My post today is a little more like a journal entry than my typical post. I guess it is the Christmas season, or another year winding up, but my heart has been pretty full and I feel so blessed. I hope to be able to share some thoughts intelligently.
Over the past 10 days or so, I have been greatly influenced by three books. They are “Beloved Enos” by Denver Snuffer, “The Hidden Christ” by James Ferrell, and “The Beloved Bridegroom” by Donna Nielsen.
Donna Nielsen is a wonderful woman that lives here locally in Salt Lake City. She has built a name for herself as an expert in ancient Jewish culture. She has been a speaker at Education Week and also has a couple of talks on CD. On one of these CD’s she told a story that I could really relate to.
When I was a child and went to the doctor’s office, one of my favorite things to do was to look at Highlights magazine. My favorite part of Highlights was a drawing that at first glace was simply some kind of landscape drawing. Upon greater inspection, however, it became apparent that there were “hidden items” in the picture. These were items like a comb, or a teacup, or a pencil. It was fun to find all of them. Donna Nielsen’s point is that the gospel similarly has many hidden symbols that are not apparent until close inspection.
During the course of 2009, I have been blessed in so many ways… certainly in more ways than I deserve. I have learned so much about the gospel. It seems I have learned more about the Savior in the last year than I have through my entire life. I have learned more about sacred symbols than at any other time. I have learned these from personal revelation or from reading the books of great men and women like those listed above. Many times it has been a combination of the two.
Denver Snuffer, an author most of you have never heard of, has taught me that it truly is possible to have a personal witness of the Savior Jesus Christ in this life. He taught me that the books of first and second Nephi do indeed contain the fullness of the gospel. I attend the Temple differently and much more frequently since reading his first book “The Second Comforter”. His book “Beloved Enos” takes the single chapter of the book of Enos and teaches a profound lesson about symbols and personal revelation.
I’ve learned from James Ferrell’s “The Hidden Christ” that Christ can be found throughout the entire Old Testament. I have always heard this to be true but I guess I am too dense to see the parallels myself. When someone else shows them to me, they seem so obvious.
From Donna Nielsen I have learned that Christ’s parables make much more sense if you understand the context in which they are written. To understand the parable of The Wedding Feast, and of the Ten Virgins it is important to know about Jewish culture of the day. Nielsen writes “An knowledge of the Biblical marriage imagery can greatly enrich our understanding of how God relates to us through covenants. Biblical covenant marriage imagery encompasses principles as diverse as Sabbath observance, the Atonement, temple worship, and missionary work. It literally begins with Adam and ends with Zion.”
I went to the LDS Conference Center during the Christmas Season and saw “Savior of the World”. It was really great. Much of the first act of the play has to do with Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, and Mary and Joseph and the significance of their betrothal and marriage. Reading Donna Nielsen’s book has shed an unbelievable amount of light on everything that happened in those two stories and why they are significant.
In addition to great books, I have had many great experiences just brought about by life. Not all of them have been pleasant but they have taught me that Heavenly Father is in charge…and that he loves us. I have learned so much about being a parent this year by following the pattern of our Heavenly Father and His parenting methods to me. I have learned much by the example of faithful saints with whom I have served.
Yesterday I attended the funeral of Steve McAllister, a man I greatly admired. After his funeral, and all the things that were said, I admire him even more. Steve was the Stake Clerk in the Holladay North Stake. I don’t know exactly how many years he served but he was the clerk while I was on the high council; under the leadership of two Stake Presidents.
A really great poem by Rudyard Kipling titled "The Sons of Martha" was read. It was one of Steve's favorites. It deals with the story of Mary and Martha in the New Testament and goes on to explain how some are destined to be "behind the scenes". It was very moving. That was Steve... happy to be a clerk. I have so much to learn.
The Sons of Martha
Rudyard Kipling 1907
The sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited
that good part;
But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the
careful soul and the troubled heart.
And because she lost her temper once, and because she
was rude to the Lord her Guest,
Her Sons must wait upon Mary's Sons, world without
end, reprieve, or rest.
It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and
cushion the shock.
It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that
the switches lock.
It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care
to embark and entrain,
Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by
land and main.
They say to mountains, "Be ye removed." They say to
the lesser floods, "Be dry."
Under their rods are the rocks reproved-they are not
afraid of that which is high.
Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit-then is the
bed of the deep laid bare,
That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly
sleeping and unaware.
They finger death at their gloves' end where they piece
and repiece the living wires.
He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry
behind their fires.
Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into
his terrible stall,
And hale him forth a haltered steer, and goad and turn
him till evenfall.
To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till
death is Relief afar.
They are concerned with matters hidden - under the
earthline their altars are-
The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to
restore to the mouth,
And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again
at a city's drouth.
They do not preach that their God will rouse them a
little before the nuts work loose.
They do not teach that His Pity allows them to drop
their job when they dam'-well choose.
As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark
and the desert they stand,
Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren's
day may be long in the land.
Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path
more fair or flat -
Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha
spilled for that!
Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness
to any creed,
But simple service simply given to his own kind in their
common need.
And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessed - they
know the Angels are on their side.
They know in them is the Grace confessed, and for
them are the Mercies multiplied.
They sit at the Feet - they hear the Word - they see
how truly the Promise runs.
They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and - the
Lord He lays it on Martha's Sons!
Both Stake Presidents spoke at the funeral yesterday—President Steven J. Scott, and President David C. Marriott. Both men have been great influences in my life. President Scott was the stake president that called me to the high council. He is the greatest mentor I have had in my life. At a time of a serious trial in my life—he was my closest friend. I hope that I can be as faithful as he has been throughout my life. His wife Carol is equally wonderful. Both talks by both men were wonderful and I was blessed.
As the year draws to a close, I want all who are reading this blog to know that I know that our Heavenly Father lives and that He loves us. I know that His dear Son Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the world. I know that we can be forgiven of our own sins and that we can forgive others through the example of the Savior.
May we all be better in the year to come!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Joseph, Son of Jacob
It has probably become obvious to most of you that I read a lot. I really enjoy reading. I wake up around 5am every morning and try to read for an hour and a half before going on my morning run or swim. On great days like today I wake up at 4:30… well rested and can get two hours of reading in! I always give top priority to scripture study. I feel like I read intently and that I think about and ponder the things I am reading. I really try to understand what I am reading. Then something happens like happened this past weekend. I read someone else’s commentary on a particular topic or scripture, and it is something that I never would have thought of on my own. I can see someone else’s inspiration…. and wonder about my own.
For Christmas I received James L. Ferrell’s new book “The Hidden Christ; Beneath the Surface of the Old Testament”. It is a great book by a man who has had a big influence in my life with another of his books “The Peacegiver.”
Chapter 7 in “The Hidden Christ” is on the topic of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by his brothers. Coincidentally this is exactly where I am reading in “The Book of Jasher.” In Jasher the story goes into much more detail than the Old Testament. I have been really enthralled by the story and have had a hard time putting it down. However, after reading Brother Ferrell’s comments on this story… I see that I have missed the point entirely!
Ferrell write’s “The story of Joseph in Egypt is one of the most stunning in all of scripture. There is far more to Joseph and his story than meets the eye, however. For example, do you know that the story of his saving Israel from the drought is exactly parallel to the story of how Israel is being saved through the Book of Mormon in the latter days? And do you know the extent and depth to which Joseph’s story is parallel to the Savior’s? And how his brothers’ stories are parallel to ours? And how the story of the reunion of Joseph with his brothers is also a story of our reunion with the Lord? And how that story will stir your soul when you see it? Joseph is as relevant today as ever. After all, he dreamed about us.”
Farrell goes on to explain how Joseph saved Israel in two ways: he saved them temporally by providing them food, and he saved them spiritually by providing them deliverance. These two types of “saving” came to Joseph by the means of two dreams. They are a s follows: “And he said unto his brothers, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.” (Gen. 37: 6,7). In the next verse Joseph related his second dream. “And Joseph dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me”. Jacob rebuked his son: “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow ourselves to thee to the earth?”
Ferrell writes “What are we to make of these two dreams? On one level, the interpretations seem obvious: Both imply that the family would bow before Joseph. But why two dreams? And if two dreams, why two different dreams? What meaning might there be in their similarities and differences?”
While both dreams imply that Joseph’s family would bow to him but only the second one includes his mother and father, and the sun, moon, and stars. Ferrell goes on to explain why the first dream implies that his family would bow to him temporally and the second dream implies they would bow spiritually.
Everyone knows the story of how Joseph saved his family temporally so I will not go into detail on this one. We know that when his family came to Egypt looking for food, they bowed before him. This was a fulfillment of this prophecy.
Farrell continues “Jacob recognized that Joseph’s role in providing food to the house of Israel and saving them from death was a direct fulfillment of the prophecy communicated in Joseph’s dreams. But Jacob also recognized, as Joseph’s dual dreams suggested, that there would yet be a future deliverance at Joseph’s hand—this one a spiritual deliverance: ‘Thy brethren shall bow down unto thee, from generation to generation,’ he declared, ‘unto the fruit of thy loins forever; For thou shalt be a light unto my people, to deliver them in the days of their captivity, from bondage; and to bring salvation unto them, when they are altogether bowed down under sin.
The parallel nature of Joseph’s dreams suggest that this future spiritual deliverance would parallel the pattern of deliverance established in Egypt. This pattern was as follows:
1. Joseph was broken off to a place apart from the rest of the House of Israel.
2. Joseph resided in a distant land, unknown to his family.
3. The experiences of Joseph in the distant land prepared for the salvation of Israel.
4. Israel began to be saved when they learned of Joseph who was separated.
5. The house of Israel bowed before Joseph.”
Israel’s spiritual deliverance unfolds in precisely the same way.
Just before his death, Joseph prophesied “And it shall come to pass that Israel shall be scattered again; and a branch of the fruit of the loins of Joseph shall be broken off, and shall be carried away into a far country.” (JST Gen. 50)
Ferrell continues “This prophecy is fulfilled in the story of Lehi, a descendant of Joseph, who was led away from the land of Israel to a land apart”.
In order to keep this post as short as possible, I will not go on to explain how this prophecy is fulfilled by Lehi’s move to the promised land. It seems quite obvious to those familiar with the Book of Mormon. I recommend Ferrell’s book to those want more. I would however like to outline another point of Farrell’s and that is how Joseph as a temporal and spiritual deliverer, was a type and shadow of the Saviors temporal and spiritual deliverance.
Ferrell write “Consider the majesty of Joseph’s deliverance: He saved Israel from physical death, and will save Israel from spiritual death. In overcoming the two deaths, the beloved son of Israel is in the similitude of the Beloved Son of the Father.
The following are true both of Joseph and the Lord:
• He is the beloved son.
• He reveals that he will rule over Israel.
• The children of Israel reject him out of jealousy and hate. Notwithstanding their mistreatment of him, he seeks out his brethren on behalf of his father
• But the children of Israel conspire to kill him.
• He is betrayed by the hand of Judah—or in Greek, Judas.
• He is sold for the price of a slave of his age.
• This very attempt to destroy him sets in motion events that will eventually save the house of Israel from death.
• He resists temptation perfectly.
• He begins his public mission of preparing salvation for Israel at the age of thirty.
• He provides bread for Israel, saving them from death.
• He offers that bread without a price.
• In the offering of that bread, he offers the opportunity to repent.
The extent of the parallelism is remarkable. When we understand that Joseph is a similitude of the Savior, the relationship with his brothers suddenly takes on a very personal significance. For, in an important way, Joseph’s brothers are in similitude of us. Through our sins, we, in effect, have thrown the Savior into the pit. We are the cause of his suffering—suffering that has a type in Joseph. “
As I read this chapter this morning, I couldn’t help but weep. I wept for the suffering that the Savior bore for me. I wept that I hadn’t seen this parallel by reading the story on my own. I also wept as I thought of the prophet Joseph Smith. As a young man, and as unlearned as he was, Joseph Smith nor any other man, could ever have fabricated a story that is so intertwined with the Old and New Testaments. Prophecy was fulfilled by Lehi bringing his small family out of Jerusalem into the promised land. My personal witness was strengthened today.
For Christmas I received James L. Ferrell’s new book “The Hidden Christ; Beneath the Surface of the Old Testament”. It is a great book by a man who has had a big influence in my life with another of his books “The Peacegiver.”
Chapter 7 in “The Hidden Christ” is on the topic of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by his brothers. Coincidentally this is exactly where I am reading in “The Book of Jasher.” In Jasher the story goes into much more detail than the Old Testament. I have been really enthralled by the story and have had a hard time putting it down. However, after reading Brother Ferrell’s comments on this story… I see that I have missed the point entirely!
Ferrell write’s “The story of Joseph in Egypt is one of the most stunning in all of scripture. There is far more to Joseph and his story than meets the eye, however. For example, do you know that the story of his saving Israel from the drought is exactly parallel to the story of how Israel is being saved through the Book of Mormon in the latter days? And do you know the extent and depth to which Joseph’s story is parallel to the Savior’s? And how his brothers’ stories are parallel to ours? And how the story of the reunion of Joseph with his brothers is also a story of our reunion with the Lord? And how that story will stir your soul when you see it? Joseph is as relevant today as ever. After all, he dreamed about us.”
Farrell goes on to explain how Joseph saved Israel in two ways: he saved them temporally by providing them food, and he saved them spiritually by providing them deliverance. These two types of “saving” came to Joseph by the means of two dreams. They are a s follows: “And he said unto his brothers, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.” (Gen. 37: 6,7). In the next verse Joseph related his second dream. “And Joseph dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me”. Jacob rebuked his son: “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow ourselves to thee to the earth?”
Ferrell writes “What are we to make of these two dreams? On one level, the interpretations seem obvious: Both imply that the family would bow before Joseph. But why two dreams? And if two dreams, why two different dreams? What meaning might there be in their similarities and differences?”
While both dreams imply that Joseph’s family would bow to him but only the second one includes his mother and father, and the sun, moon, and stars. Ferrell goes on to explain why the first dream implies that his family would bow to him temporally and the second dream implies they would bow spiritually.
Everyone knows the story of how Joseph saved his family temporally so I will not go into detail on this one. We know that when his family came to Egypt looking for food, they bowed before him. This was a fulfillment of this prophecy.
Farrell continues “Jacob recognized that Joseph’s role in providing food to the house of Israel and saving them from death was a direct fulfillment of the prophecy communicated in Joseph’s dreams. But Jacob also recognized, as Joseph’s dual dreams suggested, that there would yet be a future deliverance at Joseph’s hand—this one a spiritual deliverance: ‘Thy brethren shall bow down unto thee, from generation to generation,’ he declared, ‘unto the fruit of thy loins forever; For thou shalt be a light unto my people, to deliver them in the days of their captivity, from bondage; and to bring salvation unto them, when they are altogether bowed down under sin.
The parallel nature of Joseph’s dreams suggest that this future spiritual deliverance would parallel the pattern of deliverance established in Egypt. This pattern was as follows:
1. Joseph was broken off to a place apart from the rest of the House of Israel.
2. Joseph resided in a distant land, unknown to his family.
3. The experiences of Joseph in the distant land prepared for the salvation of Israel.
4. Israel began to be saved when they learned of Joseph who was separated.
5. The house of Israel bowed before Joseph.”
Israel’s spiritual deliverance unfolds in precisely the same way.
Just before his death, Joseph prophesied “And it shall come to pass that Israel shall be scattered again; and a branch of the fruit of the loins of Joseph shall be broken off, and shall be carried away into a far country.” (JST Gen. 50)
Ferrell continues “This prophecy is fulfilled in the story of Lehi, a descendant of Joseph, who was led away from the land of Israel to a land apart”.
In order to keep this post as short as possible, I will not go on to explain how this prophecy is fulfilled by Lehi’s move to the promised land. It seems quite obvious to those familiar with the Book of Mormon. I recommend Ferrell’s book to those want more. I would however like to outline another point of Farrell’s and that is how Joseph as a temporal and spiritual deliverer, was a type and shadow of the Saviors temporal and spiritual deliverance.
Ferrell write “Consider the majesty of Joseph’s deliverance: He saved Israel from physical death, and will save Israel from spiritual death. In overcoming the two deaths, the beloved son of Israel is in the similitude of the Beloved Son of the Father.
The following are true both of Joseph and the Lord:
• He is the beloved son.
• He reveals that he will rule over Israel.
• The children of Israel reject him out of jealousy and hate. Notwithstanding their mistreatment of him, he seeks out his brethren on behalf of his father
• But the children of Israel conspire to kill him.
• He is betrayed by the hand of Judah—or in Greek, Judas.
• He is sold for the price of a slave of his age.
• This very attempt to destroy him sets in motion events that will eventually save the house of Israel from death.
• He resists temptation perfectly.
• He begins his public mission of preparing salvation for Israel at the age of thirty.
• He provides bread for Israel, saving them from death.
• He offers that bread without a price.
• In the offering of that bread, he offers the opportunity to repent.
The extent of the parallelism is remarkable. When we understand that Joseph is a similitude of the Savior, the relationship with his brothers suddenly takes on a very personal significance. For, in an important way, Joseph’s brothers are in similitude of us. Through our sins, we, in effect, have thrown the Savior into the pit. We are the cause of his suffering—suffering that has a type in Joseph. “
As I read this chapter this morning, I couldn’t help but weep. I wept for the suffering that the Savior bore for me. I wept that I hadn’t seen this parallel by reading the story on my own. I also wept as I thought of the prophet Joseph Smith. As a young man, and as unlearned as he was, Joseph Smith nor any other man, could ever have fabricated a story that is so intertwined with the Old and New Testaments. Prophecy was fulfilled by Lehi bringing his small family out of Jerusalem into the promised land. My personal witness was strengthened today.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Rich Young Man
Every now and then I read something that so profoundly touches me that I feel forever changed by it. Yesterday I had one of those experiences. I hope to be able to express my feelings adequately.
This is undoubtedly one of the most personal posts I have made on this blog. It expresses one of my greatest weaknesses. It is a weakness that I have always had but not really understood until yesterday. I hope you can be patient with me.
Brother Denver Snuffer is an author that I greatly admire. This year alone I have read his “The Second Comforter” 5 times and have given at least a half-dozen copies to others. I have read “Nephi’s Isaiah” twice, “Eighteen Verses” once, “Beloved Enos” once, and now “Come, Let US Adore Him” once. I have learned a tremendous amount from each one of them and have had several of these profound experiences from them. Yesterday’s came form his newest book “Come, Let Us Adore Him”.
Chapter 10 of this book is titled “The Rich Young Man”. Of course it tells the story found in the New Testament of the rich young man that came to the Savior asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.
In Matthew 19 we read “16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. “
Brother Snuffer writes “In answer to the young man’s question about what he must do, Christ replied simply, ‘keep the commandments.’ All of us may have hope for eternal life by keeping the commandments. But the young man knew there had to be more. He knew that people who believed in Christ, and people who were critics of Christ, all tried in their own way to keep the commandments. To the credit of the young man he wanted more. He wanted the kind of spiritual certitude that comes from something more than mere outward obedience. He wanted his heart to be right before God. So he pressed the point with Christ and asked : ‘Which?’ His question implies that if there was a commandment that could answer the awful need, the nagging uncertainty inside him, and if Christ would tell him what it was, he would readily conform to that key commandment. This was a sincere young man who genuinely wanted to find the missing key to true worship.”
Christ goes on to rehearse the Ten Commandments where the young man replies “And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these I have observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10: 20-21)
Over the years I have learned a lot from this story in regards to not being greedy and not being unduly caught up in the material things of the world. Quite frankly I felt like I had learned all there was to learn form this story and was doing pretty well in this area…. until yesterday.
For many years as an adult I lived a pretty average life as a Latter-Day Saint. I tried to obey the commandments. I attended the Temple regularly, and filled several key positions in the church. I felt I was mostly on the right track. Of course I had weaknesses but I felt they were pretty common and that I was doing as well as anyone else.
In 2004, however, I felt the Lord “snatched” me out of my average life and said “I expect more out of you Scott” and proceeded to put me in some opportunities to really change. Then, a year or so later he said “you are not moving quite fast enough” and proceeded to tear my world apart. The next three years were an emotional and spiritual roller coaster.
With the help of a loving Heavenly Father I was able to learn from and move on from this particular trial. Since that time I have really tried to be better in every part of my life. I try harder to keep the commandments. I attend the temple more frequently. I read and pray much more meaningfully. As a result, I have been blessed beyond my understanding.
Due to the profound trials and blessings I have had, I began to think that Heavenly Father must have something very important for me to do; therefore he is giving me all these experiences. At the same time my friends were being called to presiding positions in the church and I began to want the blessings they were receiving from serving in these positions. In my mind it was all honorable and for “serving the Lord better.” I found myself wanting more. I wanted a more sure knowledge of things. I want the ministering of angels. I want greater understanding of the mysteries. All of this changed yesterday when I read Brother Snuffer’s commentary on The Rich Young Man.
As I read Brother Snuffer’s book, the eyes of my understanding were opened and I clearly saw myself in this story. I have felt that all of my intentions have been honorable, but suddenly I saw myself asking the Lord “Which?” He gave me a clear answer that cut me to the very core that didn’t say “sell all you have”, but asked “are you willing to go unnoticed?”
The last couple of days have been very humbling. I have spent quite some time pondering how noble my intentions have been. I have asked myself over and over again if I have been serving with an eye single to God’s glory or if that has just been in my mind? Am I guilty of seeking the spotlight while thinking I am doing it for God? I have prayed earnestly and have learned I must repent and humble myself again. I want my heart to be right with God. I must seek His will.
This is undoubtedly one of the most personal posts I have made on this blog. It expresses one of my greatest weaknesses. It is a weakness that I have always had but not really understood until yesterday. I hope you can be patient with me.
Brother Denver Snuffer is an author that I greatly admire. This year alone I have read his “The Second Comforter” 5 times and have given at least a half-dozen copies to others. I have read “Nephi’s Isaiah” twice, “Eighteen Verses” once, “Beloved Enos” once, and now “Come, Let US Adore Him” once. I have learned a tremendous amount from each one of them and have had several of these profound experiences from them. Yesterday’s came form his newest book “Come, Let Us Adore Him”.
Chapter 10 of this book is titled “The Rich Young Man”. Of course it tells the story found in the New Testament of the rich young man that came to the Savior asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.
In Matthew 19 we read “16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. “
Brother Snuffer writes “In answer to the young man’s question about what he must do, Christ replied simply, ‘keep the commandments.’ All of us may have hope for eternal life by keeping the commandments. But the young man knew there had to be more. He knew that people who believed in Christ, and people who were critics of Christ, all tried in their own way to keep the commandments. To the credit of the young man he wanted more. He wanted the kind of spiritual certitude that comes from something more than mere outward obedience. He wanted his heart to be right before God. So he pressed the point with Christ and asked : ‘Which?’ His question implies that if there was a commandment that could answer the awful need, the nagging uncertainty inside him, and if Christ would tell him what it was, he would readily conform to that key commandment. This was a sincere young man who genuinely wanted to find the missing key to true worship.”
Christ goes on to rehearse the Ten Commandments where the young man replies “And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these I have observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10: 20-21)
Over the years I have learned a lot from this story in regards to not being greedy and not being unduly caught up in the material things of the world. Quite frankly I felt like I had learned all there was to learn form this story and was doing pretty well in this area…. until yesterday.
For many years as an adult I lived a pretty average life as a Latter-Day Saint. I tried to obey the commandments. I attended the Temple regularly, and filled several key positions in the church. I felt I was mostly on the right track. Of course I had weaknesses but I felt they were pretty common and that I was doing as well as anyone else.
In 2004, however, I felt the Lord “snatched” me out of my average life and said “I expect more out of you Scott” and proceeded to put me in some opportunities to really change. Then, a year or so later he said “you are not moving quite fast enough” and proceeded to tear my world apart. The next three years were an emotional and spiritual roller coaster.
With the help of a loving Heavenly Father I was able to learn from and move on from this particular trial. Since that time I have really tried to be better in every part of my life. I try harder to keep the commandments. I attend the temple more frequently. I read and pray much more meaningfully. As a result, I have been blessed beyond my understanding.
Due to the profound trials and blessings I have had, I began to think that Heavenly Father must have something very important for me to do; therefore he is giving me all these experiences. At the same time my friends were being called to presiding positions in the church and I began to want the blessings they were receiving from serving in these positions. In my mind it was all honorable and for “serving the Lord better.” I found myself wanting more. I wanted a more sure knowledge of things. I want the ministering of angels. I want greater understanding of the mysteries. All of this changed yesterday when I read Brother Snuffer’s commentary on The Rich Young Man.
As I read Brother Snuffer’s book, the eyes of my understanding were opened and I clearly saw myself in this story. I have felt that all of my intentions have been honorable, but suddenly I saw myself asking the Lord “Which?” He gave me a clear answer that cut me to the very core that didn’t say “sell all you have”, but asked “are you willing to go unnoticed?”
The last couple of days have been very humbling. I have spent quite some time pondering how noble my intentions have been. I have asked myself over and over again if I have been serving with an eye single to God’s glory or if that has just been in my mind? Am I guilty of seeking the spotlight while thinking I am doing it for God? I have prayed earnestly and have learned I must repent and humble myself again. I want my heart to be right with God. I must seek His will.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Adam, Where art Thou?
Some weeks ago I was talking to my good friend Jason Hewlett (If you don’t know who Jason is, Google him and you will be blessed) and asked him if he had read any good books lately. He told me that one of his favorites was “Clay in the Masters Hands” by R. Wayne Shute. Trusting his opinion I went looking for it at all my usual book sources but was unable to find it. I ultimately bought it online from Latter Day Light Books.
“Clay in the Master’s Hands” is a compilation of stories by well known LDS authors on the topic of understanding trials. I was moved by several of the stories but am writing today about the one by Brother Wayne Shute himself. It is found in the final chapter of the book that bears the same name as the title.
Brother Shute starts out his chapter by reminding us that this life is a testing ground. He then goes on to explain by a couple of compelling examples that “there are no shortcuts to greatness.” If we are to be found worthy to become joint heirs with the Savior, and to receive all that the Father has, we have some serious proving of ourselves to do. Shute writes “If we accept the fact that we are being tested when tribulation comes our way, even tribulation beyond our control, we might prepare ourselves for the test. And, from time to time, Heavenly Father may ask us for an ongoing report as to how we are meeting the challenges of mortal adversity. He might very well say to us as he said to Adam in the Garden of Eden, Adam, where art thou?” or in other words, “where art thou in terms of maintaining your faith in me as you face the difficulties of mortality?”
On this topic, Martin Buber, a German Hasidic philosopher/scholar wrote “God called out “Adam, where art thou?” He knew where Adam was, but He asked the question to see if Adam knew where he was. So it is with us as we face tribulation. He knows we are suffering and He knows how well we are handling it. The question, however, is intended to help us see where we are dealing with the challenges of life, and to remind us of our relationship with Him and that there is a purpose in meeting the challenges we may be facing.”
In asking the question, God doesn’t expect to learn something He does not know. By asking this question, God intends to produce in us a look inward, to see where we are in our relationship with Him, to see how we are doing in the brief time allotted us in mortality. What He intends to do by asking this question is to produce in Adam, and all of us, an effect which helps us see where we are in facing the responsibilities which He places upon us.
“Clay in the Master’s Hands” is a compilation of stories by well known LDS authors on the topic of understanding trials. I was moved by several of the stories but am writing today about the one by Brother Wayne Shute himself. It is found in the final chapter of the book that bears the same name as the title.
Brother Shute starts out his chapter by reminding us that this life is a testing ground. He then goes on to explain by a couple of compelling examples that “there are no shortcuts to greatness.” If we are to be found worthy to become joint heirs with the Savior, and to receive all that the Father has, we have some serious proving of ourselves to do. Shute writes “If we accept the fact that we are being tested when tribulation comes our way, even tribulation beyond our control, we might prepare ourselves for the test. And, from time to time, Heavenly Father may ask us for an ongoing report as to how we are meeting the challenges of mortal adversity. He might very well say to us as he said to Adam in the Garden of Eden, Adam, where art thou?” or in other words, “where art thou in terms of maintaining your faith in me as you face the difficulties of mortality?”
On this topic, Martin Buber, a German Hasidic philosopher/scholar wrote “God called out “Adam, where art thou?” He knew where Adam was, but He asked the question to see if Adam knew where he was. So it is with us as we face tribulation. He knows we are suffering and He knows how well we are handling it. The question, however, is intended to help us see where we are dealing with the challenges of life, and to remind us of our relationship with Him and that there is a purpose in meeting the challenges we may be facing.”
In asking the question, God doesn’t expect to learn something He does not know. By asking this question, God intends to produce in us a look inward, to see where we are in our relationship with Him, to see how we are doing in the brief time allotted us in mortality. What He intends to do by asking this question is to produce in Adam, and all of us, an effect which helps us see where we are in facing the responsibilities which He places upon us.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Gospel of Judas Iscariot
Several Weeks ago I picked up an interesting book at Benchmark Books called “The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot”: I was intrigued by the title. The author is Bart D. Ehrman; a New York Times best selling author and a professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina. I learned some great things by this book and would like to share a few of them.
The Gospel of Judas Iscariot is an ancient scroll that was found in the 1970’s by archeologist. But due to a variety of circumstances… mostly involving money, it was not published. Because of mishandling over the next 30 years it was almost destroyed. In about 2005 National Geographic acquired it and produced a documentary that aired in April of 2006.
The Gospel of Judas was not written by Judas himself. However, according to Ehrman it is the oldest known original New Testament text. The copy found was written in about 400 A.D. This appears to be about 200 years older than any other New Testament text. Therefore it has tremendous value.
It appears to have been written by a group of people known as Gnostic. The Gnostics were a religious group that seems to have Christian roots but mingled with “the teachings of men”. Much of what I read shows that in 400 A.D., the Great Apostasy was well under way. It appears that a group of these people highly favored Judas Iscariot.
The back of the book has this excerpt “Throughout the Christian tradition Judas has been portrayed as the rotten apple in the apostolic barrel. Nowhere in the Christian tradition has he been treated kindly. Until now. The Gospel of Judas insists that Judas was the only one of the disciples who understood hi Lord… Only Judas had a glimpse of the truth. And to him alone did Jesus reveal all that needs to be known.”
This idea intrigued me at first. Several years ago I read a series of books by Andrew Skinner that were titled “Gethsemane”, “Golgotha”, and “The Garden Tomb” (I highly recommend this series). Skinner proposed an idea in one of these books that has remained with me. Now he wasn’t proposing this idea as fact, but simply a different way of looking at Judas. He essentially said that he couldn’t comprehend that one of Jesus’ most faithful followers would turn against him. He instead proposed the idea that Judas truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. His problem was that Jesus just wasn’t acting fast enough in saving the Jews. He therefore decided to turn Jesus over to the enemy believing full well that angels would come down to protect him, and force His glory to be proven. He was stunned at the outcome and therefore “went and wept bitterly”.
I am not saying that I believe this idea but it has caused me to do some serious thinking. It doesn’t seem to make Judas any less guilty; he was still following Satan by “forcing” others to be saved. He was also not being humble in saying “thy will be done” but rather “my will be done”. How many of us are guilty of this?
The greatest things I learned from “The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot” was Bible history that is known among scholars; but unfamiliar to me. Ehrman writes “It comes as a surprise to many people to learn that our earliest source for knowing about the life of Jesus is not one of the Gospels of the New Testament but the writings of the Apostle Paul. Even though the Gospels are placed first in the New Testament, that does not mean they were first to be written—the New Testament is arranged not according to when the books were written but according to genre, with the Gospels first, then the book of Acts, then the letters (of Paul and others), and then the book of Revelation. Although they are placed in the middle of the New Testament, Paul’s letters were the first of the New Testament books to be written. In fact they are the earliest Christian writings that we have, of any kind whatsoever. The Gospels of the New Testament were written thirty-five to sixty-five years after the life of Jesus.
Although some of the above material was not new to me, the following was ”Mark was probably the first Gospel to be written, later to be expanded by Matthew and Luke.” Speaking of the Gospel f Mark Ehrman writes “He is not simply stating historical facts but is telling a story. His understanding of Jesus has affected how he tells the story. Beneath the surface of the narrative is a theological agenda, which affects everything he says about Jesus; Especially his relationship with others.
When you read Marks Gospel carefully, it is clear that he wants to portray Jesus as the messiah of the Jews, the Son of God, who was destined to die for the sins of others. What is striking is that almost no one in the entire narrative understands Jesus’ identity, not even the disciples. The people form his hometown can’t understand how he can say and do such wonderful things—is this not the carpenter’s son? The leaders of the people think he is inspired and empowered by the devil, and Jesus constantly laments ‘Do you not yet understand?’”
Matthew appears to have used Mark’s text as a basis for his. Matthew was written 10 to 15 years after Mark wrote his. Matthew seemed to want to emphasize the things he feels Mark left out. Ehrman points out three major additions:
1) Matthew is much longer than Mark, mostly because he adds large sections of Jesus’ teachings that are absent in Mark. For example in Matthew is the only place we get the Sermon on the Mount.
2) Matthew is often thought of as the most “Jewish” of the Gospels. He places the largest emphasis on the Jewish Law. He wrote “Do not think that I came to destroy the law and the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”. He emphasizes the “fulfillments” of prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures.
3) He can also be seen as the most “anti-Jewish” as well. It is here that that Jesus most vigorously opposes the Jewish leaders of his day calling them hypocrites.
Like the book of Matthew, Luke was written ten or fifteen years after Mark. It appears that Luke used the book of Mark as one of his sources. Luke describes the three temptations of Jesus in detail. And Luke portrays the crucifixion as a Satanic act to lash back at the Son of God for his goodness and example.
One of the more striking differences that is offered by Luke is the way that Jesus faces his death. Mark’s narration is powerful but lean. Mark’s account tells how one of his followers betrays him, another denies him, and none stand by him in his hour of need. He is silent on his way to the crucifixion, while being nailed to the cross and while on the cross. In Mark it is where Jesus who has been betrayed, denied, condemned, rejected, mocked, and abandoned, even by the Father… that leaves Jesus to say “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Luke provides a very different account of the events. In Luke Jesus is not at all silent on his way to the crucifixion. On the way he tells a group of women “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
While being nailed to the cross Jesus cries “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He tells one of the thieves “Truly I tell you, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” And in his final moment he says “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It is in Luke that Jesus is fully in charge of his own death.
I must admit that I had never really paid attention to the differences between the four Gospels. I had even read them in “horizontal harmony” and still hadn’t noticed the differences. I for one am guilty of lumping them all together. It wasn’t until I read “The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot” that I was taught that each of the authors wrote with specific purposes in mind and for specific audiences.
I have much more to learn!
The Gospel of Judas Iscariot is an ancient scroll that was found in the 1970’s by archeologist. But due to a variety of circumstances… mostly involving money, it was not published. Because of mishandling over the next 30 years it was almost destroyed. In about 2005 National Geographic acquired it and produced a documentary that aired in April of 2006.
The Gospel of Judas was not written by Judas himself. However, according to Ehrman it is the oldest known original New Testament text. The copy found was written in about 400 A.D. This appears to be about 200 years older than any other New Testament text. Therefore it has tremendous value.
It appears to have been written by a group of people known as Gnostic. The Gnostics were a religious group that seems to have Christian roots but mingled with “the teachings of men”. Much of what I read shows that in 400 A.D., the Great Apostasy was well under way. It appears that a group of these people highly favored Judas Iscariot.
The back of the book has this excerpt “Throughout the Christian tradition Judas has been portrayed as the rotten apple in the apostolic barrel. Nowhere in the Christian tradition has he been treated kindly. Until now. The Gospel of Judas insists that Judas was the only one of the disciples who understood hi Lord… Only Judas had a glimpse of the truth. And to him alone did Jesus reveal all that needs to be known.”
This idea intrigued me at first. Several years ago I read a series of books by Andrew Skinner that were titled “Gethsemane”, “Golgotha”, and “The Garden Tomb” (I highly recommend this series). Skinner proposed an idea in one of these books that has remained with me. Now he wasn’t proposing this idea as fact, but simply a different way of looking at Judas. He essentially said that he couldn’t comprehend that one of Jesus’ most faithful followers would turn against him. He instead proposed the idea that Judas truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah. His problem was that Jesus just wasn’t acting fast enough in saving the Jews. He therefore decided to turn Jesus over to the enemy believing full well that angels would come down to protect him, and force His glory to be proven. He was stunned at the outcome and therefore “went and wept bitterly”.
I am not saying that I believe this idea but it has caused me to do some serious thinking. It doesn’t seem to make Judas any less guilty; he was still following Satan by “forcing” others to be saved. He was also not being humble in saying “thy will be done” but rather “my will be done”. How many of us are guilty of this?
The greatest things I learned from “The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot” was Bible history that is known among scholars; but unfamiliar to me. Ehrman writes “It comes as a surprise to many people to learn that our earliest source for knowing about the life of Jesus is not one of the Gospels of the New Testament but the writings of the Apostle Paul. Even though the Gospels are placed first in the New Testament, that does not mean they were first to be written—the New Testament is arranged not according to when the books were written but according to genre, with the Gospels first, then the book of Acts, then the letters (of Paul and others), and then the book of Revelation. Although they are placed in the middle of the New Testament, Paul’s letters were the first of the New Testament books to be written. In fact they are the earliest Christian writings that we have, of any kind whatsoever. The Gospels of the New Testament were written thirty-five to sixty-five years after the life of Jesus.
Although some of the above material was not new to me, the following was ”Mark was probably the first Gospel to be written, later to be expanded by Matthew and Luke.” Speaking of the Gospel f Mark Ehrman writes “He is not simply stating historical facts but is telling a story. His understanding of Jesus has affected how he tells the story. Beneath the surface of the narrative is a theological agenda, which affects everything he says about Jesus; Especially his relationship with others.
When you read Marks Gospel carefully, it is clear that he wants to portray Jesus as the messiah of the Jews, the Son of God, who was destined to die for the sins of others. What is striking is that almost no one in the entire narrative understands Jesus’ identity, not even the disciples. The people form his hometown can’t understand how he can say and do such wonderful things—is this not the carpenter’s son? The leaders of the people think he is inspired and empowered by the devil, and Jesus constantly laments ‘Do you not yet understand?’”
Matthew appears to have used Mark’s text as a basis for his. Matthew was written 10 to 15 years after Mark wrote his. Matthew seemed to want to emphasize the things he feels Mark left out. Ehrman points out three major additions:
1) Matthew is much longer than Mark, mostly because he adds large sections of Jesus’ teachings that are absent in Mark. For example in Matthew is the only place we get the Sermon on the Mount.
2) Matthew is often thought of as the most “Jewish” of the Gospels. He places the largest emphasis on the Jewish Law. He wrote “Do not think that I came to destroy the law and the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”. He emphasizes the “fulfillments” of prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures.
3) He can also be seen as the most “anti-Jewish” as well. It is here that that Jesus most vigorously opposes the Jewish leaders of his day calling them hypocrites.
Like the book of Matthew, Luke was written ten or fifteen years after Mark. It appears that Luke used the book of Mark as one of his sources. Luke describes the three temptations of Jesus in detail. And Luke portrays the crucifixion as a Satanic act to lash back at the Son of God for his goodness and example.
One of the more striking differences that is offered by Luke is the way that Jesus faces his death. Mark’s narration is powerful but lean. Mark’s account tells how one of his followers betrays him, another denies him, and none stand by him in his hour of need. He is silent on his way to the crucifixion, while being nailed to the cross and while on the cross. In Mark it is where Jesus who has been betrayed, denied, condemned, rejected, mocked, and abandoned, even by the Father… that leaves Jesus to say “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Luke provides a very different account of the events. In Luke Jesus is not at all silent on his way to the crucifixion. On the way he tells a group of women “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
While being nailed to the cross Jesus cries “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He tells one of the thieves “Truly I tell you, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” And in his final moment he says “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It is in Luke that Jesus is fully in charge of his own death.
I must admit that I had never really paid attention to the differences between the four Gospels. I had even read them in “horizontal harmony” and still hadn’t noticed the differences. I for one am guilty of lumping them all together. It wasn’t until I read “The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot” that I was taught that each of the authors wrote with specific purposes in mind and for specific audiences.
I have much more to learn!
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