The short book of 4th Nephi is - or should be - a primer for our times. They achieved a Zion society of perfect happiness that lasted more than 200 years. They then began to be lifted up in pride and they divided into groups. That led them in a short matter of time into total apostasy and total destruction.
Here is an exercise I found online. It is a mind map of those things in 4th Nephi that give insight into how they created Zion. I want to do this with my family.
When Captain Moroni raised the Title of Liberty, there was a significant sub-group of Nephites who refused to serve to save their own nation and culture. I see this happening now. People appear to be ignorant of the dire consequences this nation faces with liberal leadership (or lack thereof). My driver told me yesterday that she was voting for Biden because he was the lesser of two evils. Trump, she said scares her. He is unhinged.
I wanted to educate her right there in the car! The media has portrayed our president in the worst possible light. Unhinged? Not on your tintype granny! I had a plethora of things I wanted to tell her, but I just said I disagreed. Biden won't be her president even if elected: Harris will be. And if Harris is, we will be Venezuela before her first term is over.
In the book of Genesis, we read about three great patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. With the help of his mother, Jacob had deceived his father into giving him the birthright blessing, even though he was the second-born twin. In their defense, Rachel had received a vision telling her that she carried two nations in her womb and that the second was to rule over the first. She knew God wanted Jacob to receive the birthright. Also of note is the fact that Esau, the first-born twin, had married outside the covenant and was not living a righteous life. He sold his birthright to his brother for pottage which showed the level of his regard for it. Nevertheless, once the blessings were pronounced and Esau became aware of his brother's deceit, he was wroth and sought out his brother to destroy him. Jacob fled his brother's wrath. In the course of his journey, he had two remarkable experiences. One was a dream in which he saw angels on a golden ladder coming down from and going into heaven. The other experience changed his life.
The Bible talks about Jacob wrestling an angel, but I personally believe that this was symbolic of Jacob's struggle with God. As the birthright son, he had responsibilities. Not only was he temporally responsible for his mother and family, but he was spiritually responsible for bearing the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant. I think his struggle was reconciling his current life with the expectations of his calling.
The final outcome was the renewal of God's covenant with his grandfather, Abraham. Just as God had changed Abram's name to Abraham as a token of the covenant, so, too, He changed Jacob's name. The name Jacob means usurper. The new name God gave him was Israel. I learned in Conference that Israel means prevail, referencing, I'm sure, Jacob's prevailing, by accepting God's will for him.
I find it interesting that Israel's name meant let God prevail and that the descendants of Esau have taken the name of Islam with means submit to God's will. A Muslim is one who submits to God's will. An Israelite is one who allows God's to prevail. Hmmm?
I like that.
© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson October 2020
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| This Protestant Pastor Preaches Non-Negotiables |
Today on Facebook I saw a post done by a Catholic priest in Maryland. He talked about our freedoms and how he wasn't going to tell anyone for whom they should vote. He said that differences of opinion about things like climate can be discussed and negotiated. BUT, he went on, there are some things that are non-negotiable to believing Christians of all faith:
© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson October 2020
Another theme that was prevalent in last weekend's Conference was that of preparedness. It pleased me that speakers spoke of both spiritual and emotional preparedness as well as physical preparedness. It seems that in years past when anyone spoke of being prepared, it normally meant food storage, but the emotional and spiritual preparedness are even more vital. Several years ago, I was asked by a neighboring ward in Snowflake to speak at their preparedness fair on just that topic. You may have a trial or crisis arise that won't require you to dip into you year's supply, but I can't think of the trial or crisis that doesn't require you to rely on your spiritual power and emotional strength.
Our recent experience with this pandemic is a perfect example. While many people lost employment and had financial challenges, some requiring using stored food, everyone had to deal with the emotional trauma of the event. I belong to a Facebook group called Worldwide United. People post prayer requests in the same way we used to have names put on the temple prayer roll. The response is HUGE! I cannot read them all - I don't even try - but of the ones I do read, a significant percentage of them deal with such topics as depression and despair. If someone's emotional well is shallow, a crisis such as brought on by COVID could deplete it. The ongoing nature of the shut-down, with no end in sight, can wear down even the heartiest souls.
I believe the greatest thing we need to prepare and the one we will have to draw upon daily is spiritual strength. An unwavering testimony of Jesus Christ, when coupled with a personal disciple's relationship with Him can take us through many storms. I love to remember that He is in charge, that the cause of truth will eventually win, and that He will come again. I need to keep my spiritual lamp full of oil so that I will be prepared when He does.
© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson October 2020
Someone posted: "I wonder which chapter of the Book of Revelation we're going to be living today?" Signs of the times? - We're here! In light of this, I especially loved Conference. I noticed several themes. One of those comforting themes was that the current state of affairs that seems so meaningless and chaotic is neither. It is all part of God's plan. He is moving forward with the gathering of Israel preparatory for His second coming.
I contrast this spirit to the spirit of fear so pervasive all around us. Even the great Christian gathering in Washington, D.C. the weekend before had an atmosphere of fear and high tension. While I agree with the message that America is living out Israel's fate and is in danger of the judgment without sincere repentance everywhere, I also don't expect to see that repentance. Those who need it most are those who, like the Pharisees, think they need it least. They have made secularism their new religion and causes their new gods. The irony this has created is mindboggling. Go green and stop global warning, but, by-the-way, it's okay to kill unborn (and even newly born) infants. Save the whales and kill the babies. Those who think this way are not the ones listening to the call to repentance!
General Conference was uplifting in that it underscored that God is in charge and this is His plan which we see unfolding. While we will not be spared tribulation, God will uphold us in tribulation. One of my favorite quotes was when Elder Uchtdorf said: "There are still a lot of unknowns about this virus. But if there is one thing I do know, it is that this virus did not catch Heavenly Father by surprise. He did not have to muster additional battalions of angels, call emergency meetings, or divert resources from the world-creation division to handle an unexpected need . . .. though this pandemic is not what we wanted or expected, God has prepared His children and His Church for this time."
I have a testimony that this is true. When the Church introduced home-based gospel study, complete with a curriculum and other resources in 2019, many of us wondered why. Wasn't the current model working? But after a year of using it, we were prepared when the world shut down and sheltered at home, beginning in March. Our family slipped into have Sacrament meeting at home like a hot knife slips into soft butter. Did the Lord prepare us for this time? He certainly did.
Elder Uchtdorf went on to say "We will endure this, yes. But we will do more than simply grit our teeth, hold on, and wait for things to return to the old normal. We will move forward . . .."
President Nelson talked about living the "new normal" and advised us "not to spin our wheels in memories of yesterday. The gathering of Israel moves forward. The Lord Jesus Christ directs the affairs of His Church and it will achieve its divine objectives"
He cautioned that "the only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice and to use our energy to help gather Israel."
"Our ultimate security comes as we yoke ourselves to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Life without God is a life filled with fear. Life with God is a life filled with peace."
May your life be filled with Shalom.
© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson October 2020
