February 6, 2011

And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken--nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken--behold, they knelt again, and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus, and they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them. 3 Nephi 9:10

We have been conditioned by the mass media to have many desires, whether it be for the newest appliance or the tastiest hamburger. James tells us “ye desire to have, and cannot obtain . . . because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” His solution is profoundly simple: “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” We ask amiss when our greatest  desires are not spiritual.

Just as our Nephite brothers’ greatest desire was to receive the Holy Ghost, we should have this as our highest priority as we meet at the Lord’s table this day. Let us remember God's promise if the prayers offered over the emblems - that His Spirit might always be with us.

Your servant,
Dan

January 30, 2011

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Cor 11:28

Christ our savior has made it clear that those who partake unworthily of his body and blood are in grave spiritual danger.  Since Jesus said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you,” we must conclude that there is an avenue to worthiness.  He stated his doctrine three times in 3 Nephi: “Ye must repent and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child.”

If we will spend time this coming week in fasting and prayer, repenting of our sins and relying on Him, then the Lord will prepare us to come together next Sunday with a broken heart and contrite spirit, that we may partake worthily of the bread and the cup.

January 23, 2011

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Acts 17:23-24

As the Apostle Paul walked the streets of Athens, he beheld innumerable altars and statues dedicated to the Greek deities, so many that “his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” All his life he lived by the commandment “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” So superstitious were the Athenians that they built altars to an “unknown god” lest a god be offended that he had not been worshipped.

We need to take care that in our daily walk we do not elevate anything to the status of a god, whether it be a person, an idea, a desire or a material object. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

January 9, 2011

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. II Corinthians 12:9

The Apostle Paul repeatedly approached the Lord for relief from “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” In Galatians he referred to this affliction as a temptation in his flesh. Although he was blessed in many ways, Paul was not relieved of this burden, but was told that through endurance comes strength from the Lord.

Moroni was told by the Lord, “I give unto men weakness, that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” We suffer trials in this life to remind us to be humble and wholly dependent upon the Lord.  As David said, “I Will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”

December 26, 2010

But in the gift of his Son, hath God prepared a more excellent way, and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled. Ether 5:12

As I was sitting on the living room floor surrounded by mounds of wrapping paper and gifts lovingly given, I began to think of the many gifts that I have received in my life.  Around me was my precious loving family, now spanning three generations, sharing the comfort of a warm home and abundant dinner table. We’ve been blessed with good health and sufficient prosperity. More wonderful is the gift of faith that we share as a family.

All these gifts were made possible by that miraculous birth that we celebrate this season. The chain of events that unfolded encompassed the extremes of pain and sorrow, wonder and joy. The world was forever transformed by that babe who grew to manhood and taught the world “a more excellent way”, that we might walk by faith to fulfill his promise of abundant life, both now and in that eternal world.

December 19, 2010

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:10-11

One of the joys of the Christmas season is hearing all the scriptures relating to the birth of Jesus. We love to recite the prophesies of Isaiah and Micah, Nephi and Alma. We wonder how Mary must have felt at the visitation of the angel Gabriel. We’re touched by the kindness of Joseph. Through the ages these passages have been put to song, poetry, prose and pageant.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to the humble shepherds that night, his few powerful words summarized the entire message of this sacred literary panorama. The long awaited Messiah had arrived that all men might be freed from the bondage of sin brought about by our first parents in the garden of Eden.  The great joy of life eternal had become a reality to those who would follow the Saviour who was born that day.

December 12, 2010

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [Luke 1:28]

With these words the angel Gabriel greeted Mary and her life was changed in an instant.  This seemingly ordinary young woman of Nazareth was called upon to do an extraordinary thing, give birth to the only begotten Son of God. Once she was certain that this would be accomplished without violating her marriage promise, she replied humbly, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

Throughout scripture we see God using ordinary people like David, Abraham, Nephi, Deborah and Esther to bring about His purposes. If we diligently seek God’s direction through study and prayer, we too can be called to do extraordinary things for Him. As Gabriel said to Mary, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”