Jesus Christ and His Prophet

            I would normally write about a principle of the Constitution for my post tonight. However, I feel that I should write something for Christmas Eve. The people of the world, including many so-called Christians, have fallen to the allure of the commercial side of Christmas and forgotten the true reason for this season. Jesus Christ is the reason that we celebrate Christmas, and tonight I had a glimpse of the heaven that He desires for me.

            My younger son brought his wife and daughter over to my house, and we called our family in Salt Lake City on Facetime. My older son and two daughters, along with their spouses and children for a total of eighteen people, met together tonight for their annual Christmas Eve celebration. They held their get-together a day early this year because my son has to work Christmas Eve as an emergency room doctor. We were grateful to have the opportunity to join their celebration this year because we are having a quiet Christmas this year due to my daughter-in-law fighting brain cancer and have too small of group to do our usual nativity.

            We did the nativity, watched the children decorate graham cracker houses, visited, and generally had a wonderful time together. I witnessed heaven as I saw and heard the love expressed between siblings and their spouses and watched the grandchildren play and interact with each other with love. The experience tonight is all I need for a wonderful Christmas.

            This family activity came about because a Baby was born in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago and grew to be a man capable of overcoming death and hell. We do not celebrate Christmas because a baby was born; we celebrate it because that Baby brought to pass immortality for all mankind and eternal life for all who will follow Jesus Christ and keep His commandments. In other words, we would not celebrate Christmas if there had been no Easter.

            President Gordon B. Hinckley shared his thoughts about the birth, ministry, and atonement of Jesus Christ at a First Presidency Christmas Devotional in 2001. He begins his talk by greeting everyone and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and then explains the reason for being together that evening.

… We are met tonight to pay homage to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, whose life and death mean so very much to each one of us. This is a gathering for prayer and song and speech, in tribute to the Master of all, the Lord Omnipotent, who condescended to come to earth, to be born in a stable, in a conquered nation, under the humblest of circumstances. He was the Prince Almighty who left the royal courts on high and came among us to teach us and to lead us in His quiet and wonderful way….

So it is. When all is said and done, when all the legions of the ages have passed in review, when man’s terrible inhumanity to man has been chronicled, when God’s great love for His children has been measured, then above all stands the lone figure of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the living Son of the living God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One.

He was the lowly babe who came to earth in the meridian of time and brought to us the gift of Christmas. He was the Resurrection and the Life, who brought to us the wonder of Easter. And it was He who in this most glorious of dispensations was introduced to the boy Joseph by His Father, the Almighty Elohim, the God of the universe. And this same Joseph has become the preeminent witness of His living reality in this season of earth’s history.

            Is it any wonder then that there is only one day between the birthdate of Joseph Smith and the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? The Savior was born in Bethlehem as a wee Baby. He organized His church on earth in the meridian of time and gave His life that all mankind could live again. He appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820 and began the process of restoring His gospel to the earth. He will come again to earth in the near future to gather the faithful followers of the House of Israel. We love Him. We honor Him. We praise Him, We worship Him. Above all, we are grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to send His Beloved Son to earth as a Baby who grew to become the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Gordon B. Hinckley

            My VIP for this week is Gordon B.Hinckley who served the Lord from the time that he was a young man until his death. He served in many offices in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as Stake President, Assistant to the Twelve Apostles, Apostles, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, counselor to several Presidents, and as President of the Church from March 12, 1995, until his death.

            President Hinckley was born on June 23, 1910, and he passed away on January 27, 2008, at the age of 97. There are many reasons why I honor President Hinckley, and one of those reasons is his faith in God and his enthusiasm for life. No matter the problem that arose, he had the attitude that everything would work out. He prayed as though everything depended on God, and then he worked as though everything depended on him.

            Recognizing the need for members of the Church to have temples within easy traveling distance, he took the problem to the Lord and came away with an idea to build smaller temples in areas where Church membership is smaller. On October 4, 1997, he announced the plan for smaller temples to be built throughout the world, and on October 1, 2000, he dedicated the Boston Massachusetts Temple, the 100^th temple in operation. The Anchorage Alaska Temple was one of the first smaller temples built, and it was dedicated on January 9, 1999. I am especially grateful for this temple because it is within a mile of my home, and I can attend it weekly. This has been a great blessing in my life.

            I remember many of the teachings of President Hinckley and appreciate the opportunity to study his life and teachings during 2017. One experience of listening to him speak was in the October 2001 general conference of the Church. Terrorists attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, and killed approximately 3000 people in the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Everyone was concerned about what would happen next. Just prior to President Hinckley’s remarks, he received word that the United States was at war in Afghanistan. He spoke about the nature of terrorism and evils found in the world, and then he told us how we could find peace even in a wicked world. I remember the feeling of peace that swept over me as I listened to his words and again whenever I listen to them. These words from the prophet of God continue to bring solace to my soul and can help others in times of turmoil and war.

Now, brothers and sisters, we must do our duty, whatever that duty might be. Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. But God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation and all of the civilized world who look to Him. He declared, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God.

Let us be prayerful. Let us pray for righteousness. Let us pray for the forces of good. Let us reach out to help men and women of goodwill, whatever their religious persuasion and wherever they live. Let us stand firm against evil, both at home and abroad. Let us live worthy of the blessings of heaven, reforming our lives where necessary and looking to Him, the Father of us all. He has said, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Are these perilous times? They are. But there is no need to fear. We can have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes. We can be an influence for good in this world, every one of us.

            As a prophet of God Gordon B. Hinckley led the Church through difficult times, but he was always full of faith in God and enthusiastic about the future. He is a very important person in the eyes of God and the people who love him.

Last Judgment

                    I had the opportunity in recent weeks to study the Revelation of John in the New Testament.  I found the book to be very interesting.  John, the writer of this book, was an Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and he came from a culture that used symbolism extensively in its language and literature.  Many people have difficulty understanding the symbolism in John's writing, and the book of Revelation can seem strange and confusing if we interpret the images literally.  We can find the book easier to understand if we remember that many of the images are symbolic and represent people, things, or concepts with which we are already familiar. 

                    Six hundred years before the time of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, an ancient American prophet named Nephi also had a vision where an angel gave him a "tour" through history and showed him many of the same things that John saw.  After showing Nephi some of these things, the angel told Nephi:  "Look!

                    "And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.

                    "And the angel said unto me:  Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

                    "Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been.

                    "And he shall also write concerning the end of the world.

                    "Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew [Bible]; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men.

                    "And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see.

                    "But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them.

                    " And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.

                    "And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel."  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Nephi 14:18-27; italics added.)

                    John was one of the original Apostles of the Savior and was one of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ in his day.  He was banished by the Roman government to Patmos, a small island off the west coast of present-day Turkey, because he bore testimony of Jesus Christ.  While he was on the island, an angel visited John and gave him a revelation.

                    The book of Revelation is written primarily in symbolic language.  Its theme is that "there will be an eventual triumph on this earth of God over the devil; a permanent victory of good over evil, of the saints over their persecutors, of the kingdom of God over the kingdoms of men and of Satan….  The details about the beasts, the wars, the angels, the men, etc., contribute to the development of this theme.  By a little study, the theme can be perceived even if the details are not completely identified" (Bible Dictionary, "Revelation of John," 762).

                    The book of Revelation is divided into sections.  The first three chapters are introductory; they record John's testimony of the truthfulness of the revelation, John's instructions from the Lord, and John's counsel to the seven branches of the Church in Asia.  Chapter 4 records John's vision of heaven, and chapters 5-20 record his vision of the triumphant destiny of God's kingdom.  This vision shows the battles against Satan's kingdom, the destruction of Satan's kingdom, and the final scenes in the world's history.  Chapter 21 contains a vision of the new heaven and new earth - the world in its celestial state (21:1-5).  The book of Revelation concludes with the angel's testimony and additional counsel from the Lord.

                    Chapters 5 and 6 in the Revelation use the symbol of a book that is "sealed with seven seals" 5:1).  According to Doctrine and Covenants 77:6-7, each seal represents a thousand-year period of the earth's temporal existence.  The first five seals are covered in 11 verses, the sixth seal is covered in 14 verses, and the seventh seal is covered in 226 verses.  It is obvious where John put the emphasis because he gave the most attention to the events of our time period and the one to come.  The book of Revelation was written for our day, and our lives will be blessed as we study it and prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

                    Revelation 6 tells us that Satan has fought against the righteous people throughout the history of the earth.  Satan used violence and warfare (6:4, 8) as well as hunger and famine (6:5-6, 8) to gain control over mankind according to Revelation 6:4-11.  He uses those same problems in our day - contention, riots, uprisings, etc.

                    President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:  "That war, so bitter, so intense, has gone on, and it has never ceased.  It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him.  His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict.  They've indulged in lying and deceit.  They've murdered and destroyed and engaged in every other unholy and impure practice to thwart the work of Christ….

                    "[Opposition] has been felt in the undying efforts of many, both within and without the Church, to destroy faith, to belittle, to demean, to bear false witness, to tempt and allure and induce our people to practices inconsistent with the teachings and standards of this work of God….

                    "The war goes on.  It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion.  It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error.  It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity.  We are all involved in it.

                    "We are winning [the war against Satan], and the future never looked brighter" (Ensign, Nov. 1986, 42, 44-45). 

                    We can maintain hope and have a positive outlook as we fight the war against Satan by using the resources given to us.  Some of the resources that can strengthen us against the power of Satan and his followers are prayer, scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, priesthood authority, temples, and association with other God-fearing people who have the same beliefs.

                    In Revelation 8-16, John identified many plagues, wars, and judgments that will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  In Revelation 19, he described the coming of the Lord and symbolized it by a marriage supper (19:7-9).  The bride of the Lamb represents members of The Church of Jesus Christ.  The symbol of the marriage supper, with Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as the bride, suggests that the relationship between the Lord and His Church should be much like an ideal marriage.  In order for us to be invited to his marriage supper, we must be willing to accept the Lord's invitation.

                    Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:  "The elders of Israel are now issuing the invitations to the marriage supper of the Lord; those who believe and obey the gospel thereby accept the invitation and shall sit in due course … at the marriage feast" (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:563-64).

                    The First Resurrection - or the resurrection of the just - will begin at the Savior's Second Coming.  (See Revelation 20:1-4.)  Those who will receive a celestial or terrestrial reward will come forward in this resurrection.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:98-99.)  The Second Resurrection - or the resurrection of the unjust - will not begin until the end of the Millennium.  Those who will receive a Telestial reward and the sons of perdition will come forward in this resurrection.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:100-102.)  Revelation 20:8 tells us that the "unjust" includes the fearful and unbelieving [those without faith in Jesus Christ] and those who are abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.

                    The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the Millennium, a thousand-year period when Christ will reign personally upon the earth.  According to Revelation 20:1-3, Satan will be bound during the Millennium and will have no power over the hearts of the people because the Lord will reign on the earth and the people will be righteous.  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 1 Nephi 22:26.)  Children will grow up during the Millennium without sin unto salvation.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 45:55, 58.)  We can limit the power of Satan in our lives right now by keeping the commandments of God and being righteous.

                    At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed for a "season" when he will go about the earth and use lies and deceit to recruit people to his army, which will be numbered like the sands of the sea.  Then one last great battle will be fought between the armies of God and the armies of Satan.  (See Revelation 20:7-8; Doctrine and Covenants 88:111-13.)  This battle is sometimes called the battle of Gog and Magog.

                    The result of this great battle will be victory for the armies of God.  Revelation 20:9-11 tells us that fire will come down from heaven and devour the hosts of Satan.  The devil will be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented day and night forever.  Doctrine and Covenants 88:114-15 tells us that Michael - known as Adam on earth - will lead the armies of God and overcome Satan and his armies who will be cast away where they cannot have power over the saints any longer.  Since we already know the result of the final battle, we might as well accept responsibility now to live righteously.

                    President Ezra Taft Benson said:  "Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits.  Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support.  The final outcome is certain - the forces of righteousness will win.  But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle - and how tall we will stand.  Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?"  ("In His Steps," Ensign, Sept. 1988, 2).

                    The final judgment will take place after the last great battle.   "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:  and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

                    "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."  (See Revelation 20:12-13.)

                    Revelation 21:3-7 lists the blessings that come to those who are judged to be righteous:  1) They will dwell in the presence of God (21:3); 2) They will no longer experience death, sorrow, crying, or pain (21:4).  3) They will inherit all things as sons and daughters of God (21:7).  We can gain great strength and comfort as we face difficulties in mortality if we remember the great blessings reserved for the righteous.

                    Revelation 21;10-22:5 describes the celestial glory of the earth and the city in which those who have attained celestial glory will reside.  There will be no temple in the celestial temple because the Father and the Son are the temple.  (See 21:22.)  The purpose of the temple is to bring us closer to God and teach us of His plan.  Temples will no longer be necessary to those who live in God's presence.  In order to be worthy to enter the gates of the eternal city, we must keep the commandments of God and earn the right to the tree of life.  (See Revelation 22:14.)

                    President David O. McKay told of a vision in which he saw a beautiful city, many people dressed in white, and the Savior:  "The city, I understood, was [the Savior's].  It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.

          "But who were they?  As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words:  These Are They Who Have Overcome the World - Who Have Truly Been Born Again!"  (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, 60).

          The New Testament and the book of Revelation ends with a message of great hope.  Prophets like John the Revelator have seen the things that are to come and have told us of the blessings we will receive if we remain righteous and endure to the end.  Because of the testimonies of Nephi, John, and other prophets,  I know that the righteous will triumph at the end of the world.  We can all take courage and hope from this knowledge as we stand against wickedness and seek to overcome the obstacles of this life.

                    For more information about the final judgment,click here.  http://causeofliberty.blogspot.com/2010/12/final-judgment.html

The Rising Generation

Families are strengthened when parents are mindful of the needs of the rising generation because teenagers and older children are often tempted to move away from the teachings of their parents.

The scriptures contain several references to the "rising generation." Just before he died, King Benjamin gave a powerful speech from a specially built tower in the courtyard of the temple. The scriptures teach, "There were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the traditions of their fathers" (Mosiah 1:26).

Less than forty years later, the prophet Alma traveled to the various cities and villages in the land in an attempt to reclaim the people who were falling away from the church. "And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea to preach unto … everyone that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; … the aged … the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again" (Alma 5:49).

Another eighty to ninety years passed, and the prophet Nephi wrote, "And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness because of the wickedness of the rising generation" (3 Nephi 1:30).

It appears from these scriptures that we must be ever mindful of the rising generation because they stand at a critical intersection in their lives. Many voices are calling to them to travel this way or to go that way. The teenage and early adult years are times of great decisions and important times of needed guidance. Use them wisely and appreciate those quiet and reverent conversations that you may have with your young people.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: "Reserved by the Lord for this time, [the rising generation] must now be preserved… and prepared for their special moment in human history! They have been held back to come forth at this time, but now they need to be pushed forward to meet their rendezvous" ("Unto the Rising Generation," Ensign, April 1985, 8).

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) taught, "Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interests in these His little ones…. Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried" ("Excerpts from Rent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley," Ensign, July 1997, 73).

The rising generation is filled with wonderful young people who are worthy of our best efforts to support and strengthen them. Wise parents will be mindful of the great need for nurturing and strengthening the rising generation.

Past, Present, Future

Families are strengthened when they “learn from the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future” (Thomas S. Monson).

There is much to learn from past experiences – good or bad, our own or those of others. The scriptures are full of stories depicting both good and evil. When faced with a choice, remembering those stories could help in our decision. For example, when Joseph faced the “opportunity” to become immoral with his boss’s wife, he remembered that adultery was forbidden and fled the scene. He suffered in prison for his decision but was later given great responsibility and honor. A study of family, American, or world history would produce many other experiences that could teach us important lessons. Remembering past years can help us too.

We must live in the present in order to be truly happy. We must not dwell on past problems or continue to brag on past accomplishments. Today is to be enjoyed. “Take time to smell the roses” and “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” are sayings that have real meaning. Live life fully today – but prepare for tomorrow.

Preparing begins with making plans and setting goals. Preparing also means getting appropriate education and saving for a rainy day. There are many ways to prepare for tomorrow.

Gordon B. Hinckley said, “I don’t worry too much about the future, and I don’t worry very much about the past. The past is gone, and you can’t change, you can’t correct. The future, you can anticipate, but you can’t necessarily do very much about it. It is the present you have to deal with. Reach out for every good opportunity to do what you ought to do” (Stand A Little Taller, 382).

President Hinckley is a good example of a person who studied and learned from the past, lived with enthusiasm, and prepared for tomorrow. Families can grow stronger when they follow his examples.

Optimism

Families are strengthened when their members look for the good in individual situations as well as in the big events of the world around us. The conditions of our nation today - unemployment, problems in the economy, troubles with illegal immigration, political leaders who use the crises for political gain - sometimes make the world look real dark. Instead of looking at the dark clouds, we should look for the "silver lining" behind the clouds. A negative point of view doesn't help any situation, and the spirit of negativism is like a dark cloud hanging over our land. It is not necessary for us to be naïve about the conditions in our nation and our world because we do have problems, most of them very serious. We do have issues that we need to handle, but we do not need to stifle criticism. Criticism, if performed in a civil manner, can lead to better communication. What we need to do is to look for the good in every circumstance. President Gordon B. Hinckley knew of the problems in the lives of individuals as well as problems in our nation and world when he suggested that we be more positive. "My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we 'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort." In the dark days of World War II Hitler's army invaded country after country and dropped bombs on London. In this situation, Winston Churchill said, "These are not dark days; these are great days - the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race." Following the devastating disaster at Dunkirk, Churchill's words rang out across the free world, "We shall not flag or fail…. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." The brave talk by a courageous leader helped Great Britain come through some very dark and deadly days. By talking positively, he was able to give his people hope for a victory. When we walk with faith and hope and cultivate a positive attitude, we increase our faith and hope and our ability to be optimistic. Our individual lives can be happier and our families can be stronger when we cultivate optimism. Ideas and quotes for this post came from Gordon B. Hinckley in Standing for Something, pp 99-107.