It's Puzzling

I love puzzles. I haven't always enjoyed them as I do now. Doing puzzles takes a certain patience and a confidence that with time and effort there is a solution. Ironically, I really began to enjoy doing them when my children were small and my time especially limited. It corresponded to the time in my life when I first really approached the scriptures and God with that admission that I lacked wisdom, and that if He would answer, I would follow his instruction at least as fervently than I had my college professors. So the time I spent on puzzles was often a time for meditating on what I was learning. Puzzles became personal parables for me. For instance, look at these few pieces? Can you discern the picture on the puzzle correctly from just these few pieces? It is near impossible. Likewise, when we shut out the tutelage of the Lord, from our decidedly limited, finite experience, we have so little to go on that what we purpose as the "true" picture of life and its purpose, is no where near the whole picture, the picture our Heavenly Father sees, or real truth,- "things as they are, and as the were, and as they are to come." (Doctrine & Covenants 93:24, Jacob 4:13)

There was one particular puzzling lesson that has had great significance in my life. My sister had come to visit and we did more than one puzzle during her stay. We didn't finish the second one before she had to leave, and I was determined to finish it. There was this one piece I was just sure should fit in a particular part of the emerging picture. The area I thought it went in, when completed, would go along way toward pulling together other completed parts. But it didn't work. I stared, I tried it in a variety of ways, I gave up and went on, but it bugged me so I came back to it. I probably wasted hours of limited puzzle time trying to make that piece fit. As it turned out, I was right about that piece being pivotal in the puzzle coming together, but the piece I was trying didn't fit because it was never apart of that puzzle. It was a piece from the previous puzzle that had somehow been missed. Despite the fact that the pictures on the two puzzles were very different, this one piece looked similar in coloring and form to the piece that did eventually fit and complete the puzzle. A piece that had been lying ignored, in a pile of pieces near my hand, while I wasted time and effort with the wrong piece. It was amazing how quickly it all fell into place when I put aside the wrong piece and began trying the right one. Truly amazing.

That little puzzle adventure became a lasting lesson for me because it corresponded to, and became instrumental in, my considering the idea of putting aside long held assumptions- in the chance that those assumptions might be like the mistaken puzzle piece- looking a lot like the real thing, but, in fact, being only a distraction. A distraction, that, if I continued to concentrate on, would prevent me from finding the real pieces; the ones that would help the puzzling pieces of this mortal experience come together the way our loving Heavenly Father intended.

It was the word "jealous" I was particularly considering, along with sister concepts like "anger" and "wrath." In the American Heritage Dictionary, under the entry for "jealous", it actually uses the Lord's word from Exodus 19:5, "I…am a jealous God" to illustrate what it means to be "intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity; autocratic; fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position." For years, based on a scriptural commentary I saw as a young adult, I looked at the account of the Tower of Babel as an illustration of God, "autocratically" using his power to punish those who offended Him. I found it a particularly troublesome interpretation because there is such an obvious clear link between God's actions being seen that way, and men justifying truly "autocratic," controlling, cruel, selfish, unChristlike behavior, by quoting such scriptures. Using the English definition of the word just didn't fit with my own recent experiences, and such clear statements as: (John 3:16)

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life.

Listen to him who is your advocate…pleading your cause…. (Doctrine & Covenants 45:3)

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven…. (Matthew 5:44-45) 

(God) doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the word; for he loveth the world….(2 Nephi 26:24)

Our use of the word "jealous" really never focuses on the "benefit" of the others involved. It is a selfish emotion. However, being "zealous" is another matter entirely. Did you know that in Hebrew, Greek, and English that the root of both "zealous" and "jealous" is "zeal." In fact the exact same word is translated as both "jealous" and "zealous" in the Old Testment. Zeal is defined as Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. Zeal is not competative, autocratic, or fearful- it indicates devotion. It is not, in and of itself, negative or positive, but can become either depending on the ideal or cause which is so passionately, devotedly, advocated. And the Lord's cause? Us, His children, and His desire to prepare us to receive all that He is and has.

Interstingly, the Hebrew word, which is translated as both "zealous" and "jealous" can be literally translated "to gather for the seeds (young)" or "to nest." (Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, Jeff A. Benner, P.246-247) The word derives its meaning from the tireless, focused work that we see in birds building a nest and then nurturing, protecting, and providing for their young. It idicates something more than devotion to an ideal, but something far more personal and intimate- devotion to those you build for, provide for, protect, teach and enable. Interstingly, while our use of the word "jealous" goes hand in hand with the use of the word "of," indicating a recognition of competition or loss- the word translated "jealous" in the Old Testament is curiously coupled with the word "for" meaning "in behalf of." (Joel 2:18, Zechariah 8:2)

Oh, the pieces, the many, many verbal pieces of scripture that this understanding of "jealous God" begins to bring together. Not only the scriptures on love, but the many times He declares his devotion and desire to enable, strengthen, and provide for us as we grow and gain the experience and knowledge we came here to gain, for example:

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee…. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16, 1 Nephi 21:16-17)

I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, be strong and of a good courage….This book of law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein…that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success….Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord They God is with thee withersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:5-9)

Verily, verily, I say unto you ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; and ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer for I will lead you along...And he that receiveth all thing with thankfulness shall be made glorious. (Doctrine & Covenants 78:17-19)

Did you see the connection between receiving the devoted care of the Lord and willingly taking instruction from Him? This in turn, helps with other terms like anger or wrath. When Lehi is giving his final counsel to his two rebellious sons he explains the anger of the Lord.

(B)ehold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God. (2 Nephi 1:26)

There is so much that has been offered and provided for us- so much at stake- that a infinitely wise, loving and devoted Father cannot let us throw it away without doing all that is in his power, while protecting and enabling the gift of agency, to make clear the truth of the situation. Things as they are, as they were, and as they will be.

Essentially this is what the gospel is: counsel from a living Father who says to his children, “You have limitless, everlasting possibilities. You also have your freedom. It’s up to you how you use it. This is what you can become if you take my advice—and this is what will happen if you don’t. The choice is yours.” (Richard L. Evans, “Should the Commandments Be Rewritten?,” Ensign, Dec 1971, 57)

And so we are back to the Tower of Babel, and the very different picture that emerges from the perspective of seeing God, not as our English "jealous" and "angry" would indicate. But as a devoted, loving, respectful Father, who used his inifinite knowledge, wisdom and love in taking action to give His children every opportunity to learn of their endless possiblities, while at the same time diffusing a difficult and spiritually dangerous situation. Despite the flood being a very recent, real event, those who had gained power were using it to encourage, some accounts say force, their society to openingly turn their back on the Father's advice. The story of the Jaredites in the Book of Mormon shows us what a merciful act this was.(See Ether 1) This act of intervention and advocacy from the Lord showed the people of Babel "things as they are." They had a witness that God is real, as well as one of their own limited power. It was mercifully given in a way that gave years of mortal opportunity without war, bloodshed, famine, or floods. Also, the difficulty of the situation encouraged the Jaredites among others, to go to their Father for answers. To begin to receive, piece by piece, a correct understanding of this eternally important and pivitol opportunity we call life.

I can't help but surmise that among the words of the Lord the Jaredites had, were treasures similar to the verses quoted above. And that as they opened their hearts to His words, they had sparkling, vivid, joy infusing moments like the one I had during particular worrisome time a few years ago. I read 1 Nephi 21:16, and felt myself wrapped in feelings of sparkling reassurance as the words became so very personal. They seemed to read:

Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; (the walls of your home) are continually before me. Peace, be still.

Through The Storm

All right, I admit it. For many years of my life the very name "Noah" did not conjure up good feelings. This section of scripture- namely Genesis 6-10, was one of my first and most intense "exaltation" experiences. (See "My How To Book") When I first read it for myself, at about age 7, it seemed that God mirrored in so many way the capricious and vengeful (in the most modern and worst sense of the word) ancient gods I'd been reading of in a series of books with legends from around the world. It is amazing how tenacious can be the impressions of our youth! By the time I taught the Old Testament in early morning seminary, I had read and reread both accounts in Genesis and Moses, and read every article on the subject I could, spiritual or scholarly. I think I was in a place similar to what my daughter described about the word "exalt"- I knew the problem was not with what the Lord taught and could see how a change in perspective really did show this story to be another example of the Lord's love- but I was relieved when the lesson passed and I could move on, past the residue of confused feelings that continued to darken this part of the scriptures for me.


When did that darkness completely dissipate? I'm not sure, but as I read the account this time it came alive with vibrant meaning for me, here, now. It was like that perfect moment early in the morning when the deep purples, blues, and pinks of dawn are in perfect balance with the first burst of sunlight over the mountain. The colors are so beautiful and serve to emphasize the wonder- often taken for granted once the sun's light has completely dissipated the darkness- of a new day, of life, of eternal hope. "Which hope, cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men." (Ether 12:4) The hope and anchor Paul knew when he wrote:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thing present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romas 8:38-39)
As Paul carefully explains earlier in the chapter, the only thing that can separate us from the strengthening, healing, redeeming love of God is our rejection of it. That is so important to understand when approaching this epoch story.

Elder David A. Bednar noted the use of the word unto: “Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. … Ultimately, … the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter.” (2 Nephi 33:1)

Why just unto the heart? Individual agency is so sacred that Heavenly Father will never force the human heart, even with all His infinite power. Man may try to do so, but God does not. To put it another way, God allows us to be the guardians, or the gatekeepers, of our own hearts. We must, of our own free will, open our hearts to the Spirit, for He will not force Himself upon us. (Gerald N. Lund, “Opening Our Hearts,” Ensign, May 2008, 32–34)

Now let's think about what happened during the time when Enoch and his people were building Zion. According to our record, Enoch humbly recognized those he spoke to as his brethren, equally loved of God and equally capable of deciding for themselves. Under the Lord's direction, he pleaded with them to consider the world on which they stood, and the magnitude of creation, and to stop denying their creator. Some listened and began to "experiment upon (the) words" that Enoch taught and to repent (turn back) to the Lord. (Alma 32:27, Enoch 7) Those who listened to Enoch, were so unpopular they had to flee for their lives. It took moving mountains, literally, to get those who wanted them dead to stand off. Zion was protected until the people had become beings who could comfortably dwell and learn in the presence of God. (A testimony that no one has power to thwart the purposes and opportunities that are important for our eternal growth, if we rely on the Lord.)

When the enemies of Zion noticed it was gone, they gloated that "Zion had fled."(Moses 7:69) In other words, "We won, they fled, we have successfully cast them out from among us!" Nor was the world any more accepting of those who remained behind to carry on the Lord's work. Noah not only dealt with mockery as he taught and warned, but attempts on his life. (Moses 8:18)
This correlates to a repeated pattern taught in all the scriptures, but expressly spelled out in the Book of Mormon:

Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land that ye would even now would be visited by utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence and by the sword.

But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, If ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the lord stay his hand; (Alma 10:23-24)

That imagery,of the Lord's hand, is also central in what the Lord relates to Enoch about the flood:

The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold, I am God; man of Holiness is my name, man of counsel is my name; and Endless sand Eternal is my name also. Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness (rejection of the Lord's directions and power) as among they brethren. (Moses 7:35-36)

Just as the Lord won't force us to open our hearts-he won't force us, once we have intentionally and decidedly rejected his power, to live with the organizing, creating, sustaining, enabling grace which holds all creation together.  For visualization purposes it is as if we are held lovingly in the cupped palm of his hand, and when we insist, the palm straightens out, pulls away, and we are "free" to fall. 

Seeing and living through the effects of the Lord withdrawing -and the earth momentarily re-experiencing a piece of its primordial chaos- was so horrific that the righteous (namely Enoch and Noah) prayed that the Lord would never again withdraw so completely.  The Lord did promise, and as pointed out in the scripture above, is able to enforce eternal laws and justice equally well through other means. But, there are eternally significant reasons why the flood did happen, not the least of which is its testimony of both the Lord's power and our own position and need of him. A heartbreaking global example of the truth which is so aptly illustrated by this passage:

All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field…Behold the nations are as a drop of the bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance; behold, (God) taketh up the isles as a very little thing….It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; (He) bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. (Isaiah 40:8-23)

Remember that all the Lord says and does, he does for our benefit (John 3:16, 2 Nephi 26:23) So, the account of the flood also carries a message of profound, infinite hope. Hope that even if the whole world falls apart, if we choose the Lord, He will be with us even as he was with Noah:

Wherefore Enoch saw that Noah built and ark; and that the Lord smiled upon it, and held it in his own hand....(Moses 7:43)

Also, remember:

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-30)

The Savior spoke those last words to his apostles before sending them out to teach. He knew they would face opposition. He prepared them for it, even telling them they would be scourged for their testimony of Him. His admonition was given to strengthen them and help them keep their perspective in the midst of difficulty. To help them look for and see how the hand of the Lord was upholding them, strengthening and enabling them to become. Now let's consider for a moment how the same was true for Noah, another faithful follower of Christ.
According to the record the flood was a storm unlike any we see today. The rain was continuous for 40 days and winds never ceased. We know the kinds of conditions that a severe storm can cause in a matter of minutes. A Tornado can wipe out a town. When that kind of storm combines over water, we call it a hurricane, and it can create a force more powerful and destructive than several atomic bombs. We know that vessels of twice the recorded size and stature of the ark have been broken to bits by lesser storms. If you've seen the recent articles on rogue waves or movies such as The Perfect Storm, you get some idea of the miracle it was that the ark survived the storm. And you get a glimpse into the level of individual care and infinite control the Lord exercises for each one of his children, if they will allow. And you also get a glimpse into the character of Noah.

Again, our experience tells us that passing through a decidedly lesser storm is an uncomfortable experience at best. The ark was not a luxury vessel- it had no heat or other accommodations. Jewish tradition recounts that Noah and his family suffered from cold, and with illness severe enough that he coughed up blood. (Hugh Nibley, Abraham in Egypt, Deseret Book, 1981, p.264) After living through these difficulties, what is his first act upon leaving the ark? It was to "build and altar to the Lord" and offer sacrifice in gratitude. Yes, he was supported by the hand of the Lord through this experience, but, no, he was not denied the oppositional opportunities for growth that come with challenges. Most importantly, he was able to profit because he recognized, with gratitude the hand that supported his every breath through the whole eternally profitable learning experience. In turn, this account can help us maintain perspective as we try to understand the difficult storms that come into our lives. Help us to not focus on the dark, cold, and discomfort, but instead discern the hand that is, even in the midst of the storm, upholding us- ensuring that even as we are tossed, we are moving forward toward our eternal goals-being prepared to see the Lord's promises fulfilled in our own lives:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever…Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand….
Hath thou not know? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;

 But they that wait (move forward with hope) upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles….(Isaiah 40 10,28-31)

The Masterpiece

"It is a masterpiece!" In our culture today, to sincerely voice that sentiment is to give someone's work the highest compliment. With our modern usage of the term it is interesting to consider the source of the word. Prior to the growth of towns in Europe in the late middles ages, most artisans lived and worked within the walls of their lord's keep. When times became less deadly and towns began to thrive, a quality craftsman could no longer depend on his lord to provide materials, protection and stability. But he also had the opportunity to make wealth for himself. Artisan's kept the advantage of obtaining wealth, and helped mitigate the potential damage from expense, competition, and fraud by forming "guilds." Guilds were formed by artisan's who were established as masters of their craft. They banded together, pooled resources which brought down the price of obtaining raw materials, and created a structure for training new artisans that both ensured quality work for the consumer and protected their trade secrets.

So, lets suppose you were interested in becoming a master weaver. You would first have to apprentice out to a master weaver. During your time as an apprentice you would be taught the most basic skills. If the master weaver felt you showed promise you would be recommended as a journeyman. During this time you would learn more advanced skills, but "trade secrets," would be kept from you. Before you could complete you training and be considered a "master," you would be given a challenging work assignment from the master craftsmen who headed the guild. This piece of work was called "the masterpiece." If the masterpiece was completed to the guilds satisfaction, a new master was born! With the passage of time, the word "masterpiece" was also used by the general public to mean the best of the best produced by the masters of a craft. But whether you consider the origin of the phrase of its modern usage it refers to a unique and enduring work of craftsmanship.

Which brings me to Zion- the word the Lord uses to name those who decide they want to accept the "challenge to become," enter into His apprenticeship, and "with the help of their Heavenly Father, create a masterpiece of their lives." (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Abundant Life,” Ensign, May 2006, 99–102)

Zion is what we create both individually (Zion is the pure in heart), and collectively (the Lord called his people Zion), as we move through the process to become. (Doctrine & Covenant 97:21, Moses 7:18) Because it is a creative process, and we are the apprentices, it is imperative that we learn from the oft repeated accounts of the Master Himself creating. Have you ever wondered why the Lord lists out what he created day by day, piece by piece. There is more than one reason, I know, but today lets focus on just one lesson- one very important to building Zion- the importance of variety working together in unity.

Look at this picture of Mirror Lake. What gives it its beauty? Is it the mountains? The lake? The fluffy white clouds? The deep blue sky? The little flowers on the bushes in the foreground? The pine trees? Each does have a beauty of its own, but what makes the overall breathtaking scene is the way the very different parts work together.

Or consider music. A good friend of mine is currently serving as choir director in her ward. She told me of a wonderful spiritual moment when she viewed the very different people of various shapes, sizes, careers, and talents, all joining their voices together in a common goal. It is the very differences in the ranges and tones of the choir member's voices that make the music of a choir such a thing of beauty. She said she had an impression that one of the reasons the Lord's prophets have encouraged wards to have a ward choirs is because it is a perfect example and type of what the Lord means when he "called his people Zion because they were of one heart and one mind" or "if you are not one you are not mine." (Moses 7:18, Doctrine & Covenants 38:27)

Her comments rang true. Although I love music, I do not have great talent. In fact, for me to survive in a choir I need a strong soprano who can pick out the notes next to me. I have discovered that I can learn from those with more talent and training, and with their support I can sing with them and enjoy it, too. Imagine how ridiculous it would be of me, a mediocre soprano who struggles to follow the music, to judge everyone else in the choir whose voice and expression were not like mine as doing it all wrong. Not only would it disrupt the choir and cause contention, but I would rob myself of the opportunity to learn, grow, and rejoice in song.  I would, in that hypothetical choir, be doing exactly what James was trying to get the early Christians to see they were doing within their congregations.

Speak not evil (his problem is…; I thing what he is doing is not nearly as functional as me) one of another brethren. He that speaketh evil (I can judge that he is falling short- I am in a superior enough position to point out his dysfunction) of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law(God really doesn't do enough to correct the situation so I must; God really does allow others- not me, but others- too much freedom to make mistakes): but if thou judge the law, thou are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who are thou that judgest another. ((James 4:11-12)Italics are completely my own work! Remember the origin of the word "evil!" See "Powerful Good")

In the last conference President Uctdorf talked of a this same phenomenon creeping into our lives today:

Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles—many coming from uninspired sources—complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea—something that may work for him or her—takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.”

This was one of the Savior’s criticisms of the religious “experts” of His day, whom He chastised for attending to the hundreds of minor details of the law while neglecting the weightier matters.( President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency)

To help further visualize what the prophets are teaching, consider the metaphor used above of us being apprentices, the Lord being the master craftsmen, and our lives being the "masterpiece" we've each be given to work on. Our current task is to concentrate on making our masterpiece, so that we can qualify to become a master craftsmen. We do have to make judgments, to be sure- we must choose the right materials and employ them in our masterpiece according to all we have learned from the master craftsman. This includes interacting with, helping, and receiving help from other apprentices. We must also learn to discern and turn away from fraudulent or poorly made materials that would prevent us from weaving a masterpiece. In the things we must judge, the master craftsmen has given us volumes of instruction on and we are expected to, under his tutelage, to utilize that knowledge. But, we do not yet have the skills or knowledge to make an accurate evaluation of another apprentices work. Moreover, if we take it upon ourselves to use our very limited time and knowledge to make the judgments only the master can make, we neglect our own given task. We simply cannot do both. In the words of Isaiah, "all that watch for iniquity are cut off." (Isaiah 29:19)

That scripture is especially poignant when you take it in context with the whole of Isaiah 28 and 29. Isaiah 28 is the Lord correcting his "apprentices" for believing they are full fledged master craftsmen, yet rejecting the foundation and cornerstone (Jesus Christ), who is both the very best of materials and the best master craftsman. Isaiah 29 turns to our day, and the restoration of the gospel, and how the same approach will prevent many from receiving all the Lord has prepared. Verse 19 is saying that if we approach this life with our perspective being that we are in an elevated enough position to judge others standing with the Lord, and then we use our limited time and energy to do just that- "watch for iniquity-" we are in essence cutting ourselves off from being the Lord's apprentice and being able to hear his instruction.(Also see 1 Samuel 16:7) It is like we leave working on our own masterpiece to, well, waste our precious mortal apprenticeship pretending we are something we just aren’t. I believe this very human, universal tendency is "the beam" spoken of by Christ. (Matthew 7:3)

Whenever I think of "the beam," I think of one of the most tragic scriptural accounts of what can happen when we put aside our God given assignment to work on our own beam, in favor of evaluating another's iniquity. I speak of the tragedy of Judas Iscariot. Remember the Lord is the master teacher- he never gives us assignments for which, if we turn to his grace, we are not adequately prepared. Thus Judas' call as and apostle indicates he was a very capable and talented apprentice. But some of the things Jesus said and did surprised him- they didn't fit with how he'd imagined he'd be instructed. Because of his approach, his feeling he had sufficiently mastered life enough to "watch for iniquity," he saw it in Christ- the one being who was completely free from iniquity. Not only did he use his erroneous assessment to justify his own iniquity in betraying the Savior, but in his self proclaimed judge, accusatory, state of mind, he left the last supper, and so missed some of the very important instructions for completing our mortal masterpiece.

Interestingly, as I pointed out in "Moses1-Patterns", Peter faced many of the same surprises, but he approached it differently. He truly saw himself as the Lord's apprentice- "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the word of eternal life." (John 6:68, Matthew 16:15-16) And because of that he was there, after Judas had gone his own way, to hear the Savior teach:

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that yea also love one another. By this shall men know that ye are my disciples (apprentices), if ye have love one to another….

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he it is that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him….the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…(John 14:34,15:21,26)

That same command and promise is given to us today. We have the Holy Ghost, the spirit of the Lord, to help us apply the information in the scriptures and teach us about the love of the Lord, so that we don't follow the path Judas did and lose the opportunity to "create a masterpiece of our lives." One scripture I have found very helpful in this quest is Galatians 5:22-23:

But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.

In those moments when something someone does or says hits me with surprise, causes irritation or discomfort, if I manage to call that scripture to mind, it serves as a great barometer to measure whether I am being guided by the spirit. If I am not feeling love (do I want what is best for the other person involved), peace (do I trust the Savior and the atonement), longsuffering (patient in the interest of another's growth even if it causes you some discomfort), goodness (facilitating the use of the Lord's gifts for his plan-like that strong soprano who helped me sing), and so on- well I am probably in danger of plunking down in my self proclaimed, master craftsmen, judgment seat, and spending precious time and energy on something that will only prevent me from working on the masterpiece I've been given.

And a few times when that scripture has come to mind, and I've taken the Lord up on his promise to bestow charity on all who pray for it (Moroni 7:48), something extraordinary has happened. My surprise, possibly even irritation, turns to understanding that I am in the presence of a beloved child of God who is earnestly trying to love and serve him, and whose life and circumstances so vary from my own that they have so much to share with me and teach me. Through our association the master craftsman broadens my lens, gives me insight into how to better craft my own life, and how limited and poor my life would be without the infinite variety found among His children. And I think I begin to know the beauty and wonder of Zion. And that beginning- well it is so more than I could've ever imagined.

Are You WHO You Want to Be?

Throughout the ages, and throughout the world, one of the most widely explored metaphors is that life is a journey. In my last blog I talked a bit about how the Lord has used this metaphor to help us understand why we are here and the journey He hopes for us. It is not a journey defined by any conceivable outward circumstance, but a journey of becoming. Remember this quote:
We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life…. Charity is something one becomes. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 32–34)

Among the songs I enjoy is one by the band, Switchfoot, which asks:

This is your life are you who you want to be?

Note, it is not asking if you have what you want to have, or are surrounded with what you consider ideal circumstances, but "are you who you want to be." Its impact lies in connecting with the eternal truth that we are free to choose what we become. Remember that the word commandment literally means direction. And the first commandment the Lord gave Adam and Eve after they had partaken of the fruit, was to worship Him and obey His commands and love one another. (Moses 4:4, 7:32-33) When the Savior was asked which direction from the Lord was the most critical He said:

Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind….And thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

So, from the beginning all the prophets the Lord has called, all the directions and counsel he has given, is for the purpose of aiding us in our quest to become beings, like Him, who are filled with charity- the pure love of Christ for God and men.

But what if that is not who you want to be? Well, we are free to make that choice, as Cain's story makes clear. Cain's story also vividly illustrates who we are choosing to become, if we follow the same path he did. Above all, the elements of Cain's story restored in the Book of Moses, show the tireless effort on the part of the Lord to teach us, not only about the path He hopes we will take, but about the consequences we choose when we choose other paths.
First a few facts:

Fact 1: Cain had a rarely paralleled opportunity to grow up surrounded by gospel truth. Cain and Able had older siblings. In fact Cain married one of his elder brother's daughters. Even before Cain's birth some of his siblings had decided they "loved Satan more than God." Eve's words at Cain's birth showed the heartache she felt over this, and a hope that Cain would not step off the path, because he was born after his parents had faithfully, line upon line, come to a full understanding of the plan of salvation.

Fact 2: Just because Cain was born into a home filled with truth and light, it didn't mean he was forced to follow. Just as we will see that Abraham, Moses and countless other born into times and places where the gospel was either not taught or persecuted, had the choice to act upon the light they received. Cain decided that the path and directions the Lord gave were not worth his time and effort. His word's "Who is the Lord that I should know him?" are full of import. (Moses5:16)

The word "know" as used in the Old Testament never means a casual acquaintance. Its use indicates a real, intimate relationship that takes time and effort. Bottom line- we are finite beings. We can, by our very mortal natures, only accomplish so much. We have to prioritize, and Cain felt making the sacrifice of time and resources that following the Lord's direction required was not the best use of his time.

Fact 3: Before the effects of the path he chose fell upon Cain, he had the truth of it explained to him. Not sure he listened, but it was explained. Remember the Lord loves us, he wants the best for us, and in that infinite love and kindness, he does not hide, water down, or sugar coat the eternal consequences of the choices before us. Cain was told that if he chose to "reject the greater counsel of the Lord" in favor of Satan's counsel that would become his legacy- it would be what he would become. Becoming so much less than he could have been if he had followed the Lord's counsel was the curse placed upon him. (Moses 5:25)

Don't get confused by the use of the word "curse" here. In our English Dictionary you will find something like "to call upon divine power to cause injury to someone." So very, very far from what the Lord means. Remember the Lord's commitment to agency is very deep, when we knowingly make it clear we want nothing to do with Him, he respects that. The word used here means a removal of the Lord's love, protection, and the sustaining, enabling power of the atonement. Literally it means that the Lord withdraws the grace (power) by which we can choose to become like him. Cain became who he wanted to be- a being "free" from the Lord. (Moses 5:33)

Mormon, using the example of the Amlicites in The Book of Mormon, explains how the underlying eternal principle illustrated by Cain's life applies to all God's children:

Nevertheless, they had come out in open rebellion against God, therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them. Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation. (Alma 3:18-19)

It is easy to look as the end of Cain's path and think it doesn't apply to me, or worse try to apply it to others. But within Cain's approach to his mortal journey are elements common to most of us.  These same elements crop up again and again in scriptural teachings and they are consistently linked with rejecting the Lord's direction- and thus cutting ourselves off from the opportunity to become like him. These elements include, but are not limited to:

1. Feeling that I know what I'm about- not being open to the Lord's correcting and teaching me. This is always accompanied by a lack of recognition and gratitude for my life and the power that sustains it. If I do make any attempt to obey his command, even if it I make a few compromises or additions of my own, he owes me!

2. A pretty pronounced lack of love towards one or more of my fellow man.

3. Anger when I do receive correction.

4. Turning away from the Lord because he won't agree with me.

Out of all the examples I have found, the one that most profoundly helped me examine my life- made this lesson real and applicable to me- was the parable of the prodigal sons told by the Savior in Luke 15. It is not the younger brother (though he definitely wandered in some dead end paths) that is the final focus - the exclamation mark on what the Savior is trying to teach. The chapter starts by stating that "publicans and sinners" were drawn to the Savior, and that this was something the Pharisees found objectionable. It didn't fit with their understanding of what a man of God should be. The parables told in this chapter are directed mainly at them, and at our pharisaical tendencies. The first two parables use the example of lost sheep or piece of gold because few question their worth or that it is worthwhile to work for their recovery. The Savior emphasizes the rejoicing the Lord feels each time a son or daughter of God chooses to follow his directions and take the path that leads to Him.

When the parable of the sons is reached something odd happens. The younger son chooses to get lost- and no one seeks to redeem him. As the older son, who claims to love his father, and is the aknowledge inheritor of the birthright, his job was to care for the rest of the family as the father would. In a case, such as this, where the father could not both tend to the inheritance and search after the lost one, it fell to the elder brother to go in his father's stead and redeem that which was lost. And this was not a coin, but the greatest treasure a father could have, a child. The father's reaction when he returns shows how the father grieved this loss. Quite conspicuously, the elder brother does nothing to search after his brother.

When the younger brother comes to himself and humbly returns to his father, ready to be a servant, he is welcomed back as a son. It is a beautiful confirmation of the Lord's love and desire for all of his children to come home, and at one time in my life, the part of the parable that gave me hope. But, again the main emphasis of the parable is on the elder son. He does not rejoice in his brother's return. His brother took half of the father's worldly wealth when he left. His father kills a valuable calf in his honor, and by acknowledging him as a son, verifies he will yet receive part of the inheritance. The elder son is angry and his anger only grows when his father does not do as he instructs, apologize for his mistake, and reject the younger son. The father pleads with him to listen, to learn, to come into his presence and with him rejoice, but the son refuses and chooses to remain outside.

Do you see the common elements: Both Cain and the elder brother were not open to being taught or corrected by their fathers. Both did outwardly obey their fathers, but both did it in hopes of worldly wealth. Their focus on wealth is shown by their animosity towards their brothers- which they see as rivals for the coveted wealth. When the wealth they expected was not forthcoming or threatened, and in its place comes loving correction from their father, they respond with anger and choose to shut themselves out of their fathers presence.
Sobering isn't it. But the elder son's story is encouraging. The Savior left him standing outside the party, but didn't make a final pronouncement. And Cain's story was more fully restored because, according to Mark 15:7,the Lord rejoices more over every child who chooses the path the Savior marked, than he does over the Savior himself. And the Savior himself paid an infinitely enormous price so that no matter where we currently are, not matter if we have got caught up in the elements that so entrapped Cain and the elder brother, we can choose now to follow his path.

Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent (turn back to the path I marked), and I will receive you. (Alma 5:33) (Italics added)

Powerful Good

Words are powerful things. No wonder the words The pen is mightier than the sword, written by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839, are found quoted in so many places, including on a wall in the Library of Congress. But long before this truth was penned in that memorable phrase, Mormon carefully included in his abridged account of Alma's ministry:

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened to them--therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virture of the word of God. (Alma 31:5)

I've written before about the Book of Mormon, and how I have come to treasure the way this remarkable book helps clear up misunderstandings or corrupt teachings about God and his plan for us. (See My "How To" Book) I am particularly grateful for that gift as I study the Old Testament, which as I said before is full of words I found difficult to understand. In recent years I have had fun researching the origin of scriptural words in their original language- a challenge which makes me extremely grateful to others who have taken the time to actually learn Hebrew and Greek. Over and over again I find myself realizing that any misunderstanding between how we now use a word and the original meaning has already been explained- mainly in the Book of Mormon. In short, we don't need to research the origin of the words to come to an understanding of the fullness of the gospel. The Lord goes to great effort to ensure that His children can learn in their own language and culture. (Doctrine & Covenants 29:33) However, this search has certainly helped me let down some of my biases, see past cultural differences, and realize how much more there is given in the scriptures than I ever thought possible. Here is a short abridgement of some of the word studies I think are key and that I wish I had had when I first approached the Old Testament- maybe they'll be of use to you, too.

* * * * *

Good is one of the first, and most often repeated words, in the Bible. The first literal translation I saw used the terms "whole, complete finished." Which seemed remarkably like the Greek definition of the word "perfect," and fits perfectly with the Christ saying there is none good but God.(Mark 19:18) And indeed, God is the epitome of all that is good, the highest form of good, but before the earth was even finished, the Lord pronounced it "good." So it helped when I found an article (since lost-so sorry) that used an illustration to try help a mind, like mine, trained in thinking in abstract concepts, to understand the concrete, active language used by the writers of the Bible:
Imagine a perfectly ripe piece of your favorite fruit. Delicious, packed with nutrients- as a creation of God it is good. Now we get to choose whether to use this resource in a good way. To eat the fruit, so it nourishes would be a good choice. To process the fruit so that it could be enjoyed later is also a good choice. To give it to another so it nourishes them is also good. But, lets say you decide to waste it- just let it sit and rot, and rot, and decay and the rot spreads and it stinks and corrupts other good food- well that gives you a visual of and evil choice. The earth was created for the purpose of giving us the opportunity for eternal life. The gifts the Lord has given us, from the earth itself, to the gift of agency, to the very breath we breathe, to his spiritually nourishing words, are all designed to function perfectly to help us to that goal of eternal life. But we can choose to use them in a dysfunctional way. Those words "functional" and "dysfunctional are on spot direct translations of the words used for good and evil:

The word tov would best be translated with the word "functional". When God looked at his handiwork he did not see that it was "good", he saw that it was functional, kind of like a well oiled and tuned machine. In contrast to this word is the Hebrew word "ra". These two words, tov and ra are used for the tree of the knowledge of "good" and "evil". While "ra" is often translated as evil it is best translated as "dysfunctional". http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/27_good.html
There were two additional metaphors that have helped me relate what I learned about good and evil to include related words. They came together for me during my last pass through Moroni 7:

Perhaps a building metaphor will help illustrate. Imagine your house. Now imagine the raw materials that went into your house. Those raw materials in and of themselves do not provide shelter, warmth, safety and comfort. They only become what they have the potential to become when they are put together by a master builder. To ignore the builder help and instruction is to sit unsheltered surrounded by raw material, and, as nothing stays the same, it will be wasted or misused. Hence, Moroni tells us there is a two component test to discern good from evil. 1) it persuades to do good and 2)it persuadeth to believe in Christ.(Moroni 7:16-17)


That second criteria is critical because Christ is the master carpenter. The purpose for which this earth was pronounced good is to bring about the "immortality and eternal life of man" and the only way that can occur is through the atoning power of Christ.(John 14:6, 2 Nephi 20:25) So anything that persuadeth people to not believe in Christ, even if it has other temporary temporal benefits is not good. Another visual illustrates. Note the maze on the left. It is a true maze withonly one correct path to the center. The second maze pictured below shows the correct route through the maze in purple. The brown and green lines illustrate possible dead end trails. Only the one route gets you to the desired goals. Many other paths look similar, but they won't get you there. In mortality, Christ blazed the trail and marked the path for us.

Loved this metaphor because it brought together good and evil with what the word's "righteous," "wicked," and "sin" literally mean. When the Old Testament speaks of following the Lord's "way," it uses the same word as is used for path, and often it is translated path. The word most often used for "wicked" (rasha), means to walk away from the path. And righteousness means literally straightness, or to follow the path uprightly. "Sin" means to "miss the mark."

My first thought on seeing the meaning of "sin" had to do with archery, but one of the messages the Lord repeats through prophet after prophet is the great lengths he has gone to mark the path and make His path known. The word usually translated as "commandment" comes from the same root as the word meaning "to direct or give directions on a path." In fact, those who do walk his path uprightly, as Enoch's people did, become "Zion-THE PURE IN HEART;" and the word "tsyion" literally means "landmark." So, those who strive to walk the path uprightly become a landmark (functional instrument) in the hands of the Lord in helping others find and stay on the path.

Fascinating isn't it? But not so surprising when you think of the words of Christ:

I am the way, the truth and the light (John 14:6)

I have taught the in the way of wisdom, I have led thee in the right paths….Enter not into the path of the wicked…avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it….But the path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:11,14,18)

For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism…and then are ye in the trait and narrow path which leas to eternal life…and now…after ye have gotten into this…path…is all done? Nay, for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ…wherefore ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ…and endure to the end. (2 Nephi 31:17-20)

Which leads me to what I found to be a very powerful set of words, summarizing for our day and time, lessons that we will explore through the words recorded in the Old Testament:

No institution, plan, program, or system ever conceived by men has access to the redeeming and transforming power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, while the Lord’s invitation to follow Him is the highest of all, it is also achievable by everyone, not because we are able, but because He is, and because He can make us able too. “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind [everyone, living and dead] may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”(Article of Faith 3)

The Lord’s way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel. “There is an opposition in all things,”(2 Nephi 2:11) everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices.(2 Nephi 2:27) We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?

He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; … and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29)


Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it. (Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge Of the Seventy)