcox wrote:

Time after time while traveling in the wilderness, the children of Israel longed to go back to Egypt. "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely;" they cried, "the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes" (Numbers 11:5-6). While reading these words, I cannot help but be impressed with Moses' attitude in contrast. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daugh­ter; Choosing rather to suffer ailliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt … By faith he for­sook Egypt" (Hebrews 11:24-27).

I have walked amidst the grandeur of Egyptian palaces and tem­ples, and spent hours gazing on the wonderful treasures of the Pharaohs on display in Cairo. Often in front of Tutenkamen's golden coffins, I read of Moses's decision, and my appreciation for this great prophet deepens. In light of his sacrifice, my own temptations with worldly riches and comforts seem trivial. He sought higher treasures, and discovered the wealth of the soul.

Matthew 26:36 Jesus came to Gethsemane

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane"
These are just a few words--just a few words, but what an image they portray.

Mom bought me a new set of scriptures for Christmas so I've been going through the New Testament and marking the new set. I've been looking at my current set of scriptures and have transferred some of the markings/notes. I've written in a few JST changes that aren't in the footnotes. I've prayed to be taught by the Spirit.

This morning I started working on Matthew 26. Early in the chapter Jesus told his disciples he would be betrayed and crucified in two days (v. 2). Of course they had no idea what he was talking about. Then we read of Mary anointing Jesus with expensive ointment. Verse 8 says the disciples were indignant, saying it was wasteful to use such expensive ointment in such a way. Then it says that Judas met with the High Priests to make a deal with them to betray Jesus into their hands (v. 14-15). Other Gospel writers help us see the connection between these two events. John identifies Judas as the one who made the comment about the wasteful use of the ointment. John wrily explains that Judas couldn't care less about the poor but "was a theif and had the bag," money bag that is. Apparently Judas kept track of their money--an interesting job for Jesus to give him, and sometimes he dipped into the funds. John goes on to say that it was because Judas who was rebuked by Jesus when he said they would always have poor to help He wouldn't always be with them. then John also writes that Judas went to the High Priests to betray Jesus. Mark helps us see the connection between these two events. Mark 14:10 says Judas met with the High Priests to betray Jesus. Then the JST adds a change that didn't make it into the footnotes: "for he turned away from him, and was offended because of his words." This helps us understand the connection between Jesus' rebuke of Judas and Judas betraying the Savior (see also Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 67). Judas was offended. We're reminded of a recent talk by Elder Bednar about the choice we have to be offended or not. Sometimes we need to be rebuked by the Savior or one of His representatives. It takes spiritual "guts" to take it and to learn from it and to move forward rather than backward.

Then the Last Supper. Judas leaves (John 13:21-30) and Jesus institutes the sacrament. The JST adds an important principle, that the emblems don't actually become the body and blood of the Savior but are in "remembrance" of His indescribable sacrifice. Peter vows to always be loyal to Jesus. Jesus foretells Peter's denials. Then they go to Gethsemane.

What a wonderful treasure these verses are! How they made it down to us through 2,000 years when the devil would have gladly erased them is a miracle! Each word carries so much meaning and evokes deep feelings of reverence, awe, and gratitude. I don't think I'll say much about them. They need to be read quietly, reverently, and with a prayer in our heart to understand them; to somehow begin to fathom what happened here when the Savior of the world did what only He could do in this most important moment in time. I bear witness that these words are true! I'm grateful for the Savior's gift of the Atonement. Words can't say how I feel.

I'm grateful we're studying the New Testament this year. I'm grateful for the opportunity to drink daily from its pages. I'm grateful to be taught and uplifted by the Spirit as I do so.

Matthew 25:12 "I know you not"

The JST of Matthew 25:12 (this one didn't make it into the footnote*) changes the last four words of verse 12 from "I know you not" to "Ye know me not." The same thing happened in Matthew 7:23 where the King James reads "I never knew you" and the JST changes it to "Ye never knew me"(didn't make it into the footnote either). Both verses are related to the final judgment. Here in Matthew 25 it is the Lord's answer to the ill prepared five foolish virgins who ask Him to open the door and let them in.

We're reminded of the Savior's prayer in John 17:3, "This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." Apparently it isn't a "nice" thing to come to know the Lord but it is essential. Actually in Mosiah 26:25-27 the Savior uses both phrases--"they never knew me" and "I never knew them" in explaining why some are sent to their painful reward ("everlasting fire") on the judgment day.

Here in Matthew 25 it is part of the punch line of the parable of the ten virgins, followed by the Lord's command to "watch" because we don't know how soon He will come. But of course our need to "know" the Lord has current as well as future value. Here in this parable it teaches us something about the oil in the young women's lamps. Back in verse 8 the foolish virgins ask the wise to share their oil because their lamps "are going out" (see footnote). This reminds us of those verses that predict a day, prior to the Savior's coming, when "men's hearts will fail them" (D&C 45:26; 88:91; Luke 21:26). Likely these verses are talking about something other than cardiac arrest. The D&C 88 verse and Luke 21 tie this problem with fear.

So we have the foolish virgins who have had their eye and heart on other activities (perhaps trying to have one foot on the narrow path and one foot in the Great & Spacious building) than coming unto Christ and coming to know Him. The wise virgins on the other hand have done those things so they can come to know Him. What are those things? I think they include prayer and scripture reading (see D&C 33:16-18). Actually that's probably another post, but 1 John 2:3-6 and Mosiah 5:12-13 mention two other important things.

papa may

* Many JST changes, most of them insignificant, were not included in the LDS version of the King James Bible. Because of space limitations they couldn't include all of them so they had to decide which ones to include and which to leave out. There are books available that have every change. Occasionally you find changes that seem significant that were not included. I have written many of these in my Bible. rm