Helaman 5:12- Overcome the World

Sister Dew is great at stories and analogies, one of the reasons I love reading her talks- this post is some cut and paste from this talk: Sheri L. Dew, “We Are Women of God,” Ensign, Nov 1999, 97- from the General Relief Society Meeting in October 1999.

"Recently a professional assignment required me to travel out of the country. But I felt such a foreboding about the trip that prior to leaving I sought a priesthood blessing. I was warned that the adversary would attempt to thwart my mission and that physical and spiritual danger lay ahead. I was also counseled that this was not to be a sight-seeing or a shopping trip and that if I would focus on my assignments and seek the direction of the Spirit, I would return safely home.

Well, the warning was sobering. But as I proceeded, pleading for direction and protection each step of the way, I realized that my experience wasn’t all that unique. Might not our Father have said to you and to me as we left His presence: “The adversary will attempt to thwart your mission, and you will face spiritual and physical danger. But if you will focus on your assignments, if you will heed my voice, and if you will refuse to reduce mortality to a sight-seeing or a shopping trip, you will return safely home”?"

Later in the same talk she said this:

...He counseled Emma Smith to “lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better” (D&C 25:10). And Christ provided the pattern, declaring prior to Gethsemane, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33; emphasis added). The only way that we may overcome the world is by coming unto Christ. And coming unto Christ means walking away from the world. It means placing Christ and Christ only at the center of our lives so that the vanities and philosophies of men lose their addictive appeal. Satan is the god of Babylon, or this world. Christ is the God of Israel, and His Atonement gives us power to overcome the world. “If you expect glory, intelligence and endless lives,” said President Joseph F. Smith, “let the world go” ...

We no longer have the luxury of spending our energy on anything that does not lead us and our families to Christ. That is the litmus test for Relief Society, as well as for our lives. In the days ahead, a casual commitment to Christ will not carry us through.

How then do we, as women of God, fill the full measure of our creation? The Lord rewards “them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). We seek Him not only by studying and searching, by pleading and praying and watching always lest we enter into temptation, but by giving up worldly indulgences that straddle the line between God and mammon. Otherwise we risk being called but not chosen because our “hearts are set so much upon the things of this world” (D&C 121:35).

This summer I had an unforgettable experience in the Holy Land. As I sat on the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, I saw in the distance a city built on a hill. The visual image of a city that cannot be hid was stunning, and as I pondered the symbolism I had an overwhelming impression that we as women of God are like that city, that if we will leave behind the things of the world and come unto Christ so that the Spirit radiates through our lives and from our eyes, our uniqueness will be a light unto the world. As sisters of Relief Society, we belong to the most significant community of women on this side of the veil. We are a spectacular city on a hill. And the less we look and act like the women of the world, the more they will look to us as a wellspring of hope, peace, virtue, and joy.

Twenty years ago at this very meeting President Kimball made a statement we have quoted ever since: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days … will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that [they] are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world” (Ensign, Nov. 1979, 103–4; emphasis added). We can no longer be content to just quote President Kimball. We are the sisters who must and will make his prophecy a reality. But we can do it. I know we can.

Women of God, that includes us. Tonight I invite each of us to identify at least one thing we can do to come out of the world and come closer to Christ. And then next month, another. And then another. Sisters, this is a call to arms, it’s a call to action, a call to arise. A call to arm ourselves with power and with righteousness. A call to rely on the arm of the Lord rather than the arm of flesh. A call to “arise and shine forth, that [our] light may be a standard for the nations” (D&C 115:5). A call to live as women of God so that we and our families may return safely home.
We have such cause to rejoice, for the gospel of Jesus Christ is the voice of gladness! It is because the Savior overcame the world that we may overcome. It is because He rose on the third day that we may arise as women of God. May we lay aside the things of this world and seek for the things of a better. May we commit this very hour to come out of the world and to never look back. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Helaman 5:12- Overcome the World

I want to think more about the commentary from Bruce R. McConkie that I mentioned yesterday. Satan had no power over Christ becasue Christ had overcome the world.

Soooo- theoretically, if I want Satan to have "no power over me"- as discussed in Helaman 5:12- learning how to overcome the world could help.

D&C 63: 47

47 He that is faithful and endureth shall overcome the world.

John 16: 33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

2 Pet. 2: 20

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome.

Mosiah 5:2

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

So- from the scriptures, this is what I learned about "overcomeing the world":

1. be faithful
2. endure
3. find peace in Christ,
4. becaue Christ has already overcome the world, he can help me
5. escape the pollutions of the world, through my knowledge of Christ
6. the words of Christ can casue a change in us that we have no more desire to do evil- but to always do good.

1921 Elder David O. McKay (1873–1970), who later became the ninth President of the Church, made a world tour of the missions of the Church. While aboard a ship nearing Apia, Samoa, he had a beautiful experience --it shows us the rewards our Heavenly Father reserves for those who come unto Christ and overcome the world. President McKay wrote:
“Towards evening, the reflection of the afterglow of a beautiful sunset was most splendid! The sky was tinged with pink, and the clouds lingering around the horizon were fringed with various hues of crimson and orange, while the heavy cloud farther to the west was sombre purple and black. These various colors cast varying shadows on the peaceful surface of the water. Those from the cloud were long and dark, those from the crimson-tinged sky, clear but rose-tinted and fading into a faint pink that merged into the clear blue of the ocean. Gradually, the shadows became deeper and heavier, and then all merged into a beautiful calm twilight that made the sea look like a great mirror upon which fell the faint light of the crescent moon!
“Pondering still upon this beautiful scene, I lay in my berth at ten o’clock that night, and thought to myself: Charming as it is, it doesn’t stir my soul with emotion as do the innocent lives of children, and the sublime characters of loved ones and friends. Their beauty, unselfishness, and heroism are after all the most glorious!
“I then fell asleep, and beheld in vision something infinitely sublime. In the distance I beheld a beautiful white city. Though far away, yet I seemed to realize that trees with luscious fruit, shrubbery with gorgeously-tinted leaves, and flowers in perfect bloom abounded everywhere. The clear sky above seemed to reflect these beautiful shades of color. I then saw a great concourse of people approaching the city. Each one wore a white flowing robe. … Instantly my attention seemed centered upon their Leader, and though I could see only the profile of his features and his body, I recognized him at once as my Savior! The tint and radiance of his countenance were glorious to behold! There was a peace about him which seemed sublime—it was divine!
“The city, I understood, was his. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.
“But who were they?
“As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words:
‘These Are They Who Have Overcome The World— Who Have Truly Been Born Again!’
“When I awoke, it was breaking day over Apia harbor” (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, compiled by Clare Middlemiss [1955], 101–2).

I don't know if "overcoming the world" is something that we can do in this life, or if it is a process, like perfection, that we can't expect to reach until the next. (any thoughts?) But either way, working on it can help me have "the spirit to always be with me," and have "Satan have no power over me."

Helaman 5:12 Always Remember Him- even at 5:30pm

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I am still interested in the phrase "no power over you." Last night my daughter would not do her homework, my kids would not put their soccer clothes on when I asked, my three year old took a bunch of toys out of the playroom and brought them downstairs (which is not allowed in my house). OK- so it might not seem like a big deal, but when all of this is going on, as I am trying to make dinner in a timely manner, to get the kids fed prior to soccer practice, it made me so angry. In my life, I am not concerned right now about "his hail and his mighty storm." Nor am I concerned about "the gulf of misery and endless wo." I would like to have my kids be disobedient, have my family running late for where we are supposed to be going, (this happens a LOT) and still have the spirit with me. I want to be able to be calm and peaceful inside. I do not want to stop caring about homework, obedience, and showing up on time. I fundamentally think these things are very important. However, in the sacrament prayer, I learn that I can "always have his spirit to be with me." Last night, at 6:30pm, after I burned my hand on some sauce, and was thoroughly upset with my children- I did not.

Bruce R. McConkie explained that Satan had no power over Christ because He had "overcome the world." (How can I do that?)

In Ezra Taft Benson's book, "A Witness and a Warning"- chapter8- Come Unto Christ- he says:

Nephi said, the Lord "hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh." ( 2Nephi 4:21.) Those who are consumed in Christ "are made alive in Christ." ( 2Nephi 25:25.) They "suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ." (Alma 31:38.) They are "clasped in the arms of Jesus." (Mormon 5:11.) Nephi said, "I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul." (2 Nephi 33:6.) Lehi said, "I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." (2 Nephi 1:15.)
58Let us read the Book of Mormon and be convinced that Jesus is the Christ. Let us continually reread the Book of Mormon so that we might more fully come to Christ, be committed to Him, centered in Him, and consumed in Him.
58We are meeting the adversary every day. The challenges of this era will rival any of the past, and these challenges will increase both spiritually and temporally. We must be close to Christ, we must daily take His name upon us, always remember Him, and keep His commandments.

President Benson said some of the same things that President Monson did, and that I studied earlier.

• Read the Book of Mormon
• Take his name upon me
• Be close to Christ
• Always remember him
• Keep his commandments

I am pretty good at thinking about these things at 5:30 am- but by 5:30 pm- not as good. I need to be more like the Muslims who pray five times a day. I am going to add two more prayers to my schedule: 3pm- before school pick up, and another at 5:30- right before my melt down. Hopefully this will be the trick!

Helaman 5:12 The Rock

I am still getting ready for my class- so I am going to go back and study Helaman 5:12 some more. I want to study the word "rock."

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I want to study how Christ is the Rock.

I like this scripture in Deuteronomy:

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

And then there is the symbolism in numbers, when Moses got water from the rock: Numbers 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Psalms David always puts it so nicely...

Psalms 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

In the sermon on the mount, Christ likens a rock to the gospel of Christ, a sure foundation on which to build- Luke 6:48“like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

2 Nephi 4: 30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. - and verse 35: the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

Isaiah spoke particularly of the Lord as “a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” (Isaiah 28:16)

D&C 11:24: “Build upon my rock, which is my gospel;

D&C 18:17 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.”

In studying John, rocks take on a little bit of a different meaning- The small rock (Peter) was to become a “seer” who would receive revelation from the large rock (Jesus Christ)—the Rock of Revelation

And so- Christ is the Rock because he is :

• perfect


• just


• right


• our source of living water


• our fortress- our protector


• my deliverer


• my strength


• my buckler (a means of defense, support, protection, a shield)


• my salvation


• my high tower (the point of best perspective for protection)


• a stable trustworthy foundation


• of his unwavering character


• Christ's gospel is also called his rock


• A sure source of revelation


• Christ never changes- I can count on Him to bless me when I keep his commandments
  • • •

Romans 8: 38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No one can separate us from Christ except ourselves. So- if I feel as if Christ is more distant at some times than others, it is me that has some moving to do.

A Rock of Faith
By Paul R. Gentry- Liahona October 1988

Paul R. Gentry, “A Rock of Faith,” Tambuli, Oct 1988, 5
When I was a boy in Primary, I believed whatever my Primary teacher told me. One summer day she taught us about prayer: “Remember, if you need Heavenly Father’s help, just ask Him. He’ll always answer.” I skipped home thinking of nothing more than playing ball with my brothers. I didn’t know that the next day I would test my teacher’s words.
The following morning began with the sun scorching the sandstone cliffs and rocky hills that circled my town. Into the warmth of that perfect day my friend Eva and I started off on one of our adventures. Clutching a bag of small, sharp fish-hooks, two spools of thread, and our lunches, we hurried toward the fish-pond.
At last we arrived. We paused and looked at the pond and the willow trees surrounding it, feeling as though some great ocean lay before us and that we had come to bury stolen treasure.
We sat down, slipped off our shoes, and dangled our dusty feet lazily in the cool water. Tying our thread to the hooks, we dreamed of catching a big fish. Then we realized that we had brought nothing to use for bait! It was unthinkable to use any part of our lunches, so the homemade lines just hung loosely in the water, our excitement sinking as rapidly as the bare hooks.
We soon found something new to occupy the morning. Close to the pond was a sand hill. One side of the hill was a smooth slope, but the other side dropped off steeply, forming a cliff as high as a house. At the bottom of the cliff was a pile of jagged sandstone rocks. We started up the smooth side of the hill, pretending to be the world’s greatest mountain climbers, courageously tackling the tallest mountain.
As we climbed, we could see an old wooden post on top of the hill.
“I’ll race you to the post!” I shouted to Eva.
We ran up the hill, sinking at times into the soft, warm sand. Small avalanches trailed behind us and could be heard falling on the rocks beneath the cliff. Soon I was crawling, hurrying toward the post as fast as I could—but I didn’t realize that I was climbing by myself. I reached the top, pleased with my victory, and turned around with a smile to speak to Eva. But she wasn’t near me! As she had climbed, she hadn’t been watching where she was going, and she had run into deep sand. Unable to lift her feet, she had panicked and started swinging her arms wildly—sliding sideways and backward toward the edge of the cliff.
Eva was very frightened, and tears streamed down her cheeks. I shouted to her to turn around and go down the hill on the safe side. But her only answer was a sobbing, “Help me!” We both knew that if I went straight down to her, the sand moving before me would push her over the edge. Desperate, she cried out again, “Help me!”
Suddenly, I remembered my Primary teacher’s words from the day before, and I prayed with all my strength. Eva stopped sliding. Something beneath her small feet was holding firm. I carefully went down a different way to where she was, and helped her turn around. Once she was on safe ground, I reached down to where she had stopped sliding and picked up a rock no larger than the palm of my hand! Somehow that hard bit of sandstone had kept Eva from falling. I put the rock into my pocket, and we went home. We had had enough adventure for one day.
When I got home, I put the rock on a shelf in my room to remind me of my wise Primary teacher’s words: “If you need Heavenly Father’s help, just ask Him. He’ll always answer.”

3 Nephi 2, and Helaman 5:12 Remember Remember

3 Nephi 2:1 And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those sign and wonders which they had heard...

I got this far into the chapter, and it reminded me of Helaman 5:12, which begins, and now my sons, remember, remember...

I like reading old BYU devotional talks- this one caught my eye, as the title was "Remember, Remember."- the speaker, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, DENNIS B. NEUENSCHWANDER. (makes me glad for my short last name).

I liked how he started his talk:

During my first year of graduate school, I had an evening class on Slavic culture. On one occasion, after a day of intense study, I was hurrying to class to take an exam. Information, dates, and events were swimming around in my head. The closer I got to the exam, the more confused I became. On the way I happened to see one of my professors and asked him to clarify what for him must have been a very obscure matter. He looked at me and asked in a tone I still remember, "Is it important?"
Over the years I have pondered his question. It has helped me to distinguish the important from the trivial, to remember the important things and to forget the things that have little consequence or that would, by forgetting them, bring a blessing.
Remembering important things is fundamental to both our temporal and spiritual well-being. Confusing what we should remember with what we can or ought to forget creates difficulties for us. Much trouble in life originates from forgetting what we should remember and remembering what we should forget. One of Nephi's experiences with Laman and Lemuel is an interesting example of this. Nephi told his brothers that they were "slow to remember the Lord" (1 Nephi 17:45). They had seen an angel, and he had spoken to them. Though no response is recorded, I suppose that Laman and Lemuel could have looked at each other and said, "Oh, yeah, we forgot."
Remembering the kindness of others while forgetting their offenses is spiritually much healthier than forgetting their kindness and remembering their offenses. We should keep in mind that even the Lord, who is capable of remembering everything, has promised that He will forget our sins if we repent.
It seems to me that living the gospel has as much to do with remembering important things as it does with knowing them in the first place. Interjection- by me- I like that last sentence- "living the gospel has as much to do with remembering important things as it does with knowing them in the first place." The word remember and its derivatives appear hundreds of times in the scriptures--certainly a lot to remember! This repetitious scriptural reminder to remember takes on added significance when we understand that in Hebrew the word remember has a much broader meaning than does the English connotation of "keeping something in mind." In the Hebrew context, "doing" is an essential part of the remembering process. Thus, "to remember" is "to do," whereas "forgetting" is "failing to do." Interjection by me again- isn't that an interesting perspective- that "to remember" is "to do", whereas "forgetting" is "failing to do". I'll bet that those Nephites that "began to forget those signs and wonders" first began to forget to study the scriptures and say their prayers, and go to church.

Today, I will try to harder to be a "rememberer."

Helaman 5:12 It's the Service that Counts

I want to continue what I started two days ago about "foundations." (I tend to rotate my study between chronological reading, in an effort to keep up with the Sunday School class, and study for the classes that I teach- thus the lack of order :)

President Monson had mentioned three ways to strengthen the depth of our foundations in Christ. The first was prayer.

"My second guideline: Let us study the scriptures and “meditate therein day and night,” "

The basics, prayer, scripture study... they always seem to be the answer.

It makes me think of a favorite set of scriptures in Alma 37. Alma compares the words of Christ (study of the scriptures) to the Liahona. He tells us that they will point us on a direct course in our lives- and then he compares scripture study to the serpent that Moses put on a stick, to save the people that were bitten and dying, all they needed to do was look at it:


46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

So simple, yet so easy to not do. Just this morning, I was laying in bed, sleep deprived, I was up until 11:30 last night, and 5:00 came all too soon. Today I got up to study, but there have been many similar situations where I had convinced myself that I could never survive the day on such little sleep. It is so easy not to do. "Do not let me be slothful because of the easiness of the way."

Joshua 1: 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

President Monson did not just say to study, but also to meditate. What a great promise for the meditatiors found in Joshua, "then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

President Monson continues: "My third guideline for building a strong foundation of faith and testimony involves service.
While driving to the office one morning, I passed a dry-cleaning establishment which had a sign in the window. It read, “It’s the Service That Counts.” The sign’s message simply would not leave my mind. Suddenly I realized why. In actual fact it is the service that counts—the Lord’s service."

President Monson makes me want to pay more attention to signs. He gets some great analogies from signs in windows and on the road.

President Monson gives a terrific example:

Thirteen years ago it was my privilege to provide a blessing to a beautiful 12-year-old young lady, Jami Palmer. She had just been diagnosed with cancer and was frightened and bewildered. She subsequently underwent surgery and painful chemotherapy. Today she is cancer-free and is a bright, beautiful 26-year-old who has accomplished much in her life. Some time ago, I learned that in her darkest hour, when any future appeared somewhat grim, she learned that her leg where the cancer was situated would require multiple surgeries. A long-planned hike with her Young Women class up a rugged trail to Timpanogos Cave—located in the Wasatch Mountains about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah—was out of the question, she thought. Jami told her friends they would have to undertake the hike without her. I’m confident there was a catch in her voice and disappointment in her heart. But then the other young women responded emphatically, “No, Jami, you are going with us!”
“But I can’t walk,” came the anguished reply.
“Then, Jami, we’ll carry you to the top!” And they did.
Today, the hike is a memory, but in reality it is much more. James Barrie, the Scottish poet, declared, “God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives” (paraphrasing James Barrie, in Laurence J. Peter, comp., Peter’s Quotations: Ideas for Our Time [1977], 335). None of those precious young women will ever forget that memorable day when a loving Heavenly Father looked down with a smile of approval and was well pleased.
As He enlists us to His cause, He invites us to draw close to Him, and we feel His spirit in our lives."

D2 is crying, she had a bad dream- catch you tomorrow.

Helaman 5:12 The Depth of my Foundation

I want to go back to Helaman 5:12-

Today- I want to study the words rock and foundation.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

D&C 6: 34.
34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

President Monson, in October 2006 general conference, gave a talk entitled, "How Firm a Foundation." He starts his talk with a great analogy:

In 1959, not long after I began my service as president of the Canadian Mission, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I met N. Eldon Tanner, a prominent Canadian who just months later would be called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, then to the Quorum of the Twelve, and then as a counselor to four Presidents of the Church.
At the time I met him, President Tanner was president of the vast Trans-Canada Pipelines, Ltd., and president of the Canada Calgary Stake. He was known as “Mr. Integrity” in Canada. During that first meeting, we discussed, among other subjects, the cold Canadian winters, where storms rage, temperatures can linger well below freezing for weeks at a time, and where icy winds lower those temperatures even further. I asked President Tanner why the roads and highways in western Canada basically remained intact during such winters, showing little or no signs of cracking or breaking, while the road surfaces in many areas where winters are less cold and less severe developed cracks and breaks and potholes.
Said he, “The answer is in the depth of the base of the paving materials. In order for them to remain strong and unbroken, it is necessary to go very deep with the foundation layers. When the foundations are not deep enough, the surfaces cannot withstand the extremes of weather.”Over the years I have thought often of this conversation and of President Tanner’s explanation, for I recognize in his words a profound application for our lives. Stated simply, if we do not have a deep foundation of faith and a solid testimony of truth, we may have difficulty withstanding the harsh storms and icy winds of adversity which inevitably come to each of us.

I think everyone who considers him or herself a Christian, has a foundation in Christ, but the question is the depth of that foundation. The bigger the adversity, the greater depth that will be needed.

So, how then, how is our foundation in Christ built? Let's go back to President Monson's talk for the answers:

"How can we build a foundation strong enough to withstand such vicissitudes of life? How can we maintain the faith and testimony which will be required, that we might experience the joy promised to the faithful? Constant, steady effort is necessary. "

I think that is sometimes the biggest challenge, making our effort constant and steady rather than sporadic and occasional. President Monson then gives us three steps for our everyday lives that will strengthen and fortify our foundations:

"First, fortify your foundation through prayer." He tells us to have prayers with meaning and sincerity, accompanied with listening, he says, as we do, "we will be strengthened and blessed. We will come to know Him and His desires for our lives. "

I like that-that through prayer we will come to know Him, and His desires for our lives. I have been seeking that lately, wanting to know God's will for my life, and trying to align myself with his will. It is so natural to seek my own will, and a bit of a spiritual struggle to discern the difference.

I will have to continue another day- I have kids to feed :)

Here is a link to Did You think to Pray, by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When I was young, I used to hear this song and think that "Ere" was a person who kept forgetting to say his prayers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M0daLpvZL0

Helaman 14 I Wonder When He Comes Again

In Helaman chapter 14, Samuel the Lammanite is prophesying of the coming of Christ. His prophesies include a time frame, 5 years.

When reading about the coming of Christ, it always makes me think of the second coming of Christ. I always was a bit jealous of the specificness of the 5 year time frame, but I think as the time comes closer, those watching for the signs will be no less caught "off guard" than those awaiting the first coming of Christ.

We have been given a rough time frame for the second coming. - In Revelation 8, it refers to the seventh seal, or the seventh thousand years of the earth’s temporal existence. (roughly beginning 2000 AD) During the early part of this period is when judgments come upon the earth in a final attempt to turn mankind’s heart to God; it will be sometime early in this period—how early is unspecified—when at last the earth will be cleansed, and Christ will return.

In Thessalonians, the time is described as a pregnant woman- you never know when she will go into labor- but you have a pretty good idea.

I like to remind myself to be looking for the signs, so that I can be prepared, not surprised.

This You Tube link boarders a bit on the cheesy, but it is still a fantastic song- "I Wonder When He Comes Again."- sung by Jimmy Osmond.

Helaman 12 Humble Becasue of the Word

I am still in chapter 12- I am not a big fan of verse 3 :)

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. (there is that word "remember" again- I need to "always remember Him.")

Instead, I like Alma, chapter 32, Alma is teaching the Zoramites, who were cast out of their synagogue because of their poverty.

14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

To me, this verse (Alma 32:14)- is teaching me that I do not need to experience hardships to remember the Lord, I can be humbled through the Word of God rather than trials. This is what I want; this is what I am trying for.

Helaman 11 & 12 And thus we see...

Nineteen years before the coming of Christ, there is a long war going on, Nephi prays, " O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee. "

Let me start by saying that I know that the Lord didn't cause the big stock market melt down. This week has been "the worst since the depression" they say, with big financial market problems. The result of the failure of these large financial institutions has been widespread fear and panic on wall street. Perhaps, though, like the famine in Nephi's day, something good can come of it. It is so easy to trust in the arm of flesh, until that fails, and the only place to turn is to trust in the Lord.

Helaman 11:
17 And it came to pass that in the *seventy and sixth year the Lord did turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain should fall upon the earth, insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season of her fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her grain in the season of her grain.

18 And behold, the people did rejoice and glorify God, and the whole face of the land was filled with rejoicing; and they did no more seek to destroy Nephi, but they did esteem him as a great prophet, and a man of God, having great power and authority given unto him from God.

And so the cycle continued, they repented, turned to the Lord, and they were delivered from their suffering. Their righteousness, however, was short lived. Nephi summs it up so well in the begining of chapter 12 with a classic, "and thus we see..."

1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.

2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

This a typical cycle, but one that I am continually trying to AVIOD in my life. I know that I can be blessed in my life, and still remember the Lord.

I look back to how the country, in large, turned to God after 9/11. Maybe we can have some of that in these uncertain days as well.

Helaman 10 Prayer

I studied in Helaman today. There is a lot that I can learn from Nephi's example. Today I learned about prayer.

Helaman 10-

3—and it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying:

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

If I want my pryers to be answered, I need to ask for that which is consistant to, not contrarty to the Lord's will.

3 Ne. 18: 20.
20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

D&C 88: 64 (63-65).
64 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;

Enos 1: 12.
12 And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.

James 4: 3 (1-3).
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

2 Ne. 4: 35.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness.

D&C 46: 30.
30 He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh.

In summery, I need to ask for:

• that which is right





• I need to believe that I will receive





• that which is expedient





• I need to have faith





• I need to ask for the right thing





• ask in the spirit





• ask according to the word of God

Helaman 6:28-31 Always Remember Him

I am reading in Helaman 6 today, trying to keep up with Sunday School. Secret Combinations have started- - -

28 And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell.

29 Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time...

31 And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.

So- going with what what I was studying yesterday, if the word "hearts" is referring to "thoughts"- Then Satan is putting things in thier thoughts, and has great hold upon their thoughts. What I want, is I want the Lord to have "great hold upon my thoughts."

I did a search for "hold upon heart"- and all of the scriptures were talking about Satan- except for one- which was Alma the Younger talking about his experience after he saw the angel, was unconscious, and remembered what his father had taught:

Alma 36:17- 18 I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

Enos had an experience with his thoughts: 3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

I am not looking for an "experience" so much as I want a peaceful state of mind. I want to be able to have my three year old having potty training accidnets, my six year old not doing her homeowork, my five year old putting real food and drinks in her playroom kitchen, my baby taking too short a nap, my husband never installing the baseboards, and I want to be happy and peaceful inside. I am sure this is possible.

Isn't this what the sacrament is supposed to help me with "always have his spirit to be with me"- THAT is what I need. There must be some part of the covenant that I am not keeping up, becasue I feel like I "sometimes have his spirit to be with me" so- here is the other half:

1. we witnessed that we were willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ,


2. that we would always remember Him,


3. and that we would keep His commandments.

My guess is that I am messing up on #2. I study early in the morning, like right now, and then go about my day, not always remmebering him. Funny how both Alma and Enos's examples involved "remembering."

My favorite hymn- my favorite version- this is from back when I was at BYU: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUhU0HgTq94&feature=related

Helaman 5:12 Thoughts

I am starting a new blog- this is totally different then my Interior Design Blog- it has nothing to do with cupcakes. I am not sure exactly what this blog is going to be like, or even if I will keep it long, I am just going to figure it out as I go.

Today, I am just going to share what I have been thinking about the last two days.

I teach a Book of Mormon study class in my ward (that is my local congregation). I teach the women, once a month, at someone's home. It is generally not a large group- maybe ten people or so.

In October, I've decided to teach on just one verse, Helaman, chapter 5, verse 12.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

So- anyway, I have been giving a lot of thought to that scripture lately, in preparation for my lesson, and yesterday I had a breakthrough!

My bad day:

cleaned the house

went to lunch with a friend

worked in the afternoon

went to Pilates

dinner with the family

spent the evening with the family- FHE

my favorite TV show that night

bed

So- you ask, why was that such a bad day? It really shouldn't have been. My bad day wasn't about something that happened to me- my bad day was in my thoughts. It was regular stuff- my house (no matter how many hours a day I spend cleaning) is perpetually cluttered, which drives me insane, my kids don't obey well enough, and my thoughts started to lay into my husband and my lack of baseboards and my guest bath. (I won't get into that) Poor me, huh?

OK- so when you put things on paper, they sound ridiculous, but the day before someone hurt my feelings, and so everything was blown out of perspective for me. I was in a horrible mood. No matter how I tried -lunch with my friend was great- but my mood was too bad to shake-- I thought Pilates would help, but it couldn't.

By the end of the day, my mood was horrible, near depressed. I started thinking about my scripture that I had studied that morning:

12. And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Clearly, the devil had LOTS of power over me :) The phrase, "no power over you" made me think of the description of the adversary's lack of power during the milenium.

Nephi, says this:

1 Nephi 22: 26 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.

and in Doctrine and Covenants 45:55, Christ says:

And Satan shall be bound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men.

In Revelations, John teaches:

20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.

I liked a few clues. It sounded like there are two different ways that Satan would have no power. In Revelations and the Doctrine and Covenants, it sounds like Christ will bind him, and take away his power. Nephi, on the other hand says, "becasue of the righteousness of his people", saying that the people's righteousness will bind Satan. I do not doubt that it is both. But perhaps, through righteousness I can learn here and now, to let Satan have less power over over me.

In D&C 45- the phrase "in the hearts" was used.

Some other uses of the word "heart":

Helaman 13:5 And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart

2 Nephi 4:For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them

Alma 31: 2 For it was the cause of great sorrow to Alma to know of iniquity among his people; therefore his heart was exceedingly sorrowful

I could go on and on- but in thinking about the word "heart"- in the scriputures it almost never seems to be referring to the blood pumping organ in my chest- that is not where words are put, that is not where I ponder, that is not where I feel sorrow- those things happen in my thoughts.

The Lord put words into Samuel's mind, in his thoughts. Nephi pondered the scritures in his thoughts. Alma felt sorrow in his thoughts.

So- going back to Doctrine and Covenants 45- Satan shall be bound that he shall have no place in my thoughts.

Back to Helaman 5- when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon me, it shall have no power over me- no power to enter into my thoughts, to upset my mind, no power to make me feel sad, or frustrated, or depressed.

OK- so I don't have all the answers yet- but I am now thinking that this scripture is about thought control- what do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbAuTB8uLaQ