"Blessed are the poor in Spirit, who come unto me for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Mourn-- Repentance--Godly sorrow for sins, essential, worketh repentance.
"Blessed are they that morn: for they shall be comforted"
Meek-- Submit without complaint. Enduring life's trials with patience and without resentment. Submissive. A virtue of the Celestial Kingdom. (The earth will become Celestialized) Willingness to press on.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Hunger & Thirst after Righteousness-- Desire to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Willingness to Study. Filled with the Holy Ghost.
Jeremiah 29: 13 And ye shall aseek me, and find me, when ye shall bsearch for me with all your cheart.
2 Nephi 9: 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your alabor for that which cannot bsatisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and cfeast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.
Enos 1: 4 And my soul ahungered; and I bkneeled down before my Maker, and I ccried unto him in mighty dprayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that athirsteth, come ye to the bwaters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, cbuy wine and milk without money and without dprice. 2 Wherefore do ye aspend money for that which is not bread? and your blabour for that which satisfieth not? hearken cdiligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
2 Nephi 26: 25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: aCome unto me all ye bends of the earth, cbuy milk and honey, without money and without price.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."
Merciful-- Mercy is compassion or forbearance shown toward an offender. Compassion is a byproduct of Gospel living. Extending mercy develops purity of heart.
"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."
Pure in heart--Know God--One definition of "see" is to understand. Purity of heart comes to understand God. As one develops understanding of God, he comes to know Him.
D&C 93: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who aforsaketh his bsins and cometh unto me, and ccalleth on my name, and dobeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall esee my fface and gknow that I am;
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Once we have gained purity of heart we receive. . . .
Peacemakers/Children of God--The pure in heart receive peace in the mind and peace in the heart.
Having gained inner peace we have put on the Full Armor of God.
D&C 27:15 Wherefore, alift up your hearts and brejoice, and cgird up your loins, and take upon you my whole darmor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to estand.
"Blessed are all the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."
Persecuted-- Refiners fire--Trial and persecution are the refiners fire that lead to sanctification--(the process of becoming free from sin; pure, clean, and holy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ)
and exaltation.
D&C 6: 37 aBehold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the bnails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall cinherit the dkingdom of heaven. Amen.
Matthew 5: 10 Blessed are they which are apersecuted for brighteousness’ sake: for ctheirs is the kingdom of heaven.
D&C 122: 5 If thou art called to pass through atribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in bperils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=daa127cd3f37b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
Royden G. Derrick, “The Way to Perfection,” Ensign, May 1989, 76
 |
In October of 1833, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation in which the Lord said, “I will raise up unto myself a pure people, that will serve me in righteousness.” (D&C 100:16.) The Lord was speaking of our pioneer forefathers, and also of the Saints of this day. In view of that implied responsibility, I would like to discuss with you today the way to perfection, which not only applies to this life but to the next one as well.
A fortnight ago I received an interesting letter from a member of the Church who grew up in a country located high in the Himalaya Mountains of southern Asia. He wrote: “I was brought up in a royal, aristocratic, Hindu priest family. I was taught to work but not to hope for a reward. I thought, Why should I work if there is no reward? Am I following the right way? I was offended with polytheistic and pantheistic philosophy. I wanted to know the real truth and the [right] way.” He told how he had found the truth and the only right way through the Mormon missionaries in Seoul, Korea. He bore a powerful testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ that brought tears to my eyes.
I was intrigued by his statement concerning the need for a reward. The Lord has promised us resurrection and immortality, but these are not a reward. According to Webster’s dictionary, a reward is “something that is given for some service or attainment.”
Resurrection is the reuniting of the body and the spirit. As Jesus was resurrected, eventually every person who was ever born into this world will be resurrected, whether he wants to be or not. When a person is resurrected, he receives immortality, which is to live forever in the resurrected state. Likewise, every person who was ever born into this world will receive immortality regardless of his or her behavior in this life. Thus, resurrection and immortality are synonymous. They are not a reward—they are a gift—for we have rendered no service nor attained any accomplishment to warrant these as a reward. The gift is from the Savior; it comes through His atoning sacrifice.
The scriptures teach us that there is promise beyond—that there is a reward for service rendered and for attainment. The reward is exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God. Exaltation is the highest of three degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom. The celestial kingdom is the highest of three kingdoms in the realm of immortality. Exaltation is earned by accepting Jesus Christ and His divine sonship and following His precepts.
Jesus showed us the way. Its simplicity is encompassed in His Beatitudes, which have echoed down through the centuries of time and will yet echo through the millenniums of time: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3.) In repeating the Sermon on the Mount to the people in ancient America, He said it differently: “Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (3 Ne. 12:3; italics added.) This addition, “who come unto me,” enables one to better understand the meaning of this verse. The Lord said he is angered with the inhabitants of the earth, for “they seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god.” (D&C 1:16.) The Beatitudes are steps we can take to come to Christ.
Step 1. To come unto Christ, one’s first step is to come forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit that results in overcoming unrighteous pride and becoming submissive to His will.
Step 2. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4.) The Apostle Paul spoke of a godly sorrow for our sins that is essential to our spiritual progress.
Step 3. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5.) The dictionary defines meek as “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” This is an important virtue that one must develop in preparation for entrance into the celestial kingdom, which kingdom the earth will become when it is celestialized.
Step 4. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matt. 5:6.) The scripture from ancient America adds, “shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (3 Ne. 12:6.)
A young man approached Socrates and asked him to be his tutor and to teach him what he knew. Socrates took the young man to the seaside and out into the water. Then he pushed his head under the water for almost too long. The young man struggled, came up gasping for air, and demanded the meaning of such an unwarranted action. The great Socrates responded, “When you want to learn as badly as you want a breath of air, only then can I teach you what you want to know.” To understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, one must first have a strong desire to learn and a willingness to study.
Step 5. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7.) Webster’s dictionary defines mercy as “compassion or forbearance shown to an offender.” Such is the by-product of gospel living.
Step 6. When one extends mercy to others, he develops purity of heart. The Savior said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8.) The dictionary has twenty-two different definitions for the word see, one of which is “to understand.” When one develops purity of heart, he will come to understand God. As one develops an understanding of God, he comes to know Him. The Savior said, addressing the Father, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3.)
Step 7. Once one has gained purity of heart, he receives peace in his mind and peace in his heart. The Savior continued, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt. 5:9.) Having gained inner peace, we have put on the full armor of God. Now we can more easily withstand persecution, which leads to—
Step 8. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt. 5:10–12.)
The Savior concluded His sermon by encouraging us to become perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect. While these steps follow one another in a natural sequence, we should always be striving to perfect ourselves in each of these virtues. We should always help others as they strive to improve. Disparagement of others should not exist within our ranks, for each of us is struggling to move forward. A helping hand should be extended to lift one another over the shoals along the rocky shore near which our ship must sail.
In our state of imperfection, sin often occurs. The Lord has told us that if we truly repent, He will forgive us. Repentance involves recognition of our imperfections, remorse for having strayed, restitution where appropriate, and resolve that the transgression will never be repeated.
It is important that we partake of the sacrament regularly. When we do so, in sincere repentance, our baptismal covenants are renewed, the Lord forgives us, and we start anew. It is truly a marvelous and a merciful process, one which enables us to grow and progress.
When we partake of the sacrament, we witness unto God that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. (See D&C 20:77.) What does that mean?
The Savior said to Peter, “Come follow me.” (See Matt. 4:19; Mark 1:17.) Peter walked in His footsteps for three years. He went where Jesus went. He did what Jesus instructed him to do. Then the Savior said to Peter and to His other Apostles also:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2–3.)
And where did Jesus go? He went to His Father. But before He went to His Father, He went someplace else. He went to Gethsemane. We are not required to go through His trials, but we are required to be willing to go through them. To prove that we are willing to do so, we must go through our own trials and remain faithful.
The Lord said, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.” (D&C 136:31.)
At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount in the Holy Land, the Savior said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48.) But when the Savior repeated the Sermon on the Mount to the people of ancient America, He said, “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” (3 Ne. 12:48; italics added.)
Something important occurred between the time He taught this sermon to the people in the Holy Land and when He taught it to the people of ancient America. In the meantime, He went through His Gethsemane, where He drank the bitter cup and did not shrink. We too should strive for perfection, bear up under our problems and our sorrows, remain faithful to the end, and not shrink.
My friend from the Himalayas will have his trials and tribulations as he returns to his homeland to share this important message with his people: that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and our Savior and our Exemplar who will direct them along the right path that leads to exaltation; that there is a reward, but it must be earned; and that the reward is glorious beyond description. He tasted of that reward when he asked the Lord, “Is it true?” and the Holy Spirit bore witness to him that truly it is.
I testify that this restored gospel which we espouse is indeed the real truth and the right way to a glorious and eternal reward. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
More light.
S. Michael Wilcox, “The Beatitudes: Pathway to the Savior,” Tambuli, Nov 1991, 25
These teachings from the Sermon on the Mount testify of the Savior’s divinity—and show us how to follow him.
When the resurrected Christ spoke to the Nephites through mists of darkness, his message was, “Come unto me.” (See 3 Ne. 9:13–14, 20, 22.) Then, when he appeared to them, the first command he gave was, “Arise and come forth unto me, … that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth” (3 Ne. 11:14). One by one, the multitude came to the Savior of the world.
Although you and I were not present for that wonderful privilege, the invitation to come unto Christ is as real for us as it was for those ancient Nephite Saints. In a sermon similar to the one he gave on the Mount of Beatitudes in the Old World (see Matt. 5–7), Jesus told the ancient Nephites—and us—how to come unto him. The principles he gave—commonly called the Beatitudes—can lead us to a powerful witness of the Savior’s divinity.
Following the Brethren
The first principle that the resurrected Savior taught the Nephites as he introduced the Beatitudes to them was to follow his chosen servants: “Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants” (3 Ne. 12:1).
When I was a deacon, my mother told me that Elder William J. Critchlow, Jr., an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve, was coming to speak in our stake conference. We arrived late and had to sit in the back, far from the podium—and when Elder Critchlow stood to speak, I couldn’t see him. Mother told me to carry a chair up the aisle and place it in front of the podium. It must have looked rather strange to Elder Critchlow to see a twelve-year-old boy in the middle of the aisle, staring straight up at him.
I don’t remember much of what he said. But as he talked, a spirit settled over me, whispering, “This is a man of God. You may believe him.” At the end of the session, he came up to me and laid his hand on my shoulder. A deep peace and happiness came over me, and I learned in that moment what it means to be blessed. That early experience taught me that by hearkening to the words of the Brethren, we are on the path to becoming truly blessed in the presence of Christ. Oh, how happy we will be if we come unto Christ by trusting and following his servants.
Humility and Baptism
The next beatitude the Savior described for the Nephites was, “Blessed are they who shall … come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins” (3 Ne. 12:2).
We come unto Christ when we covenant with him—as we are baptized and as we partake of the sacrament—to take his name upon us.
Once, when President George Albert Smith was seriously ill, he lost consciousness and thought he had died. He found himself standing near a beautiful lake. Soon he began following a trail through the woods, and after a time he saw a man, whom he recognized as his grandfather, coming toward him.
“I remember how happy I was to see him coming,” President Smith said. “I had been given his name and had always been proud of it.
“When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, … he looked at me very earnestly and said:
“ ‘I would like to know what you have done with my name.’
“Everything I had ever done passed before me as though it were a flying picture on a screen—everything I had done. … I smiled and looked at my grandfather and said:
“ ‘I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed.’
“He stepped forward and took me in his arms” (Improvement Era, March 1947, page 139).
One day each of us may stand before the Savior and long to embrace him. I can picture him saying: “When you were baptized, you took upon yourself my name. What have you done with my name?” We should strive to live in such a way that we can answer, “I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed.”
The Poor in Spirit
After teaching these two primary beatitudes, explaining that we come unto him by being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, Christ described the blessed state of those who receive the Spirit. He also reiterated the importance of humility in receiving his Spirit.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me,” he said, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (3 Ne. 12:3). Not until we recognize that we are poor in spirit will we “come down into the depths of humility and be baptized.” We are blessed thereafter by being filled with the Lord’s Spirit. (See 3 Ne. 12:2.)
President Ezra Taft Benson has said that “humility is an acknowledged recognition of our dependence on a higher power” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988, page 369). The Savior and his prophets are great exemplars of this principle. “I can of mine own self do nothing,” Jesus said: “as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).
Brigham Young said, “We are nothing only what the Lord makes us.” (In Journal of Discourses, 5:343.) And Moses said, “Now … I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed” (Moses 1:10). In comparison with the Father’s richness of spirit, we are “poor” indeed.
In my own life I feel the greatest humility when, as King Benjamin taught, I recognize that a lifetime of praise and service to God would leave me still an unprofitable servant. (See Mosiah 2:20–21.) Every faculty I possess—my ability to think and move, even the very air I breathe—is a gift to me from God. If I were to devote every moment of my life exclusively to his service, I would not be giving to God anything that was not already his.
One Christmas, my young son needed two dollars to make me a present. On Christmas morning, he was so excited about it that, in spite of the many brightly wrapped packages with his name on them, he insisted I open his present first. It was a pencil holder for my office—made from a jar covered with brightly colored macaroni shells. The two dollars bought pencils and erasers. I was pleased with his innocence and love. He then eagerly turned to his own presents.
In comparison with the bounteous gifts the Father bestows upon us—life, the Atonement, the gospel, prophets, scriptures, temples—our gifts to him are like jars covered with macaroni. It’s the best we can do, and he accepts our efforts with pleasure. The realization of the difference between us and the Father produces deep humility and blessedness.
They That Mourn
“And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted” (3 Ne. 12:4). I believe I have gained a greater insight into this beatitude since becoming a bishop. Bishops see a lot of tears—tears of guilt shed in confession, tears of grief over the death of a loved one, tears of part-member families longing for temple blessings, tears of parents crying for wayward children, tears of pain caused by old and weary bodies. I have discovered that a handkerchief is an indispensable item for a bishop. But although we can wipe tears from cheeks, it is another matter to wipe them from souls.
I have found comfort in a promise made in John’s revelation: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Rev. 21:4).
Jesus said, “I am … the beginning and the ending” (Rev. 1:8). He is the end of sorrow and the end of guilt. He is the end of pain, death, suffering, sin, and tears. He is the beginning of joy, life, and peace. He is the beginning of healing, truth, and fulfillment. He is the end of mourning, the beginning of comfort.
The Meek
“Blessed are the meek,” said Jesus, “for they shall inherit the earth” (3 Ne. 12:5). Moses was described as “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Num. 12:3)—and yet he had great power. Jesus said of himself, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29)—but no man ever lived who possessed more power.
A Church leader once toured a facility that housed a huge hydraulic crushing machine that could reduce old cars into small cubes of metal. For a demonstration, the guide asked the man to remove his watch. The operator then placed it in the machine and adjusted the controls, and the top blade came crashing down, stopping just a millimeter above the watch. Next the sides slammed together, but once again they stopped just short of the crystal. Then the operator removed the watch and returned it unscratched.
Much pleased with the demonstration, this good man turned to those with him and said, “We have just witnessed the greatest demonstration of meekness I have ever seen. Meekness is great power under complete control.”
They Who Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness
“Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost” (3 Ne. 12:6). What is the righteousness for which man hungers and thirsts, and which, in its fulfillment, produces happiness?
Lehi and Nephi saw in vision the tree of life, “whose fruit was desirable to make one happy” (1 Ne. 8:10). Each word describing the fruit—sweet, white, desirable, beautiful, precious, and joyous—is used in terms of comparison: The fruit is not just sweet, but “most sweet, above all.” Its whiteness exceeds “all … whiteness.” It is “desirable above all other fruit.” Its beauty is “far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty.” It is “precious above all,” and “most joyous to the soul.” (See 1 Ne. 8:11–12; 1 Ne. 11:8–9, 23.)
When some disciples left him, Jesus asked the Twelve, “Will ye also go away?”
Peter answered: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:67–68).
We come to Christ when we realize, as did Peter, that nothing can satisfy or bring happiness like the Savior’s tree of life and stream of living water.
The Merciful
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (3 Ne. 12:7). mercy is the quality of soul necessary for forgiveness; those who forgive others will be forgiven of their own offenses. Recognizing our own shortcomings makes it easier to extend mercy to others.
Jesse W. Crosby related an experience he had one day in Nauvoo when he took a woman to see the Prophet Joseph Smith. When she complained that someone was telling untruths about her, the Prophet “offered her his method of dealing with such cases for himself. When an enemy had told a scandalous story about him, which had often been done, before he rendered judgment he paused and let his mind run back to the time and place and setting of the story to see if he had not by some unguarded word or act laid the block on which the story was built. If he found that he had done so, he said that then in his heart he then forgave his enemy, and felt thankful that he had received warning of a weakness that he had not known he possessed. Then he said to the sister that he would have her to do the same: search her memory thoroughly and see if she had not herself all unconsciously laid the foundation for the scandal that annoyed her.”
The sister “thought deeply for a few moments and then confessed that she believed that she had. Then the Prophet told her that in her heart she could forgive that brother who had risked his own good name and her friendship to give her this clearer view of herself. The sister … thanked her advisor and went away in peace.” (In “Stories from Notebook of Martha Cox, Grandmother of Fern Cox Anderson,” typescript, Church Archives.)
If we can learn to turn our eye inward—even when we feel that the major offense lies elsewhere—we will find ourselves more able to forgive and to extend mercy. We will become more like Christ.
The Pure in Heart
“Blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (3 Ne. 12:8). Several verses in scripture speak of seeing God: Moses “sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God” (D&C 84:23). The Savior promised that “every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am” (D&C 93:1). Likewise we are told to have an eye “single to [God’s] glory” and to “sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him” (D&C 88:67–68). The purity needed to see God involves obedience, sanctification, and having an eye single to God’s glory.
The scriptures contain numerous examples of people who reached the necessary purity of heart and were able to see God or his messengers and converse with them. The attitude they exhibited as they did so gives a beautiful picture of purity:
On the road to Damascus, Paul said, “What wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). The boy Samuel, as instructed by Eli, said, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:10). Nephi said, “I will go and do” (1 Ne. 3:7) and “I must obey” (2 Ne. 33:15). And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
A common thread runs through each of these statements—an attitude of obedience, a purity of motive, and a desire to do the will of the Lord. The eye is single to the Lord’s will and glory.
The Peacemakers
“Blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (3 Ne. 12:9). To understand how to be a peacemaker, it is necessary to know what brings peace. Paul explained that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Gal. 5:22). Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace. A peacemaker is one who invites the Spirit; then the Spirit grants the peace.
President Heber J. Grant told the story of two men who had quarreled about business dealings. They came to President John Taylor and asked him to settle the matter. President Taylor consented, but said: “ ‘Brethren, before I hear your case, I would like very much to sing one of the songs of Zion for you.’
“Now President Taylor was a very capable singer, and interpreted sweetly and with spirit, our sacred hymns. He sang one of our hymns to the two brethren. Seeing its effect, he remarked that he never heard one of the songs of Zion but that he wanted to listen to one more, and so asked them to listen while he sang another. Of course, they consented. They both seemed to enjoy it.”
Then President Taylor sang a third and a fourth hymn. When he finished, the two men “were melted to tears, got up, shook hands, and asked President Taylor to excuse them … for taking up his time. They then departed without his even knowing what their difficulties were” (Improvement Era, September 1940, page 522).
This principle can work in our marriages, families, and other relationships. The ultimate source of peace is the Father and the Son. Those who invite the Spirit of the Lord into their lives and homes are peacemakers.
And when we teach one another and the world the Lord’s plan of salvation, we become peacemakers and children of “the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people” (Mosiah 15:18).
They Who Are Persecuted
“Blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (3 Ne. 12:10). It is difficult to understand how undergoing persecution can make us happy. Perhaps the blessedness comes in facing the persecution as the prophets did. Joseph Smith, for example, described what he felt persecution had done for him:
“I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women—all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected by Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, page 304).
Joseph Smith realized that opposition and persecution can refine and polish. James said, “The trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3). Patience is the realization that all things give us experience (see D&C 122:7) and can turn our hearts to Christ.
A Light to All the World
By living the life the Savior described, we have the potential to be a light to others. “I give unto you to be the light of this people,” Jesus said (3 Ne. 12:14). The world must see the blessedness that such a life brings—not just our good works, but also the joy those works produce. They should see that if they come unto Christ, they, too, can receive such happiness.
A Broken Heart
Jesus concluded this portion of his Nephite sermon by repeating his invitation to come unto him: “I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Ne. 12:19).
I have often pondered what it means to have a “broken” heart. When I was a boy, my uncle allowed me to help him break wild horses. We roped them, placed a strong leather halter on their heads, and attached a heavy rope to it. Then we cinched the rope around a solid wooden post sunk deep in the earth. The young colts hated the rope and would fight it for days, setting their legs defiantly in the ground and straining with all their might against it. But they hurt only themselves. In time they learned to accept the rope, and then gradually we could approach them and teach them to be led. When my uncle could lay the rope loosely over his open palm, turn his back, and walk away with the horse following him, he would say, “This horse is broken.”
A broken heart is a submissive heart, an obedient heart, a heart open to the Savior. Why would any of us ever hesitate to go where the Lord would lead us, knowing what price he has paid for us because of his love for us? Why would we ever want to pull the rope of our life away from him?
Elder Boyd K. Packer once said, “I went before [the Lord] and in essence said, ‘I’m not neutral, and You can do with me what You want. If You need my vote, it’s there. I don’t care what You do with me, and You don’t have to take anything from me because I give it to You—everything, all I own, all I am’ ” (“That All May be Edified,” Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, page 272).
Coming unto Christ
The first time we took our three-year-old daughter to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, she showed me what it means to come unto Christ. As we were going up the ramp in the North Visitors’ Center, she looked up and saw the statue of Jesus. She let go of my hand, looked into my face, and with an expression of unutterable love and eagerness said, “Oh, Daddy! It’s Jesus!” She then ran as fast as she could to meet him.
The Savior himself said, “Whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Ne. 9:22).
No comments:
Post a Comment