Where The Spirit of the Lord is, There is Liberty!

With our celebration of the Independence Day on Monday I was especially receptive to reading a talk by Elder Robert D. Hales titled "Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom". For me it was a great reminder of the importance of religious freedom and a perfect close to my 4th of July celebration this year.

I've chosen to share the four cornerstones of religious freedom that we as Latter-day Saints choose to rely upon and protect.

The first is freedom to believe.
No one should be criticized, persecuted, or attacked by individuals, or governments either, for what he or she believes about God. It is very personal and very important. An early declaration of our beliefs regarding religious liberty states:  “No government can exist in peace, except such laws are
framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience. …"

 The second cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to share our faith and our beliefs with others. The Lord commands us, “Ye shall teach [the gospel to] your children … when thou sittest in thine house.”11 He also said to His disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”12 As parents, fulltime missionaries, and member missionaries, we rely on religious freedom in order to teach the Lord’s doctrine in our families and throughout the world.

 The third cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to form a religious organization, a church, to worship peacefully with others. 
 The eleventh article of faith declares, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

The fourth cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to live our faith.
Free exercise of faith not just in the home and chapel but also in public places. The Lord commands us not only to pray privately13 but also to go forth and “let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.”

"Some are offended when we bring our religion into the public square, yet the same people who insist that their viewpoints and actions be tolerated in society are often very slow to give that same tolerance to religious believers who also wish their viewpoints and actions to be tolerated. The general lack of respect for religious viewpoints is quickly devolving into social and political intolerance for religious people and institutions."


Elder Hales goes on to give us three things we can do as individuals to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights for ourselves and our posterity.

1. Become informed. Be aware of issues in your community that could have an impact on religious liberty.

2. In your individual capacity, join with others who share our commitment to religious freedom. Work side by side to protect religious freedom.

3. Live your life to be a good example of what you believe—in word and deed. How we live our religion is far more important than what we may say about our religion.

Brothers and Sisters, I'm thankful for this guideline given to us by Elder Hales. Nothing is more important than freedom of religion in this country. Regardless of the religion, this land was established so that all of God's children have the agency to choose. Be aware of what's going on around you and gain strength by seeking out others who are willing to be heard as well.  Always speak with meekness and with God's light.

Remember....

Why Do We Pay Thithing In the LDS church?

Prior to reading 3 Nephi, I had confirmation and a testimony of the commandments and principles we've been taught by numerous prophets throughout the Bible and Book of Mormon, but reading the commandments and promises received directly from the mouth of Jesus Christ in 3Nephi, really resonated with me the past few weeks. One principle in particular, is the law of tithing. Because I've struggled with this commandment over the years and just recently started paying tithing, I felt the prompting to research more and share my findings and thoughts. 

In Proverbs 3:9-10 it reads  “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine”.  In the Old Testament and throughout the scriptures we are asked to give a part of our resources, as a way to honor and show gratitude the the Lord for all he blesses us with.

We can also think of paying tithing as a way of being obedient to the Lord.  In both 3Nephi 24:10 and Malachi 3:10 it reads "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” If we have a knowledge of what the lord has promised us, why do we reject the outpouring of our Lord's blessings?  In most cases it comes down to faith or not wanting to sacrifice.  Regardless if we are rich or poor, paying a tithe is a sacrifice. If we have little money, we have little to give. If we make more money, there always seems to be more we have to pay out. An old phrase I've heard shared many times is "I can't afford TO pay tithing", others respond with "I can't afford NOT to pay tithing".  Ask yourself, what are YOU willing to sacrifice in this temporal world to have everlasting joy?  By being obedient members in the LDS church, we are choosing to have faith and trust in our Heavenly Father. Not only have I questioned the "why" of paying my tithing, but I've questioned the "why" on other things I thought were not significant or would not "harm" me in an obvious or BIG way.  What I've come to realize first hand, is that by finally surrendering myself to the lord and not questioning these seemingly "small" actions, I have been immediately blessed.

 

In modern times we are not only asked to give one-tenth of our income, but we are asked to give of our time. In order to do either, we must have our heart in the right place. It's difficult juggling life in this day and age, but not only are we asked to go to church on Sunday for three hours, but as members of the LDS church, we are asked to hold callings to run the church as a whole, but also our local services each week.  Because our clergy is not paid, as members we choose not only to give our money to the Lord, but our time as well. Giving money and the time required to successfully fulfill or callings, does nothing for us or the Lord spiritually if we do so with a hardened heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always ha,ving all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”.  

One of the last reasons I'll touch on is the happiness we can receive by giving to others. By paying a fast offering and a tithe, our local leaders are given the power to receive revelation on how the money collected can and should be distributed to those in need. In Mosiah 4:26, King Benjamin told his people “I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants". I love what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “Down through history, poverty has been one of humankind’s greatest and most widespread challenges. Its obvious toll is usually physical, but the spiritual and emotional damage it can bring may be even more debilitating. In any case, the great Redeemer has issued no more persistent call than for us to join Him in lifting this burden from the people.”

I testify to you that by living the comparison of times I haven't paid tithing and have paid tithing, I have experienced the personal blessings promised to us by our Heavenly Father.  As my obedience grows, I keep asking myself "do I want the full blessings promised to me by my heavenly father" and by asking myself that question more frequently, I find making the right choice easier and easier.  We all have struggles and this has been one of mine in particular, but I find comfort in knowing that my Heavenly Father knows where my heart lays and he knows I'm working at becoming more obedient to his commandments each day.

Helaman 14: The Signs of Christ's Birth and Death

When my scriptures studying started today, I reviewed my notes from Helaman 13 and intended to write a blog post based on that chapter. While reviewing my notes, I had a prompting to hold off and read Helaman 14 before I started this weeks "Putting It All Together" assignment and I'm glad I did. Instead of discussing the sins the Lords says are most tempting I'm going to share the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite.

Let me start with saying that the fact that Samuel the Lamanite was chosen to share prophecies, is amazing in itself to me. Although this revelation was given by Alma, it's hard to read the fall of the Nephites and the rise of righteousness in the Lamanites and not question where I as a child of god and our society in America, currently stand in the Pride Cycle.

Signs of Christ's Birth as shared in Helaman 14;2-7: 

2 I give unto you a sign; for ^afive years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3  for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one ^aday and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is ^bborn.

  

5 And behold, there shall a new ^astar arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many ^asigns and wonders in heaven.

7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall ^afall to the earth.

Samuel shares the purpose of these signs:

11 And ye shall ^ahear my words, for, for this intent have I come up upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and know of the judgments of God which do await you because of your iniquities, and also that ye might know the conditions of repentance;

12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the ^aFather of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

13 And if ye ^abelieve on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his ^bmerits.

 

Signs of Christ's Death as shared in Helaman 14;20-25:

20 But behold, as I said unto you concerning another ^asign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his ^blight unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of ^cthree days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead.

21 Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ^aghost there shall be ^bthunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble; and the ^crocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be ^dbroken up;

22 Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be ^afound in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath.

23 And behold, there shall be great ^atempests, and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called ^bvalleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great.

24 And ^amany highways shall be broken up, and many cities shall become desolate.

25 And many ^agraves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.

Samuel shares the purpose of these signs:

28 And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that ^athese signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men—

29 And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a ^arighteous judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation. 

These last two verses in Helaman 14 sum up the ultimate gift we've been given by Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. The plan has been out before us, he's given us the knowledge we need to choose. He's given us the the freedom and agency to choose our own path; good or bad, it is our choice. The choice may be ours, but know that we DO NOT have the choice of consequences. That is left to Heavenly Father on judgement day. 

 

30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto ^ahimself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are ^bfree; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a ^cknowledge and he hath made you free.

31 He hath given unto you that ye might ^aknow good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might ^bchoose life or death; and ye can do good and be ^crestored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

Elder Richard G. Scott said  “Please understand, no one has the privilege to choose what is right. God reserved that prerogative to Himself. Our agency does allow us to choose among alternate paths, but then we are bound to the consequence God has decreed. Later, if we don’t like where the path takes us, the only out is through repentance”