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Friday, September 9, 2011

2 Nephi 2:4 - What does it mean that the spirit is the same yesterday, today, and forever?

In 2 Nephi 2:4, we see that Jacob has experienced great revelations which have led to a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. In fact, Jacob has been blessed "even as they unto whom [Christ] shall minister in the flesh" after Christ's resurrection. Ever since the fall of man, the way has been prepared.

Jacob's testimony shows that the spirit was the same in his time as it was in Christ's time, and it remains the same today. The spirit testified to Jacob of the coming of Jesus Christ, which didn't occur until about 500 years after Jacob was alive. The spirit is constant, and it is always teaching the same doctrine and the same eternal plan of happiness.

Despite persecutions and strong arguments against the coming of Christ, Jacob was able to maintain solid faith in Jesus Christ "because of the many revelations and the many things which [he] had seen concerning" Christ's coming. Also, he "had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto [him] in very word . . . wherefore, [he] could not be shaken" (Jacob 7:5). It's amazing that Jacob had so much faith in Jesus Christ 500 years before His actual birth. His example is truly one to be recognized. We can use this example to realize that the revelations we receive today are guided by the same spirit that revealed the same truths to saints and prophets centuries ago.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Matthew 10:34-37 - What does Christ mean when He says, "I came not to send peace, but a sword"?

Matthew 10:34-37 reads: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword..." Interpreted the wrong way, one can take from this verse that Christ advocates war. This "ambiguous English translation confuses a result-clause (the plain statement of fact that the preaching of the gospel divides families) with a purpose-clause (that Christ came with the express wish and purpose to destroy families); and so a determined exegesis can twist this one verse into making the Prince of Peace an author of contention. Such an act is a clear demonstration not of logic or philology but of the spirit" ("If There Must Needs Be Offense," Hugh Nibley, Ensign, July 1971).

Christ "is not pleased, nor was it his purpose or design or intent to foreordain the condition [of war] that the world is in today," since wars come "not to fulfil the purposes of God, but the purposes of the nations of the earth in consequence of their wickedness" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine [course of study for the Melchizedek Priesthood quorums, 1970–71], vol. 1, p. 131.) Joseph Smith said, "When you find a spirit that wants bloodshed—murder, the same is not of God but of the devil" (Joseph Fielding Smith, ed., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Deseret Book Co., 1938], p. 358; King Follett Discourse.)

It is easy to justify bloodshed when looking at all the examples in the scriptures. But the reality is that the acts of warfare and bloodshed that are so prevalent in the scriptures and in the latter days are acts that are inevitable in order to fulfill prophecies and God's plan. It is the nature of men on the earth to fall into warfare, yet it is not God's will.

The "sword" can be defined as a dividing line between the righteous and the wicked. The gospel may divide families, but that is not Christ's purpose. His purpose is to spread the gospel in order to unite families, but it is inevitable that some will choose to be divided. Let us choose the right side and stick with God. If we are ableto maintain His spirit by keeping His commandments, we will be saved.



Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Matthew 12:1-13 - What does Christ say is appropriate for the Sabbath day?

In these verses, the Pharisees accuse Christ of plucking ears of corn and healing on the Sabbath Day. Christ declares himself Lord of the Sabbath, and He explains to the Pharisees why His actions are acceptable.

In the talk "The Sabbath--Holy Day or Holiday?" from the October 1994 Ensign, Elder Charles Didier says, "The New Testament opens new doors to our understanding of the spirit of the Sabbath. Jesus Christ himself corrected the general misunderstandings about the rigidity of the law during his time. Answering the questions of the Pharisees, he stated: 'The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath' (Mark 2:27). At the same time, he gave the people an example of what could be done on that holy day: he taught in parables, lectured on spirituality, read from the law and the prophets, visited and healed the afflicted, blessed the obedient, pondered, prayed, called twelve Apostles, and rested.'

The Sabbath is a day to glorify God. It was "given unto man for a day of rest . . . and not that man should not eat. For the Son of Man made the Sabbath day, therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath" (JST, Mark 2:26-27). We should be following the example of the Savior who created the Sabbath Day. It was a mistake of the Pharisees to be so caught up in the law of the Sabbath that they failed to recognize the good of Christ's actions that He performed on the Sabbath. Christ is the ultimate authority.

When it comes down to it, we can follow the council of Matthew 12:12 which reads, "It is lawful to do well on the sabbath days."

Monday, September 5, 2011

Mosiah 5:7 - What does it mean to be the children of Christ? Are we not His brothers and sisters?

What does it mean to be the children of Christ? Aren't we his brothers and sisters?

In the scriptures, there are a lot of references to the people of Christ being "born of him" because of their conversion to Him (see 1 John 4:7, 5:1; Mosiah 27:25; Alma 5:14; D&C 5:16). When our hearts are changed to follow Christ, we are born again of Him; we are his "sons and daughters" spiritually. We are of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, named after the Son of God. The verse says that when people have made a covenant with God they are "spiritually begotten" by Him: "for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and daughters."

When we take the sacrament, we promise that we will take upon ourselves the name of Christ. Similarly, in our own families, we literally take upon ourselves the name of our parents. When we are spiritually born of God, we take upon ourselves His name.

Accompanied with taking the name of Christ is accepting the law of obedience. We promise to remember the atoning sacrifice of the Savior as well as keep His covenants.

In The Guide to the Scriptures on lds.org, "children of Christ" is defined as "Those who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ." We are identified with Christ and in His church. Following are some useful scriptures that support the idea of becoming children of Christ:
  • Believe in the light that ye may be the children of light (John 12:36)
  • Because of the covenant ye shall be called the children of Christ (Mosiah 5:7)
  • If ye will lay hold upon every good thing, ye certainly will be a child of Christ (Moroni 7:19)
  • As many as received me, gave I power to become my sons (D&C 39:4)
  • Fear not, little children, for you are mine (D&C 50:40–41)
  • Thou art one in me, a son of God (Moses 6:68)


Select this link to hear a free podcast on "Children of Christ." http://mormonchannel.org/programs/qa-episode-38?lang=eng