Essay on Matthew 3:11

I recently read an article on the Christian Courier website titled, “What is the Baptism of Fire” by Wayne Jackson[1]. In the article Brother Jackson reasons that the separation of the Holy Ghost and fire in Matt 3:11 alludes to both believers and nonbelievers: those who believe in Christ are baptized with the Holy Ghost while those who do not believe are baptized with fire (ie, “subject….to the terrible penalties of hell”). In the article Brother Jackson poses the question: “Why should the ‘fire’ of verse eleven be viewed as something different from that referenced in verses ten and twelve, without some sort of compelling justification?” Great question! I intend to answer this question in my thoughts below. Specifically, my position is that the use of the word “fire” in verse 11 is altogether different from the use of the word “fire” in verses 10 and 12. This position is strengthened by looking at specific components of these verses in context of other examples throughout the Bible.

First, let’s look at the surrounding verses and back-story to Matthew 3:11. In chapter three of Matthew, John the Baptist is among his disciples, when a group of Pharisees and Sadducees enter the scene. John discerns their impure motives and rebukes them. John states the following:

Verse 10: “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

Verse 11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

Verse 12: “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

It seems evident by the context of these verses that John is referring to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Thus, based on the preceding and proceeding verses to verse 11, this point seems to add credibility to what the Christian Courier suggests. However, we must also look at this same story in the same context from the other three gospels. Mark does not use the word “fire” in his text[2], nor does he even quote Matthew 3:12; therefore, we cannot use this book, as it does not contain the components of the story we wish to discuss. John does not even share the same dialogue noted in much of Matthew 3[3]; therefore his book cannot be used either. If we look, though, in Luke chapter three, specifically verses 9-16, we note there is much more to the story than what is shared in Matthew. After John’s imagery of the trees being cast into the fire for bearing bad fruit, we read about people—who are not Pharisees and Sadducees—asking what they need to do to be baptized. Then in verses 15 and 16 we read the following:

Verse 15: “And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;” (italics added)

Verse 16: “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”

From this context, it appears John’s statement in Matthew 3:11 is not related to the preceding verse, but rather, it is a response to the people wondering if John were Christ or not. This also separates verses 11 & 12 from verse 10 in Matthew 3, which makes Brother Jackson’s case that verses 11 & 12 referring to the Sadducees and Pharisees in context to verse 10 as irrelevant and incorrect. As such, Matthew 3:10 cannot be considered in this discussion.

Let us now look at the relationship between verses 11 and 12. Luke also places these two verses together, so we must assume that these verses go hand in hand. In fact, we note by the colon at the end of verse 11 and the grammar at the beginning of verse 12 that the two verses are actually one long sentence:

“….he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in his hand….”

That being said, it is possible that John could make a statement that reflects two different purposes of fire. In fact, that seems to be what John is conveying: “Either you can be purified by fire through baptism, or you can be destroyed by fire by not being baptized.” This correlates well with both 1) Christ’s parable of the wheat and tares found in Matthew 13:24-30, 38-43, where we learn that the good seed are the “children of the kingdom”, and 2) Christ’s statement that “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”[4]. In other words, if we are not baptized, we cannot be “children of the kingdom” (for how can we be children of a kingdom we can’t even enter into?); therefore, we must be “children of the wicked one” and “burned in the fire.” In this sense, how can a baptism of fire correlate with being “burned in the fire?”

My last point relates to the simple use of the word baptize. In the gospel of Jesus Christ this word is directly associated with the following ideas:

·         Immersion

·         Ordinance

·         Cleansing

·         Repentance

·         Being made new

These concepts have significant weight in the gospel. Baptism is an essential ordinance and ceremony for salvation. It is necessary in the repentance process and not only signifies cleansing and being made new, but is a vital step to a literal spiritual cleansing and purification. Baptism is not forced upon anyone, but is rather a voluntary deed made willingly by the person being baptized. Finally, baptism is not a consequence or effect of an action or cause; it is the action or cause.

When one looks at the use of “fire” in these passages, one will note thus: Not one of these ideas of baptism coincides anywhere with the meaning of “fire” associated in verse 12. In this verse, rather, it is the ideas consume, remove, and destory, that are relevant. The fire spoken of in verse 12 is a consequence to the chaff not being wheat. In this example there is no implication of repentance or cleansing, or even ordinances! The deed is done. Nothing is made new. The chaff is no more. Therefore, a baptism with fire cannot be consistent with the fire mentioned in verse 12.

That being said, one quality of fire that is consistent with the use of the word baptize that also has weight in the scriptures is that fire purifies. In Zechariah 13:9 we read:

“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

In addition, Malachi 3:2-3 reads:

“But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

These verses show that fire is not used to consume or destroy as described in Matthew 3:12, but to purify or cleanse God’s own people. The refining process is to remove impurities or unwanted elements. This happens to the believers, not the unbelievers. Thus, baptism by water may symbolize cleansing, and baptism by fire (ie, the Holy Ghost) may symbolize refining or purification.

Fire is also used in the scriptures to signify light to the people. The exodus of the Israelites in the Old Testament shows a very powerful symbolic reference to baptism with water and fire. When Israel left Egypt and before they made it to the Red Sea, we learn the following:

“And the LORD went before [the Israelites] by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of the fire by night, from before the people.”[5]

Clouds, as we know, are the accumulation of water molecules. It is interesting to note that the Lord used both water and fire to lead his people out of Egypt and bondage. In this instance of the scriptures, fire was used in conjunction with water to guide God’s people. This reference of fire in connection to baptism further emphasizes John’s comments in Matthew 3:11 and strengthens the position that the word “fire” used in verse 11 refers to the Holy Ghost and relates to “believers.”

In summary the following points refute Brother Jackson’s position that the word “fire” as used in Matthew 3:11 is synonymous to its use in verses 10 and 12 and refers to unbelievers of Jesus Christ and his gospel being “subject….to the terrible penalties of hell,” but rather strengthen the position that the use of the word “fire” in Matthew 3:11 is different than Brother Jackson’s explanation in his article:

1.      Luke 3 shows that there is more to the story in Matthew 3 and confirms that Matthew 3:10 is not relevant to John’s statement in verses 11 and 12.

2.      Christ’s explanation of the parable of the wheat and tares, in connection with his statement on baptism, “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” validates that John’s statement implies two meanings of the word fire.

3.      The use of the word baptize in verse 11 has implications that are not consistent with the use of fire in verse 12.

4.      In connection to the word baptize in verse 11, the word fire in verse 11 signifies refining, purification, and being a guiding light that relates to believers, whereas the use of the word fire in verse 12 does not.

5.      Symbolism of fire in conjunction to water in the Old Testament strengthens the case that baptism of fire in verse 11 refers to baptism with the Holy Ghost and relates to believers.

In short, by looking at the context of not only the surrounding verses, but of the scriptures as a whole, we develop a clearer understanding of how things ought to read.

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[1] https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/235-what-is-the-baptism-of-fire

[2] See Mark 1:7

[3] See John 1:15-28

[4] See John 3:5

[5] See Exodus 13:21-22

Sharing the Gospel: A Discourse

Before this earth was created, we lived with our Heavenly Father as his spirit children. He presented a plan to us that would allow us the opportunity to become like Him and receive all that He has, Christ being the Center of that plan. A main part of that plan is for us to come to this earth and “prove [ourselves] herewith, to see if [we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us].”[1] And so we came down to this earth as brothers and sisters to “work out [our] own salvation,”[2] so we may return to our Father and have a fullness of joy.[3]

God’s Work and Glory

So why bring up the plan of salvation? Because God’s work and glory is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,”[4] of which His plan plays a large part. The restored gospel teaches us that we as His children here on earth are to take part in His work. Consider, for example, the three missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

1. Proclaim the Gospel

2. Redeem the Dead

3. Perfect the Saints

Upon further contemplation, one will note that all three of these missions fulfill God’s work and glory here on the earth. Each enables others to come unto Christ to ultimately receive His greatest blessings. Regarding our responsibility to take part in our Father’s work, Elder John A. Widtsoe, an Apostle in 1934, said the following:

“In our preexistent state, in the day of the great council, we made a certain agreement with the Almighty. The Lord proposed a plan, conceived by Him. We accepted it. Since the plan is intended for all men, we became parties to the salvation of every person under that plan. We agreed, right then and there, to be not only saviors for ourselves, but…saviors for the whole human family. We went into a partnership with the Lord. The working out of the plan became then not merely the Father’s work, and the Savior’s work, but also our work. The least of us, the humblest, is in partnership with the Almighty in achieving the purpose of the eternal plan of salvation.”[5]

The challenge then comes by having our knowledge of our pre-mortal life taken away, thereby forgetting the details of that council and that agreement. We are left not alone to our own merits, but are rather given the opportunity to be led by faith and by those who receive that knowledge of the plan of our God. As we obtain that knowledge for ourselves through revelation from a perfect Being, it then becomes our responsibility to share that light with those who are still in the dark.[6]

This is why sharing the gospel is so important! In fact, Joseph Smith once said, “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.”[7] In a letter to the members of the 12 who were then serving a mission in Great Britain, he wrote, “…none is of more importance than the glorious work in which you are now engaged.”[8] Think of it! Of everything that goes on in this life, in this Church; of all the callings and positions one may hold; of all the things a person may be asked to do; nothing is more important than simply sharing the gospel. It’s then no wonder that Christ, who, when speaking to three of his Nephite disciples who desired to preach the gospel until Christ’s second coming, said, “Therefore, more blessed are ye.”[9] Why? Because nothing is more important than taking part in God’s work and glory!

We Are To Assist the Savior In His Own Work

In a very real sense, when we take part in this sacred work, we become saviors to our brothers and sisters. Think about it. In the New Testament, the Lord says, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”[10] In essence, He’s saying, “I’m only doing what the Father is doing. Whatever the Father does, I do.” So the Lord does what the Father does and then says, “Follow me.”[11] Because if Jesus Christ does what the Father does, that would mean He knows who our Father is and can lead us to Him. As we bring people to Christ, we also bring people to the Father, thereby doing the very work Christ is doing. We become involved in saving souls and can be considered saviors to those we bring to Christ. Keep in mind, this in no way replaces nor undermines the role, calling, position, and capacity of the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. However, by bringing souls to Christ we are made partakers of His work.

Let me now draw your attention to a scripture in the Book of Mormon. In Mosiah, we read the discourse Abinadi gives on the coming of the Messiah into the world and the great atonement He is going to bring forth. After speaking specifically of the sacrifice Christ would make for all of us, Abinadi poses the question, “And who shall be [Christ’s] seed?” In the following verses he gives his answer:

“And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!”[12]

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those” that publish “good tidings of good,” of those that share the gospel, of those that bring a message of peace and joy to others. Now, I left one more verse out, which I’d like to now share:

“And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people.”[13]

Do you see what Abinadi is doing? He is comparing the feet of those who publish “good tidings of good” with the feet of our Savior. I think this is such beautiful imagery and symbolism! As I understand it, the feet represent action on our part. Our feet take us to where we want to go, where we want to be. Basically, when we bring “good tidings of good” to others, we go where the Lord is. We stand with Christ! How beautiful that symbolism is!

Does this make sense to you? Does this feel good to you? Because it feels good to me. We are learning that “every man who has a friend in the eternal world can save him.”[14] It excites me and motivates me to do better at sharing the gospel with others! It puts things back into proper perspective. And now that I’ve shared with you these doctrines and principles, I would now like to focus on applying the principle of sharing the gospel. I wish to share five simple ways we can share the gospel. Also keep in mind that this principle applies to both nonmembers of the Church and even members who need to be brought back into the fold.

Prayer

We should “pray for the spiritual sensitivity to recognize opportunities.”[15]

Two summers ago I sold security systems in Chicago. One day I knocked on a door and an elderly lady with a thick accent and broken English opened the door. As we talked I asked the lady what her accent was. She said she was from Romania but spoke German. I told her I spoke German and would gladly speak in German if it were easier for her. She said yes and upon hearing my German, asked how I learned the language. I told her I had served a mission for my Church. This built up enough trust for her to let me in her house. She called her husband—in German—and introduced him to me. She told him I learned German by serving for my Church. She then asked what church it was. I told her the name of the Church; she had never heard of neither the name nor our nickname as the “Mormons.” We sat down, and I began my sales presentation. As I went through the steps of the sale I began to realize that they weren’t going to buy and decided in my head I needed to move on to the next house. Before I got up, I asked if they had any questions about the security system or what I shared with them. They just sat there, and the lady, who, during the entire presentation had a confused look on her face, said in her German, “I still don’t understand what Church you belong to!” Finally, a light went off in my head and the distinct thought came to my mind: “Teach them a First Discussion!”

During the next forty-five minutes I shared with them the message of the Restoration, including Joseph Smith’s first vision, and answered some questions the woman had. I shared my testimony of the blessings I’ve received from the knowledge the Lord has given me. The Spirit was felt. When I finished, they had a better understanding of the Church and its basic teachings.

As we specifically pray for opportunities to share the gospel, the Spirit will direct us to those who are ready to hear our message.

Study the Gospel

In a revelation through Joseph Smith, the Lord told Joseph’s brother, Hyrum, “[F]irst seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.”[16]

This scripture teaches us a very important principle. If we are to convince people of the truthfulness of our message, then we must have the Spirit with us, which comes by obtaining God’s word through the study of the gospel. It is not enough for us to rely on the knowledge of the gospel gained from institute or Sunday School. While we do obtain a portion of the Spirit from those places, we cannot be effective messengers of the gospel without our daily dose of sincere studying of the gospel. We cannot be effective by leaning upon our knowledge alone. Therefore gospel study, coupled with sincere prayer, becomes our conduit through which the Lord’s Spirit is poured out upon us. Without it, our words are but an empty shell void of life.

Invite People To Do Things

Inviting people to do things is perhaps the simplest and easiest way to share the gospel. It does not need to be an invitation to be baptized, nor does it need to be an invitation for full and immediate reactivation. Though there are proper moments for such commitments, they are not always the case. A simple “Hey, there’s a get-together with some friends from my Church this Friday. Do you want to come with me?” or even, “Will you come to Church with me this Sunday?” can go a long way toward helping people feel the Spirit and see the light which the Saints have to offer. This can eventually lead people to full membership in the Lord’s kingdom!

This past summer while selling security systems in Delaware, I talked with a man and his wife on their porch about security. After talking a while, he looked at me and, out of nowhere, asked, “Are you very religious?” Surprised at the random question, but excited that he asked I responded in the affirmative and told them what Church I belonged to. I then gave them a pass-along card I had in my pocket with the picture of the Salt Lake City temple and shared my testimony about how we can be married for time and all eternity and not just until death do we part. I left their house and continued knocking on doors. As I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about why he asked me that question. It kept nagging at me. Finally, at the end of the day I went back over to their house. The wife let me in and I asked the man why he asked his question.

He said I seemed different than other people my age and that my manners seemed “old-school.” I thanked him for the compliment, and then told them a little bit about my faith, that is was the teachings of my Church that have helped me become who I am. He explained to me that he didn’t believe in religion until a year earlier, when he became a Christian. Since then, he’s been diligent in going to Church and studying the Bible. I complimented his diligence and told him briefly about the apostasy and how Christ restored His church through Joseph Smith. I told him a couple of guys could come by and share more of that message and asked him if he’d be willing to meet with them. He said he was open-minded and gave me his contact info, which I promptly gave the elders in that area. Right before I left for school I discovered that a niece of his, who lived two hours away, had joined the Church a year earlier. What a small world! I don’t know what has become of him since meeting with the elders, but it was by a simple invitation that he was able to begin learning of the restored gospel.

Giving simple invitations allows others to use their agency and gives them the opportunity to understand our faith.

Listen to Understand

We should also learn to listen to others and seek to understand them. I love the simple insight given in a Josh Groban song: “Everybody wants to be understood…everybody wants to be loved.” I love it because it’s true. With the knowledge we have of the fullness of the gospel, we should be the best listeners out there. Our friends should feel comfortable coming to us when they need a shoulder to lean on, when they need someone to listen to them and comfort them in trying times.

Let me share with you a story from a friend who’s serving a mission in Italy. I recently received this letter from her and felt it appropriate to share with you:

“We went to visit a less active member here in Mistretta name Eleanora. We heard that she doesn’t come to Church anymore because she feels as though some members treated her wrongly, haven’t included her, etc…we went with the attitude that it might be a little tense with her but we decided to just listen to her story, powerfully testify and hopefully all would work out. ANOTHER MIRACLE…We begin talking about life and getting to know her and then I just feel like I should invite her to Church Sunday. I do. She explains to us how the members have wronged her and haven’t helped her when she was pregnant, wants her baptism to be cancelled, etc. We listen to this for quite a while, just letting her vent. I ask her who gave her the testimony she has of the Church? She said that God did and I then ask why she would allow the imperfect members of the branch to withhold these sacred blessings from her. She was very attentive and listening. She didn’t commit to come to Church…

”So we return to Eleanora’s later in the week. She is a DIFFERENT person. She is smiling and happy and SO thrilled to see us. She has THREE referrals for us and say that these friends ‘must know about OUR Church.’ This is all coming from the lady who wanted her baptism cancelled days prior. It was another great lesson with her and she realizes the need for the Church each week in her life, the importance of the sacrament, etc.

“Okay, English course that night…she SHOWS UP with her daughter who is six. A few members are there and they are friends again. It’s like nothing was ever wrong. She called the branch president after we left her house the second time saying how grateful she was for the missionaries and that we will be teaching her friends next week and how she wants to forget everything that happened in the past, apologizing for the mistakes, etc.

When the branch president told me about this phone call he had with her, I lost it. Tears filled my eyes and I couldn’t contain my joy, it was ridiculous. I was overcome with gratitude, that the Lord allowed me this opportunity to, in a small way, help one of His children come unto Him.”[17]

Because one person was willing to listen to the concerns of this lady, she returned to the Church in full fellowship, and my friend was “overcome with gratitude.” That’s what sharing the gospel is all about: sharing moments of joy with each other!

I testify to you that you don’t have to be a full-time missionary to experience such situations. As we listen to understand people’s concerns and be there for them, we have the opportunity to share precious truths that can help them with those specific concerns. Thus, we may help others see how living gospel principles can bless their lives.

Go About Doing Good

A great way of sharing the gospel is to do as the Savior did and “[go] about doing good.”[18] If we are to be “the light of the world”[19] then we must be out in the world, where others may see the light we possess. Service in the community is a wonderful way of exposing others to the Church. Here are some examples in the McKinney/Allen area, just to name a few:

· The yearly Crèche in December, in which the community participates.

· Handel’s Messiah is performed every Easter at the McKinney Stake Center, the conductor himself being a nonmember.

· McKinney’s “Make A Difference Day” is a yearly, community Church-sponsored event, in which community members meet at the McKinney Stake Center to receive assignments of service activities, then go to their assigned places.

· Community blood drives.

· Many LDS members are heavily involved in the local CERT program, which trains community members what to do in a large-scale disaster.

I have had many conversations with nonmembers who have expressed their respect to the LDS community because of the service and integrity rendered and shown by the Church and its members. The “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet teaches us that we are “to be an influence for good in the world.”[20] As we do so, many opportunities to share the gospel will come to us!

Life Is Not To Be Lived Alone

When you think about it, many of the joyful and happy moments we have in this life come from our interactions with others. This says a lot about part of our purpose on this earth. We are supposed to have these interactions. In fact, I would venture to say that our knowledge of our true relationship with those around us can increase that joy we experience. Why else would we be placed in families, in communities, in congregations?

Think of us all as one big family—because we are—and Church is the family reunion. It’s much more fun when more family members show up! And it’s up to us to make our other family members aware that we love them and want them to come to these weekly reunions. (Would that make the baptisms the pool parties? J)

“Be Not Afraid, Only Believe”

So I’ve shared with you some doctrine regarding sharing the gospel, as well as some ways to share the gospel. Some of you may still be apprehensive. Some of you may think that friends may misinterpret motives. Some of you may just not be sure who you can share the gospel with. These are understandable concerns. Let me share with you something I learned from a Church leader of mine. He came by to home teach me one evening. As we talked I found out that for his job, he went to businesses and sold medical equipment. Intrigued, I asked him what he did when he came across a business that had a “No Soliciting” sign posted out front. With a smile on his face he said simply, “You know what? If you have something they want, they’re gonna’ buy it.”

So it is with our friends and loved ones. They want a peace and freedom that brings them joy and that fill a void in their life. That’s what we have to offer.

To the ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter died, Christ calmly and lovingly said, “Be not afraid, only believe.”[21] Let us have courage and faith that the Lord will assist us in our efforts to share the good news to others!

In Closing

I know that the plan of salvation is real and in effect. It is through the gospel, restored through Joseph Smith, that we have gained a full understanding and appreciation of this knowledge. This is why it is so important for us to share this message with others, that they, too, may know how to return to their loving Heavenly Father. May we all remember the importance of sharing the gospel. May we all have the courage and love to do so. Then, as Alma of the Book of Mormon, would our prayers be such:

“O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.”

That we may have such a prayer in our hearts, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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[1] Abraham 3:21-27; D&C 84:38.

[2] Philippians 2:12.

[3] 3 Nephi 28:10.

[4] Moses 1:39.

[5] Elder John A. Widtsoe, “The Worth of Souls,” Utah Genealogical & Historical Magazine, Oct. 1934, p. 189.

[6] D&C 88:81.

[7] History of the Church, 2:478; from discourse given by Joseph Smith, 6 April 1837.

[8] History of the Church 4:226; letter written from Joseph Smith, 15 Dec. 1840.

[9] 3 Nephi 28:7; italics added.

[10] John 5:19.

[11] Matthew 4:19; 2 Nephi 31:12.

[12] Mosiah 15:14-17; italics added.

[13] Mosiah 15:18.

[14] Joseph Smith, “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” 1976, p. 357.

[15] “Finding People to Teach,” Preach My Gospel, page forthcoming.

[16] D&C 11:21.

[17] Letter written by Sister Anderson, 7 March 2009.

[18] Acts 10:38.

[19] Matthew 5:14. Note: It is interesting to compare this scripture with John 9:5 & 3 Nephi 11:11, where Christ calls himself the “light of the world.” This reiterates the fact that Christ wants us to be like He is.

[20] “For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God,” 2001, p. 9.

[21] Mark 5:36

Gospel Lessons from A Dog & A USB Stick

I have two stories to share with you. The first one starts of a couple of days ago when I was in the kitchen of my parents' home, fixing a sandwich at the table. Our dog comes in, smelling the turkey slices, and stands there, looking hopefully at me with those brown, doggy eyes, that I will give her a slice of meat. I told her no, finished my sandwich, put the meat away, and went on with my day. As I left the kitchen, I thought to myself, "That's what she gets for trusting in someone imperfect," and gained some insight on the principle of trusting in a perfect Being.

The second story happened today. I was in the kitchen again with the meat. Again, our dog comes in with those ever hopeful eyes. This time I feel like being compassionate and give her a slice, which she happily ate. Afterward, I went upstairs to work on the computer when I realized that I needed my USB stick to get the specific files I needed. As I went to retrieve it, it wasn't there. I begin looking all over, but to no avail. Finally, after about 10 minutes of searching, I decide to go to the Lord in prayer. I've had so many experiences where I've lost something and after frantic searching I would pray and then immediate thereafter find what I was looking for. I was again facing the same situation. I prayed and asked my Father to guide me to the place the USB stick was. When I finished my prayer, the first thougth that came to me was, "Fold your clothes." I had a pile of clean clothes on my bed that needed folding and putting away. Happily, I began folding, thinking the stick must be at the bottom of the pile. However, as I finished folding my clothes, I hadn't found the stick. I thought to myself, "Oh well. It'll be found eventually. The world is not coming to an end. The Lord will bless me," and I went on to do other work that didn't require my stick. Later today, my mom helped me look for and locate my lost USB stick.

I share these two stories with you because when I finished folding my clothes, the experience of earlier this week popped in my mind. A few insights came to me as I thought about earlier this week and today:

1. My dog didn't get what she was hoping for immediately when she wanted it; it came much later. I realized the Lord was doing the same to me. He was reminding me that things don't happen on my time; things happen on His time.
2. I was reminded of the parable the Lord gives in Matthew 18:23-34. It's the one where a servant owes his king ten thousand talents but the king forgives him the debt; then the servant goes out and sends his fellow servant to jail for not paying back only a hundred pence. The reason this whole experience reminded me of this parable was because here I was, refusing to give my dog something she wanted, and then I go to the Lord asking Him to give me something I want. It made me realize that I am sometimes this hypocritical with people. To me, it was a gentle chastising from the Lord.
3. Although my dog hoped an "imperfect" being would give her some meat and didn't get it the first time, she still got it from me eventually. We can still put our hope in other people, though they may not be perfect. We always hope our friends will remain our friends, our family members will still love us, our employer will keep us employeed, etc. I believe it's that "hope for a better world" which motivates us to move forward in our lives.¹

So there are my two stories. What are your thoughts? What other insights can you glean from my stories?


Footnotes:
1. Ether 12:4

Examples of Humility

Today I had the chance to go out with the elders in Delaware. We met with a couple of new converts and an investigator. It was a very good experience for me. I went out with the elders last Sunday as well. Today, during our escapades, I was humbly reminded of the importance of doing the Lord's will. The people with whom we met today and last week have been great examples of humility and faith for me.

Nothing extraordinary or earth-shaking happened; they were simple acts - but they were in their own little ways life-changing. A recent convert last week felt that her 8-year-old son was too young to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, that he should wait until he's older. She also brought up a few "concerns" regarding the meetings on Sunday's. We could tell that those weren't real concerns, but that the real issue rested on that fact that she was getting caught up in the little things and not relying on her testimony that the Church is true. I felt inspired to share D&C 18:2-3¹ and we helped her realize that she knew the Church was true, and that being the case, the organization of the Church, as directed by the prophet and apostles, is how Christ wants the Church organized. It clicked with her and she understood. Later this past week she told the elders she knew that her son needed to receive the Holy Ghost, which he did today.

Another example is Bill, the investigator we visited today. He's an alcoholic, but he knows that it's wrong. He's working on quitting and prays for help in that area of his life. He trusts the elders and is a very humble man. I think he understands the importance of doing the Lord's will, and that is why he's searching for the truth. He's very willing to do what the elders ask him to do, which to me shows the faith he'll need to eventually get an answer from the Lord about the Church and what the elders are teaching him.

Finally, the lady we met tonight is a new convert. She recently became a ward missionary and is studying "Preach My Gospel"² to better understand missionary work. She loves sharing the gospel and is very meek and ready to do the Lord asks of her. I easily felt the Spirit as we sat with her.

I was definitely impressed as we met with these people. I had a greater appreciation and understanding of the importance of humility. It has caused me to reflect on my own life and see where I get caught up with things of the world. It was a nice reality check for me. That's one thing I love about the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: we can constantly be uplifted and strengthened by each other. By the examples of those around us can we be motivated and encouraged to improve our lives and grow closer to our Savior. As the Savior once said, "Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."³


Footnotes:
1. D&C 18:2-3

^{"Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true. And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written..."}

2. "Preach My Gospel". 2004 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
3. D&C 19:23

A Gospel of Understanding

This evening I've been thinking about M. Russell Ballard's book, "Our Search for Happiness,"¹ most particularly, about the purpose he states in the introduction, as to why he writes the book. He writes, "Consider for a moment the word understanding. It's a simple word, really - one that most of us use every day. But it means something that is quite remarkable. With understanding we can strengthen relationships, revitalize neighborhoods, unify nations, and even bring peace to a troubled world. Without it chaos, intolerance, hate, and war are often the result. In other words, misunderstanding."²

Okay, so maybe where I want to go isn't that extreme. However, the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that the gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of understanding; and that understanding comes by communication. Verbs such as "preach"³, "teach"⁴, "expound"⁵, "exhort"⁶, "testify"⁷ fill the holy scriptures. The Messiah has often given the invitation, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."⁸ It is by revelation that we may receive answers to prayers and come to know our Heavenly Father. These are all forms of communication, that we may better understand who we are, our relationship with our God, and our purpose here on earth.

So where do I want to go with all of this? I want to apply this principle to our everyday lives. Consider for a moment your best friend. Why do you have such a close relationship with that person? Why are you best friends? Perhaps it is because of the level of understanding you have for one another, which understanding comes by experiencing things together, as well as communicating with one another. There's a level of trust that is built when experiencing things together; and the greater the trust that is felt, the deeper the communication becomes, which increases the level of understanding. It's a beautiful thing!

I personally believe that marriages and families would be strengthened if husband and wife, brother and sister, would communicate more with each other. Of course, a couple of factors need to be kept in mind. First, it'd be well to focus on the good qualities of each other and care for each other; otherwise, the openness might actually be too brutal. Second, the other person needs to help create a comfortable atmosphere to communicate. No one wants to share how they feel to someone who really doesn't listen, or who will tear them down.

Stephen R. Covey does a really good job conveying the importance of communication and learning how to communicate to understand. In his book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" he explains a concept he calls "Seek first to understand, then to be understood". Within this concept he talks about how we need to listen empathically. He writes, "When I say empathic listening, I mean listening with intent to understand. I mean seeking first to understand, to really understand...Empathic (from empathy) listening gets inside another person's frame of reference. You look out through it, you see the world the way they see the world, you understand their paradigm, you understand how they feel."⁹

A lot of times I think we view communication as "What do I want to communicate? How can I get people to understand me?" It's often a selfish perspective that we have, even if we don't intend it to be. Perhaps, if we try changing our view of communication to "What does he/she want to communicate? How can I understand him/her?" then the level of understanding in our society would be much better.

Joseph Smith once explained, "And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in the celestial kingdom], only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy."¹⁰ Communication is a part of that sociality. If we can realize how powerful our communication can be, then we can use it to bless the lives of others and help each other make the progress necessary to grow and fill our future potential as children of God.

This life is all about relationships. May we all be willing to communicate with each other and seek to understand one other, so that we can strengthen the relationships we have and build new, everlasting ones.


References:
1. Ballard, R.M. "Our Search for Happiness". Salt Lake City, Utah. 2006, M. Russell Ballard.
2. Ballard, R.M. "Our Search for Happiness". Salt Lake City, Utah. 2006, M. Russell Ballard. Page 1.
3. Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 4:17
4. Deuteronomy 6:7; Matthew 4:23
5. Luke 24:27; Alma 18:39
6. 1 Timothy 6:2; D&C 19:37
7. John 3:11; Jacob 7:11
8. Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:10-11; 3 Nephi 14:7-8; D&C 4:7
9. Covey, S.R. "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change". New York. 1989 by Stephen R. Covey. Page 240.
10. D&C 130:2

The Gospel As Absolute Truth & Revelation

I had an interesting experience lately. I had the opportunity to attend a Christmas choir concert in a church. Wonderful performance. Before the performance began, I took the time to peruse the Bible that was on the back of the pew in front of me. Reading passages here and there caused me to reflect on the gospel during the duration of the performance. I thought about the church I was in, it being of a different denomination than I attend, and thought about the different views people have on Christianity and the gospel as a whole. Many thoughts came to mind during the concert and I enjoyed writing them down and thinking about them. I wish to share my thoughts here in an organized fashion and hope to elicit a desire of understanding and deeper thought of what the gospel of Jesus Christ is about.

First, I wish to take the position that the gospel of Jesus Christ is an absolute truth - specifically, the principles and laws contained therein; meaning, it is unchanging and cannot be compromised. God has mentioned repeatedly that He is the same and does not change ¹. If this be the case, and his gospel comes from Him, then the nature of the gospel would also be unchanging, therefore absolute. Our own personal views on any aspect of the gospel cannot change or alter this fact, despite what we may believe. One who has not traveled to Germany may well believe that such a place does not exist. Does that mean he is right, because that is his conviction? No. The fact remains, regardless, that Germany does exist. It is an absolute truth and it cannot be refuted. So is it with the principles and laws contained in the gospel. The gospel as a whole is absolute truth, meaning everything within it is to be defined as such also.

If the gospel of Jesus Christ is absolute truth, then why would it be important for us to know that? To answer the question, I want to give you something basic - a simple absolute truth: water. Water in it's most basic form is H₂O. If you take away any element of this formula, then you no longer have water. In order for water to be water, you must have the precise amount of Hydrogen and the precise amount of Oxygen; otherwise, you have a completely different substance. The same holds true with laws of the gospel. In order for us to be joint heirs ² with our Savior, Jesus Christ, we must do specific things to accomplish that. If we are to be able to stand in the presence of the Lord, we must do certain things ³. The principle here is a form of the law of harvest: if we are to obtain something, we must do certain things to obtain it. In order for us to progress and come unto our Savior and ultimately our Father in Heaven, we must do certain things, those things contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

However, false perceptions hinder our ability to progress and grow closer to our Father and our Savior. Our progression will be limited, because we lack the knowledge of what we need to do in order to propel us closer toward becoming an heir with God. This is why it is important to understand that the gospel is an absolute truth. Once we understand this, we realize there are specific principles and laws pertaining to the gospel that will allow us to apply the Lord's atonement and grace to salvation.

How is this to be done? How are we to know what those principles and laws are? A simple answer might be to read the Bible or scriptures. However, there are literally thousands of sects in Christendom professing to interpret the meaning of the scriptures correctly, with each sect having a slightly different view than the other. My proposal is that we go to the source. The scriptures are not the source of all truth (though I have often heard many claim them to be). God is. The scriptures are but one way of communicating that truth, or in other words, the gospel. So how then do we go to the Source? Perhaps at this time, we cannot physically go to Him, but we can communicate with Him. That way of communication is called revelation, defined by a dictionary as "God's disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures...an instance of such communication or disclosure" ⁴. Revelation comes by several ways, such as prophets, scriptures (which are, more specifically, revelations prophets of old have received), prayer, the Holy Ghost, manifestations, visions, and so forth. We can all receive personal revelation, meaning we can have personal communication with God, our Father. However, it is important to note a few things regarding revelation:

1. Revelation comes by authority from a member of the Godhead (which consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost).
2. As we strive to exercise faith, repent of our sins, make covenants through ordinances with God and keep them, have the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and are obedient to the commandments of God, we increase our ability to receive and understand revelation.
3. When we act on revelation (meaning, we apply it in our lives and do it), we may receive greater revelations.

Now, as previously mentioned, God is the source of all truth. With this in mind, and God is endless and eternal ⁵, then it must be so with revelation. There is no end to revelation. It is not limited - or, in other words, it can be limited only as far as we are ready to receive it. If this is true - and I say that it is - then we have not received all of God's word. Think about it. Technology is still advancing. There are still things that have yet to be discovered and invented. And when something is invented, there are always new improvements and spin-offs of the original invention. The same principle holds true with revelation. There is still much to be revealed to us by our Father in Heaven! We still have much to learn if we are to be His heirs.

Heavenly Father wants us to receive revelation for ourselves. I have shown you earlier that He does. So why does He want us to receive revelation? What is in it for Him? I wish to answer that question with a scenario. Picture yourself on your death bed. What do you think you will have hoped to have accomplished in your life? Someone once said, "No one on his deathbed ever said 'I wish I had spent more time on my business.'"⁶ Most likely, you'll be thinking about relationships with family, friends, and those you've associated with - those you love. Happiness is to be found in loving others and being loved. We learn from Moses that it "is [God's] work and [His] glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."⁷ He does His work because He loves us. He desires that we be happy and receive a fullness of joy, which comes through gaining eternal life. In order for us to obtain eternal life, we must know "the only true God, and Jesus Christ"⁸, which comes by revelation (They will reveal Themselves unto us ⁹). Therefore, eternal life comes by revelation, and God wants us to have eternal life. This is why He wants us to receive revelation for ourselves.

In closing, I wish to add a few personal thoughts. There are many things I don't know. I am still in my twenties and am aware that there are many people in the world who have much more knowledge and wisdom than I have, and perhaps may ever have in this life. However, there are a few things that I do know for myself. God is our Father. He loves us. He loves me. He wants us to be happy and wants us to know who He is. We can pray to Him, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we can receive answers from Him. We will receive answers, when we have faith that He is there and that He hears us. I know because of several experiences in my own life.

It is with this knowledge that I ask you not to criticize, put down, or accuse me of saying anything you might think is false. I'm sure there are many who may throw out scriptures and beliefs to try and prove me wrong. If that would be the case, then the question still remains: "If there is truth out there to be found, which of us is right?" That is why I submit that we go to the Source. If we have faith to get an answer, we will get one. If we don't have faith, then our prayer is in vain. ¹⁰


Footnotes:
1. Malachi 3:6 (3 Nephi 24:6); Hebrews 13:8; Moroni 8:18; Mormon 9:9; D&C 20:12, 17
2. Romans 8:17
3. Psalms 24:3-5
4. Random House Webster's College Dictionary. 1999 by Random House, Inc. Page 1127.

^{A side note to the word revelation: in the bible it corresponds with the word apocalypse, which comes from the Greek word apokalyptein, literally meaning "uncovering". The word apocalypse was "developed in English from earlier Apokalypsis (name of the last book of the New Testament, usually called Revelation), probably about 1200, in The Ormulum." (Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, copyright 1998 The H.W. Wilson Company, page 42)}

5. Moses 4:4; Daniel 9:3-4; Enos 1:4; John 17; 3 Nephi 17:15-18; Joseph Smith - History 1:14-17; D&C 121:6
6. Matthew 7:7; James 1:5
5. Psalm 90:2; 1Timothy 1:17; 1 Nephi 10:19; Moroni 7:22; D&C 19:10
6. Ralph Keyes. The Quote Verifier. New York: Ralph Keyes, 2006.
7. Moses 1:39
8. John 17:3
9. John 14:16-18, 21, 23; also, compare with Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 150-151.
10. Matthew 7:7; James 1:5-6