Some Thoughts on the Parable of the Wheat and Tares

24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matt. 13:24-30)

To me, this parable is about the church and how the church ends up with a mix of people in it, both good and bad. We wish it were all good, but of course people have their choice and at the same time that God does His work, Satan is also on the march, seeking to destroy faith and tempting to sin. It stands to reason that at the same time that God has His successes, Satan is going to have his as well, even in the church.

At the beginning, all the seed looks the same, but over time when the fruits of our works start to appear, then it becomes clear that some fruits are good, and other fruits are…not so great. Naturally, the bad fruits concern us, and we want to correct the people who were responsible or root them out.

To the desire to gather out the tares, Jesus says “Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.” Rooting out the bad requires a surgical precision and accuracy. Our knowledge is so often incomplete that we can’t always see the line between the good and the evil or the causes behind each, so if we were to try to root out the bad, we might accidently condemn something good that had been intertwined with it. Good people might see the condemnation and say to themselves, “I have those qualities in myself too; I must be evil as well,” and become discouraged and self-condemning. Or we might not root out all the bad and thereby give those left some reason for self-justification and complacency.

Instead, Jesus says, “Let both grow together until the harvest.” The key word there is grow. Both good and evil does not remain the same over time. They both grow. Evil that was present only in thought or intent eventually become action, and if it isn’t arrested by repentance, it multiplies into a pattern of behavior, then grows into a habit, and hardens into a way of life. And naturally, patterns of life may be hidden for a while, but eventually they manifest in stronger and bolder public actions. When evil gets that big, then it can be dealt with by church discipline.

In the same way, good that was only sporadic likewise turns into a pattern, then a habit, then a confirmed way of living that brings a rich harvest of blessings.

So how does this parable help us? If we’re wise, we will look at everything we do and think about what it might turn into if it is grows bigger and stronger in our life. If we don’t like what it will become, we need to squash it. If we want more, we need to nurture it.

Our errors and mistakes and sins will magnify over time if we don’t repent and overcome them.  Laziness will turn into inactivity and spiritual apathy. Unbelief and fault-finding will grow into apostasy. Looking to lust will turn into adultery. Occasional meanness and flashes of temper will grow into cruelty and abuse.

On the other hand, our service will become sacrifice. Diligence in the scriptures will become the skills of a scriptorian. Kindness will become deep charity. Following the promptings of the Spirit will make us a mighty instrument in the hands of God. Paying regular tithing will become complete and total consecration. Encouraging others will become inspirational leadership. Exerting a particle of faith over and over turns into the ability to move mountains and work wonders.

No doubt the Lord wants us find the tares in our own character and weed them out before they grow into something so malignant and poisonous that requires others to remove us out of the kingdom. He also wants us to continue to nurture the goodness within us that we can eventually enjoy the unspeakable satisfaction of heaven’s favor.

Diagnosing Problems with the Corrupted Trees in Jacob 5

In Zeno’s allegory of the olive trees that Jacob quotes, there comes a point when the Lord of the vineyard finds all the trees are corrupted and giving bad fruit. It is interesting to see his and his servant’s diagnosis of the problem.

First the servant tries to find the silver lining in the cloud:

And the servant said unto his master: Behold, because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive tree they have nourished the roots, that they are alive and they have not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are yet good. (Jacob 5:34)

The servant observes the roots are still good, but notice—it is a bit backward to think that the branches are nourishing the roots. It is supposed to be the other way around.

In verse 37, the Lord of the vineyard has a different take on it:

But behold, the wild branches have grown and have overrun the roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit; and because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit thou beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon become ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do something for it to preserve it.

The Lord of the vineyard says the branches have overrun the roots and overcome them. (So the branches may have thought they were nourishing the roots, but they were overrunning them instead.)

Then the servant gets a brainwave in verse 48:

And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard have become corrupted?

Loftiness of the vineyard is a great way of describing pride. Also, I notice it says when the branches overcame the roots, they grew faster than the roots and took strength to themselves. This is what happens in individuals too. When a person with no authority gets a notion they can nourish the rest of the church, they are actually overrunning it. But they think the overrun means they are stronger and better than everyone else (taking strength to themselves) and corruption follows.

I think there’s a hint of what to look out for in ourselves. If we think we are growing faster or are spiritually stronger than others around us, we may have a problem with pride. (I had this issue some years ago. It makes me shudder to think about it. I am so grateful for the Lord's mercy that He brought me to recognize my error. Because of that experience, my blogging is more to benefit me than for anyone else because the writing I do helps me learn. If anyone else benefits, that is icing on the cake.)

If we have the problem of loftiness and pride, it might be good to open our ears and see what nourishment we are missing while we think we have the answer to everything. It might be good to just focus on the basic principles and practices of the gospel for a long while to make sure we are doing all we can.

There are a few more warnings I notice in this chapter that are part of the diagnoses of the corrupted trees.

In verse 40:

And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.

We might easily apply this to the Nephite civilization and point to how the Lamanites eventually overcame the righteous Nephites. However, it is true in individual life as well. If we have both good fruit and bad fruit in our lives, the bad tends to take over. It’s invasive, so we need to remove the bad branches, otherwise the good branches will wither away.

In verse 46:

…the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit…But, behold, they have become like unto the wild olive tree…

Without good fruit, the good olive tree is just like the wild olive tree. We can’t be like other people who don’t have the gospel. We have to be different. With good fruit.

Jeremiah 24 on Trials and Disaster

1 The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

3 Then said the Lord unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

4 ¶ Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

5 Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

8 ¶ And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

This is an interesting chapter. In it the Lord shows Jeremiah two baskets of figs – one good, one bad. The Lord tells Jeremiah the good figs represent the Jews who had been carried captive to Babylon, that the Lord did it for their good, and that He would build them and gather them, give them a heart to know the Lord, and make them His people.

On the other hand, the Lord tells Jeremiah the bad figs represent those who remained in the land of Jerusalem or Egypt, who the Lord will remove into all kingdoms of the earth to their hurt, to be a reproach and a curse, to suffer famine pestilence, and so on until they are consumed.

This would be a very unusual message to the Jews of Jeremiah’s day. They probably looked on those who had been carried away captive to Babylon as the cursed and unfortunate ones and looked on those who had stayed in the land as the blessed and lucky ones.

But the Lord wanted to teach the people that, contrary to what they thought, the Lord could make physical calamity into a blessing, and that avoiding disaster could be made a curse.

The question that arises then should be, “What makes disaster into a blessing?” and “How can the Lord make a tragic event good for me?”  (I think the Lord wanted the Jews to think about this.)  The answer is, if we turn to the Lord and repent and keep the commandments, He can make good things come out of disaster.

That doesn’t mean it is easy, of course.

It is neat to me that at the bottom of this odd story about baskets of good and bad figs is a lesson that is still applicable today.

D&C 73: A Pattern unto the Elders

-->

1 For verily, thus saith the Lord, it is expedient in me that they should continue preaching the gospel, and in exhortation to the churches in the regions round about, until conference;

2 And then, behold, it shall be made known unto them, by the voice of the conference, their several missions.

3 Now, verily I say unto you my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, saith the Lord, it is expedient to translate again;

4 And, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round about until conference; and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation until it be finished.

5 And let this be a pattern unto the elders until further knowledge, even as it is written.

6 Now I give no more unto you at this time. Gird up your loins and be sober. Even so. Amen. (D&C 73)

This is kind of an odd section. It was given after Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had preached to diminish the unfavorable feelings that had arisen against the church because of letters published by apostate Ezra Booth.

It tells the elders to continue preaching the gospel, exhorting the churches, and it tells Joseph and Sidney to translate again, then preach, then translate again til the work is finished. All of this is ended with the declaration that this is a pattern to the elders until further knowledge is given.

The question I had about this section is about that statement that there was a pattern for the elders.  What is the pattern? 

In searching, I decided that perhaps the Lord was referring to the cycle of “preach—translate—preach—translate.” 

But if that is the pattern, how are we all to apply this, if we are not given authority and power to translate as Joseph Smith was?

 I personally think that for us, the pattern is “preach—scripture study—preach—scripture study.”  After all, Joseph Smith had to study things out in his mind to receive revelation for his translation, and personal revelation for ourselves and our stewardships is still promised, no matter our office or calling. 

So what this pattern tells us is that we will cycle between learning and sharing, over and over.  It’s a process of growth, line upon line, precept upon precept.

What the creation tells us about the atonement

I was in the temple recently watching the creation narrative and it struck me how much the creation tells us about the atonement of Christ.

The great power God has to create worlds tell us about His power to create great changes.  We need to change when we repent and the greater the change we need, the more we need that assurance that Christ has that power.

His ability to bring plants and animals tells us about His ability to help us grow. We need that for faith in His power (grace) to help us reach greater levels of righteousness than we've ever had before.

The long period of time it took to create the world tells us about His great patience. If He could wait for the earth to obey His commands, He is going to be patient with us as we grow.  He can't be discouraged.  (But just because He could wait for the earth doesn't mean that we have all the time in the world to do our part.  We only have so much time in mortality to do our changing and improving in, so the sooner we get cracking, the better for us.)

The way God pronounced it all good when it was done gives us hope that when we have finished progressing, He will similarly pronounce us good as well. It tells us God's approval can be attained. (What a wonderful thing that will be!)

The flow of the parables and the parable of the householder

 One of the things about parables as a teaching device is that they don’t usually match doctrine in every respect.  Recently while reading Matthew 13, which contains a number of Christ’s parables, I realized that those parables build on each other in order to communicate truths more accurately to make up the deficiencies of earlier parables.

The parable of the sower does a great job of communicating the obstacles faced by a person’s heart in trying to receive and endure in the Word, and it conveys very well how the Word can cause people to grow and bring forth fruit with amazing abundance.  But it doesn’t well communicate the penalty for those who don’t grow.  So, the parable of the wheat and the tares is needed.

Neither the parable of the sower or the parable of the wheat and tares adequately conveys the scale of the growth of the Lord’s kingdom like it does the growth of individuals, so the parable of the mustard seed is needed.  It shows how startlingly the kingdom becomes “the greatest of herbs,” even showing how angels themselves (represented as birds) are attracted to it and prefer to dwell in the branches of it.

And none of what goes before conveys the effect the church has on the surrounding world, leavening it and raising the whole, so the parable of the leaven is needed.

And then the parables of the man finding the treasure in the field and the merchant seeking goodly pearls convey truths about how people come into the kingdom of God, some stumbling upon it by accident, and some seeking deliberately until they find it.

But this would be incomplete without a parable of the net gathering of every kind, since that shows how the church tries to draw everyone into it and tries to be as inclusive as possible, keeping in mind that someday there will still be the final judgment when the evil will be cast out and the righteous saved.  (In essence, just because we’re drawn into the net doesn’t mean we are good.  We need conversion if we are to be saved ultimately.)

Finally, the Savior ends with a parable of the householder, one we don’t give much attention to, but which can be encouraging as we strive to be disciples of Christ over a lifetime:

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. (Matthew 13:51-52)

The helpfulness of this parable is not immediately obvious, so it will help to ask questions about it and examine how the meaning might be different if alternate words were used.

Every scribe – If it said “every farmer,” we’d get a different idea of what this could mean. Because Jesus said “scribe” though, we see He is referring to people in the kingdom of God who are intent on studying the scriptures and learning their meaning and, of course, practicing what they learn.  These aren’t the apostate scribes of Judiasm of Christ’s time; these are converted individuals.

which is instructed – If it said “which is teaching,” we would get a totally different idea.  But keeping the focus on being instructed shows us that as part of the kingdom, we are to be taught and we are to learn.  I believe we are to infer that the instruction comes by the Spirit, and it can continue throughout life.  Also, the footnote for this says “which has become a disciple in,” so we might read the whole as “every scribe which has become a disciple in the kingdom of God…”

like unto a man which is an householder – If the man were a merchant he might be trading, or might be in a place of business instead of at home.  Talking about a householder conveys the idea that the man is at home and feels comfortable there, just as the spiritual man feels comfortable in the kingdom of God and considers it his portion and he has a rightful place there.

Which bringeth forth out of his treasure – How would the meaning change if the householder hides his treasure instead of bringing it out?  The treasure would not be very useful then.  What is the treasure of the church that is brought out?  I think it is the doctrines of the gospel and the Restoration.  When is it brought out?  Ideally when it is needed.

treasure both new and old – What is the new and old treasures?  The new treasures are the new things we learn along the way and the old treasures are the basic gospel principles that brought us conversion in the first place.  Note that both the old and new are to be treasured and used.  This is why we should not turn up our noses at principles we’ve heard about many times.  They are still treasures.  They are no less precious for all our long acquaintance with them.  We need only consider how our lives and faith would be poorer without them to realize their worth.

Again, the parable of the householder describes how we endure to the end as disciples—keep learning, keep being instructed, and how we will have old basic principles reinforced in our lives and be taught new things as well.   This perfectly describes what I have seen in my life.  I find the same basic principles reinforced by my experiences and new things taught too.   And of course we should also expect the church instruction to repeat things as well, for which I am grateful.   How sad it would be if we were only taught about repentance once and just expected to remember with no repetition!

New insight on the Parable of the Sower

I was reading Talmage’s Jesus the Christ yesterday and got some new insights from the parable of the sower.

If you remember, this parable is about the four different types of ground that the seeds fell on.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Mattew 13:19-23)

We often think of these different types of ground as different types of people and the way they react to hearing the gospel.  But this may be doing us a disservice.  How does it help us to read it that way?  I don’t think it does much for us except to give us a self-satisfied notion that we know what’s going on.

Another question – if a person is one particular type of ground, like a bad type, are they stuck that way forever?  And if a person is a good type of ground, are they forever safe?

I’m sure you can probably answer that question with me.  No; no one is stuck forever if they don’t want to be, or forever safe in spite of themselves.

This is when I realized what the true purpose of this parable is.  It’s to be used as a self-diagnosis tool for the Saints to help us test ourselves and realize where we are.   Because we’re not always going to be good ground all the time.  For whatever reason, we may find ourselves identifying with the weedy ground or stony ground or even the wayside ground.  (I know I have, at various times.)

The even cooler thing is we’re not stuck, if that happens because we should know enough about farming to realize that for each problematic type of ground, there is a solution for how to fix it.

If the ground on the wayside is trodden down and birds come and carry away the seeds, then clearly that ground has become terribly hardened.  It has to be softened up.  (Humility!  Gratitude!  And trials!)  If birds are carrying away the seeds, the seeds need to be held onto by the ground and buried.  (Treasure and ponder over the word instead of forgetting it.)

If the ground is stony with only a shallow covering of earth, then those stones need to be broken up (with humility) or carried away (like taking away bad traditions with good doctrine).  The seed has to be planted deeper for deeper roots to form (commitment). 

If the ground is weedy and choking the good seeds, then the weeds have to be removed (priorities have to be put straight).

If the ground is fruitful, but only giving 30- or 60-fold when 100-fold is desired, then there has to be more soil amendment (nourishing doctrine and desire) and more growth (deciding to do more to stretch oneself).

This parable really is for us to act on because Jesus can sow the word profusely, but we need to be prepared for it.  He can’t do that preparation for us. 

To prosper in the land

Prosperity.  We want of some of that, don’t we?  Here’s what my favorite dictionary says:

“Prosper: make steady progress; be at the high point in one’s career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance; bloom, flourish, flower, fly high, thrive” (WordWeb dictionary iPad ap)

We tend to look at the word prosper in the scriptures in only a financial/economic sense.  But I have started to realize that in many instances, to prosper refers more to spiritual growth, and that spiritual growth was what the prophets wanted for the people when they promised that keeping the commandments would cause the people to prosper in the land.

Take statements like that of Alma to his son Helaman:

O remember, remember, my son Helaman,

how strict are the commandments of God.

And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—

but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence. (Alma 37:13)

Thinking logically, if keeping the commandments brought financial success, then not keeping the commandments would bring financial ruin and failure.  But that is not what the warning part says.  It says not keeping the commandments will cut us off from the presence of the Lord.  It doesn’t make sense for the blessing and the cursing to be such different things, one temporal and the other spiritual.  But if prosperity means spiritual growth, then the cursing of being cut off from the presence of the Lord would make a lot more sense.  If fact, it would be perfectly obvious!

If we are spiritually minded, then spiritual growth will be a higher priority for us than financial success.  Financial gain is not synonymous with godliness, so why should we pretend it is?  Financial success (if honestly gotten) depends on learning skills that others are willing to pay well for, hard work, honesty, and careful use of resources.

Spiritual growth, on the other hand, depends on keeping the commandments.  If so, then it is possible to prosper in the land even if we aren’t financially successful.  There are also people who have gained financial success honestly, but who are cut off from the presence of the Lord because they don’t keep the commandments besides the ones that have implications for financial accumulation.

In the scriptures we are promised we will prosper (progress spiritually) if we:

• Keep the commandments
• Keep our covenants (“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.” (Duet. 29:9))
• Seek the Lord (“And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.” (2 Chron. 26:5))
• Trust the Lord  (“we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.” (Hel. 12:1))
• Believe the prophets (“Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me… Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” (2 Chron. 20:20))
• Build temples and keep them purified (“And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it…And, now, behold, if Zion do these things she shall prosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very terrible.” (D&C 97:15,18))

We are similarly promised we will not prosper if we:

• Transgress the commandments
• Cover our sins (“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13))
• Fight against God (“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).)
• Allow ourselves to be lulled into carnal security (“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.”(2 Nephi 28:21))
• Don’t reason according to gospel principles (“And my servant Leman shall be ordained unto this work, that he may reason with them, not according to that which he has received of them, but according to that which shall be taught him by you my servants; and by so doing I will bless him, otherwise he shall not prosper.”(D&C 49:4))

 One final thought:  Recently when my husband and I were at the Mesa temple having finished an endowment session, we came down the long grand staircase that leads straight from the third floor to the first floor, and we paused midway at a landing to let two other sessions’ worth of people go up to the ordinance rooms.  I stood there as men and women flowed to the left and to the right past us, climbing upward in a river of white dresses, white shirts, white pants, white packets… The minutes it took for all of them to pass seemed to stretch out and time seemed to slow down for me.  I looked into the eyes of these brothers and sisters climbing diligently, some smiling, some solemn, and I felt like I was midway up on Jacob’s ladder while angels climbed around me.  The impression I got was of multitudes of Saints in eternal progress.  It showed me the temple is a place of great prosperity, for both those here and those behind the veil.

Now here’s a question for you: Does spiritual growth come from simply keeping the commandments through to the end of your life (enduring to the end), or does it come from improving the exactness with which you keep the commandments?  Or does it come from keeping more commandments?  Or is it all of the above?  What are your thoughts?  And why?

D&C 57 on the establishment of Zion

D&C section 57 is where Independence, Missouri is revealed as the center place of Zion.  Beside that prophetic bombshell (which continues to echo and haunt and inspire all our yearnings to this day) section 57 also has a number of interesting characteristics about that establishment that I want to point out.

First, I noticed there is a repetition of “here is wisdom” and variants throughout this revelation.  There are at least five instances of it in the space of sixteen verses, which is a little less than 1 every 3 verses.  What is this wisdom, and will we be able to see it?

And thus saith the Lord your God, if you will receive wisdom here is wisdom. Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the center place; and a spot for the temple is lying westward, upon a lot which is not far from the courthouse. (D&C 57:3)

We are told that making Independence the center place of Zion with a spot for the temple lying westward close to the courthouse is wisdom.  I admit I have yet to learn what was wise about the placement of both Zion and the spot for the temple; but that is because I labor under limited vision.   Yet I have faith that at some future time the wisdom of it will become perfectly apparent, and we will all love to talk about how wise the Lord was to choose that spot, just as we love to talk about how wise the Lord was to ask Mormon to include the small plates of Nephi with the abridgement of Nephite history.

Wherefore, it is wisdom that the land should be purchased by the saints, and also every tract lying westward, even unto the line running directly between Jew and Gentile. (D&C 57:4)

We are told that it is wise for the Saints to purchase the land, buying every tract lying westward up to the line between “Jew and Gentile,” or in other words, between Indian and white settler.  Purchasing the land was wise because it would make it legal and demonstrate the Saints would follow the rules.  (It also allows disputes to be settled peacefully in the courts instead of through violence.)  I can’t help but wonder how the church leaders are following this acquisition command today, and I do not pretend to know anything about it.  I wonder what happened to the lands that the Saints vacated when they were forced to leave Jackson County, Missouri.  I wonder whether they stayed completely unoccupied or whether the lands were taken over and sold illegally and false deeds of ownership made up.  I could go on and on with my questions, but this might become a completely different post.  ;-)  (If anyone knows anything that is not hearsay or rumor that they are able to share, they are welcome to comment below.)

And also every tract bordering by the prairies, inasmuch as my disciples are enabled to buy lands. Behold, this is wisdom, that they may obtain it for an everlasting inheritance. (D&C 57:5)

We are told it is wisdom for the disciples to buy lands nearby to “obtain it for an everlasting inheritance.”  It seems this land was meant to be kept eternally in the hands of the Saints.  The implications of that are significant.  It means that Saints who receive their inheritance there are expected to pass it to their heirs, and if it must be sold, owners would be expected to sell it to another member of the church.  I don’t think I ever thought of it in that way before.  I think those instructions are not meant to limit personal freedom in relation to the land, but as a reminder that the land was sacred and was to be kept in the hands of those who would not pollute their inheritance.  (Remember, the inheritance was to be a stewardship, with God acknowledged as the owner.)

And also let my servant Sidney Gilbert obtain a license—behold here is wisdom, and whoso readeth let him understand—that he may send goods also unto the people, even by whom he will as clerks employed in his service; (D&C 57:9)

We are told it is wisdom for Sidney Gilbert to obtain a license to send goods to the people and provide for the Saints.  I get the idea that somehow it required a license to move large shipments about or to trade in the area. This was part of Sidney Gilbert starting a store for the Saints.  A store would help them achieve a measure of economic independence from their neighbors, and it could act as an informal bank, extending needed credit.

It is curious that Sidney Gilbert’s providing for the Saints was to cause the gospel to be preached to those in darkness.  Somehow it was meant to enable missionary work, but I’m not sure how.  Maybe the funds he collected were to finance missionary work or to help care for families whose fathers were away on missions.  Or maybe his store would become a gathering place for the inhabitants where informal discussions about the gospel could occur.

11 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant William W. Phelps be planted in this place, and be established as a printer unto the church.

 12 And lo, if the world receive his writings—behold here is wisdom—let him obtain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for the good of the saints.  (D&C 57:12)

We are told it is wisdom for William W. Phelps to start a church printing concern and “obtain in righteousness for the good of the saints.”  It seems like this would make it so the church could begin printing its own materials, including the Book of Commandments, or a newspaper, whatever else was needed.  Indeed, the newspaper Evening & Morning Star turned into the main way for the saints in Missouri to learn about new revelations as they were given.

All together, we see that the Lord wanted development on several fronts to help the Saints as they gathered to Missouri.  He wanted them to have legal right to the land, He wanted them to be provided for with goods, and He wanted them to have a means of publishing the gospel message to the world.  This really would lay a foundation for Zion as a gathering place.

**

Next, I notice that D&C 57 has some good counsel about running a business.

“buy…inasmuch as can be done in righteousness, and as wisdom shall direct.” (v6)  -- This seems to teach that business buying can’t be spendthrift.  Spending has to have a purpose to it, according to wisdom.  It also has to be within limits so that other priorities aren’t neglected, and especially if it is on credit, it can’t be so much that the debt can’t be repaid.

“sell goods without fraud” (v8) – Obviously dishonesty can have no part in business dealings.  There can be no cheating of customers, no lying about the products or the terms of agreements.

“obtain a license” (v9) – The business has to be legally formed, aboveboard, and regulated.  Ideally this means the owner can be preserved by adhering to the law.

“let him obtain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for the good of the saints” (v12) – Means of procuring supplies must be honest and legal.  Also, the products must be ones that will be good for the Saints.

**

A final thing I notice in this section is that there are five instances of the Lord speaking of “planting” people in Missouri. 

1. “let my servant Sidney Gilbert plant himself in this place” (v8)  Sidney was to start his store.
2.  Sidney’s store was to provide goods that would help to plant others (“obtain whatsoever things the disciples may need to plant them in their inheritance” (v8)  
3.  “let my servant William W. Phelps be planted in this place” (v11)  William W. Phelps was to start the printing concern. 
4.  “let those of whom I have spoken be planted in the land of Zion, as speedily as can be, with their families” (v14) Them and their families were to come quickly to be planted. 
5.  The families of those commanded to come were to be assisted by the bishop and the agent to “plant them in their inheritance.” (v15)

I love that the Lord says “plant” and not “transplant.”  It conveys a sense of permanence, even though it didn’t turn out to be permanent.  It also makes me think of a seed being dropped in the soil to grow and flourish, even if it must lie dormant for a while.  It evokes the sense of setting down roots and anchoring to the place.   These people got to be the seeds of Zion.  What an honor and challenge!

The Lord of the vineyard had preserved

…and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.  And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning. (Jacob 5:73-74)

When I was reading this verse, I noticed that the final results of grafting in the natural branches to the tree are listed, and we can learn some good things from this list.

the trees had become again the natural fruit -  This is kind of an awkward phrase, but we know what it means.  It expresses a transformation of character, that the good works we do will become an inseparable part of our identity.

they became like unto one body – This expresses how we will become unified with each other through the Spirit.  This is quite amazing, considering how congregations are all over the world.

the fruits thereof were equal – This gives us a vision of how the Lord sees our honest efforts, no matter what calling we have.

the root and the top kept equal, according to the strength thereof – We could look at this like a genealogical tree, where all the generations are kept equal with each other.  Or we could look at this like a church hierarchy where all the callings are kept equal.

I love the repetition of the phrase “the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself” as it is applied to both the trees and the fruit.  That word “preserved” makes me think of salvation and how the Lord is concerned about us as individuals and about our works. 

Acts 6 & 7: Stephen and embracing change

Stephen is described as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 6:5) and “full of faith and power” (Acts 6:8) who “did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6:8). He had been appointed as one of the seven over the daily ministration (Acts 6:1) to “serve tables” (Acts 6:2).

Then, somehow he torks off people of the synogogue of Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians, and Asias, disputing with them and confounding them to the extent that they haul him to the Jewish council and accuse him of blasphemy variously against “Moses and against God” (Acts 6:11) and against “this holy place and the law” (Acts 6:13) for prophesying that God would destroy the place and change the Mosiac customs (Acts 6:14).

This all seems pretty vague to me.

I gain greater insight when I think of Stephen as if he was like my father-in-law, Larry Stephens. Larry is extremely forward thinking and when he sees technology is going in a certain direction, he adopts it for his use in his classroom. He has the know-how to install things in his classroom, and he tends to annoy the IT personnel because he does stuff without asking them. They get mad at him and make him rip it out or uninstall the programs or whatever… but then a number of years later, what happens? A number of other classrooms get wired for the same advances (which have become needed more widely), the same advances he anticipated and put in himself and had to remove. The programs he was asked to uninstall eventually become widely used and… installed. Larry is the kind of person who, if he can make the improvement or build it or fix it or whatever, he will do it. His initiative is amazing. (Did you know that he designed, acquired parts for, and welded together a swingset? No pre-made kit for him!)

If Stephen was like my father-in-law, then he was already anticipating the changes that would come in the church from following the higher law of Christ. He was starting to let go of the Mosiac traditions and he was teaching others about it too. But then he ran into a synagogue of people who were so hidebound in tradition that they saw all his forward thinking as inexcusable, uncomfortable blasphemy against all they knew and loved best. (They loved the wrong things, you see; instead of loving God, they loved Moses more, the law, “this place” and more.) They stirred all the people up against Stephen, even when he was right.

I always had a hard time seeing how Stephen’s discourse had anything to do with his case, but when I looked at it from the perspective of “tradition-bound” versus “forward-thinking progress,” it became clear. Stephen placed before the people a number of cases of spiritual leaders who were “before their time” and contrasted them with the foot-dragging of the faithless people around them.

• Abraham, who was told the land of Canaan would be given to him long before it ever was given to the children of Israel.
• Abraham, given the covenant of circumcision, long before it became part of the Law of Moses.
• Joseph, who anticipated (through dreams) the authority he would have over his family of brothers. (His brothers, on the other hand, couldn’t stand the idea.)
• Moses, who know before his prophetic call that God would use him to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage. (The Israelites, on the other hand, asked, “Who made you a judge over us?”)
• Moses, who gave the law in the wilderness, while the Israelites still clung to their Egyptian idolatrous practices.
• David, who wanted to build a temple to the Lord, long before Solomon built it.
• All the prophets, who anticipated the coming of Christ.

Stephen’s last point is that the children of Israel have always resisted the Spirit of the Lord (which asks them to change) and the current generation is no different, killing the very Messiah they were told of for ages.

So, this leads me to consider what changes are being asked of me that I am fighting. How can I embrace change with an open heart instead of dragging my feet? Part of it, I think, is being willing to use my agency to act and not be acted upon. Another part is acting in anticipation of the future, rather than being content to react to events. Anticipating the future requires visualizing the future, visualizing the place I want in it. (There’s an element of prophecy in that, which can’t be acquired without a testimony of cause and effect or a testimony of Christ’s power to help us change.)

What makes it difficult is that there is so much that I want to change and there is only so much time in a day and only so much I can do.

What changes have you planned for and went forward toward? How do you approach coming changes that you know are good for you, but which appear painful? How can do you make it your own?

Where we stop, we don’t quite know

It’s been a while since I last posted; I was immersed in an 8-day seminary student-teaching experience and all my thought was going into preparing lessons.

I was reading these verses recently about the journey of the Jaredites to the promised land:

5 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel.
6 And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.
7 And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people. (Ether 2:5-7)

I think it is interesting that the record says that the Jaredites crossed many waters, but had to keep going. The Lord wouldn’t let them stop there. If I were among the Jaredites, I probably would have wondered why we couldn’t settle after the first major crossing.

I find that there is a certain spiritual tendency to think that once we’ve changed our lives a little bit that that is our final destination. But the Lord doesn’t want us to stop there; He wants us to make it all the way back to live with Him. He prods us to keep going, keep growing, keep changing. When we join the church, we sign up for an adventure of positive transformation toward celestial glory and nothing less than that should satisfy us… at least not for long.

I know in my life when I’ve changed for the better, it takes me a while to become used to it. At the beginning when it is so new, I’m pretty exultant and feel excited and fulfilled. And it is hard to think of what new changes still need to happen. But when I become comfortable and used to those changes, then divine discontent hits and it is time to think about what else about me needs to change.

Here are some phrases I really like in these verses that indicate different types of revelation that help us change:

• the Lord did go before them… This reminds me of the example Christ set for us, as revealed in the scriptures. He’s been through it all before. He knows what it is like. He knows how to help us through it.
• and [the Lord] did talk with them as he stood in a cloud… This reminds me of what a privilege it is to communicate with the Lord through prayer. I’ve gotten better at this over the last month and I really like being able to share my feelings about things with the Lord.
• and [the Lord] gave directions whither they should travel… This reminds me that when I am feeling directionless and confused, I can get direction from the Lord and be renewed in my sense of purpose.
• [they were]directed continually by the hand of the Lord… This reminds me that not only can we get direction from the Lord, but He can intervene directly in our circumstances which show us He’s working with us. It is like an invisible hand has put things in motion, causing all things to work together for our good. (Just as I was writing about this, I got a little sample of it myself and I was able to recognize it! It made me feel loved.)

What experiences have you had when you’ve found the Lord is pushing you onward? Will you share an experience you’ve had when you’ve seen the Lord’s hand directing you?

Small Positive Changes in Families Can Multiply the Harvest of Blessings

Here’s a quote from Elder Eyring that particularly struck me today:

Most of us have had some experience with self-improvement efforts. My experience has taught me this about how people and organizations improve: the best place to look is for small changes we could make in things we do often. There is power in steadiness and repetition. And if we can be led by inspiration to choose the right small things to change, consistent obedience will bring great improvement. (“The Lord Will Multiply the Harvest”, An Evening with Elder Henry B. Eyring, 6 February 1998, emphasis added)

While the context for Elder Eyring’s talk was improvements in seminary instruction, it seems like it can easily apply to families as well. There are certain things that we do quite often in families, so if we can find small ways to improve in those things, then the effect of the blessing will be multiplied.

What kind of things happen often (or should be happening often) in families?

• Family prayer (daily)
• Family scripture study (daily)
• Personal prayer (daily and more)
• Family Home Evening (weekly)

I can also think of some things that are not considered spiritual in nature, but which happen (or could happen) often enough that small positive changes could still multiply blessings.

• Family meals
• Family chores
• Family discipline
• Conversation during family errands and chauffeuring

I’m sure that you can think of more that are individualized to your family. I want to challenge you to seek for inspiration about what small changes you could make that would multiply the blessings in your family.

I know that President Erying’s counsel is wise and true because I’ve been trying an experiment recently, trying to make two small changes in our family. One is in our family scripture study.

Rather than only wrestling on my own with scriptures that puzzle me, I have begun to ask my husband what he thinks about them. I have enough experience with being taught by the Spirit that I know that Heavenly Father will give me answers when I seek them, but I want to make sure that my husband gets opportunities to teach our family about the scriptures, and what better way to do that than to ask him questions about what we are reading? This might sound patronizing, but it’s not. I ask questions on things I don’t know, so we both stretch together as we think about it.

From preliminary results of this effort, I’ve noticed that our scripture study is more interesting. It feels like we’ve grown together as a couple. And I notice that my respect for him is increasing.

The second experiment I’ve been trying is in my personal prayers. Last Sunday in sacrament meeting the talks were about “praying like Christ,” and I was once again reminded of just how sporadic my personal prayers were. A scripture was read about how we shouldn’t perform anything unto the Lord unless we had prayed that our performance would be for the welfare of our souls and I started to think about how so often I tend to get distracted in the middle of doing something. I began to wonder what would happen if I prayed before every task I did. I wondered if that would help me keep from getting distracted. I also thought about how much time I spent doing certain things simply because I was trying to procrastinate doing what really needed to be done. I wondered if praying before each task would give me the heart and the will to not procrastinate in the first place.

I’m in my third or fourth day of this particular experiment and I can already see blessings. First, I remember the Lord much more. Second, it has made me more mindful of my motive for doing what I do. If I know I want to look at some websites because I want to waste time, I feel I can’t pray for a blessing on that, and if I can’t pray for that activity to be blessed, then I might as well not look at those websites at all. And I find myself not resenting that because I am intent upon doing my experiment: I want to pray and I want the Lord to bless me. It is automatically improving my priorities. I feel happier. It has also humbled me in a way that it is hard to describe, but which has shown me how little I know and yet I don’t resent it because at the same time I’m gaining this sense of how vast the wisdom of God is. It’s something more than rational and I don’t understand how it works; I only know that frequent prayer has brought it.

What experiment will you try? Or maybe there is something you are doing right now. Will you tell me about it?

Stewardship: A Foundational Principle of Zion

I love to organize. I have been doing it since I was very young when I used to arrange my toys carefully in the milk crate that they were stored in. Over time I learned various things about organization and various techniques, but I never really understood how the things I did fit into the framework of my religious beliefs until I really began to study the principle of stewardship. Learning about this principle opened up to me the deep ‘why’s of organization from a gospel perspective and even showed me what the purpose of it was.

I really think that in order to build Zion, we have to begin by understanding the principles upon which it is based and begin to practice them in our lives. Stewardship is one of these principles and it is something that can prepare us for Zion.

All things belong to the Lord

I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine. (D&C 104:14)

This world may talk of ownership; we may say that such-and-such belongs to us, but ultimately, the Lord owns it, He gives it to us, and…

We are stewards

…every man shall be made accountable unto me, a steward over his own property, or that which he has received by consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family. (D&C 42:32)

For me, learning that I am a steward took away any reason to be greedy. If I’m not the one who really owns something, what am I getting competitive and covetous about? Suddenly having what I needed seemed like enough. Stewardship helped me become more content.

Everyone should have a stewardship

It is wisdom in me; therefore, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall organize yourselves and appoint every man[, woman, and child] his stewardship; (D&C 104:11, brackets added)

There are many aspects to our stewardships. Everyone has the stewardship of time and energy to use as they think proper. There is the stewardship of our family—spouse, younger siblings, children, etc. Then there is the stewardship of space, money, property. Then there is the stewardship of our employment, educational opportunities, and church callings. There is the stewardship of our knowledge and the gospel doctrine and our testimony. There is the stewardship of our talents and abilities.

Stewardship is intended for personal development, self-improvement, and to serve others

And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church—(D&C 82:18)

Faithfulness required

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man [, woman, and child] be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2, brackets are mine)

Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward. (D&C 136:27)

And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order. (Mosiah 4:27)

Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you. (D&C 90:18)

40 But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth….
42 You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.
43 And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house….see that they are more diligent and concerned at home, and pray always, or they shall be removed out of their place.
(D&C 93:40,42-43, 50)

The principle of stewardship is at the foundation and so we really can’t start learning about it too early. When we teach children to clean their rooms and make their beds and do their laundry, we need to start by teaching them the principle of stewardship and explain to them what their stewardship is. Then we need to teach them how to do the tasks that are a part of their stewardship and be willing to guide them through it until they can do it on their own.

Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; (D&C 88:119)

Organization allows us to be prepared. Preparation allows us to anticipate needs and plan ahead for long term needs instead of being at the mercy of circumstances.

Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion. (D&C 132:8)

123 See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.
124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. (D&C 88:123-124)

These verses are not a random list of things to do that were just crammed together. They are actually a list relating to various aspects of individual stewardship, beginning with the most important aspect of interpersonal relationships.

Relationship stewardship

• Love one another
• Learn to impart
• Cease to find fault

Temporal stewardship

• Cease covetousness
• Learn to impart
• Cease to be idle
• Cease to be unclean

Stewardship of our bodies

• Cease to be unclean
• Don’t sleep too long
• Retire to bed early
• Arise early

I have to add that keeping the Word of Wisdom also helps us be faithful in the stewardship of our bodies.

Faithfulness should be observed regardless of stewardship size

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10)

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:11-12)

This is why it is important for us to avoid covetousness. It is very easy want another person’s stewardship while neglecting the one we have.

We will be held accountable for our stewardship

And also, my servants who are abroad in the earth should send forth the accounts of their stewardships to the land of Zion (D&C 69:5)

And an account of this stewardship will I require of them in the day of judgment. (D&C 70:4)

Accountability and responsibility increases with the size of the stewardship

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)

Reward for good stewardship

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)

And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen. (D&C 78:22)

Punishment for bad stewardship

1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. (Luke 16:1-2)

47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. (Luke 12:47-48)

And even the bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships shall be condemned, and others shall be planted in their stead. (D&C 64:40)

Stewardship in church callings

7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled…not given to wine,…not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:7-9)

The priests and teachers shall have their stewardships, even as the members. (D&C 42:70)

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14)

Stewardship in government

86 Let them importune at the feet of the judge;
87 And if he heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the governor;
88 And if the governor heed them not, let them importune at the feet of the president;
89 And if the president heed them not, then will the Lord arise and come forth out of his hiding place, and in his fury vex the nation;
90 And in his hot displeasure, and in his fierce anger, in his time, will cut off those wicked, unfaithful, and unjust stewards, and appoint them their portion among hypocrites, and unbelievers; (D&C 101:86-90)

If we believe that one of our government representatives has been overstepping his authority or neglecting his stewardship, we are within our rights to call for an accounting and if they are found unfaithful, it is justice that their stewardship be taken away.

Considering issues in terms of stewardship can bring greater clarity of vision to our decision-making. I know this is true, because I have seen it in my life. When I get confused and off track it is generally because I have forgotten these principles. I know that Heavenly Father wants us to take care of our stewardships and grow in our abilities so that we can build Zion. I know that He will help us as we do our best.