Lifeguard on Duty

I just had a visit from my wonderful visiting teachers. The message this month is entitled "The History and Heritage of the Relief Society" - a great topic.

As we were talking, my mind returned to some of my very first experiences with Relief Society.  I was very young when I got married - just a couple of months out of high school.  I moved away from my family, leaving me without the influence of my mother and sisters.  My mother-in-law had passed away a few months earlier, and so I really did feel alone. I almost felt as if I were drowning.  I had this new life, and I was the one in charge of running my household.  It was very daunting. 

I was, at first, a little hesitant to attend my Relief Society meetings.  After all, everyone seemed so much older than me.  It didn't take long, however, until I was fully immersed in all that is the Relief Society - visiting teaching, charity, cooking classes, organizational classes, and of course crafting.  Before I knew it, I was fitting right in.  Although nothing can replace the comfort and closeness of a mother/daughter relationship, I found that I had many surrogate mothers.  The Relief Society was an invaluable asset to the beginning of my new married life.

When Relief Society functions in an inspired way, it lifts women up...into a way of living that prepares them for the blessings of eternal life. (Sister Julie B. Beck)

If I had felt as though I were drowning during those first few months, the Relief Society was definitely one of the life preservers that Heavenly Father threw my way.  I'm grateful that I grabbed on with both hands and allowed that incredible organization to take hold in my life.

©Darrell Wyatt

There have been, since then, so many different times that I have felt that same sense - that I was drowning.  Whether it's been bringing children into the world or facing financial or health difficulties, sometimes life can get can get very overwhelming.

...therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters. (Ether 6:7)

There has never been a time when I have felt overwhelmed and remembered to turn to the Lord, that he did not comfort me.  He hasn't always taken the troubles away from me, but he has always brought me back to the surface where I could breathe again.  I am so incredibly blessed to constantly feel of His love for me.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 6 

Me and the Boys

Paul told the Corinthians that "in the mouth of two or more witnesses shall every word be established"(2 Corinthians 13:1).  Moroni wrote to the future translator of the plates with the same command:

And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record - and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day. (Ether 5:4)

©Darrell Wyatt

We know now that those three witnesses were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, all of whom went into the woods and fervently prayed, along with Joseph Smith, that the promise that they had translated would be fulfilled and that they would be able to view the plates.

And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true.  And it is marvelous in our eyes. (The Testimony of Three Witnesses, Intro. to the Book of Mormon)

There were also eight other witnesses that, although not in the presence of an angel of God, were able to see and touch the plates.  These men also bore witness as to the authenticity of the plates that Joseph Smith translated from.  "And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness."(The Testimony of Eight Witnesses, Intro. to the Book of Mormon)

There is some comfort, as a reader of the Book of Mormon, to know that there were a dozen people in these latter days that were able to actually see and authenticate the origin of the book.  However, the real witness comes in the form of personal revelation.

Although the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses are in a class by themselves...there are or will be 10,000 times 10,000 other witnesses to testify with equal surety of the truth of the Book of Mormon.  Every person who will abide the law entitling him to know of the truth of this Nephite record shall gain personal revelation from the Holy Ghost of its divinity, thus becoming a personal witness of its truth. (Mormon Doctrine, McConkie p.843)

I am honored and humbled to join the company of these men and lend my personal witness to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  I know it to be true with every fiber of my being.  I have, on many occasions, felt the spirit that can only come from reading a work of truth, written by divine inspiration.  I have been blessed with the desire to continue to learn and grow from these truths.  I know that it is another witness of Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful to have it continually bless my life.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 5

Click here to read what I read today: Intro to the Book of Mormon

Revelation

©Darrell Wyatt

 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people.  Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed. (Ether 4:16)

I've done a lot of studying this weekend.  I had never read the whole book of Revelation before, just chapters and verses here and there, until this weekend.  The Savior told Moroni that the revelations that he gave to John would be "unfolded in the eyes of all the people".  I felt that I needed to familiarize myself with the revelations if I were to ever know that they were unfolding.  I can't say with any confidence at all that I now feel certain that I will recognize each of the signs of the Apocalypse, but I did learn quite a bit.  I also realize that I've got much more to learn, so I will keep studying.

All of this reading about the things that the Savior revealed to John and to Moroni and to others throughout the scriptures really made me think.  I truly believe that divine revelation is still very much present today.  Having a living prophet is a blessing and evidence of an open connection between God and His people.  However, the real blessing to each of us is that we are promised that we can receive personal revelation according to our faith.

But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record...(Ether 4:11)

Personal revelation comes to me in different ways.  When I prayerfully ask my Father in Heaven, in Jesus' name, for help in raising my children or solving a problem, the revelation can come as a thought in my mind.  I also get promptings from the Spirit that help me to make the right choices.

A few days ago, I was frantically searching my desk drawers for an important piece of paper that I was sure I had just tossed in instead of filing it where it should be.  I haven't found that paper yet, but I did come across my patriarchal blessing.  I was flooded with emotions as I read this wonderful document that detailed revelation given to me directly from God through his servant, Don Marley.  It was just a few days after my seventeenth birthday that I received my blessing.  I remember driving to Brother Marley's house and waiting nervously for him to be ready to give me the blessing.  I was excited, but I also wondered what kinds of things the Lord had in store for me - what path my life would take if I were an obedient daughter of God.  I can still remember his warm hands on my head and power with which he spoke the words.  

Prior to this, it had been a few years since I read my patriarchal blessing, and it was amazing to me how much I had forgotten.  There are things that I was blessed with that have indeed come to fruition, like my temple marriage to a worthy holder of the priesthood and having children.  There are things that I have not yet seen happen, like increasing my education in my chosen field.  There are some things that don't so much reveal a part of my life, but instead direct me in how I should carry myself and commandments to do things like read my scriptures and fast and pray and magnify my callings - especially that of wife and mother.  

Sometimes I get stuck in such a rut, feeling like I do the same thing day after day after day, that I forget that being a wife and mother really is a divine calling.  Reading the words of the Lord - words meant just for me - has reminded me of that fact.  Marriage and motherhood are both callings that need magnified, even more than any of my other callings.  

How grateful I am today for revelation.  I'm grateful for the revelations that God commanded John to record, that we may have a way to see the signs of Jesus Christ's return.  I'm grateful for the revelation that our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, receives on our behalf.  But most of all, today I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who reveals to me the things that He knows I am in need of.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 4 

Click here to read what I read today: Revelation 

That Ye May Have Light In Your Vessels

©Darrell Wyatt

 
I want to revisit yesterday's chapter just for a moment.  There was so much in it that I knew I wouldn't be able to do it justice with just one post.

The Lord had prepared a promised land for the Jared and his people - "a land choice above all other lands"(Ether 2:7).  The problem was that it was across the ocean from the wilderness in which they had spent the last four years, and they needed a way to get there.

And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built.  And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren...(Ether 2:16)

Go to work.  Could the Lord have provided the way for them?  Absolutely.  But this is, once again, a supreme example of leadership and love.  And it didn't stop there.  The Jaredites built the barges to the specifications given them by the Lord, but there was no way to light them.

And he (the brother of Jared) cried again unto the Lord saying:  O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them.  Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?(Ether 2:22)

There is a valuable lesson to be learned in the Lord's answer to the brother of Jared:

And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?(Ether 2:23)

Now, we all know that He could have provided the answer to the brother of Jared.  He could have told him exactly what to do.  He could have just given the light to him, but he did not.  The Lord made the brother of Jared come up with a plan on his own.  He helped him to learn.  He helped him to be self-sufficient.  The brother of Jared did come up with a solution to the problem and, as a result, saw Jesus Christ's spirit body.  What a blessing this was to him.  One that would not have occurred had the Lord simply solved the problem for him.

I love the phrasing that is used by Him in this verse: "That ye may have light in your vessels."  There is an almost physical change that comes upon a person who has turned his or her life over to God.  It sounds corny and cliche, but there is an actual glow to one's countenance when they are making the right choices and when they are at peace.  A light in their vessel.

I believe that we have a loving Savior who is ready and waiting to bless us, if we but ask.  Whatever trials or adversities that we are facing in our lives, he wants to help us.  He would say to each of us, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessel?"  It is up to us to bring our worries to His feet and then accept that light that He has to offer.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 2

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 3

Don't Sit on the Fence

This is my favorite sign from the amusement park not too far from where I live.  I'm sure it was meant to be a joke (who would even think about sitting on this fence?), but it really made me think.  Sometimes, even though we know that the consequences of our actions will be unpleasant, we can get caught up in the moment.  Maybe there's something on the other side of that fence that appeals to us, and if we sit on it just for a moment, we'll be closer to whatever that thing may be.  We look past the warning signs in order to satisfy our wants and desires.

I'm also starting to discover that many times there are consequences for inaction, too.  We are given warning signs and instructions, and even though we know that following these signs will make us happier, we, for various reasons, stop following them.  Take me for example.  I know that exercising makes me feel good.  I know that I'll be happier.  But I don't do it.  Some of it is laziness, some is lack of time or motivation.  Whatever it is, though, I've stopped - even though I know that I will be greatly rewarded if I just do it.  The same can be said for eating right and family prayer and Family Home Evening.  All those things that I've been instructed to do and know that I will be rewarded for, but don't consistently do. 

The scriptures are full of examples of this type of behavior - from Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit to Samson being with Delilah to Laman and Lemuel who saw angels and felt the power of God many, many times, yet still chose to be disobedient and wicked and lead their people away from the Lord.  Even the brother of Jared, whom I spoke of yesterday as being "highly favored of the Lord", fell into this trap.

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. (Ether 2:5)

Jared, his brother, their families and friends where actually being led through the wilderness by the Lord himself.  They spoke with him.  They knew him.  And then they arrived at a resting place in their journey to their final destination of the Promised Land.  They stayed there for four years.

And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him.  And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord. (Ether 2:14)

The Lord had taken the brother of Jared and his people to safety, where they had forgotten him.  I'm sure that they didn't consciously decide that they didn't need Him anymore.  They just became comfortable.  They were happy.  It's not that they didn't need God anymore - they got complacent.  And He called them on it.

The brother of Jared and his colony of people were sitting on that fence and they didn't even know it.  If it's that easy for someone who has actually been in the presence of God to forget to call on Him, how much easier is it for me, just plain old me, to forget?  Very easy.  I think there are a few areas in my life in which I can definitely say that I'm on the fence.  It's not a pleasant place to be, but I've been there so long that I don't even feel the pokes in the behind anymore.  It's time to jump down and start following the signs to a happier me.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 2

Pray for Me

I've always been intrigued by the story of the brother of Jared.  I think it's probably because there's just a little bit of mystery surrounding it since we don't learn the actual name of this very important scriptural figure.  The only other reference that I can recall in which the author of a book of scripture withholds someone's name in this manner is when Alma repeatedly refers to "the father of Lamoni" in chapters 18-20.  But even then, Lamoni's father did not play a central role in the record as the brother of Jared does.  I learned through a little bit of research today why this may be the case.  Hugh Nibley says, in his book Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites, that "it is, of course, because 'he that wrote this' is a direct descendant of Jared, and not of Jared's brother, and is giving the history of his line only".  It does make some sense.

As interesting as I've always found that part of the story, as I was reading this morning, I became very interested in another mystery.

And the brother of Jared being a large and mighty man, and a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared, his brother, said unto him:  Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we may not understand our words. (Ether 1:34)

Why did Jared ask his brother to pray?  Could he not have done it himself?  I have spent hours searching and praying for the answer to this question.  I have quite a few reference books, along with access to unlimited resources on the internet.  Surely someone, somewhere has had this same question.  But I found nothing.  This left me to come to some of my own conclusions.  Maybe the use of the words "large and mighty" in describing the brother of Jared had less to do with his physical stature and more to do with his spirituality.  Perhaps he was some sort of spiritual or religious leader.  It was not uncommon during ancient times for people to go to their Elders or Chief Judges with requests for the Lord.

I know in my heart that Jared didn't ask his brother to pray because he himself was lacking in faith.  He had to have had faith that the Lord would answer his brother's prayer.  I also don't believe that just because Jared asked someone else to pray, he wasn't also praying.  I just don't think that he handed the full responsibility for the deliverance of his family and friends to his brother and then went on his way.

As I was pondering this subject, a friend updated her status on one of the popular social networking sites.  She asked for all of our prayers as her husband went into surgery for his back.  This made me start thinking about the reasons that we ask people to pray for us.  I know that my friend will be praying for her husband, so why did she feel it necessary to ask for additional prayers?  I had a few ideas of my own, but I did an informal survey of some of my family members to see if they had any thoughts.  I wanted to know what makes them personally ask others to pray in their behalf.  My sister told me that she finds it comforting to know that there are other people out there thinking of her and praying for her.  My brother talked about strength in numbers.  They both had the thought that we're sometimes too busy to be in constant, fervent prayer, and so knowing that there are people praying for us during those times that we can't is also a comfort.

All of those things could have been the reason that Jared asked his brother to pray.  There's really no way of knowing what was in his heart.  I had another thought, though.  Humility.  I think it shows humility to ask someone to pray for us - to ask for help.  Our prayers, just like Jared's, are very often answered through the efforts of those around us.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Asking someone to pray for us is not a sign of faithlessness or inadequacy.  Contrarily, it is a demonstration of our humble willingness to be the recipient of the greatest form of service imaginable - the unselfish petition to God on behalf of another of his children.  I believe that both the person asking for the prayers and those who perform the act of praying will be greatly blessed.

Click here to read what I read today: Ether 1

Don't Worry, Be Happy

I was blessed, thanks to a gift from my brother, to be able to spend the majority of the past week on vacation with my family near Yellowstone National Park.  This was actually the first real family vacation that we've had with all of our kids.  All of the other vacations that we've taken have been timed to coincide with family visits in order to avoid expensive hotel stays.  This one, though, was just five days of schedule-free, pressure-free fun.

I had some high expectations as I was packing and planning for this trip.  I bought board games and barred the kids from bringing their video gaming system, with the purpose of spending a lot of quality time together.  I planned meals that the kids would like.  We would spend every second together, bonding and laughing and just reveling in our family time.  It didn't take long for my good-intentioned bubble to burst.  The first morning that we were there, we decided to head down to the pool.  Everyone except for my oldest daughter who had developed a "headache".  We left her in the room and went down for an hour or so to swim.  When I came back up to the room, I found her texting her friends - sans headache.  I snatched my phone away from her and angrily told her how disappointed I was that she couldn't even spend a couple of days without choosing her friends over her family.  She stormed to the bedroom and shut the door, where she stayed for most of the day.  As the kids showered and changed after swimming, they kind of separated, and each ended up in front of whichever of the two televisions had a more appealing program on.  So much for unity. 

The weather was cold and windy and snowy, but we barely even noticed.  The kids were content to spend most of the week in the pool.  Even though all of them are pretty good swimmers, I was reluctant at first to just let them go by themselves.  After a couple times sitting by the pool and watching them, I finally realized that by letting them have some time away from me, I would also have some precious quiet time.  I could see the pool house from the balcony off my room, so the kids and I agreed that every hour, on the hour, they would go to the window and wave and I would wave back.  There were a few times that they let the time get away from them and weren't at the window at the appointed hour, so I would just walk down and check to make sure that they were all ok.  And, of course they were.  So much for family time.

It wasn't until the third day that we finally got out the board games and sat around the table and played.  It was so much fun!  Even the grouchy teenagers were smiling and laughing.  At first, I thought that we had finally attained my "family time" goal because the kids were tired or the pool was closed or there was nothing on TV.  Looking back, however, there was a much more simple explanation.  I had finally relaxed my unrealistic expectations and the kids could bear to be around me. 

I'm not sure why I do that - set the bar so impossibly high.  I do it a lot, though.  I want everything to be just right.  "I'll be happy only if the kids are perfectly content to do the things that I want them to."  "I'll be happy when the house is clean." "I'll be happy when I lose weight." "I'll finally be able to be happy when the bills are paid off."  And on and on and on.  There's always a new standard for my happiness which happens to be just beyond my reach.  It seems that I can't be just be happy with whatever my current circumstances may be.

And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still. (Mormon 9:14)

That was a little bit of a wake up call.  If I don't shape up and be happy with who I am and what I have, I'll never get to be happy.  There was no magic "family-time" zone that we passed through on our way to Yellowstone, and there will be no magic "happy" veil that I'll pass through after I die.  If I'm not satisfied with anything here on earth, chances are that nothing will meet my expectations in the after-life either.

I read a quote from President Monson today that I thought would be very fitting for this topic.  He said, "The past is behind - learn from it.  The future is ahead - prepare for it.  The present is here - live it."  If I learned anything from our vacation last week, it's that I'm so busy looking into the future and holding onto the past that I don't live in the now.  And I'm not only robbing my kids of the mom they deserve, I'm robbing myself of the happiness that really is within my reach.  Time for a fresh start!

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 8

Click here to read what I read today: Mormon 9