About God: That They May Be Humble

Posted on April 10, 2013 by byustudent

BYU Students Share Letters & Reflections on Scripture

BYU (Brigham Young University) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

In this series (see below), students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Book of Mormon in the form of letters to someone they know. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.

In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to speak to all of us of the relevance, power and beauty of the Book of Mormon, a second witness of Jesus Christ and complement to the Bible. The Book of Mormon includes the religious history of a group of Israelites who settled in ancient America. (The names they use are those of prophets who taught the Book of Mormon peoples to look forward to the coming of Christ—Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Helaman, and other unfamiliar names. We hope those names will become more familiar to you as you read their inspiring words and feel the relevance and divinity of their messages through these letters.)

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

That They May Be Humble

Letter to one who may be frustrated by some weakness

We are all human. None of us are perfect. Far from it, actually. Very far. We sneak extra candy from our bags at Halloween, we make up excuses so that we don’t have to hang out with someone that annoys us, we watch mind-numbing amounts of TV, we procrastinate, we are petty. We aren’t good at speaking in public, we aren’t good at communicating intelligibly with the opposite sex, we can’t spell or use technology properly. Some of us are addicted to things that can harm us, some of us have fears and doubts that prevent us from having normal working lives. Like I said, none of us are perfect.

Quite often, we get caught up in our weaknesses; the little things that we find wrong with ourselves get pushed to the fronts of our minds and, sometimes, it’s all we can think about. We feel inadequate or worthless and we let our weaknesses define us. But that is not what we should do. We should never be ashamed of our weaknesses, no matter how bad we think they are.

In Ether chapter 12 of the Book of Mormon, verse 27 states, “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me.”

We are human; we are imperfect. That is the way the Heavenly Father made us, so that we could be humbled. Jeffrey R. Holland, one of the twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we.” No matter what our weaknesses may be, we can deal with them. We can work around them and use them as opportunities to better ourselves and to humble ourselves before the Lord, to ask Him for His help in overcoming them.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said, “Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It’s wonderful that you have strengths and it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses. God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect, and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s okay that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.”

So yes, you may be really bad at writing essays; you may be addicted to a harmful substance; you may be a liar or a cheater or have really poor time management skills. Whatever the case may be, Heavenly Father is willing to work with you and help you with your weaknesses if you would but go to Him humbly. It’s okay that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.

Love,

One who is most humbled by her weaknesses

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Rough Storms and Furious Winds

Posted on April 10, 2013 by byustudent

“I walked a mile with Pleasure;

She chatted all the way;

But left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,

And ne’er a word said she;

But, oh! The things I learned from her,

When sorrow walked with me.”

-Robert Browning Hamilton

Sometimes it is through life’s sorrows and challenges, as this poem infers, that we grow the greatest. This past week in class we discussed how life is a storm. In the Book of Mormon, there is a record of a group of people called the Jaredites that came to this land thousands of years ago. They built barges and came across the sea. The story of their journey is metaphoric of the storm of life.

In Ether 6:5-6, we are told that:

“And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.

“And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.”

Now, some of you might be sitting there, wondering why God would cause a “furious wind” to blow upon the face of the water. Why couldn’t God just give the Jaredites fair weather and clear skies during their journey across the sea? Wouldn’t we all like it if life was just a cake walk and fair weather all the way? I would! But when I stopped and thought about it, I realized that it is during our hardest moments and most sorrowful times that we learn and grow closer to God. We are upon this Earth to grow and progress to become more like the Savior. God is our Father in Heaven and He knows what will best help us to achieve that potential.

In the poem, the narrator was “left none the wiser” when he walked with Pleasure. But when he walked with Sorrow, he said, “But, oh! The things I learned from her.” I know that we sometimes wish life was fair weather, but it really is in our darkest hour that we lean upon the Lord and place our burdens upon Him. I know that God gives us trials so we can become more like Jesus Christ and draw closer to God. Just remember to keep a proper perspective on life when the storm gets rough! I know we can all make it if we rely on the Savior.

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Final Judgement

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

Have you ever gone out to hang out with your friends and left the house only to realize that you’d forgotten to do your chores? Maybe you’ve had a similar experience to mine in this way. I remember times when I would leave without completing my chores, whether purposefully or not, and then come home later that night only to find that they had been done for me. I would have no excuse but to go to bed and face my fate in the morning. I would wake up and find my Dad downstairs, not mad at all, but just disappointed. He would ask me why I couldn’t just do the dishes when he provides everything else for me in the house to use, and all I had to do was help out a little bit with the dishes. I can remember the embarrassment I felt at disappointing my Dad whom I love so dearly. I think this is what our reunion with our Father in Heaven will be like if we don’t prepare well.

Heavenly Father created the Earth, gave us bodies, and laid out the plan of redemption for us! Think of the planning and love that went into that for each of us individually. Then we come down to Earth and cannot even do the little things that He asks of us? Things like reading our scriptures, doing our home teaching, going to church and trying to be the best we can be. They are such small things to do while on this Earth when compared with Heavenly Father’s role. Yet, all He asks is for us to keep His commandments in order to receive all that He hath.

This concept is related in Mormon chapter 9: “yea, in that great day when ye shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God—Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?” These verses are so insightful and help us realize our relation to our God. We can’t live with Him for eternity while holding onto the guilt that comes from knowing we didn’t do our best to live like He would have had us live. He laid it all out for us. He did not even need to tell us about the Plan of Salvation. We could have followed the commandments in complete faith without that knowledge, but He is merciful and gave us this knowledge and many other great things that help us follow Him and His commandments. We have been set up for success by our God when it comes to the Final Judgement, now all that remains is for us to capitalize on the opportunities we have and follow Him to the best of our ability.

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Full Understanding

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

This week we learned that the world can only offer us short-term good things and eternal pain, but the Lord gives us short-term trials for eternal blessings. In Ether 8:7 it says that “Jared became exceedingly sorrowful because of the loss of the kingdom, for he had set his heart upon the kingdom and upon the glory of the world.”

When we only strive to gain things that are of the world, we really limit ourselves. Heavenly Father has endless blessings lined up for us in heaven if we will just take up our cross and follow Him. We do need to be willing to face some trials and endure to the end, but that is the only way we will learn and grow and the only way we will be able to appreciate the blessings and good times that we have.

We will only fully understand a concept when we can see both sides of it – until then we just have a superficial understanding of it. This is why there are so many sad or negative stories in the scriptures – so we can understand what the Kingdom of God is like by seeing what it is not. All of the battles in the Book of Mormon and all of the examples of the pride cycle teach us so much about the kinds of people we shouldn’t be, which helps us to know what we should be. I think God understands perfectly how to teach, which is why he uses this method of juxtaposition to help us grasp the contrasts between different behaviors.

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Answers to Prayer

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

This past week in my Book of Mormon class we discussed a section of verses in Ether chapter 2. In verses 19-24, we see how the Lord will give us one of three different answers to our prayers. It is important to remember that Heavenly Father will always give us an answer to every single one of our prayers, even though we may not always recognize it as an answer.

In this chapter we learn that the brother of Jared has been commanded to build barges in which to travel across the ocean to the promised land. These barges are described as “tight like unto a dish”, as shown below:

After the brother of Jared constructed the vessels, he had some questions for the Lord regarding some problems that he found with the barges. Verse 19 reads, “And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.” So there are the brother of Jared three concerns: light, steering, and air. The Lord answers each of these questions, but each one He answers in a different way.

The most essential issue is obviously the one about not being able to breathe. Because this is a critical issue, the Lord answers with a direct approach. Verse 20 reads: “And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.” The Lord told the brother of Jared exactly what to do because it was the most important problem that needed solving. When we have our own issues that are as important as a life or death situation, the Lord will give us a very direct answer. He has a plan for us and will make sure that we know exactly what to do to stay in line with that plan.

The next issue the Lord answers is concerning the problem of there not being light. In verse 23 it states “And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?…” The Lord is telling the brother of Jared that he needs to use his agency to come up with a solution to his problem. This is perhaps the hardest answer for us to accept when we receive it. It would be so much easier if God told us everything that we need to do in every decision we have to make, but that would destroy the purpose of our agency. The whole point of agency is to help us grow as people and there would be no way for us to grow if we were told exactly what to do all of the time. We need to make our own decisions and trust that the Lord will stop us if we are about to make a wrong move. The Lord will not let us lead ourselves astray.

The last issue the Lord addresses is the steering, which He answers in verse 24: “For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth.” Basically the Lord tells the brother of Jared not to worry about steering; He will take care of it. This answer is perhaps one of the most comforting that we can receive. To know that we are in the Lord’s hands is to know peace and safety. It is to know without a shadow of a doubt that we will be taken care of. If you are like me and like to have a plan for everything, this answer can be somewhat frustrating because I never know what lies ahead. But I do know that I don’t need to worry about it anymore because the Lord has promised to take care of me.

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: No Respecter of Persons

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

God is a being that we are to follow, for He has commanded us to do so, and it is also in our best interests.

Joseph Smith enumerated that one of the fundamental pillars to having true faith is an understanding of the character and nature of God. In many ways we come to an understanding of the Lord in our personal endeavors, but there are explicit details the Lord has given us, one of the chiefest being that God is no respecter of persons. In James 2:1-5 it states:

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Joseph Smith is indeed the quintessential example of this. He was an uneducated, unknown, unimportant farm boy in the backwoods of New York, and the Lord called him to head the greatest organization in the history of the world. Upon contemplation, it really is astonishing how partial we are in our judgments and opinions of those around us as well as ourselves. Just the very thought that the Lord looks beyond a person’s wealth, earthly accolades and accomplishments, family name, appearance, personality, and values each one of us the same is mind boggling in such a divine way. It truly does give further evidence to His glory and wisdom as a perfected being and God.

After discussing this today, it is certainly something that I want to incorporate into my relationships with others, those already formed and those which one day will be. I think only then can you understand the beauty and value of a soul that the Lord describes in Doctrine and Covenants 18, and oh what marvelous joy it would be. I am so happy for the things I have learned and for the teachings that the scriptures offer me. They truly bring me closer to the Lord. I hope this was a help to you, and I would love to hear any additional insights you may have.

Love,

Theodore

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: He Always Answers Our Prayers

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

I always find great comfort and solace in the knowledge and understanding that Heavenly Father always answers the prayers of His children. While studying Ether chapter 2 this week, I learned that every single prayer is always answered in one of three ways: agency, don’t worry about it, and step by step instructions. Ether 2: 19-20 helps teach these three ways that prayers are answered.

Ether 2:19-20 reads, “And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish. (v.20) And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.”

When the Brother of Jared prayed to the Lord about the problem of not being able to breathe in the barges the Lord answered this prayer with step-by-step instructions. He explained the necessary steps the Brother of Jared would need to take in order to fix this problem. There are times in our life when we pray to Heavenly Father about certain problems and trials we are facing and he will answer us with step-by-step instructions. I can’t help but to think of prophets of the Church when pondering this method of answering prayers. Heavenly Father has given his prophets specific step-by-step instructions on how to organize the Church, build temples etc. I believe the key is having the obedience to follow these step-by-step instructions. However, I don’t believe that this is the most common way to answer our prayers.

The Brother of Jared was also worried that they had no way to steer the barges. Heavenly Father’s answer to this was simple not to worry about it. I think receiving answers like this to our prayers can be extremely difficult. They are truly a trial and test of our faith. We pray wanting to receive a specific answer to our problems. I know for me when Heavenly Father tells me not to worry about it, it truly is a test of my faith in him and I really have to try my hardest to let go and not worry about the problem at hand.

I think for members of the Church the final way Heavenly Father answers our prayers is the most common. When the Brother of Jared inquired about how they would have light the Lord let him use his agency. When Heavenly Father allows us to use our agency we are stretched beyond our comfort zone and we expand ourselves to fulfill a greater purpose. The reason I think members of the Church get this so often is because Heavenly Father wants to help us grow and I think he trusts us to make the right or better decision. A lot of times Heavenly Father will let us make our decisions and then He will guide us in continued righteousness regardless of the decision we made. If we truly made a wrong decision or something that wasn’t right for us, He will able guide us towards the best answer and decision for us as individuals.

I know that Heavenly Father will always answer our prayers. It may not be in the time frame that we want and it may not in the form of the answer that we want. But He will always answer and we should always have faith in whatever answer we receive.

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Words

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

This week is absolutely beautiful. Each day, I can feel the warmth of spring growing. As it gets warmer, I feel hope for the beauty of earth that will soon appear. It is all too fitting that this hopeful feeling is taking root inside of me during a week that defines the history of the universe forever. This week symbolizes the return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, His last supper, His suffering in Gethsemane, the Atonement, and ultimately His crucifixion and resurrection. The beauty of this Easter season clearly displays the hope that comes from the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is difficult to imagine my life without this knowledge. In my New Testament class this week, we discussed the epistle of James. In the very first chapter, James teaches a principle that would change the world. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). These words, read by the fourteen-year-old boy, Joseph Smith Jr., led to the restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. Of verse 5, Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, “This single verse of scripture has had greater impact and a more far-reaching effect upon mankind than any other single sentence ever recorded.” The work that resulted from this scripture has changed the lives of millions. It has brought the knowledge and hope of the Savior to families and individuals across the world.

During this beautiful Easter season, I testify that I know that the Savior lives. I know that He suffered for the sins of mankind that we might not suffer. I know that we “shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise” (Moroni 7:41). I want to spread the wonderful message of this season, “He is not here; for he is risen” (Matthew 28:6).

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Endurance

Posted on April 9, 2013 by byustudent

Brigham Young University (BYU) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.

Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.

About God: Endurance

Letter to Mom

Dear Mom,

New Testament class has been so inspiring these last couple days. In Hebrews 10:35-37, it reads: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” We focused on how we need to move forward with faith, especially if we have been inspired to make a decision. I just couldn’t stop thinking about the decision I have made to come to BYU even though many people wanted me to attend other universities. I know that I have made the right decision to major in chemistry and to be a future career woman. I have had the impressions that I should not worry about being married anytime soon since the Lord’s time is different than mine and that I will meet the right man when the time comes while I am working on my doctorate in graduate school. We discussed how we need to be confident in the decisions we make and not let other people’s comments discourage our commitments. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I know that with faith in the Lord, I can rely on His timing and not stress over the things over which I have no control.

Another favorite scripture we came across was James 1:14: “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” And another scripture was James 1:12, which emphasizes: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” I know that the trials I am enduring right now are a way that Heavenly Father wants to strengthen me to be a better Christlike example. When I feel tempted to get even or harm one of my enemies, I am allowing Satan to enter my mind. I know that I need to love my neighbors and focus on the eternal perspectives and love those around me. I need to stop focusing on myself and rise above temptation and love my roommates, friends and family. Lust is the root of evil, and lust can be in the form of other’s belongings or of other people or of money, or even just things in general. I know I want to rise above these trials and temptations and be a better person and learn from others’ mistakes. I know my Savior lives, and I’m so grateful for my loving Heavenly Father who gives me trials to make me stronger. I love the gospel, and I love being at BYU as I am working on becoming a better Christlike example and a lifelong learner.

I love you, Mom! Thanks for always being willing to chat with me!

Love,

Charlotte

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

About God: Majesty in the Mess

Posted on April 6, 2013 by byustudent

BYU Students Share Letters & Reflections on Scripture

Let us know if you’d like to receive your own digital copy of the Book of Mormon, and/or if these messages encourage and assist you spiritually as well.

About God: Majesty in the Mess

Last week, we read in Mormon about how hard-hearted the Nephites had become. Mormon had given up on them. He said:

“Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts” (Mormon 3:22).

I know this is not a very hopeful scripture…actually, it’s really depressing to think about how much Mormon cared about his people and how ineffective his efforts were. I like it, though, because of the connections I make from it. Mormon was a great prophet and military leader to the Nephites. Of all people, he had the most reason to care about the Nephites. If Mormon loved his people, how much more did their Father in Heaven love them? Heavenly Father loved them so much that He never gave up on them. I know that the same principle applies today—our Heavenly Father will never give up on us. Regardless of how many mistakes we make, or how inadequate we may feel, He will never give up on us. He loves us and wants us to return home to His presence. I believe that He prays for us and He hopes for us, because He can see our divine potential. He sees us as a work in progress—not as something that will never be good enough. Sometimes, no matter how hard we are trying, we may feel like our lives are a disaster…one little failure after another. One year at Especially For Youth, I learned a great lesson about divine worth. My teacher compared all the fragments of our lives to pieces of glass that would one day become part of a beautiful stained glass window. He called the lesson “Majesty in the Mess.” No matter how big our mistakes may seem, or how detrimental we may think our failures are, none of them are too big (or even too small) for our Heavenly Father to care about. He never gives up on us because He knows how each shard of glass will contribute to the stained glass window of our eternal potential.

I know that our Savior loves each and every one of us. He loves you and knows you personally—He sees you as His one-of-a-kind, beautiful daughter or son. He will guide you through His love to become better than you could ever imagine yourself.