During a lesson last week in Priesthood meeting the teacher read a passage from the Lorenzo Snow manual about losing the Holy Ghost every time we sin. This brought a thought to me: "If that is true, then I cannot have the Holy Ghost until I'm perfect!"
I brought that up, and pushed it a little, because it runs so counter to the "church culture." The men in the room, all older than me, who have been bishops and leaders in the Church since before I was born, all tried to correct me, "You don't have to be perfect, only trying." They told me.
"But if I make another mistake, then I will lose the Spirit -- no matter how hard I try! I'm going to make a mistake, and then what...?" I'm still stuck in a dilemma. They became exasperated because I wasn't "getting it" that all I had to do was to be willing to obey God so even if I made mistakes, as long as I was trying the Lord would make up for what I lacked.
Their argument to me is "intent." The world teaches us that as long as our intentions are good we are on the path of righteousness. In other words, as long as I intend to do good I can have the Holy Ghost as my guide. This is a most damnable doctrine! It definitely counts as the "wicked traditions of our fathers!" This is a great force for evil in the world. Intention is NOT the same as doing the will of the Lord. Being good and doing right is not at all about our intentions. So much sin in this world is done in the name of "good intentions." The proverb states "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The scriptures also tell us that "natural man is an enemy to God." (Mosiah 3:19) The heresy of good intentions being equivalent to doing good comes because of not understanding the scriptural meaning of the word.
"Good" is the will of God. I can ONLY be "good" if I am doing the will of God.
"Righteous" is continually doing God's will. A "righteous man" is one who has submitted his will to the will of God.
"Wicked" means NOT doing the will of God, no matter how good my intentions are.
"Evil" is purposely going against the will of God.
"Sin" is whenever I do anything I want to do instead of what God wants me to do, or choosing wickedness, either by commission or omission.
The Scriptures do not say that "good intentions" are sufficient. They never say it's OK to have a little wickedness, "because, after all, nobody's perfect." Rather the prophets use absolute words such as "all," "spotless," "pure," "unspotted," and "every whit" to indicate our need to become perfect.
"...he dwelleth not in unholy temples..." (Mosiah 2:37)
"...a righteous people, without spot..." (D&C 38:31)
"...keep himself unspotted from the world..." (James 1:27)
"...keep thyself unspotted from the world..." (D&C 59:9)
"...clean every whit:" (John 13:10)
"...cleansed every whit from his iniquity" (3 Nephi 8:1)
"...they shall be spotless before me..." (D&C 61:34)
"...whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white..." (Alma 5:24)
"...being pure and spotless before God..." (Alma 13:12)
"...cleanse from all unrighteousness" (Alma 7:14)
"...repent of all our sins..." (Alma 24:11)
"...but cross yourself in all these things..." (Alma 39:9)
"...repent of all your sins and iniquities..." (Mormon 7:5)
"...they truly repented of all their sins..." (Moroni 6:2)
Is there any room here for, "I sin, but it's OK because my intentions are good?" No! All intentions must be changed to become obedient to the word of God. But, how can we even know the will of God without the Holy Ghost? We're still in a conundrum.
I was discussing this dilemma with my brother, Chas, who hit upon an answer: You can be a sinner, and continually be repentant and be forgiven so you can still have the Holy Ghost. God practices "instant forgiveness!" As soon as I repent, I can be forgiven and receive the Spirit again (caveat: rebellion is harder, and may take longer). This is why the ordinances of the Priesthood are so important. Baptism is the covenant whereby we can be washed clean and receive the Holy Ghost. Thus, the gift of the Holy Ghost is given after baptism.
The is the essential understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He suffered so that I could overcome my "natural man" and change my "good intentions" to have the Holy Ghost and receive the word of God. I picture it like being on the "straight and narrow path" that leads to God. Baptism puts me on the path. As long as I'm on the path by doing what God wants me to do, I will have the Holy Ghost to guide me. The Holy Ghost gives me the word of God, and is the "iron rod." If I let go, or disobey even once, and veer off the path, I will lose the Spirit, which tells me that I am in need of repentance so I can repent, get back on the path, obeying every word of God, and can receive the Holy Ghost. This is why the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost is a command: "Receive the Holy Ghost." It's something we do as we do ONLY the will of God, living continually "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
We know we have repented of all sin when we "have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2) This is when we are on the path to God. We never veer off the path because our will is subject to the will of God, and we can have the Holy Ghost with us always! Our "Good intentions" are replaced by the will of God.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Highest Goal
It is impossible for a human being to know the possibilities without being taught. We cannot know what we can achieve unless we are shown. Therefore, we cannot make any goals on our own. Our ability to achieve is limited by our vision. Our vision is limited by what we know. We only know what we are taught, and what we experience. In the 19th Century it was inconceivable for a man to run faster than a 4-minute mile so nobody did it. Once one person did it, it became common. They didn't know they could until someone did it.
We will achieve whatever goal we have in our minds and hearts. We don't know what we don't know so we can only achieve what we know. What we know depends on where we get our information.
Possibilities
The world teaches certain goals -- money, power, ease of life, and so forth. "Success" is always measured in terms of wealth. Indeed, the very term "successful" implies an abundance of money, goods, and property.
Worldly religions teach loftier goals such as ethics, love, peace, service and morality. Indeed, most religions put honor above money or the things of the world.
There is only one place in the world one can go to receive the ultimate goal; only the Church of Jesus Christ can give people the highest goal -- EXALTATION! Without learning about this goal nobody will know it is possible, and thus will necessarily fall short.
Choosing less
It is surprising to me that so many who are given a chance to know the highest achievement potential of man would choose a lower state. Many people in the Church of Jesus Christ desire lesser goals, assuming the loftiest goal given to them by their Father in Heaven is out of their reach. They desire Celestial Glory, but not to be a leader, only a servant. It is not the Lord that limits them, but rather their own desires.
This is found in all areas of life. Last week I had a young woman in my office who is on multiple medications because she suffers in constant pain, with fatigue, and weakness. I explained to her that I could show her how to be pain-free, with plenty of energy, and no medications, but she can't see it, and won't believe it. She has been given a lower goal of an occasional hour of relief with the medications and cannot let go of them for the lofty goal of a permanent cure. She doesn't see the possibility, and cannot put her trust in me that I do know.
She represents those who just don't believe, but there are other reasons for choosing lesser goals:
1. Some choose a lesser goal without knowing it by assuming they are automatically worthy, or prepared, to receive the highest of gifts without actually treading the path that leads to it. Somehow knowing about it seems to be enough.
2. Others cannot even begin to think of themselves in such a lofty estate, assuming it is only for prophets, apostles, and other "great men."
3. Still others turn away from the highest because they prefer immediate gratification of their worldly desires.
4. Many are so egotistical that they choose to be homeless, knowing that they could have a mansion given to them if they would just let go of their pride.
5. Laziness accounts for a large number of those who choose lower goals. It's just too much trouble to be a leader.
All of these have the opportunity to achieve the greatest glory because they know of it, but choose to be less, to live in a smaller mansion.
Aiming HIGH
Since we cannot understand what we haven't experienced, we must take the goal of Eternal Life on faith. We can learn about it mentally, but nevertheless, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) We cannot know exactly what our goal is because we cannot see it, hear it, nor feel it. We are given only vague descriptions, and we are expected to follow Jesus Christ to get there, wherever "there" is.
This is not unusual. If I went back in time only a few hundred years and tried to explain cell phones, televisions, and such everyday gadgets of modern life, I might be stoned as a witch. It is normal for people to be suspicious of things they haven't experienced and cannot understand. Just as my patient couldn't conceive of being pain-free with no medications, we cannot know what Heaven is like.
The ability to aim high is called "faith." This is the ability to put your whole heart into something you cannot even understand. As the Proverb tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) The way to do this is found in the next verse, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6) I take the operative word in this scripture to be "all." Is there any other way? How could there be any other way? How could we know the way? On our own we can't even know, really, what the goal is!
One way
Thus there is only one way to achieve true greatness, and that is by humbly submitting to the will of God. If I view God as my coach who will take me as I am and make me into a "team player" on His team, then I will do as He says. Just as an athlete must submit to the coach in all things, doing everything the coach tells him to do exactly when and how he is told, I would submit to the direction of God in all things, and "perform every word of command with exactness." (Alma 57:21) It is in submission to the will of God in all things that puts me on the path to Eternal Life.
Those in the path of Life are often judged by the goals of the world. A finger is pointed in their direction and they are called accursed because they don't achieve worldly "success;" they aren't wealthy! However, what is not understood is that the goals of the children of Christ are not those of the world; wealth is not an issue. Taking on the goal of Eternal Life means leaving all the short-term goals behind, just like my patient would have to leave her hour of relief with pain medication in order to achieve a pain-free life.
We can achieve only what we believe. We believe what we are taught. What is your goal? What have you been taught?
We will achieve whatever goal we have in our minds and hearts. We don't know what we don't know so we can only achieve what we know. What we know depends on where we get our information.
Possibilities
The world teaches certain goals -- money, power, ease of life, and so forth. "Success" is always measured in terms of wealth. Indeed, the very term "successful" implies an abundance of money, goods, and property.
Worldly religions teach loftier goals such as ethics, love, peace, service and morality. Indeed, most religions put honor above money or the things of the world.
There is only one place in the world one can go to receive the ultimate goal; only the Church of Jesus Christ can give people the highest goal -- EXALTATION! Without learning about this goal nobody will know it is possible, and thus will necessarily fall short.
Choosing less
It is surprising to me that so many who are given a chance to know the highest achievement potential of man would choose a lower state. Many people in the Church of Jesus Christ desire lesser goals, assuming the loftiest goal given to them by their Father in Heaven is out of their reach. They desire Celestial Glory, but not to be a leader, only a servant. It is not the Lord that limits them, but rather their own desires.
This is found in all areas of life. Last week I had a young woman in my office who is on multiple medications because she suffers in constant pain, with fatigue, and weakness. I explained to her that I could show her how to be pain-free, with plenty of energy, and no medications, but she can't see it, and won't believe it. She has been given a lower goal of an occasional hour of relief with the medications and cannot let go of them for the lofty goal of a permanent cure. She doesn't see the possibility, and cannot put her trust in me that I do know.
She represents those who just don't believe, but there are other reasons for choosing lesser goals:
1. Some choose a lesser goal without knowing it by assuming they are automatically worthy, or prepared, to receive the highest of gifts without actually treading the path that leads to it. Somehow knowing about it seems to be enough.
2. Others cannot even begin to think of themselves in such a lofty estate, assuming it is only for prophets, apostles, and other "great men."
3. Still others turn away from the highest because they prefer immediate gratification of their worldly desires.
4. Many are so egotistical that they choose to be homeless, knowing that they could have a mansion given to them if they would just let go of their pride.
5. Laziness accounts for a large number of those who choose lower goals. It's just too much trouble to be a leader.
All of these have the opportunity to achieve the greatest glory because they know of it, but choose to be less, to live in a smaller mansion.
Aiming HIGH
Since we cannot understand what we haven't experienced, we must take the goal of Eternal Life on faith. We can learn about it mentally, but nevertheless, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) We cannot know exactly what our goal is because we cannot see it, hear it, nor feel it. We are given only vague descriptions, and we are expected to follow Jesus Christ to get there, wherever "there" is.
This is not unusual. If I went back in time only a few hundred years and tried to explain cell phones, televisions, and such everyday gadgets of modern life, I might be stoned as a witch. It is normal for people to be suspicious of things they haven't experienced and cannot understand. Just as my patient couldn't conceive of being pain-free with no medications, we cannot know what Heaven is like.
The ability to aim high is called "faith." This is the ability to put your whole heart into something you cannot even understand. As the Proverb tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) The way to do this is found in the next verse, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6) I take the operative word in this scripture to be "all." Is there any other way? How could there be any other way? How could we know the way? On our own we can't even know, really, what the goal is!
One way
Thus there is only one way to achieve true greatness, and that is by humbly submitting to the will of God. If I view God as my coach who will take me as I am and make me into a "team player" on His team, then I will do as He says. Just as an athlete must submit to the coach in all things, doing everything the coach tells him to do exactly when and how he is told, I would submit to the direction of God in all things, and "perform every word of command with exactness." (Alma 57:21) It is in submission to the will of God in all things that puts me on the path to Eternal Life.
Those in the path of Life are often judged by the goals of the world. A finger is pointed in their direction and they are called accursed because they don't achieve worldly "success;" they aren't wealthy! However, what is not understood is that the goals of the children of Christ are not those of the world; wealth is not an issue. Taking on the goal of Eternal Life means leaving all the short-term goals behind, just like my patient would have to leave her hour of relief with pain medication in order to achieve a pain-free life.
We can achieve only what we believe. We believe what we are taught. What is your goal? What have you been taught?
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Beauty and Love
In the late 19th Century Ivan Pavlov did a series of gruesome experiments where he taught dogs to associate food with a bell. He noted that the dogs salivated before the food was actually in their mouths so he would ring a bell every time the food was given. After a period of time he would ring the bell and not give them food, but the dogs still salivated as if they got food. Hearing the ring of the bell became associated with food, and the physiological response was the same.
Yesterday I spent the day on the slopes of the High Sierras with my daughter. As I was talking with her on the ski lift I thought she was so beautiful. She is growing up and becoming a young woman. I love her so much. I realized that there is an association that comes naturally, especially to men, of beauty and love. Charlotte is so beautiful to me because I love her so much, not the other way around.
Because of the association of beauty with love, the physiological response is the same. Women want to be beautiful so that they will be loved; men will love them because they are beautiful. This is how Jim Morrison of The Doors could sing, "Hello, I love you won't you tell me your name." A man can feel loving feelings for a woman he has never met because of the natural and normal brain association of beauty with love. While, on the other hand, he could have the same feelings for a woman he loves no matter how she looks.
Immature love
The "beauty industry" is one of the largest industries in the world. It includes make-up, plastic surgery, aesthetics, health spas, Botox injections, creams, pills, food, clothing, herbs, mud, contacts for eyes, gyms, hormones, and a multitude of gadgets to make people "look and feel younger and more beautiful." These are all designed to bring about the associated feelings of love with beauty.
However, the physiological response isn't really love. Like the dog salivating at the ringing of the bell even though there is no food, the immature man looking at a beautiful woman feels all the physiological responses of love without actually being in love. Seeing beauty and loving it makes the woman into an object, not a person. She is like a beautiful painting that an art lover falls in love with simply because it is beautiful. He wants to possess her, to "have" her because of her beauty.
Thus, a big problem of being a beautiful woman is that a man might "fall in love" with her because of her beauty. The foundation of this sort of relationship is how she looks, and is therefore shaky. Part of Pavlov's experiments included ringing the bell over and over without food to see how long it would take to "extinguish" the response. In the same sense, a man will have the physiological feelings of love only as long as she is beautiful in his eyes. For some it will last only until he finds another beautiful woman, for others it will be until he finds some ugliness in her, some flaw in her personality, character, or physiology. The feelings are dependent on a very unstable perception.
In many cases a man will talk himself out of love by picking out the flaws and "ugliness" of his woman. He will tell her that she is fat, or has some other flaw that explains why he doesn't love her. He may even try to fix these flaws, thinking that will make him love her again, but it doesn't work. Picking out flaws is, by itself, an indication that he doesn't love her, and no amount of changing her looks will bring that back. On the other hand I have known many women who gain weight after marriage in order to try to separate themselves from their husbands. It works both ways. Beauty is not a sound basis for a good relationship.
Mature love
Imature love is the bell -- it produces a response like that of food, but doesn't nourish the body. By contrast, food will always produce the response; it never extinguishes. If a man learns to love a woman for who she is, then she will always be beautiful to him. The tide will turn as he learns to love her heart. The feelings of love will no longer come from how she looks, but rather who she is. Mature love makes her beautiful to him no matter what she looks like in the morning, or how much she weighs. He no longer loves her because she is beautiful, rather she is beautiful because he loves her. This love endures; it is real. It is a firm foundation that cannot be moved so she will continue to be beautiful throughout her life, no matter how fat, wrinkled, or infirm she looks.
Love and beauty are permanently connected in the brain, and the physiological response either way is the same; seeing beauty produces feelings of love, but loving someone causes the same feelings and produces the vision of beauty. The association is the same no matter which side we work from. Immature love such as that found in Hollywood is very unstable, as we can plainly see. However, mature love endures the test of time, and all things. I love Charlotte's heart, I love her being, I love her strengths and her weaknesses, I love what she is inside, I love who she is, and because of that she is incredibly beautiful to me -- and she always will be.
Yesterday I spent the day on the slopes of the High Sierras with my daughter. As I was talking with her on the ski lift I thought she was so beautiful. She is growing up and becoming a young woman. I love her so much. I realized that there is an association that comes naturally, especially to men, of beauty and love. Charlotte is so beautiful to me because I love her so much, not the other way around.
Because of the association of beauty with love, the physiological response is the same. Women want to be beautiful so that they will be loved; men will love them because they are beautiful. This is how Jim Morrison of The Doors could sing, "Hello, I love you won't you tell me your name." A man can feel loving feelings for a woman he has never met because of the natural and normal brain association of beauty with love. While, on the other hand, he could have the same feelings for a woman he loves no matter how she looks.
Immature love
The "beauty industry" is one of the largest industries in the world. It includes make-up, plastic surgery, aesthetics, health spas, Botox injections, creams, pills, food, clothing, herbs, mud, contacts for eyes, gyms, hormones, and a multitude of gadgets to make people "look and feel younger and more beautiful." These are all designed to bring about the associated feelings of love with beauty.
However, the physiological response isn't really love. Like the dog salivating at the ringing of the bell even though there is no food, the immature man looking at a beautiful woman feels all the physiological responses of love without actually being in love. Seeing beauty and loving it makes the woman into an object, not a person. She is like a beautiful painting that an art lover falls in love with simply because it is beautiful. He wants to possess her, to "have" her because of her beauty.
Thus, a big problem of being a beautiful woman is that a man might "fall in love" with her because of her beauty. The foundation of this sort of relationship is how she looks, and is therefore shaky. Part of Pavlov's experiments included ringing the bell over and over without food to see how long it would take to "extinguish" the response. In the same sense, a man will have the physiological feelings of love only as long as she is beautiful in his eyes. For some it will last only until he finds another beautiful woman, for others it will be until he finds some ugliness in her, some flaw in her personality, character, or physiology. The feelings are dependent on a very unstable perception.
In many cases a man will talk himself out of love by picking out the flaws and "ugliness" of his woman. He will tell her that she is fat, or has some other flaw that explains why he doesn't love her. He may even try to fix these flaws, thinking that will make him love her again, but it doesn't work. Picking out flaws is, by itself, an indication that he doesn't love her, and no amount of changing her looks will bring that back. On the other hand I have known many women who gain weight after marriage in order to try to separate themselves from their husbands. It works both ways. Beauty is not a sound basis for a good relationship.
Mature love
Imature love is the bell -- it produces a response like that of food, but doesn't nourish the body. By contrast, food will always produce the response; it never extinguishes. If a man learns to love a woman for who she is, then she will always be beautiful to him. The tide will turn as he learns to love her heart. The feelings of love will no longer come from how she looks, but rather who she is. Mature love makes her beautiful to him no matter what she looks like in the morning, or how much she weighs. He no longer loves her because she is beautiful, rather she is beautiful because he loves her. This love endures; it is real. It is a firm foundation that cannot be moved so she will continue to be beautiful throughout her life, no matter how fat, wrinkled, or infirm she looks.
Love and beauty are permanently connected in the brain, and the physiological response either way is the same; seeing beauty produces feelings of love, but loving someone causes the same feelings and produces the vision of beauty. The association is the same no matter which side we work from. Immature love such as that found in Hollywood is very unstable, as we can plainly see. However, mature love endures the test of time, and all things. I love Charlotte's heart, I love her being, I love her strengths and her weaknesses, I love what she is inside, I love who she is, and because of that she is incredibly beautiful to me -- and she always will be.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Pray ALWAYS
Speaking of the miraculous preservation of every one of the "2000 stripling warriors" Helaman writes, "...they do put their trust in God continually." (Alma 57:27) The word "continually" strikes me as the operative word in this phrase. I am considering this topic of being guided by the Spirit in all things, and I find so many examples and injunctions in the Scriptures that it surprises me that this could be new to me. I remember reading the words of the Lord in Luke regarding preparing for the Second Coming, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy..." (Luke 21:36) I thought this was some sort of hyperbole, that it would not be possible to "Pray always!" However, now I'm beginning to think this is a commandment that I must learn how to do.
"...be watchful unto prayer continually..." (Alma 34:39)
"...to keep them continually watchful unto prayer..." (Moroni 6:4)
"...men ought always to pray, and not to faint." (Luke 18:1)
"...ye must pray always, and not faint..." (2 Nephi 32:9)
"Pray always..." (D&C 88:126)
"...men ought always to pray and not to faint..." (D&C 101:81)
"...let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly..." (D&C 121:45)
"...bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
"Look unto me in every thought..." (D&C 6:36)
"...treasure up in your minds continually the words of life..." (D&C 84:85)
"...be constant unto me..." (Reverently and Meekly Now)
"...we will give ourselves continually to prayer..." (Acts 6:4)
It is a commandment to pray always. There is no way around all of the Scriptures that tell us to pray always, continually, constantly, and unceasingly. I grew up with the tradition of separation of my "religious life" from my "secular life." This is one of the "wicked traditions of my fathers" and is found generally in the Church. I hear it all the time from other members, that we should keep our religion out of our workplace, for example. In reality, though, there can be no separation, because either we give our whole heart to God, or we have nothing. The road to God is straight, and narrow. There is no other way. The road to hell is wide and varied-- it is every other path that is not outlined by Christ. I now recognize that I have been keeping a foot in the world as I delude myself into thinking that I am on the path to God because I keep the letter of the law, like a Pharisee, but I have missed the Spirit entirely.
Distinguish good from evil
I will repent. I am beginning to understand how to keep a prayer in my heart at all times. As I go about my day, I am thinking various things. How do I know if something is of God? Mormon tells us that we must judge good from evil, "For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night." (Moroni 7:15) I know the fruit of the Spirit as explained by Paul, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance..." (Galatians 5:22-23) When I feel peace and joy it is of God. However, when I feel separation, guilt, depression, worry, doubt, or fear I can know it is of the devil. This test can be applied to every thought of my mind and heart. If I always seek those things that are virtuous, and never dwell on the evil, then I can always have a prayer in my heart.
"More purpose in prayer"
Another essential part of constant prayer is purpose. Those who pray "to be heard of men" do not pray with real intent. "He [that] shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such." (Moroni 7:9) "Real intent" is connecting with God in an obedient way. It is praying with the intent that whatever God tells me to do, I will do, no matter how hard it seems. Submission to the will of God is a pre-requisite to receiving answers to prayers. If the prayer is for some other reason than to submit to the will of God, it is not real. Thus, the attempt to pray always without obeying "every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God" is vain and useless.
As I learn to understand the language of prayer and am able to feel the Spirit of the Lord I can be more and more obedient to His word. If I don't understand a command, I can't obey it. However, if I understand and obey, I can be a servant of the Lord. And, as I grow in this knowledge and become a seasoned warrior, obeying every word of command with exactness, then "Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 304). I will be sent from the bow of God and fly straight and true to the mark He intends to hit.
I'm so excited to learn how to "pray always" so I can obey "every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." I'm going to practice listening and obeying every minute until every thought and every action comes into alignment with the will of the Almighty. Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) "Lord, I would follow thee!"
"...be watchful unto prayer continually..." (Alma 34:39)
"...to keep them continually watchful unto prayer..." (Moroni 6:4)
"...men ought always to pray, and not to faint." (Luke 18:1)
"...ye must pray always, and not faint..." (2 Nephi 32:9)
"Pray always..." (D&C 88:126)
"...men ought always to pray and not to faint..." (D&C 101:81)
"...let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly..." (D&C 121:45)
"...bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
"Look unto me in every thought..." (D&C 6:36)
"...treasure up in your minds continually the words of life..." (D&C 84:85)
"...be constant unto me..." (Reverently and Meekly Now)
"...we will give ourselves continually to prayer..." (Acts 6:4)
It is a commandment to pray always. There is no way around all of the Scriptures that tell us to pray always, continually, constantly, and unceasingly. I grew up with the tradition of separation of my "religious life" from my "secular life." This is one of the "wicked traditions of my fathers" and is found generally in the Church. I hear it all the time from other members, that we should keep our religion out of our workplace, for example. In reality, though, there can be no separation, because either we give our whole heart to God, or we have nothing. The road to God is straight, and narrow. There is no other way. The road to hell is wide and varied-- it is every other path that is not outlined by Christ. I now recognize that I have been keeping a foot in the world as I delude myself into thinking that I am on the path to God because I keep the letter of the law, like a Pharisee, but I have missed the Spirit entirely.
Distinguish good from evil
I will repent. I am beginning to understand how to keep a prayer in my heart at all times. As I go about my day, I am thinking various things. How do I know if something is of God? Mormon tells us that we must judge good from evil, "For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night." (Moroni 7:15) I know the fruit of the Spirit as explained by Paul, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance..." (Galatians 5:22-23) When I feel peace and joy it is of God. However, when I feel separation, guilt, depression, worry, doubt, or fear I can know it is of the devil. This test can be applied to every thought of my mind and heart. If I always seek those things that are virtuous, and never dwell on the evil, then I can always have a prayer in my heart.
"More purpose in prayer"
Another essential part of constant prayer is purpose. Those who pray "to be heard of men" do not pray with real intent. "He [that] shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such." (Moroni 7:9) "Real intent" is connecting with God in an obedient way. It is praying with the intent that whatever God tells me to do, I will do, no matter how hard it seems. Submission to the will of God is a pre-requisite to receiving answers to prayers. If the prayer is for some other reason than to submit to the will of God, it is not real. Thus, the attempt to pray always without obeying "every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God" is vain and useless.
As I learn to understand the language of prayer and am able to feel the Spirit of the Lord I can be more and more obedient to His word. If I don't understand a command, I can't obey it. However, if I understand and obey, I can be a servant of the Lord. And, as I grow in this knowledge and become a seasoned warrior, obeying every word of command with exactness, then "Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 304). I will be sent from the bow of God and fly straight and true to the mark He intends to hit.
I'm so excited to learn how to "pray always" so I can obey "every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." I'm going to practice listening and obeying every minute until every thought and every action comes into alignment with the will of the Almighty. Jesus said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) "Lord, I would follow thee!"
Hearts that know and feel
In the Book of Mormon, Amulek testifies to the people who gathered to hear that he had a hard heart that prevented him from knowing the things of God: "I did harden my heart, for 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, in the wickedness of my heart..." (Alma 10:6) It seems that the knowledge of the mind is not what allows people to come to know God, but rather the knowledge from the heart.
Joseph Smith explained that the early Saints had the sure witness in their hearts that allowed them to withstand all of the persecutions heaped upon them. I have often wondered how one would have such knowledge, and such a heart.
Artificial hearts
Because I have always been an intellectual person I have sought knowledge in my mind. This caused me to have a heart that doesn't know and feel. Even though I have tried very hard to do all of the things that would constitute a heart that knows and feels, but I now realize that what I had was a hard heart that was pretending to be real by going through the motions. The biggest difference is the motivation, I could not act out of love so I would act to appear to care, giving birthday cards, greeting with a kiss, asking, "how are you?" and other such formalities.
A hardened heart is not real because there is no love in it. Those who do not know the Lord but still desire a heart give themselves an artificial heart. An artificial heart is hard, has no feeling, doesn't listen, doesn't care, and functions well only as a pump. In the common vernacular they're called "bleeding hearts." The bleeding heart belongs to one who would take away all pain, problems, hardships and suffering. They want a large entity, such as a government to provide for the "poor," prevent single parenthood, stop animal abuse, take children away from ignorant parents, and generally make laws preventing mistakes, ignorance, and hardship. This is exactly the plan that Satan presented to God's children. It prevents growth, understanding, compassion, and love. At it's very core an artificial heart is selfish, wanting to prevent evil instead of growing up to resist it.
A hard heart does not have knowledge because it is not obedient to truth, "And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; (Alma 12:10) Thus, the artificial heart has neither knowledge nor compassion.
Real hearts
On the other hand, the heart of God is love. Love is a gift from God to those who have soft hearts. Love is sacrificing for the growth of others. It is giving of yourself, you time, talents, means, and energy to help others to learn, grow, and improve. People need to be taught. We start out completely ignorant and selfish, which cause pain and suffering to ourselves and others. Moreover, we are born deaf, dumb, and blind so we cannot learn anything on our own. Where there is no teacher who knows, there is no growth, because it is just as Jesus said, "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14) A real heart has compassion for the suffering of others because of shared experience. The real heart knows.
Hearts that know
Hearts that know are those who have grown enough to make a connection with God. They are educated hearts that know when something is important to experience, even if it's hardship, pain, and suffering -- and when suffering can be prevented and relieved. They know that sorrow is essential for knowledge, as Eve told Adam, "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient." (Moses 5:11)
This kind of heart comes from a desire to know God, and requires a soft heart, as explained by Nephi: "I, Nephi... having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe..." (1 Nephi 2:16)
Obedience is the essential ingredient to having a knowing heart. Hearts that know have a connection to holy things. They understand the language of the Spirit and listen to every word. When they hear the word of God, they immediately obey. This is a soft heart. "He that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full." (Alma 12:10) A soft heart brings more and more knowledge.
Hearts that feel
They also feel all of the spectrum of feelings from the lowest depression to the highest joy. Because their hearts are soft, meaning they are "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him..." (Mosiah 3:19) Because they are willing to suffer pain, they are also eligible to feel the height of joy. The contrast is essential because "there is an opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11) Without accepting suffering, we cannot experience happiness.
Hearts that feel have been through suffering, and come out on the other side with understanding. The soft heart is one that will allow suffering in order to have compassion -- to "suffer with" others and connect with them. They love. They understand the feelings of others because they have been there. Then on the other side, because they experience joy they can help others to feel the same. The hearts that feel can lift the wounded and weary soul because they know both. They can teach others to feel joy in sorrow, patience in suffering, and happiness in hardship.
Gifted hearts
Hearts that know and feel are gifts given from God to those who prepare themselves to receive it. As Nephi prayed and was visited of the Lord, prayer is an essential element. Another is not to murmur, complain, or resist hardship, pain and suffering. We must be "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us]." (Mosiah 3:19) A third is obedience. Once we have the heart of Nephi who said, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..." (1 Nephi 3:7) then we know we are on the path to receiving the gift of a knowing and feeling heart.
Joseph Smith explained that the early Saints had the sure witness in their hearts that allowed them to withstand all of the persecutions heaped upon them. I have often wondered how one would have such knowledge, and such a heart.
Artificial hearts
Because I have always been an intellectual person I have sought knowledge in my mind. This caused me to have a heart that doesn't know and feel. Even though I have tried very hard to do all of the things that would constitute a heart that knows and feels, but I now realize that what I had was a hard heart that was pretending to be real by going through the motions. The biggest difference is the motivation, I could not act out of love so I would act to appear to care, giving birthday cards, greeting with a kiss, asking, "how are you?" and other such formalities.
A hardened heart is not real because there is no love in it. Those who do not know the Lord but still desire a heart give themselves an artificial heart. An artificial heart is hard, has no feeling, doesn't listen, doesn't care, and functions well only as a pump. In the common vernacular they're called "bleeding hearts." The bleeding heart belongs to one who would take away all pain, problems, hardships and suffering. They want a large entity, such as a government to provide for the "poor," prevent single parenthood, stop animal abuse, take children away from ignorant parents, and generally make laws preventing mistakes, ignorance, and hardship. This is exactly the plan that Satan presented to God's children. It prevents growth, understanding, compassion, and love. At it's very core an artificial heart is selfish, wanting to prevent evil instead of growing up to resist it.
A hard heart does not have knowledge because it is not obedient to truth, "And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; (Alma 12:10) Thus, the artificial heart has neither knowledge nor compassion.
Real hearts
On the other hand, the heart of God is love. Love is a gift from God to those who have soft hearts. Love is sacrificing for the growth of others. It is giving of yourself, you time, talents, means, and energy to help others to learn, grow, and improve. People need to be taught. We start out completely ignorant and selfish, which cause pain and suffering to ourselves and others. Moreover, we are born deaf, dumb, and blind so we cannot learn anything on our own. Where there is no teacher who knows, there is no growth, because it is just as Jesus said, "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14) A real heart has compassion for the suffering of others because of shared experience. The real heart knows.
Hearts that know
Hearts that know are those who have grown enough to make a connection with God. They are educated hearts that know when something is important to experience, even if it's hardship, pain, and suffering -- and when suffering can be prevented and relieved. They know that sorrow is essential for knowledge, as Eve told Adam, "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient." (Moses 5:11)
This kind of heart comes from a desire to know God, and requires a soft heart, as explained by Nephi: "I, Nephi... having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe..." (1 Nephi 2:16)
Obedience is the essential ingredient to having a knowing heart. Hearts that know have a connection to holy things. They understand the language of the Spirit and listen to every word. When they hear the word of God, they immediately obey. This is a soft heart. "He that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full." (Alma 12:10) A soft heart brings more and more knowledge.
Hearts that feel
They also feel all of the spectrum of feelings from the lowest depression to the highest joy. Because their hearts are soft, meaning they are "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him..." (Mosiah 3:19) Because they are willing to suffer pain, they are also eligible to feel the height of joy. The contrast is essential because "there is an opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11) Without accepting suffering, we cannot experience happiness.
Hearts that feel have been through suffering, and come out on the other side with understanding. The soft heart is one that will allow suffering in order to have compassion -- to "suffer with" others and connect with them. They love. They understand the feelings of others because they have been there. Then on the other side, because they experience joy they can help others to feel the same. The hearts that feel can lift the wounded and weary soul because they know both. They can teach others to feel joy in sorrow, patience in suffering, and happiness in hardship.
Gifted hearts
Hearts that know and feel are gifts given from God to those who prepare themselves to receive it. As Nephi prayed and was visited of the Lord, prayer is an essential element. Another is not to murmur, complain, or resist hardship, pain and suffering. We must be "willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us]." (Mosiah 3:19) A third is obedience. Once we have the heart of Nephi who said, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..." (1 Nephi 3:7) then we know we are on the path to receiving the gift of a knowing and feeling heart.
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