What Is the Proper Way to Fast?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Isaiah 58-66 with a lesson titled “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion.” The lesson was introduced by the following information.

Early in His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ visited a synagogue in Nazareth, the village where He was raised. There He stood to read from the scriptures, opened the book of Isaiah, and read what we now know as Isaiah 61:1–2. He then announced, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” This was one of the Savior’s most straightforward declarations that He was the Anointed One, who would “heal the brokenhearted” and “preach deliverance to the captives” (see Luke 4:16–21). This scripture was indeed fulfilled on that day. And, like many other prophecies of Isaiah, it continues to be fulfilled in our day. The Savior continues to heal all the brokenhearted who come unto Him. There are yet many captives to whom deliverance must be preached. And there is a glorious future to prepare for—a time when the Lord will “create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17) and “cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11). Reading Isaiah opens our eyes to what the Lord has already done, what He is doing, and what He will yet do for His people.

       

This scripture block teaches many principles, too numerous to mention. The focus of this post will be on the principle “Fasting brings blessings” (Isaiah 58:3-12). People who genuinely love the Lord seek to overcome their sins and to draw nearer to the Lord in fasting and pray. The Israelites of Isaiah day fasted, but they did so with a bad attitude. They considered fasting to be a burden as these verses show:

 

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of our fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

 

The words written by Isaiah show us that the Lord was not pleased with the attitude expressed by the Israelites. Many people of our day – you and I – occasionally consider fasting to be a burden, so maybe we can relate to the people of Isaiah’s time. However, this is not the way that the Lord wants us to fast. He sought to teach the Israelites that there is a proper way to fast and to commune with God. After chastising the Israelites for having a bad attitude, the Lord, through His prophet Isaiah, taught the way to properly fast.

 

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

 

The Savior taught through Isaiah’s words that fasting has a genuine spiritual purpose: it breaks the bands of wickedness, sets free the spiritually oppressed, and provides bread for the hungry and covering for the naked. Bishop John H.Vandenberg explained as follows:

 

I suppose when he speaks of “loosing the bands of wickedness” of “undoing the heavy burdens,’ and the “breaking of every yoke” that he is referring to the wickedness of people who think only of themselves in selfishness, vanity, pride, and having hearts so set upon the things of this world that the two great commandments of loving God and loving neighbor are entirely forgotten. The principles of loving thy neighbor and of loving God are encompassed in the true purpose of the fast.

Certainly, it takes no imagination to understand what is meant when he says, “… that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”

He meant that in addition to taking care of the poor, that we should watch over our own kin and be responsible for our father, mother, brother, and sister when they are in need.

It is here that I would like to state that the Lord has caused a day of fasting and prayer to be set up in this day so that collectively the Church might join together to fulfil the purposes of fasting.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1963, p. 28.) 

 

An uncomplicated way to think about fasting is to think of it as doing “the Father’s will” instead of doing “my will.” I can no longer fast from food for health reasons. I need to eat some food every few hours to stay physically healthy. However, I do not need to eat fancy foods or a big feast. I can eat a small amount but enough to care for my health. I can also fast from other things in my life. I frequently fast from social media in addition to eating sparingly.

 

A Miracle of Safety

            Today I wish to write words of gratitude to my Father in Heaven. Thursday I went to purchase Christmas gifts and brought home a few basic groceries. As I pulled into the Costco parking lot, I looked at the gas gauge in the car and noticed that it was barely below half full. I thought, “I better fill the tank in case we get caught somewhere and need to run the car to stay warm.” I thought that I was simply exercising a little bit of wisdom, but I knew the next day that I had been warned.

            I was awoken Friday morning, November 30, 2018, at 8:29 a.m. by the violent rocking of an earthquake and thought that I was safest just staying in bed. I could not see anything because the power was out and the sun had not yet come up. I could not hear anything over the noise of the earthquake. As I lay in bed wondering how long the shaking would continue, I realized that the lamps on the headboard of my bed could come crashing down on my head at any moment, and I reached up to stabilize them before they could fall.

            Once earthquake finally stopped, I courageously arose from my bed and began to exam my home. I could see the flashlight because it was shining in its holder plugged into the outlet in the kitchen because the light comes on whenever the power goes out. In the now semi-darkness I kicked something on the floor and realized that it was an unbroken vase that had once been on the top of the kitchen cabinet. I could see some of the cabinet doors wide open and several items that fell from them onto the floor.

            I walked into the living room and saw that the top of the piano was bare. I searched for the figurines of Christ that once sat on top of the piano and found both of them unbroken. I found pictures of grandchildren with unbroken frames. I whispered a sigh of relief that I was slow putting up Christmas decorations this year because I feared that many of the pieces of my thirty-plus nativity sets would have broken if they had been out.

            I continued into the dining area and almost tripped over the head of a Dall sheep mount that had once graced the wall above the door. It did not seem to have any damage. I checked the bathrooms and found water around the toilets. I did not know if the water had sloshed out of the toilets or had leaked from the tank from all the quaking. I cleaned up the water and determined that there was no more leakage. I checked the bedrooms and found numerous items that had fallen from closet shelves, dressers, and bedside tables. Yet, none of them seemed to be broken.

            I went downstairs to the family room and found books spread out on the floor and others perched on the edges of the shelves. I did not see anything broken in this room or the downstairs bedroom next to it. I glanced in the garage and could not see any great damages. I found items had fallen in every room of the house with none of them breaking. This is an absolute miracle!

            I received a text from my daughter telling me that she was okay and asking about me and my husband. I later learned that she had taken shelter under her desk at work and barely escaped being hit in the head by a light fixture cover that had fallen and hung over her chair. Her building was later declared unstable, and she was sent home from work. Her husband had been sitting on the toilet at home when the quake started and moved out of the bathroom just before a shelf fell and hit the toilet, breaking the lid on the toilet tank.

            I contacted my son and learned that he was okay. He was at his job as a dispatcher for the police department and was extremely busy. He asked me to check on his wife who is currently having chemo treatment for brain cancer. I sent a text and received no answer. I tried to call her cell phone from my house phone and received no answer. I manually opened the garage door to drive the two miles to her home and panicked when I received no answer at the door. I walked back to my car wondering what I should do. Do I tell my son and make him worry? Do I break into the house? As I was pondering possible actions, I noticed a car pulling up behind me and my daughter-in-law getting out. A friend had taken her to the school to pick up her nine-year-old daughter. She told me that she and her daughter were downstairs when the quake hit because she was awakened by a strong premonition to get out of bed and pray.

            Even though chaos was crashing all around us, my family and I survived a 7.0 earthquake without any serious damage to our bodies or to our property, and we were prepared to go for a long time before we would need to visit a grocery store or gas station. Other homes, schools, churches, hospitals, stores, office buildings, roads, on/off ramps, and bridges all sustained damaged, but our homes did not. I do not know why my family was so blessed, but we were. Maybe it was the prompting to pray that my daughter-in-law received. Maybe it was simply a loving Father in Heaven who knew that my husband and I were dealing with about all that we can handle this week. For whatever reason for the blessing, I wish to express my gratitude for the wonderful watchful care we received.

Counting Blessings

                I normally have a positive attitude.  I usually see the glass as half full rather than half empty.  I often look for the silver lining behind the dark clouds.  I really dislike it when someone wants to pour water on my parade.  Why?  I know I am very blessed and often count my blessings. 

                I love to sing a hymn entitled Count Your Blessings (Hymns, 241; text written by Johnson Oatman, Jr., [1856-1922] and music written by Edwin O. Excell [1851-1921].  I learned this hymn as a child and try to follow the counsel in it.  

                When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

                Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

               

                Are you ever burdened with a load of care?  Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

                Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.

                When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.

                Count your many blessings; money cannot buy Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

                So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

                Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

                Chorus:  Count your blessings; Name them one by one.  Count your blessings; See what God hath done.  Count your blessings; Name                them one by one.  Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.

               

                I highly encourage all of us to regularly count our blessings.  Most of us have so many blessings that we do not even recognize many of them or think of them as gifts from our loving Heavenly Father.  Consider the following information.  When I look at my life under this microscope, I know I am very blessed.

                If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

                If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive the       week. 

                If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this                 world.

                If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s           wealthy.

                If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in the United States. 

                If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion      people in the world. 

                If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you              are ahead of 20 million people around the world.     

                If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

                If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God’s healing                 touch.

               

                There are many ways that we can count our blessings and learn to see more of them.  One way is to keep a “blessings notebook” as discussed in a poem written by Marianne Wilson McKnight.  

                One day, I started writing down

                My blessings one by one.

                I filled both sides of seven sheets

                And still did not get done.

                I wrote down, “friends and family,

                And legs that run and hop,

                A cozy bed and clothes to wear,

                And, of course, my mom and pop.”

                I’m grateful for so many things –

                For sunsets, trees, and rain,

                For eyes to see and ears to hear,

                For being free from pain.

                I wrote the name of Jesus down –

                I’m thankful most for Him –

                Then added, “scriptures, music, love,

                And my new puppy, Tim.”

                And now whenever I feel down

                And don’t know what to do,

                I get my blessings notebook out

                And add a page or two.

                Another way to recognize and count our blessings is to get a new perspective; we can rephrase the situation and turn our problems into blessings.  Consider the difference in the following statements.  

1) “I have to go to a new school.”  “I have the opportunity to make a whole new set of friends and learn new things from them.” 

2) “I’m the only Mormon in a student body of 2,500.”  “This way I’ll have lots of opportunities to share the gospel.”

3) “I’m only a freshman and can’t do very well on the basketball team.”  “But workouts are a great way to stay in shape, and they’ll help prepare me for next year.”

4) “Most people speak Spanish here, and I don’t understand them.”  “Great!  I always wanted to learn a foreign language.  Here’s my chance.”

5) I have to go to work.  I have a job where I can earn money to provide for myself and my family.

6) I have to clean the house.  I am grateful that I have a house to clean.

7) Being a mother of several small children is not fun.  I am grateful that Heavenly Father trusted me enough to send these sweet little children to my home.

                Still another way to count blessings is to occasionally express only gratitude in our prayers.  Instead of simply saying “I am grateful for a healthy body,” I will go into more detail “I am thankful for eyes that see, ears that hear, toes and fingers, etc. We are often so in need of blessings – or think we are - that our desires consume most of our prayers.  We do nothing wrong when we ask for blessings, but we should be sure to express gratitude for the ones we already enjoy.

                When we focus on counting our blessings, our minds forget our troubles and our loads are lightened.  Sister Shirley W. Thomas, then second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, spoke about counting blessings.  “When our children were young, they had a first-grade teacher who understood one of the distinct benefits of counting.  She explained that when she shopped for clothes to wear to school, she always looked for dresses with buttons – down the front, on the sleeves, the pockets – and the more buttons the better.  Then, when it was time to settle her class down each morning, she would ask the children to count the buttons on her dress while she called the roll.

                “Counting blessings doesn’t have much in common with counting buttons, but it does have the same function of requiring our focus.  While we count, we concentrate our attention upon the encouraging, the positive, the happy.  It gets our mind away from loneliness or pain….

                “We all, at times, succumb to the tendency to discount what we have or fail to realize the value in what we have because of focusing so much on what we want.  We lament, `I don’t have a thing to wear,’ when we really have clothes in the closet; but somehow they don’t count.  Or `I wish I had a friend,’ when actually there are many who could be friends if we would realize it.

                “It takes maturity and sometimes perspective to be able to place the proper value on gifts and blessings – know what counts….

                “We need to count our blessings because it causes us to look more closely and not miss those quiet blessings beyond price.  `It will surprise you,’ as the hymn says.”

                We know that God watches over all His children and sends many blessings to each of us.  He has given us this beautiful world to live in, warm sunshine to brighten our days, and cooling rain to freshen the air.  He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us that we might return to God’s presence.  He has a plan for how we can find true happiness. 

                The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans:  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God….”  This is a very important and powerful statement.  It tells us that loving God is the only qualification for being blessed.  If we love Him, God will make sure that everything works together for our good.  We can safely put our trust in God and have many blessings to count!

Attitude of Gratitude

I am one of many people who set goals at the beginning of each new year. I like to keep my list to three or fewer goals because I actually intend to accomplish my goals. One of my goals for the coming year is to develop a better appreciation for my many blessings. I am convinced that I can recognize more blessings if I have an attitude of gratitude.

Numerous apostles and prophets have counseled us to be grateful. The Apostle Paul wrote, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things" (Doctrine and Covenants 59:21).

President Gordon B. Hinckley wrote, "The habit of saying thank you is the mark of an educated man or woman. Express appreciation to everyone who does you a favor or assists you in any way. Thank the Lord for His goodness to you. Thank the Almighty for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who has done for you what none other in all this world could do. Thank Him for His great example, for His tremendous teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help. Thank Him for His marvelous atonement. Confess His hand in all things" (Stand A Little Taller, p 338).

President Thomas S. Monson stated, "Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings" (Ensign, Nov. 2009, - 87).

I know that I have many blessings in spite of the fact that I experience my own tests and trials. I am grateful for all my blessings and especially for my family, my faith, my freedom, and my friends.

I am grateful for my family. As part of my effort to increase my gratitude for my many blessings, I would like to share with you some of the "tender mercies" that the Lord bestowed upon me as I celebrated the Christmas holidays with my children and grandchildren. I had a wonderful time with them and received many blessings from spending time with them.

Grandchildren are marvelous blessings in and of themselves! There is nothing better than receiving a big hug and a beaming smile from a two-year-old grandson or having a younger toddler lift his little arms in a desire to be held. I thoroughly enjoyed receiving spontaneous hugs from my four-year-old granddaughters and hearing the words, "I love you, Grammy!" I was pleased when my ten-year-old grandson brought his new travel Battleship game so that we could continue our annual tradition of playing Battleship. Each grandchild brought his or her own special and unique blessings into my life, whether it was a hug, a smile, or another way of showing love. I am grateful that they love each other and enjoy spending time together.

The simple experience of watching children grow in knowledge and develop different skills is a great blessing that I have enjoyed from the time that my children were infants. Even though my sons and daughters are now adults with children of their own, I still like to watch as they grow in knowledge and experience. It is especially enjoyable to watch as my sons and daughters deal with their own children. I am impressed with my daughters' willingness to love and serve their husbands and to teach their children with tenderness. I appreciate the way that my sons lead their families in righteousness and share the responsibilities of caring for the children.

I am grateful for children who love each other and enjoy spending time together. I especially appreciate the way that they care for each other's children with the same love and concern as their own. I was thrilled when one of my daughters voluntarily helped her sister by carrying a four-year-old niece piggyback down a steep hill - and then came back to carry her own daughter down the same hill.

I am grateful for my faith in God and for my knowledge and testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I am grateful to know that His gospel has been restored to the earth. I am grateful to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am grateful for the fact that I can travel and still feel at home in any congregation of the Church. I find the same spirit in all the meetings I attend - even when a different language is spoken. I find the same type of leadership by Melchizedek Priesthood brethren and the same service given by members of the Aaronic Priesthood as they prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament. I find the same hymnals and the same lessons as I would hear in my own home ward.

I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy in this great nation. I am especially grateful at this time for freedom of religion, especially because Christians in other nations are being persecuted and even killed by members of other religions that claim to be "peaceful."

I am grateful for dear friends in my life and in the lives of my children and grandchildren. Friends are there in many different circumstances, whether it be happy or sad. Friends are the beautiful flowers in our lives.

I am grateful for family, faith in God and Jesus Christ, freedom and friends. I look forward to improving my attitude for gratitude during 2011.

Obedience

Obedience is the first law of heaven, and willing obedience is critical. Willing obedience is important because it brings order and safety as well as shows God that we love Him. Loving God is the greatest of all commandments.

Jesus Christ was once approached by a lawyer who asked, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).

These words of Christ teach the importance of loving the Lord and our neighbors, but they do not explain how we show our love for God? Jesus also answered this question, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father" (John 14:21). Each and every one of us should ask ourselves why we are obedient to the commandments of God. Do we obey out of habit or for fear of punishment or desire for the rewards or do we obey because we love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and desire to serve Them?

Obedience is so important that even fear of punishment or desire for reward is better than disobedience. Willing obedience because we love God and want to obey Him brings much more happiness into our lives. When we obey His commandments freely, He then can be free with His blessings. He said, "I, the Lord, … delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5). Willing obedience helps us to grow and to become like Heavenly Father. Those people who must be commanded in all things and then obey unwillingly will lose their reward (see Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-29).

There are many times when we do not understand the reason for a particular commandment even though we know that we prepare for exaltation and eternal life by being obedient. Obedience without knowing why shows our faith and trust in God. Adam and Eve were commanded to offer sacrifices after they left the Garden of Eden. One day an angel appeared to Adam and asked him why he was offering sacrifices. Adam answered that he did not know why but was simply being obedient to God's commandment. (See Moses 5:5-6.) The angel then proceeded to teach Adam the gospel and the mission of the Savior. The Holy Ghost came upon Adam and he then prophesied about his posterity down to the last generation. (See Moses 5:7-10; Doctrine and Covenants 107:56.) Because he was obedient, Adam received further knowledge as well as greater blessings.

There is a story in the Book of Mormon about Nephi and his older brothers receiving a very difficult assignment from the Lord (see 1 Nephi 3:1-6). The brothers complained about it being hard, but Nephi replied, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Nephi 3:7). Remembering Nephi's words have helped me many times when I received difficult assignments.

All commandments from the Lord are important, even ones that seem inconsequential. The Bible tells of a man named Naaman who had a terrible disease. He learned about the prophet Elisha and decided to ask Elisha to heal him. Naaman was an important and powerful man in Syria and was greatly offended when the prophet in Israel sent his servant with a message for Naaman. He was offended even more by the message: wash seven times in the river Jordan. Naaman was very angry and demanded, "Are not [the] rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean?" His servants were a little wiser than he and asked, "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" The servants' questions helped Naaman to understand the importance of obeying the prophet of God, even in a small matter. Naaman went to the Jordan to wash and was healed. (See 2 Kings 5:1-14.)

Sometimes we may consider a commandment to be a "hard thing" like the brothers of Nephi or too simple like Naaman, but we must remember that God will give us no commandments unless He prepares a way for us to be obedient to Him. Abraham was given a hard commandment when he was told to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice (see Genesis 22:1-13). He didn't understand why God would give him a son in his old age just to take him away, but he chose to obey God. In return for his willing obedience, God provided a ram for the sacrifice and promised great blessings to Abraham, Isaac and their posterity.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007, 160). I want to be obedient also. I want to be willing to do anything God requires.

The perfect example of obedience to God is Jesus Christ who said, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). Jesus spent his entire mortal life in obedience to the will of God, even though He was asked to do hard things. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:39). Jesus Christ made salvation available to all mankind because He obeyed His Father in all things.

Every blessing we receive comes from obedience to the law upon which that blessing is based because the kingdom of heaven is governed by law (see Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21; 132:5). We know from other scriptures that we may gain knowledge and intelligence through obedience and diligence (see Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19) as well as grow spiritually (see Jeremiah 7:23-24). Through other scriptures we know that disobedience brings heart break, disappointment, and forfeiture of blessings. In Doctrine and Covenants 58:31-33 we read, "Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled? I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing. Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for his promises are not fulfilled."

I know personally that God fulfills His promises when we keep His commandments. God gives us life, the air we breathe, and many other blessings - and then gives blessings each time we obey Him. In the words of King Benjamin to his people, "He doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you" (Mosiah 2:24).

The ultimate blessing that comes to the obedient is eternal life. The Lord said, "If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God" (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Obedience in righteousness and truth to the end of life brings other blessings. The Lord revealed, "Thus saith the Lord - I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven…. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will - yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10).

I know that obedience to God is very important and that blessings come because of obedience. I know that obedience to the end of mortal life is essential to obtain the highest of the blessings of God.

Talents

One of the parables of Jesus Christ is about developing our talents. It tells us that we will be given greater responsibilities after we serve well in our current stewardship. Jesus taught, "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." The servant who received five talents made some trades and doubled his talents, and the servant who received two talents did the likewise. The servant who received only one talent was afraid that he would lose it and incur the wrath of his master. He decided to bury his talents to keep it safe.

After a long time the lord of the servants returned and required an accounting for the use of the talents. The first two servants explained how they were able to double their talents. Their lord said, "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." When the third servant told the lord that he buried his one talent, his lord told him that he should have at least taken the money to the exchangers where he would have at least received the interest. He continued, "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath…."

Just like the servants in this parable, we have received special gifts, talents, and abilities from our Heavenly Father. We brought them with us when we were born, but we do not all have the same gifts. Moses was a great prophet with wonderful leadership abilities but lacked the ability to speak powerfully. He was aided in his responsibility by his brother Aaron who was a good speaker. We have people around us who are great leaders like Moses and others who are good speakers like Aaron. There are others who are good in sports or have musical abilities. Other gifts include patience, cheerfulness, understanding others, or teaching. Some talents are very obvious to a casual observer, and others are more difficult to recognize.

We are given our talents with the responsibility to develop them. Many of us think that we have very few, if any, talents and think that others have been given many. Sometimes we hide our talents or don't use them because we don't want to fail or be criticized by others. This is a big mistake because we must use our gifts to develop them more fully. Heavenly Father gave each of us talents, gifts and abilities in order to bless our lives, help other people, and glorify God (see Matthew 5:16).

There are certain steps we must take in order to develop our talents, and all of the steps are easier with the Lord's help. 1) We must discover our talents. We can do this by evaluating our own strengths and abilities, asking family and friends for their input, and praying for help to learn about our talents. 2) We must willingly spend the time and effort necessary to develop the talent we desire. 3) We must have faith in ourselves as well as faith that Heavenly Father will help us. 4) We must learn the necessary skills - take classes, read a book, etc. 5) We must practice using our talent because every talent takes time and effort to develop and mastery of a talent must be earned. 6) We must willingly share our talent with other people because it is using talents that helps them to grow.

Even though we have weaknesses, we can still develop our talents. When Moroni expressed a fear to the Lord that people would mock his writing, he was told, "Fools mock…. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:26-27).

We see the talents of others after they have struggled to develop them. Many great people have overcome weakness to develop wonderful talents. Beethoven was deaf when he composed his greatest music. The prophet Enoch became a powerful teacher after overcoming his slowness of speech (see Moses 6:26-47). Heber J. Grant turned many of his weaknesses into talents. He had the following motto: "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased" (in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant [2002], 35).

The scriptures tell us that we will be judged according to the work we do (see Matthew 16:27). President Joseph F. Smith taught, "Every son and every daughter of God has received some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 370). We can perform good works when we develop and use our gifts and talents for the good of other people. Just as the lord in the parable was pleased with the first two servants, Heavenly Father is pleased with us when we use our gifts wisely. He has given us these talents to benefit other people and to further His work here upon earth. Some of the blessings that we receive through wise use of our talents are joy, love, and self-control, all of which are necessary for worthiness to live with Heavenly Father again.

Tithes and Offerings

The ancient prophet Malachi wrote, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings" (Malachi 3:8). The payment of tithes and offerings shows gratitude to Heavenly Father for all the blessings He gives to us. It is a way of telling our Father, "You have given me all that I have. Here is a portion back to do Thy work." Heavenly Father has given commandments to His children to help us prepare to live in the presence of God. When we willingly pay tithes and offerings, we thank Him for His blessings to us; we also show Him that we love Him and that we are willing to obey His counsel. An honest tithe is one-tenth of our increase. Tithing is an ancient commandment as well as a modern commandment. Ancient prophets like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob paid one-tenth of their increase (see Hebrews 7:1-10; Genesis 14:19-20; 28:20-22). The commandment was renewed in our time through the Prophet Joseph Smith when he prayed, "O Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing" (Doctrine and Covenants 119, section introduction). The Lord answered: "This shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever" (Doctrine and Covenants 119:3-4). The First Presidency explained that "one-tenth of all their interest annually" means our annual income (see First Presidency letter, March 19, 1970). Paying our tithing shows our faithfulness to the Lord as well as teaches the value of the law to our children. Children learn from the examples of their parents and will want to follow their example to pay tithing. It is important that we pay tithing willingly and with a good attitude about doing so. Stephen L. Richards taught, "When one pays his tithing without enjoyment he is robbed of a part of the blessing. He must learn to give cheerfully, willingly and joyfully, and his gift will be blessed" (The Law of Tithing, p 8). The Apostle Paul also taught that what we give and how we give are both of equal importance. He said, "Let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints give tithing and other offerings to the Lord. The Lord's representatives use the tithing funds for many purposes: 1) Tithing is used to build, maintain, and operate temples, meetinghouses, and other buildings. 2) Tithing provides funds for stakes, wards, and other units of the Church to operate. These units use tithing funds to carry forward the ecclesiastical programs of the Church, which include teaching the gospel and conducting social activities. 3) Tithing is used to help the missionary program of the Church. 4) Tithing is used to educate young people in Church schools, seminaries, and institutes. 5) Tithing is used to print and distribute lesson materials. 6) Tithing is used to further family history and temple work. Offerings include fast offerings, other donations and service. Fast offerings are used by bishops to provide food, shelter, clothing, and medical care for the needy. The funds come from Church members fasting each month by going without food and drink for two consecutive meals or for twenty-four hours. The individuals and families contribute at least the amount of money they would have otherwise spent on their meals, but they may contribute many times the amount of the meals. In addition to fasting, members attend a meeting called the fast and testimony meeting where members voluntarily share their testimonies of Christ and His gospel with each other. Other donations include donations to help with missionary work, the Perpetual Education Fund, temple construction, and humanitarian aid. In addition to money, members also offer their time, skills, and material goods to help other people. Through service of the members, the Church is able to help needy members and nonmembers on community, national, and international levels any where in the world. This is especially true when disasters occur. In return for payment of tithes and offerings, the Lord promises blessings. He said, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith … if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). Another blessing is listed in Doctrine and Covenants 64:23, "Verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming." The promised blessings include both temporal and spiritual blessings. When we willingly give what Heavenly Father requires, He helps us provide for our daily needs of food, clothes and shelter. President Gordon B. Hinckley told Latter-day Saints in the Philippines that if people "will accept the gospel and live it, pay their tithes and offerings, even though those be meager, the Lord will keep His ancient promise in the in their behalf, and they will have rice in their bowls and clothing on their backs and shelter over their heads. I do not see any other solution. They need a power greater than any earthly power to lift them and help them" ("Inspirational Thoughts," Ensign, Aug. 1997, 7). President Heber J. Grant taught that the Lord will help us grow "in a knowledge of God, and in a testimony, and in the power to live the gospel and to inspire our families to do the same" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant [2002], 124). Great blessings come to those who pay their tithes and offerings as well as a good feeling of helping to build the kingdom of God on earth.

Word of Wisdom

The Lord's law for good health is called the Word of Wisdom. When we came to earth, we received physical bodies. A physical body is one of the greatest blessings we have because we must have a physical body to become like our Heavenly Father. The Lord places so much importance on physical bodies that He calls them temples (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20). He considers our bodies as being holy. Because of the importance of our bodies, Heavenly Father wants us to take good care of them. He wants us to be happy and knows that healthy bodies bring more happiness. He also wants us to stay worthy to receive the Holy Ghost by keeping our bodies and minds clean. He knew that we would be tempted to treat our bodies unwisely or to partake of harmful things; therefore, He told us which things are good for our bodies and which are bad for them. This information concerning good health is contained in the Word of Wisdom, which is found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. Obedience to the Word of Wisdom helps us to stay worthy to enter the Lord's temple and to enjoy the presence of the Holy Ghost. Disobedience to this law causes the Lord's Spirit to withdraw from us and causes damage to ourselves physically and spiritually. The Lord revealed that there are certain things that we should not take into our bodies. He commanded us to not use wine or strong drinks (drinks containing alcohol). The use of strong drinks often causes cruelty, poverty, and disease to enter our homes. It often is the cause of dishonesty, loss of chastity, and loss of good judgment and is always a curse to those who drink it. Use of alcohol by expectant mothers can cause physical and mental damage to their unborn children. Drivers under the influence of alcohol cause many automobile accidents each year. The Lord also revealed that "tobacco is not for the body" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:8) because it is harmful to our bodies and our spirits. Scientists have shown that tobacco causes many diseases and can harm unborn children. We should not smoke cigarette or cigars, or use chewing tobacco. Any form of tobacco taken into our bodies is harmful. Even being around those who smoke tobacco can cause health problems for non-users. The Lord counsels us against the use of "hot drinks" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:9), meaning coffee and tea, which contain harmful substances. Wisdom requires us to avoid all drinks that contain harmful substances. Wisdom dictates that we should not use drugs except when they are medically necessary. Some drugs are even more destructive than alcohol and tobacco, which are also drugs. Anyone who misuses drugs should seek help, pray for strength, and counsel with their bishop in order to fully repent and become clean. In the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, we should avoid anything that we know is harmful to our bodies. We should not use any substance that is habit forming. We should avoid overeating and any foods that cause allergic reactions. The Word of Wisdom gives us guidelines, but it does not tell us everything to avoid or consume. It is a law that is valuable physically but also spiritually. By obedience to the Word of Wisdom, we become stronger spiritually. This law helps us to purify our bodies in order to have the Spirit of the Lord dwell with us. The Lord also revealed that there are certain things that are good for us. These foods include fruits, vegetables and wholesome herbs, which should be used with wisdom and thanksgiving. The Lord has said that the flesh of birds and animals is provided for our food but should be eaten sparingly. Fish is also good for us. Grains, especially wheat, are good for us. The Lord has revealed other ways to keep our bodies healthy. We are taught to "cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; … 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" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:124). We are also told, "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work" (Exodus 20:9) and to not labor more than we have strength (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4). President Thomas S. Monson told us that we should keep our bodies healthy. He said, "Nutritious meals, regular exercise, and appropriate sleep are necessary for a strong body, just as consistent scripture study and prayer strengthen the mind and spirit" (Ensign, November 1990, p. 46). When the Lord revealed the Word of Wisdom to teach us how to care for our bodies, He also promised blessings for doing so. He said, "No temporal commandment gave I …, for my commandments are spiritual" (Doctrine and Covenants 29:35), meaning that His commandments concerning our physical bodies are for our spiritual good. Keeping the Lord's law of health and obeying His other commandments brings promised blessings physically and spiritually. We are promised good health physically, which helps us to "run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:20). Physical health is a great blessing, but the promised spiritual blessings are even greater. God promises us that we "shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:19), meaning that we will be taught important truths through revelation by the Holy Ghost. President Boyd K. Packer taught, "Our physical body is the instrument of our spirit. In that marvelous revelation the Word of Wisdom, we are told how to keep our bodies free from impurities which might dull, even destroy, those delicate physical senses which have to do with spiritual communication. The Word of Wisdom is a key to individual revelation" (Ensign, November 1989, p. 14). The Lord also promises that the destroying angel will pass by us. President Heber J. Grant said, "If you and I desire the blessings of life, of health, of vigor of body and mind; if we desire the destroying angel to pass us by, as he did in the days of the children of Israel, we must obey the Word of Wisdom; then God is bound, and the blessing shall come to us" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant [2002], p. 192). I know that living the Word of Wisdom brings blessings to us. I know that avoiding harmful substances, including too much food, makes my body healthier. I know that too little sleep makes me tired and too much sleep makes me groggy. I know that I enjoy more closeness to God because I keep my mind and body clean.

Secure the Blessings of Liberty

The seventh principle of the United States Constitution is the last one found in the Preamble: The purpose of the Constitution was to secure the blessings of liberty to the Founders and to their posterity. This principle tells us that Americans have the Right to expect their government to protect the freedom of the people from that time forward. "The Constitution was designed to provide a `divided, balanced, limited' government so that it would remain in the center of the political spectrum and not drift toward anarchy or tyranny. "The Founders were well aware, however, that no structure of government, regardless of how perfect, would long remain in full force and effect unless the people were trained in knowledge and qualities of virtuous character to make it operate successfully" (W. Cleon Skousen in The Making of America - The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution, p 245). Skousen listed numerous quotes which show clearly that our Founders were very concerned with preserving liberty. One of the quotes tells us that power will corrupt even good people. Other quotes explain that we should grant our leaders no more power than absolutely needed to do their jobs. Power belongs to the people, but corrupt leaders will take as much power as they can get, even until there is complete tyranny. Other quotes tell us that we should always be suspicious of our leaders for liberty is in the most danger when the people are the least suspicious. The Lord, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, told us: "We have learned through sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:39). George Washington is a very good example of a man who received power and authority and used them both wisely. I am impressed with the way General Washington lead the military in battle for years to obtain liberty to the people and then returned the power and authority to Congress when the war was over. George Washington was so loved and trusted by the people that many would not have accepted the new Constitution without his being in support of it. While he was President, he was very concerned that he made the right decisions in order to set the correct precedents for those who would follow him. He very easily could have become King of America, but he knew there was a better system of government. I believe that George Washington was one of the greatest of all our Founders. We live in troubled times when our President, Congress, and Courts are abusing the powers granted unto them. We must be vigilant if we are to retain our liberty. The Constitution itself tells us how to bring an abusive government under control and that is through the amendment process. We need to make sure that our representatives know that they have no power or authority unless we grant it unto them! To teach the difference between tyranny and liberty to your children, do some role playing. Let Dad act like a tyrant giving orders to everyone. Then let Dad and Mom gather the children around them to hold a family counsel about a problem the family is experiencing. The difference between the two approaches should be obvious to even the youngest of children.