ADVENT SUNDAYS

 

There are only 4 Sundays until Christmas. Tuesday is December 1, the time to start your advent calendar. This year, Advent Sundays begin on November 29.

Early Christians had a special advent calendar.  It involved lighting a candle on every Sunday before Christmas and talking about Jesus Christ and the example He set for us. It was taken from ancient pagan rituals of Europe and, like many other of our Christmas traditions, were borrowed and used to teach Christian principles.  

I have borrowed the candle idea to teach my family about Jesus, beginning even before He was born.  Many critics argue that there is "too much Jesus before Jesus" in the Book of Mormon, but as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I understand that Jesus has lived from everlasting to everlasting (see Moroni 7:22) He was the foreordained Savior in the very beginning, before the world was even created.

We all lived as spirit children with our Heavenly Father.  Father had a plan for us; He would create a world where we could come to get bodies.  He would give us our agency, which meant we could choose right or wrong.  He wouldn’t force us.  He knew that we would sometimes make wrong choices.  We would need someone to Save us.  He called us all together in a great council and explained His plan.  He asked for volunteers to take the important role of Savior.  His son, Jehovah, said He would go down and follow the Father’s plan. Another son, Lucifer, said he would go down and do things his own way.  He would take away our agency and use force.  He said he would save us all, but that he wanted all the glory and power of the Father.  Heavenly Father chose the first.  The second son became so angry, that he rebelled and caused a war in Heaven.  He and all of the spirits who followed him were cast out.

Jehovah used Heavenly Father’s plan and created the world in which we live.  He created Adam and Eve, our first parents.  Satan (for that is who Lucifer became) tried to ruin Father’s plan by tempting Eve.  What he didn’t realize (because he didn’t know the mind of God) was to move the plan forward. God told Satan that he might be able to bruise mankind’s heels, but that one day, a man would crush his head.  That was the first recorded prophecy about the coming of a Savior.

Each of the four candles in the outside of the ring, represents one of the four Sundays before Christmas. The lighting of the candles is, therefore, a form of countdown to Christmas. It helps focus our attention (particularly children's attention) on the Savior at Christmas.

The first candle is for hope.  We all have hope for the future because of Jesus Christ.  All of the ancient prophets knew that He would keep His promise and come atone for our sins, die, and be resurrected.  Here are just three of those prophecies from the Old Testament and examples from Jesus’ life in the New Testament that to show how He fulfills the prophecy. There are many other examples.

Isaiah 7:14 -Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us.)

Luke 1: 26, 27, 31 – And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a many whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. . . And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Matthew 1: 23 – Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Micah 5: 2 – But thou, Bethlehem, . . . though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Luke 2: 1, 4-5 – And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. . . And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judah, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. . .

Isaiah 9:6 – For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Luke 2: 6-7 – And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

The Book of Mormon prophets also foretold the coming of Jesus. 

1 Nephi 11: 14, 15 - And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what [do you see?]

And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

Alma 7:10 -. . . he shall be born of Mary, . . . she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring for a son, yea, even the Son of God.

Hope of Israel

You can search for others at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

THE LION HAS ROARED

I love the Old Testament!  When I taught Gospel Doctrine class (several different times in several different wards) I really loved teaching Old Testament. While it is not always easy to understand, it does form the foundation for the entire story of God's dealing with His people, particularly Israel.  As such, I've been watching the Old Testament scripture discussions on BYUtv.  

Last week, they were discussing the Prophet Amos.  Amos prophesied from approximately 792 to 740 B.C. in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. He was from a small town just south of Jerusalem in the Kingdom of Judah, but he was called as a prophet to the Kingdom of Israel.  Talk about your foreign missions!  It was a dangerous calling in a way because Israel and Judah were politically at odds.  Israel and Syria had formed an alliance to defy Assyria (the big bully on the block) and had asked Judah to join the alliance.  Uzziah had refused, so the allies had turned on Judah. But the Lord's patience was growing short. Amos wrote: Behold, I am pressed under you, as  cart is pressed that is full of sheaves (Amos 2: 13) - an ancient Hebrew way of God's saying "This is the last straw, Israel!"

Israel's time to destruction was short.  The Lord warned them again so that when calamity struck, they could not say, "But you didn't tell us this was going to happen!" That is the context in which Amos wrote: Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

God wasn't keeping any secrets.  He wasn't whispering.  Amos wrote: The Lord will roar from Zion. . . (Amos 1: 2, emphasis added) He reminded Israel that they were His people and that He had blessed them above all the nations of the earth. They should be walking with Him, but they had turned away. Can two walk together, He said, except they agree? (Amos 3:2)

Amos then described that if a lion is roaring, there must be prey; if a bird is ensnared, there must have been food in the trap. Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not [known] it? (See Amos 2: 3-6)

God had spoken to his prophets.  They had warned Israel repeatedly to turn away from her sins and repent.  By the time Amos was teaching, the lion hath roared . . .. (Amos 3:8) He asks: "Why aren't you afraid?"

~ ~ ~

The lion has roared again. Prophets have warned of great tribulation if the people won't repent.  9-11 was a huge wake-up call.  This pandemic is a huge wake-up call.  All of the storms and fires and famine are wake-up calls.

America, are we awake yet?

© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson November 2020

O, JERUSALEM; O, YE FAIR ONES; O, YE AMERICA - HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Have you ever had a dream that you knew was significant, but when you tried to tell someone else or, worse, write it down, it came out as confusing?  Whenever I read the Apostle John's remarkable Apocalyptic Revelation, I think about that. Just as Jesus taught in parables while He was alive, so He - as Jehovah - taught with symbolic visions.  

By stark comparison, the Book of Mormon has got to be one of the most plain and precious books ever written. I love the Book of Revelation and have done the spiritual work of seeking an understanding, but even the uninitiated can see the future played out before their eyes in the Book of Mormon.  The Jaredites and the Nephites are types and shadows of our nation - indeed the world - today. This artist's rendition of the last battle of Cumorah shows me he, too, made the comparison.

Studying the Book of Mormon has been difficult for me in many ways. Each chapter I read was as relevant as the latest political post on social media or on the morning news. I feel the depth of Mormon's sorrow as he said, "Oh, ye fair ones . . .;" just as Jesus once said, "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. . .." My heart often aches as I think, "Oh, America, America . . .!" 

The Lord of the Vineyard lamented, "What more could I have done. . .?" What more could He have done for this nation? There are only two nations in the history of the world that were founded on the principles of the Lord and with His power: Ancient Israel and America.  Israel failed Him and paid a terrible price at Samaria, Jerusalem, and Cumorah.  Will we also fail Him?  I pray with Paul, "God, forbid."

© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson November 2020

LIVING IN THIS WICKED TIME or WHY I AM CHOOSING TO STAY ON FACEBOOK (for now)

I think it was Charles Dickens who said, "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." That describes our day perfectly.  Satan's minions are flaunting and celebrating their evil spoils while the gospel is being preached and Israel gathered for the last time before the Savior comes again. But our times are not unique in that this battle between good and evil has been raging since before the creation of the world.

How do those who love the Lord and whose hearts are set on His righteousness act when surrounded by wickedness?  I think there are few better examples than the prophets, Mormon and Moroni. Mormon never knew peace and neither did his son.  They were born into war and wickedness, but they were called and set apart by Jesus Christ as His witnesses and historians to chronical that wicked time for the benefit of future generations.

I have always been moved by the words of Moroni. Even though my trials can't compare to Mormon's of Moroni's, I can relate to them because I, too, live in a world filled with evil and, because of my long widowhood, I have experienced what it feels like to be alone.

And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.

And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.

Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not. (Mormon 8: 2-4)

Now I, Moroni, . . . had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.

For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.

And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life. (Moroni 1: 1-3)

I, too, will not deny the Christ.  Many of my family and friends are leaving Facebook because of their liberal censorship of all that is good, but I will stay there and continue to witness of Christ is word and picture.  If that offends the "politically correct" than let it offend them.  I will not deny the Christ, even by omission.

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Mark 8: 34)

© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson November 2020