tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27108385400538821642023-11-15T05:36:42.839-08:00Letters from the FrontJonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.comBlogger1664125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-4725501123024887902017-06-25T08:50:00.001-07:002017-06-25T08:50:57.993-07:00Ether 12<div class="J7LogText">
(June 25, 2017)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Sometimes,
for me, the best way for me to learn from reading the scriptures is to identify
the apparent contradictions that exist and then work to determine how they can
both still be true. It is by doing this
that I am able to be protected from going too far into the extremes in one
direction or another, because I am forced to confront those things that sit in
opposition to how I might see an issue at any particular time. Other times, it just helps me get a better
understanding of how two principles interact.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
I had
that in this chapter today. On the one
hand, we had the statement that because of Nephi and Lehi’s faith, the
Lamanites were converted. On the other
hand, we have the statement from the Lord that if <st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place> has been faithful, what happens to the
world around him shouldn’t matter to him.
On their face, these two things seem to contradict.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I think the resolution is that the
two statements aren’t from equivalent sources.
The first statement that it was because of the faith of Nephi and Lehi
that the Lamanites converted comes from <st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place>,
so it is not inerrant. There is some
indication that both Moroni is particularly concerned he didn’t measure up
because the world turned wicked on his watch and the Lord doesn’t agree with
Moroni’s assessment (indeed, the second statement from the Lord seems to in
part be given to contradict the first).</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-29052691417884296352016-10-26T18:25:00.001-07:002016-10-26T18:25:54.027-07:00Psalms 29-31<div class="J7LogText">
(October 26, 2016)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
It is
quite remarkable to me how different our approaches can be to the same
scriptures read at different times in our lives. For the bulk of my life, I read through <u>Psalms</u>
with very little understanding or emotion.
It was, if I can put a blunt description on it, boring to me.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Then my
life turned upside down. Suddenly I
understand what it means to be surrounded by my enemies. I knew how it felt to have lying tongues
laying wait to defame and snares being set secretly to destroy. I understood the pain that came from
struggling to live the Gospel when confronted not only by your own weaknesses
(which certainly exist), but by the actions of others.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
Then,
and only then, did I begin to understand <u>Psalms</u>. It was only after passing through this stage
of my life that I could empathize with David’s pleas (both for freedom from his
own sins and the damage caused by others).
This is interesting in its own right, but even more important as a
reminder of why we can’t read the scriptures only once or only occasionally –
after all, as we change, our challenges change, and our perspective changes,
the Lord stands ready to teach us new things through the same scriptures.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-76355987646117239152016-10-26T18:24:00.001-07:002016-10-26T18:24:18.285-07:00Alma 51<div class="J7LogText">
(October 26, 2016)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
It is
vitally important that we, as Christians, understand that we are playing the
long game. There is a strong pull (I
feel it myself in the political arena) to find certain battles as existential
crises, but that truly isn’t the case.
If the Kingmen had prevailed, it would have been a tragedy, but we see
from the Gadianton Robbers taking over later that it isn’t the end of
everything. We must always remember that
Christ wins. We know the ending.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
That
doesn’t mean that we ignore the short-term, of course. Moroni defended the freedom of the people,
and we should consider the short-term political effects of our decisions
today. But we cannot either become
depressed or disengaged because the world is trending in a manner opposed to
our beliefs (really, is that a surprise?).
Likewise, we cannot make our decisions only based upon short-term
considerations. If we aren’t making
personal and political decisions based upon how they will affect our eternity,
then our thinking is short term. If our
decisions bring a 100 years of misery followed by an eternity of the fullness
of joy (to engage in a little hyperbole – I don’t think such a decision
situation faces us now), we should gratefully take such a deal. To select a decade or a century of a positive
result at the expense of a lost relationship with Christ is not a good trade to
make.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-83356779228894264662016-10-24T12:28:00.001-07:002016-10-24T12:28:58.589-07:00Psalms 19-24<div class="J7LogText">
(October 24, 2016)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
In our
modern society, so many things are outside of our control – likely more is out
of our control than at any point in human history. Basic human needs – food, shelter, water, for
example – are provided to us via means that we don’t fully understand and which
we certainly cannot control.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
This
absence of control is disquieting at times, but it also is a pervasive reminder
to us of our utter dependence upon God. Whereas
the Psalmist saw the need for deliverance from his enemies, we may perhaps have
different needs for deliverance. We may
be tempted to seek out protection through self-reliance, through political intervention,
or any of a number of ways. But
ultimately we cannot find safety in any manner other than through the protection
of the Lord.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
We are
in the midst of what could at best be considered a tumultuous political
season. And yet, ultimately, whomever is
elected our hope lies not in the ballot box but at the Sacrament Table, not in
standing up for our rights but kneeling before our God. He and He alone can fix everything. Hoping for any other solution is foolish and,
ultimately, idolatry.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-58765953690367960912016-10-24T12:16:00.004-07:002016-10-24T12:16:42.954-07:00Alma 49<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(October 24, 2016)</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Knowing
what to do with those who stand against us when we are trying to do the right
thing can be very difficult. On the one
hand, we are taught to love our enemies.
And our enemies are often more misled than evil (although some, admittedly,
are evil). For example, many Lamanites
came to battle but did so because of the pressure from their unrighteous
king. And those who fought against the
city of Noah did so because of the oaths of their chief captains (a poor
decision, mind one, but one that shows that even they respected their oaths
even though it meant their death).</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> And there is the likely approach. We don’t need to judge those who stand
opposed to us when we are trying to serve the Lord. We can love our enemies, and try to see their
good points. But just as the Nephites
were obligated to stand against the Lamanites in the defense of their families,
their land, and their rights of worship so too are we called upon to stand in
defiance of those who would work against our efforts to build the Kingdom of
God. Yes, we need not make conclusive
judgments of their worthiness, and yes, we should love them, but neither
obligation requires us to open our doors to the Lamanites of our day and allow
them to destroy us. Perhaps it would be
better if we did (Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s, for example), but it is not required of
us.</span>Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-54846084462308374662016-07-26T09:38:00.001-07:002016-07-26T09:38:00.806-07:001 Kings 11-12<div class="J7LogText">
(July 26, 2016)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
So what
to make of Jeroboam? On the one hand,
here was someone hand-picked by the Lord to receive the kingship over ten of
the twelve tribes. On the other hand,
here was someone who almost immediately turned away from the Lord when it
became inconvenient (or dangerous) to worship God.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
Rather
than castigate Jeroboam, though, the correct thing to do is to evaluate our own
lives to see the ways we are imitating him.
When we are given a gift from the Lord, do we readily forget why we have
been given that gift? For example, when
we pay tithing and then receive a financial windfall, is our first thought to
express gratitude to the Lord or do we think we somehow earned it through our
own efforts? And when things are
difficult, or even dangerous, do we hold to the Lord or do we turn to a pale or
idolatrous imitation of the Gospel in order to remain safe and comfortable?</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-71436056043020882252016-07-26T08:54:00.001-07:002016-07-26T08:54:23.541-07:002 Nephi 5<div class="J7LogText">
(July 26, 2016)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
In reading
the scriptures (as in life), sometimes there is a lot to be gained by considering
the times the Lord doesn’t intervene. Here,
of course, is a perfect example of this.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
This moment
represented the split between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Now the Lord reaching down and killing Laman and
Lemuel wouldn’t have resolved everything (the Nephites split thereafter several
times, and they continued to have tensions between themselves and the Mulekites)
but it certainly would have made a big (and, to our modern and temporal sensibilities,
a positive difference). It even seems consistent
with the Lord’s principles He taught earlier that it is better that one man should
die than that a nation should perish in unbelief.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
And yet,
despite being able to intervene He chose not to. Why? I think
He answers that later in this chapter. The
Lamanites were to become a scourge to the Nephites – not as a punishment but as
a blessing. The Lamanites aren’t the villains
of the <u>Book of Mormon</u> – they are a tool that the Lord uses to bless the lives
of the Nephites.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
We would
do well to remember that when we face challenges in our lives. When those around us seemingly are setting out
to destroy us, are they a blessing from the Lord to us? If the Lord could resolve this conflict immediately
and chooses not to, is it because He knows more than we do and knows how everything
will ultimately work for our good?</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-74030372422399890562015-12-17T11:08:00.001-08:002015-12-17T11:08:43.685-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 128<div class="J7LogText">
(December 17, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
We
recently have heard a great deal of complaining by some Members of the Church
about the policy that has been promulgated.
They focus their criticism (honestly, some focus but some likely mask)
on the policy rather than the underlying principles. They complain that the changes that were made
should not have been made via policy but instead should have been made via
revelation (presuming the two to be different in all – or at least this –
cases). They like to say that this wasn’t
the way Joseph Smith led the Church.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
This
Section, though, is clearly Joseph Smith setting policy. In no place does he indicate that what he is
speaking is direct revelation. Instead
he is applying the revelations (and the scriptures) to the facts and
determining a policy that works and is consistent with those revelations and
scriptures. This is exactly the kind of
behavior those critics condemn.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
other thought that I had as I read this Section was on Joseph’s statement that “[f]or
him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a
knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men.” I am tempted to deal with this in relation to
my personal situation, because I am in a situation were the facts that I know
with certainty (because I was there and experienced them, along with
contemporaneous journals and extensive efforts to ensure I wasn’t engaging in
self-deception) were, at the very least, difficult for a Priesthood leader to
obtain (and, to be honest, he got them flat out wrong).</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
But
rather than make it personal, I can instead draw from other circumstances. There are explicit examples where Priesthood
leaders have gotten things wrong (we are not in the business of believing in
infallible leaders, after all). It does
no good for us to look at our leaders as if they are always wrong, or even occasionally
wrong (much less wrong on a given piece of counsel). But we must also acknowledge that Priesthood
leaders get things wrong from time to time (and the honest and fair ones admit
this – even the Brethren admit to mistakes).</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
So how
is that consistent with this statement by Joseph Smith? Priesthood leaders can get facts wrong in a
couple of ways as I read this. First, notice
the clarifying clause – “in relation to the salvation of the children of men.” There are some facts that would not satisfy
this clause, and thus were outside of this promise. Second, the knowledge is promised to be not
difficult to obtain, but it still doesn’t magically distill upon the Priesthood
leader. Bias, inattention, or unwillingness
to listen all could play a role in these sorts of mistakes.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
Having
been in the unfortunate position of having one of these mistakes bring about
such turmoil in my life, though, I can testify that even the worst mistakes can
still be a blessing in our lives if we allow the Lord to carry us, we trust
Him, and we hold close to our Priesthood leaders even when those Priesthood leaders
make mistakes.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-40034985180645582222015-12-17T09:53:00.001-08:002015-12-17T09:53:41.613-08:00Ether 1<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(December 17, 2015)</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I know,
as we look at the world around us, it can sometimes be disheartening to think
of the inevitable slide that seems to be happening. There are many who I talk to who, seeing the
same things I am, draw the conclusion that the world is (metaphorically, or
even sometimes literally) ending, and take a very dark view of their future and
their children’s future.</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I am
not so pessimistic, even though I see the same things that they each do. While I think it safe to say that society at
large will continue to move further and further away from God (with the resulting
inevitable unhappiness that such a move will bring), it does not need to affect
us and those we love.</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Historically,
we can look at the continued progress experienced by those living in the
monastic orders during the Dark Ages. While
society around them came apart at the seams (leading to tremendous misery and
deprivation), those who held closest to the Lord were often able to avoid the
slide and frequently advance their lives despite what was happening.</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> We see the same thing in this chapter. Because of wickedness, the whole world was
coming apart at the seams. The
destruction of their culture and society was clearly visible to them (or else,
why would they pray?). And yet they were
spared the consequences and even blessed by fleeing from wickedness and
trusting in the Lord. I think that is
something that we can each imitate in our own lives and the lives of our
families in the difficult times ahead of us.</span>Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-76298710937605978352015-12-16T10:14:00.001-08:002015-12-16T10:14:52.245-08:00Mormon 9<div class="J7LogText">
(December 16, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
It has
always been striking to me how many otherwise orthodox Mormons have such a
problem with miracles. They use any and
all means to explain away the absence of miracles. There seems to be a pendulum that swings back
and forth – from recognition of small miracles (a good thing) taken too far to
the point where larger miracles are denied (as if God only works through small
miracles) to a denial of the small miracles (as coincidence or circumstance or
personal effort) which also leads to a point where larger miracles are denied.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
As I
have said before, I want my tombstone to read “A Man with Experience is Never
at the Mercy of a Man with an Argument.”
And, in this case, that phrase is no less applicable. However miracles can be argued or explained
away, there are a couple of truths that are found both in the scriptures and in
my life. And my life has likewise shown
some corollaries that I have learned to be true.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
first truth is, as my life shows and <st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place>
clearly states, the day of miracles is not passed. The great judgment day is not upon us, and
therefore miracles continue in this world.
I have seen both small and large miracles, so even if <st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place> hadn’t written it I could have
testified to it. If we deny miracles, we
deny <st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place>,
and we deny Christ.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Second,
small miracles happen on a daily basis.
There are five prayers that, in my experience, are always answered (and
answered quickly). A prayer for the
tender mercies of the Lord to communicate His love for us. A prayer for humility (answered, in my
experience, with some catastrophe [incidentally, this makes for a good prayer
experience for someone doubting the existence of God – encourage them to pray
for God and then watch as their lives fall apart, which then becomes evidence
of God hearing and answering their prayers]).
A prayer for an increase in gratitude, which is answered with opening my
eyes to blessings that I have missed. A
prayer for charity for someone in particular, which tends to be answered by
that person doing something painful (intentional or otherwise) to me, giving me
an opportunity to practice that virtue.
And finally, a prayer for an opportunity to serve, which is answered not
by callings or responsibilities but rather by the Lord opening my eyes to the
needs that I can meet of those around me.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
These
are just some of the small miracles that we can see in our lives if we just
open our eyes. There is nothing wrong
with looking for and finding these small miracles – indeed, we should be
grateful for them. The problem comes when
our focus on these small miracles deceives us into believing that these are the
only way the Lord works.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
Lord works through large miracles as well.
Certainly not as often as the small miracles, but if we deny them we won’t
be able to experience the larger miracles.
Large miracles, at least in my life, do not come around every day. But they didn’t come around that often in the
lives of the prophets, either. For
example, Nephi was a prophet that we think of as having a number of miracles in
his life. But what do we legitimately
have from the record in front of us?</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Off the
top of my head, we have (1) the vision to trust his father, (2) the angel
protecting him when his brothers were beating him, (3) the miracle of
protection when securing the Brass Plates, (4) being freed from his brothers
tying him up in the wilderness, (5) the receipt of the Liahona, (6) the vision
of the Tree of Life, (7) directions on how to build a ship, (8) shocking his
brothers, (9) the storm on the sea, and (10) instructions to flee before his
brothers killed him.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Of
those ten miracles (and forgive me if I have missed any compiling this list on
the fly), four were inspiration or revelation (1, 6, 7, and 10), three were
things that could easily have had naturalistic explanations (3, 4, and 9), and
three defied naturalistic explanations (2, 5, and 8). This in a lifetimes of experiences, and for
which we have records of over a decade.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Along
with denying the larger miracles, I think we might sometimes have unrealistic
expectations of how often those larger miracles should occur (and I think the
latter may feed into the former). Nephi
was on an errand for the Lord – quite possibly the most important thing
happening in the world at that point and time.
And, yet, he was having on average one miracle that denied natural
explanations every few years, one miracle with a naturalistic explanation ever
few years, and a revelation or inspiration just slightly more often.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
As I
think back on my life, that is pretty consistent with what I have experienced
(taking out, of course, the times when I was not living my life in a manner worthy
to experience any miracles at all). I
certainly was not as central to the Lord’s Plan as Nephi was, but He blessed me
with miracles as well – a few that defied naturalistic explanation, a few that
could be explained away (but which were clearly miracles), with the occasional profound
inspiration or revelation. These larger
miracles exist, and support the smaller miracles that we can receive on a daily
basis. We don’t need to expect
frequently, but we must also realize that the Lord can and will bless our lives
with them from time to time.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-23164167842781981282015-12-15T11:41:00.001-08:002015-12-15T11:41:32.630-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 127<div class="J7LogText">
(December 15, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
It is
interesting to see the juxtaposition of Joseph Smith’s view of suffering and
adversity in this Section and contrast it to the way that he felt just over
three years earlier (as found in Section 121).
Whereas before, he was overwhelmed by his adversity, by this point he
had acquired a strength sufficient to handle it with relative ease. He couldn’t always glory in his afflictions,
but to the extent he could at this point it is encouraging.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
When I
find myself facing what seems to be overwhelming adversity, it oftentimes feels
like it is a permanent state of affairs.
And, to be honest, that might actually be accurate – after all, it was
for Joseph. But in addition to that
truth, there is also the truth that I often forget – the Lord strengthens us
through times of affliction. While my
adversity may not be over in three years, is it possible that – like Joseph – I
could be strengthened such that no matter the adversity I am able to handle it
with ease and confidence? I think it not
only possible but likely, based upon what I have seen and the changes that I
have made.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-84525448227681042172015-12-15T11:40:00.001-08:002015-12-15T11:40:51.812-08:00Mormon 8<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(December 15, 2015)</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It is
hard to reconcile our intellectual understanding of the Gospel with our
emotional responses to the world around us sometimes. For example, I am certain that <st1:place w:st="on">Moroni</st1:place> is correct when
(discussing his bleak future) he says that it doesn’t matter what happens. I can say the same thing about my own future –
I don’t know what will happen, but whatever it is that future will have been
designed by a loving God. So it really
doesn’t matter what will come.</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> But
that intellectual understanding is at war with my emotional reaction to my
future. There are things that I want to
accomplish in my life. And there are
blessings that I want to receive. And
far from saying it doesn’t matter, my soul cries out that it does matter – a lot. What’s more, there are opportunities that
have been lost forever. Once again, it
isn’t something that doesn’t matter – it matters a lot.</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I suppose that is part of our progression. Our mind may understand that we need to trust
the Lord, but our emotions lead us to deal with things ourselves. It is only after we have placed our trust in
the Lord that we learn that we can trust the Lord. Faith leads to obedience, which leads to
faith.</span>Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-64492741452233463632015-12-14T13:39:00.001-08:002015-12-14T13:39:18.927-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 125-126<div class="J7LogText">
(December 14, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
I take
some home from the Lord releasing Brigham Young from the obligation to leave
his family and travel to preach the Gospel.
It sometimes feels (and reading the close of the <u>Book of Mormon</u>
drives that feeling home) that this mortal life is a dark and dreary
situation. Yes, the time will come that
we, like Mormon, will receive our release into the welcoming arms of the Lord
but unto such time, it feels as though trials and tribulations are our
inevitable lots in life as we strive to walk the path of discipleship.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
But
while that is true (growth and comfort will never occur at the same place and
same time), that doesn’t mean that the challenges we currently face are slated
to necessarily persist indefinitely. The
day will come when whatever we are suffering through today reaches its
conclusion (perhaps in the next life, but perhaps in this one). Another challenge may take its place, it is
true, but the Lord will walk with us through that challenge as well and
continually grant us the strength that we need.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-42715871020377740252015-12-14T13:27:00.001-08:002015-12-14T13:27:12.095-08:00Mormon 6-7<div class="J7LogText">
(December 14, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
numbers of people in this chapter can cause some consternation for some
people. After all, there is no record
that we can find of hundreds of thousands of people being wiped out in a giant
battle around this time period (though we can find clear evidences of
large-scale warfare around this time period).</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
But
that really isn’t that big of a deal. I
suppose my view on the matter is skewed a little bit because of my
understanding of some other languages, but ten thousand does not need to be a
clear indication of a number. Instead it
can mean (depending on the language) a lot, an uncountable amount, a large
group, or a powerful group. Any of these
(assuming similar linguistic history) could be applicable here.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-73898901948262380862015-12-14T13:19:00.001-08:002015-12-14T13:19:33.726-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 124<div class="J7LogText">
(December 13, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
There
is an important truth in the way the Lord views us contained in this
Section. We sometimes, as Members of the
Church, see the formalities as inflexible.
There is some importance to that – if the policies exist, they should
generally be followed if possible. But what
about the times when they are not possible to be followed?</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
Lord gives instruction here on how He views such things. He gives us a period of time to get ourselves
in compliance with His will – grants us sufficient time to build a house unto
Him, for example. In the meantime, He
accepts our offering (even though it may be limited). For example, during the time the temple was
being built, the baptisms conducted were acceptable to Him.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
So if we
are ever in a position where we cannot comply with a policy or commandment, it
is not an either/or situation (we follow or are damned on one hand or the
commandment is irrelevant on the other).
Instead, our efforts are acceptable to the Lord, so long as included in
those efforts is a determination to bring ourselves to the point where we can
keep the full commandment or policy. We
are not condemned for our efforts when prevented from full compliance, but we
are not justified is we do not make efforts or arrangements to come into
compliance.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-43727143615780591682015-12-14T11:46:00.001-08:002015-12-14T11:46:29.020-08:00Mormon 5<div class="J7LogText">
We are,
each of us, in the same position that Mormon describes in this chapter. We are all in open rebellion against God
(despite our potential desires not to be).
Our only hope of Salvation is to repent and humble ourselves before Him –
we must do it today, and if we do it today, we must do it again tomorrow. We must do it over and over and over again throughout
the eternities until such time as the Father welcomes us back home.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
We can
never repent enough today to remove the necessity of repenting tomorrow. And no obedience of yesterday removes the
necessity that we repent today.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-83120581832255468692015-12-14T11:38:00.002-08:002015-12-14T11:38:28.051-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 122-123<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(December 12, 2015)</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> There
was a time when I struggled with Joseph Smith – I felt like I had a good
testimony of the Savior and of the Atonement, of the Priesthood, and of the <u>Book
of Mormon</u>, but my testimony of Joseph Smith was lacking.</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> That
has changes as I have been forced to go through difficult times. I see so much of myself in him, it has helped
me to realize that he was a real person.
Seeing him in that fashion, it makes it all the more clear to me that he
did what he said he did and experienced what he said he experienced (because
that is true of me, as well).</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In
these Sections, I was struck by the Lord’s statement about the testimony of
traitors. The Lord recognizes that their
influence would cast Joseph into trouble (and it did – ultimately costing
Joseph his life). The Lord also spoke of
other consequences to Joseph from the false testimony of traitors (much of which
I could empathize because of my own experience with false swearing).</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Fortunately, though, I do not expect to be a martyr
for the Gospel. Still, having
experienced what I have experienced, I know how hard it must have been for
Joseph to hear that all these things would give him experience and be for his
good. It is true, of course, but it is
hard doctrine to accept. Still, its acceptance
is the pathway to peace.</span>Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-13095218941247493332015-12-14T11:18:00.001-08:002015-12-14T11:18:32.531-08:00Mormon 4<div class="J7LogText">
(December 12, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
We tend
to want to see the Lord come down and smite our enemies (after all, if they are
against us they <u>must</u> be against the Lord…right?). But if we wait for the Lord to smite those
who hurt us, we will likely be waiting a long time. The Lord spends His efforts supporting each
and every one of us in our attempts to become like Him (and like our
Father). He leaves the smiting to the
wicked.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
It is
the nature of the wicked to hurt one another.
When we are living as we should, and turning to the Lord, we find His
support for us during our suffering at the hands of the wicked. The wicked, once hurt by other wicked people,
have no such support (because they do not want it), and find themselves
destroyed as a consequence. The Lord
stands ready to defend and protect and support each of us (even those who have
hurt us deeply), but it is their own character that causes them to refuse such
assistance.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-82037135309872834742015-12-14T10:43:00.001-08:002015-12-14T10:43:07.292-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 121<div class="J7LogText">
(December 11, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
I had a
pair of thoughts as I read through this Section. The first was the fact that the Lord Himself
acknowledged that there were those people who loved to have others suffer. We are taught not to judge in this Church,
and I think that sometimes we allow that commandment to carry over into our
view of mortality. While we are not to
make any decisions as to whether this or that person is evil, it is
unquestionable (because the Lord explicitly states it) that there are those who
are evil. As He says here, there are
those people who love to cause suffering in others. It is beyond our stewardship to say that a
particular person is evil, but it naïve to believe that non one is evil (or
even that few people are evil).</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
other thought was the Lord’s statement that people cry transgression because
they themselves are the servants of sin, and the children of disobedience. As much as I would like to apply this to my
current situation (and I think it applicable), it seems even more beneficial to
apply it to the situation we find ourselves in overall.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Since
the Church released its policy change on homosexual marriage, there have been
countless attacks on the Church. I have
been tracking some of those making these comments, and reading prior comments
that they have made. What seems almost
universal is the fact that the people for whom this was the “last straw” are
almost always people who have criticized the Church for years. They are people who have left the Church, or
don’t believe in the Church.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
Perhaps
there are exceptions to this general rule – I cannot see into anyone’s
heart. But there is enough evidence
there, combined with this scripture, to make me feel certain that criticizing
our leaders (especially unjustly) is a sign of significant sin in our own
hearts.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-30459813503390580022015-12-14T10:27:00.001-08:002015-12-14T10:27:43.520-08:00Mormon 3<div class="J7LogText">
(December 11, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
We
mortals continually seek the impose limits on the forgiveness of the Lord. We like to think that His forgiveness is just
broad enough to cover our sins, but not broad enough to cover those of our
enemy. This, put in these terms, is
obviously ridiculous, but it doesn’t stop it from being true.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
There
are two pieces of this chapter that elucidate this concept. The first being that Mormon was instructed of
the Lord to preach to the people that they were to repent and they would be
spared. Does anyone doubt that if they
had followed the path of the people of <st1:place w:st="on">Nineveh</st1:place>
(when Jonah preached to them) that they would have been saved? What makes this illuminating is just how far
down the road of wickedness they had gone at this point – and despite that, the
Lord still remained read to forgive them if they repented.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
The
second piece was the Lord’s statement that vengeance was His and He will
repay. Although at first glance it might
not seem like a statement on forgiveness, but it really is. If we are pursuing vengeance, what we are
saying is that we are justified in seeking the destruction of our enemies. This is only true (absent immediate self-defense)
if our enemies are beyond the reach of the Atonement. Otherwise those we destroy are those who may
have received the Gospel, repented, and acquired their eternal birthright. If we acknowledge that the Atonement is broad
enough to cover those who hurt us, we must also acknowledge that vengeance
belongs to the Lord and no one else.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
When we
are hurting, it can be a bitter pill to swallow. But the blessing is that attached to this
bitter pill is the promise of forgiveness for our sins as well – and that is a
blessing that makes the rest worthwhile.
And, eventually, perhaps we reach the point where we are sufficiently
filled with charity that we find the
pill no longer bitter, but rather sweet.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-20611560692846031752015-12-14T10:13:00.001-08:002015-12-14T10:13:10.911-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 118-120<div class="J7LogText">
(December 10, 2015)</div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
So many
times we worry about things beyond our control.
We worry about the things that we feel we need to accomplish, but which
are beyond our capacities at that moment (or, potentially, ever). But the Lord reminds us here what we need to
focus on. If we focus on the Lord, and
maintain our humility before Him, He will open the doors that need to be opened
for us to receive what we need to receive (and to prevent us from receiving
what we shouldn’t receive).</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-41030291555349411072015-12-14T09:51:00.001-08:002015-12-14T09:51:18.086-08:00Mormon 2<div class="J7LogText">
(December 10, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
I
struggle sometimes with some of the things that seem unfair to me about
mortality. For example, I am in a
position now where I have been forced to suffer through a great amount of
sorrow and affliction because of the wickedness of others – people willing to
lie in order to cover their own sins.
These lies have caused a great deal of pain for me, and I look at the future
and do not see a reckoning coming for those who were dishonest in mortality.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Of
course, that is a shallow view on my part.
After all, their dishonesty is its own reward, and wickedness never was
happiness. And I have seen the impact
their continuing efforts to cover their sins have had on them – an impact they
steadfastly deny. What’s more, even my
thinking in this way is ungrateful, as I have been blessed by the Lord
tremendously as I have struggled with the consequences of their
dishonesty. I certainly have nothing to
complain about (though I do still complain).</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
Experiencing
that tension, I can empathize with Mormon and at the same time see him as a
positive example for me. He talked of experiencing
sorrow because of wickedness all of his days, and we know that is true (he
ended his mortal experience the way he lived it – suffering because of the
sinfulness of others). If he had lived
in the time of Christ’s visitation, his life would have been far more pleasant,
but that wasn’t what the Lord had in mind for him. And while the context seems to indicate his
sorrow because of wickedness was just sorrow for their sinful nature and what
would happen to them, I do not doubt that he also experienced temporal trials
(if nothing else, his death) because of those sins.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
But
Mormon kept an eternal perspective through those trials. He knew that even if he suffered the
remainder of his days because of the wickedness of others, it would not change
the fact that he would be lifted up at the last day. And that reward made everything else
worthwhile. It is the eternal
perspective that gives us the strength to exercise patience in our trials (particularly
those trials caused by the wickedness of others).</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-42997941800811674172015-12-12T11:35:00.002-08:002015-12-12T11:35:21.363-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 115-117<div class="J7LogText">
(December 9, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<st1:city w:st="on">Reading</st1:city> about the
Nicolaitane band led me to think about secret combinations in our modern
society. One thing that I have learned
and internalized is that the Lord does not work through secrecy and through
darkness and through deception. His works
are works of openness. And yet so many
people think that they are doing the Lord’s work and yet simultaneously attempt
to hide what they are doing.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
It may
be something that seems relatively simple.
For example, maybe it is a group of disaffected Members meeting together
on a message board (under pseudonyms – not uncommon) to share thoughts on why
the latest action of the Church is wrong or why something demonstrates the <u>Book
of Mormon</u> is untrue. They wouldn’t
recognize themselves as members of a secret combination, but what else would
you call that?</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
Or it
may be something more complex. Maybe it
is a Priesthood leader engaging in deception of some kind – for a good cause,
of course – with the belief that the deception is not a bad thing in this
instance. With such a justification, the
leader deviates from his stewardship and the direction given to those in
leadership for the protection of those they are to serve. Before long, immense damage can be done. They would certainly bristle at the thought
that what they did was a secret combination, but again what else would you call
that?</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-38244158217471397952015-12-12T10:08:00.001-08:002015-12-12T10:08:43.868-08:00Mormon 1<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(December 9, 2015)</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I think
there is significance to the fact that Mormon came from the north (he was
raised there) and yet lived in the south in his formative years. His editing makes it painfully clear that he
views the north as a dangerous, evil place (and you wonder what happened to
make that belief come into place). Were
he only familiar with the south, he likely would not have been as aware of the machinations
of the secret combinations (they always tended to be tied to the north – to the
Jaredites, perhaps, or some other people or group).</span></div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> There are exceptions, of course. In <u>3 Nephi</u>, for example, we see just
one such exception. But the general rule
for Mormon is that the north is the source of evil and destruction, and it is
apparent that he perhaps could have been drawing from some personal experience. Could that experience have been the reason
why Mormon and his father went south?
Could he and his father have been fleeing?</span>Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710838540053882164.post-29686560879246070992015-12-12T10:01:00.001-08:002015-12-12T10:01:09.023-08:00Doctrine and Covenants 114<div class="J7LogText">
(December 8, 2015)</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
This is
a short Section, but it has two key thoughts in it. The first, of course, is about our
priorities. But beyond that, it is a
reminder that the Lord is in charge.
There are those who misuse their Priesthood, and there are those who
have been hurt by the mistakes (well-intentioned or malicious) of leaders in
the Church. And, to be fair, there are
those who are hurt by their correct decisions as well, when the decision that
saves one soul hurts another.</div>
<div class="J7LogText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="J7LogText">
I put
myself into one of those categories above (though I don’t claim the wisdom to
know which one it might be). But there
is a comfort in knowing that, despite the hurt that I have felt, that the Lord
is still in charge. The leaders that He
chose He can easily replace. And I can
count on Him for protection, regardless of what happens, if I keep my focus on
Him.</div>
Jonathan A. Cavenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785951085433731808noreply@blogger.com0