I have read Alma 16 dozens of times before, yet when I re-read it a few days ago, I saw it in a different light. This was the first time, despite all my previous reading, that I realized that there are two contrasting stories in this chapter. One story is about the Nephites in Ammonihah, (Ammonihahites) who were utterly destroyed. The other is a story about the main body of the Nephites, who were miraculously preserved. This realization caused me to re-read the chapter from a different perspective. As I re-read, I asked myself, what made the difference between tragedy and triumph for these two groups. What was it that lead to the tragic downfall of one group and the triumphant victory of the other?
 
Group One – The Ammonihahites
 
We know the story of Ammonihah. After tremendous success in Zarahemla, Gideon, and Melek, Alma traveled three days and arrived at Ammonihah. However, unlike his previous efforts, Alma’s attempts to preach in Ammonihah were rejected. Even after laboring much in the spirit and wrestling in mighty prayer,[i] the people reviled Alma and kicked him out of the city[ii]. He would have turned his back forever on the city had it not been for an angel of God appearing to him and telling him to go back again[iii]. Alma did so, and Amulek, following the instructions of an Angel that appeared to him, met Alma, took him in, and fed him.[iv]
 
After many days, God commanded Alma to take Amulek and go forth to preach to the people.  They taught the word of God with power and authority, proclaiming repentance to the people and warning them that if they did not repent God would destroy them and leave their city desolate in a single day.[v]  Through their powerful preaching Alma and Amulek eventually had some success. Yet the majority of the people were angry and hardened their hearts against God’s word. In their anger, the Ammonihahites drove the believing men out of the city, took their wives and children and their scriptures and burned them in a great fire, and forced Alma and Amulek to watch the horrific scene. Afterwards, Alma and Amulek were imprisoned, stripped of their clothes, bound and given very little food. For many days following, the Chief Judge, lawyers, and others went daily to the prison. There they continually mocked Alma and Amulek saying, “Will ye stand again and judge this people, and condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver yourselves?”[vi] Then they spit upon them, hit them, bit them and continued their mocking saying, “How shall we look when we are damned?”[vii]
 
Finally, the day came when the Chief Judge, the lawyers, and all the others with them came forth and smote Alma and Amulek saying, “If ye have the power of God deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words.[viii] When the final mocker had spoken, the spirit and power of God came upon Alma and Amulek and they cried to God for strength to break their bands. God heard their cries, strengthened them to break the bands, and caused the prison walls to tumble to the ground, killing everyone inside, with the exception of Alma and Amulek.[ix]
 
After all of this, the remaining Ammonihahites still hardened their hearts, attributing to the devil the power displayed through Alma and Amulek.[x] When the day of reckoning came a few years later, the people in Ammonihah were utterly destroyed in a single day, even as Alma and Amulek had prophesied.[xi]
 
What a tremendous tragedy. An entire city destroyed, with, potentially, thousands of souls sent out of this world unprepared to meet God, when it could have been otherwise had they but hearkened to God’s word as delivered through His chosen servants.
 
Group Two – The Nephites
 
Contrast them with the Nephites described in this chapter. When the cry of war was heard in the land, the Nephite armies were neither able to reach Ammonihah in time to prevent its destruction, nor were they able to prevent the killing and kidnapping that occurred at the city of Noah where many Nephites were taken captive and lead away by the Lamanite armies.[xii]
 
The Nephite armies desired to rescue their captive brothers and sisters but were not sure which way the Lamanites had gone. Their Chief Captain, Zoram, and his two sons Lehi and Aha, knew that Alma had the spirit of prophecy. Rather than trying to guess which way the Lamanites would go, they went straight to the Lord’s prophet, and asked him to pray to God and find out where they should go to meet the Lamanites and retake the captured Nephites. Alma prayed, according to their request, received revelation from the Lord, and told Zoram and his sons where to go. Without hesitation Zoram, Lehi, and Aha followed the Lord’s directions, as given through his prophet, and were able to find the Lamanites, defeat them in battle, and retrieve all of the captive Nephites without losing one of them.[xiii] By looking to the Lord’s prophet, and following the Lord’s direction as given through him, the Nephites were preserved and victorious in their battle and the captives were freed.
 
But the blessings did not stop there. Not only were the Nephites able to rescue their captive brethren, but, because of their obedience, they put themselves in a position to be spiritually rescued by a loving Heavenly Father.
 
Following the Nephite victory, Christ’s church was established more fully throughout the land and the people were so filled with God’s love that there was “no inequality among them,” – meaning they had all things in common among them and took care of each other.[xiv] The Lord poured out His spirit upon the Nephites and prepared their hearts to receive His word with joy so they could be “grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.”[xv] Additionally, the Nephite priests preached the word of God, speaking out “against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be.”[xvi] Through this means, with God’s word being preached in purity throughout the land, and God pouring out His spirit, the Nephites “got the victory over the devil.”[xvii]
 
What Made the Difference?
 
Now let’s return to the original questions:

1. What made the difference between tragedy and triumph for these two groups?
2. What was it that lead to the downfall of one group and the triumphant victory of the other?

 
The answer to both questions is obvious.
 
The Ammonihahites hardened their hearts and would not listen to the Lord’s word given through Alma and Amulek. Their refusal to repent when warned, and their willful disobedience led to the loss of tremendous blessings and ultimately to their downfall and destruction.
 
On the other hand, the Nephites did not hesitate to look to God’s prophet for direction, and when they received it, they were quick to follow it. Their willful obedience led to tremendous blessings and to their ultimate triumph.
 
Just as the Nephites of old either prospered or were destroyed according to their willingness, or lack thereof, to hearken to God’s word, so too will we prosper or suffer today, in accordance with our own willingness to hearken to and obey God’s word, or to ignore and choose to disobey it.
 
We know from the scriptures that God and Christ are the same yesterday, today, and forever.[xviii] They love us and want to spiritually rescue us. Their ultimate goal is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life.[xix] They want us to succeed, but they expect us to come within, and stay within, the bounds that they have set. To empower us in our efforts to do so, God and Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in our day and ushered in the restoration of Christ’s gospel. Because of the restoration, we are blessed to have living prophets and apostles today who receive direct revelation from God and Christ to help us know and understand their expectations for us, and how to meet those expectations.
 
Additionally, we live in a time when the quantity of God’s words available for our profit and learning[xx], both in the standard works as well as in all of the General Conference talks, has never been greater. We also live in a time when, through amazing technology, accessibility to God’s word, has never been more widespread. We know that through the study of God’s word, by feasting[xxi] upon it, we can learn of, and come to know, what God will have us do.[xxii] We know that God’s word, particularly the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, will help us differentiate between the “teachings of the master and…the tactics of the adversary.”[xxiii]
 
The Choice Before Us
 
The choice is plain before us. God’s prophets today are extending the same invitation to us that Christ extended two thousand years ago.

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; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.[xxiv]
 
The question we all face and the decision we must all make is whether or not we will accept that invitation. Will we choose to obey God’s word and find rest to our souls, not only in this life but eternally in the life to come, or will we choose to ignore it, and be drawn into captivity and death by him who desires the eternal misery of our souls?[xxv]
 
“…As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”[xxvi]

 
REFERENCES

[i] See Alma 8:10

[ii] See Alma 8:13

[iii] See Alma 8:14-17

[iv] See Alma 8:18-20

[v] See Alma 9:4

[vi] See Alma 14:20

[vii] See Alma 14:21

[viii] See Alma 14:24

[ix] See Alma 16:26-28

[x] See Alma 16:29 -

[xi] See Alma 16:9-10

[xii] See Alma 16:1-3

[xiii] See Alma 16:5-8

[xiv] See Alma 16:13-16

[xv] See Alma 16:17

[xvi] See Alma 16:18

[xvii] See Alma 16:21

[xviii] See Hebrews 13:8 and Moroni 10:19

[xix] See Moses 1:39

[xx] See 1 Nephi 19:22

[xxi] See 2 Nephi 31:20

[xxii] See 2 Nephi 32:3

[xxiii] Russell M. Nelson, The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?, LDS General Conference, October 2017

[xxiv] Matthew 11:28-30

[xxv] See 2 Nephi 9:9,46

[xxvi] See Joshua 24:15
 

In D&C 88:63 the Lord extends four invitations coupled with four amazing promises. He invites us to draw near to Him, to seek Him diligently, to ask, and to knock. In return for our faithful response to His invitations He promises that He will draw near unto us, that He will be found by us, that as we ask He will answer, and as we knock, He will open up to us.

The Lord's invitations solicit four questions. How do we draw near unto Him? Where and how do we diligently seek Him? What should we ask Him? What does it mean to knock and how do we go about it?

This is the first in a series of four "Weekly Short" articles written to answer each of those four questions.

Draw Near Unto Me

How then do we draw near unto God, and in reality unto God and Christ for we know that they are one in purpose and have the same ultimate goals? There are multiple ways but for the purposes of this article I will focus on just three.

First, we can draw near unto God through prayer. He is our loving Father. He knows us intimately and wants to be close to us. He is ever ready to listen to us if we will but take the time to call upon Him. He has promised that He will answer in His own way, in His own time, if we ask in faith, "with a sincere heart, with real intent," (See Moroni 10:4) having a determination to act upon the answer He gives us. Notice, that first we ask, then we act. As we go forward with faith and act in accordance with God's answer, we will feel peace and feel His direction in our lives.

Second, we can draw near unto God by studying the scriptures and applying God's and Christ's teachings found therein in our lives. Jesus taught "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," (John 17:3). Nephi invited us to "feast upon the words of Christ," (See 2 Nephi 31:20) and taught that the "words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do," (See 2 Nephi 32:3). As we feast upon Christ's words, we will come to know Him and God and come to know those things they would have us do. As we do the things they would have us do -following Jesus' counsel when He taught "...If a man love me, he will keep my words" - we will reap the promised blessing, "my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him," (See John 14:23).

Third, we can draw near unto God through service. King Benjamin shared this marvelous counsel, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God," (See Mosiah 2:17). Christ is our perfect example of service. All that He did was in fulfillment of His overarching goal to do those things which pleased His Father, even God. What was it that pleased Father? Every effort to help Him, God, to reach His overarching goal, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man," (See Moses 1:39).

You and I can do the same. As we follow the Savior's example, having an eye single go God's glory (bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man), forgetting ourselves and going to work in an effort to make a difference for good in the lives of those around us, the promise is that we will find ourselves and we will be filled with love. We will be like the Savior, exerting a similar influence such that those who know us will want to know Him because they know us. As we do these things we will draw closer and closer to God and "always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of [our] sins; and...grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created [us], or in the knowledge of that which is just and true," (See Mosiah 4:12).

For myself, I know that these things are true. I know through prayer and by the power of the Holy Ghost, that God is there and I have felt Him draw closer to me as I've prayed in sincerity and then acted in faith on the answers given. As I have feasted upon the words of Christ, following Nephi's counsel, I have experienced for myself the powerful effect of God's word on my heart, mind, and soul, as described by Alma (See Alma 31:5). Through the scriptures and through their application I have a greater knowledge of God and Christ, who they are, what they're like, and what they expect of me. As I've acted on their teachings and put them in to personal practice, I have felt their love and peace in my life. Additionally, I have seen first hand the blessings that come from taking the time to serve others - having peace bind up my broken heart and having my own concealed wounds healed (See, A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief - verse 5) as I've forgotten myself and followed they Saviors example of going about and doing good. I know the things whereof I have written are true.

I also know that you can come to know these things for yourself if you will make the effort. May the Lord bless you in all your endeavors to draw near unto Him!

How I love reading the Book of Mormon. I've lost track of the number of times I've completed it and started over. I do so because, like you, I am in need of constant nourishment for my soul.

This morning I've been reading in 1 Nephi chapter 4. I've always been inspired by Nephi's tremendous faith and courage. Here he is, the youngest brother, yet, as he was told by God, and as repeated by the Angel who had just visited he and his brothers, he is the leader and takes charge of fulfilling the commandments. I love Nephi's response in verse 1 to his whining, faithless oldest brothers when they question what they've just been told by an angel--"let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord." This simple statement describes the whole of Nephi's life. He was able to do great things because he was faithful in keeping God's commandments which is the key to unlocking the door to Christ's grace and wielding eternal power.

Covenants

Each of us has made sacred covenants, the first of which was to take upon us, gladly, the name of Jesus Christ through the ordinance of baptism - consisting of being baptized both by water and the Holy Ghost. Then brethren make covenants and receive promises through the oath and covenant of the priesthood. Then all of us made or can make covenants in the Temple and receive the promised blessing that flow therefrom.

In receiving these blessings, we promise to take upon us Christ's name, to always remember Him, and always keep His commandments. We promise to be true and faithful to the oath and covenant of the priesthood. We promise to be true and faithful to our temple covenants. In return, God and Christ promise us that we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and wield the eternal power that can come through that companionship as we are faithful. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can know the truth; we can receive direct revelation, both for ourselves and for our families; we can teach and write with power that will carry our message to the hearts of the children of men; priesthood holders can exercise God's power with authority; we can receive Christ's enabling grace which leads to the courage borne of faith that allows us to go forward and do great things even in the face of overwhelming odds; in short, we can receive and wield the eternal power that always has and always will conquer worldly power.

Great Expectations

The Lord has great expectations for all of His children, but more so for us as members of His church. Where much has been given, much is required in return. The prophet and apostles have been reminding us constantly in the past few years of the great responsibility that is ours in hastening the work. Everyone of us who has made covenants, left neutral ground the moment we did so. The question we must each ask ourselves, is what are we doing about it? Are we striving with all our hearts to be covenant keepers and not just covenant makers so that we can wield eternal power? Are we praying for opportunities to share the gospel? Are we praying for spiritual awareness and sensitivity to recognize when those opportunities come and for the courage to open our mouths when they do? Are we feasting upon the scriptures (see 2 Nephi 31:20) which will tell us "all things that [we] should do," (see 2 Nephi 32:3). Are we heeding the call to be informed of the issues relating to religious and national freedom and preparing ourselves so that if/when the time comes, we can stand up and courageously promote and defend those sacred blessings which are vital to the being able to share the gospel?

May we all be like Nephi, going forth with faith, guided by the spirit even when we may not know beforehand exactly what to do. May we be faithful and true to the covenant we have made and determined with all our hearts to stand up for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

God bless you this day and always my friends.

As I was fasting the other day, I did a search on my phone in the Gospel Library app for Captain Moroni. In doing so I came across a great article given by Elder Joseph B. Worthlin in the February 2008 Ensign entitled Band of Brothers  The overall theme of the article, using the term "brotherhood" to include both men and women in the church, was the following:

"Establishing a bond of brotherhood is critical. If those who serve with you feel mutual love and trust, the work of the Lord will thrive and heaven will aid you in your efforts."

In this marvelous article, Elder Worthlin discusses the "Easy Company" from World War II. They were an elite group of Army paratroopers that were highly trained in the skills of war. The went through a rigorous training and because of the nature of their activities, they had to be completely unified and dedicated to their cause. Elder Worthlin discusses their efforts to establish a band of brotherhood and then discusses men of our day who established that brotherhood such as " Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith; Parley and Orson Pratt; Brigham Young; Heber C. Kimball; Wilford Woodruff. They... formed a great band of brothers who, though very different in personality and background, were all united by a common goal: to serve their God and build His kingdom on earth."

A Great Cause

Elder Worthlin then goes on to talk about the importance of a great cause. He talks about Captain Moroni and his cause and the ability he had to rally his people to that cause. He also discusses Helaman and the strippling warriors and the courage they had, in the face of tremendous danger and challenging situations, to move forward with faith, and unshaken confidence saying, " Behold our God is with us and he will not suffer that we should fall," (See Alma 56:46). What was that cause that both Captain Moroni and Helaman and the strippling warriors represented? It was the "cause of the Christians," or in other words, the Cause of Christ.

The Cause of Christ

What is the Cause of Christ? The answer is found in Moses 1:39:

"For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

All of us, as individuals, parents, leaders in the church or the community, or whatever position or calling we may hold, as covenant members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, have committed to be a part of and uphold Christ's Cause. We have a responsibility to strive to create an overall bond of brotherhood with those over whom we have a stewardship as well as our friends and neighbors. We are living in the last days, and as you know, the war with Satan and all those who have subjected themselves to him, is only intensifying. The war that started in Heaven so long ago rages on. 

Like Captain Moroni of old, we face a living enemy that greatly outnumbers us. Additionally, as the apostle Paul stated to the Ephesians, " ...we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The Title of Liberty

When faced with great danger from enemies within the Nephites, Captain Moroni did not flinch. Rather, he tore his own coat open and wrote, "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." He then fastened that title to a pole, knelt in mighty prayer asking that God would favor the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land, and went forth waving the "Title of Liberty" rallying people to his cause (See Alma 46:12-13, 19-20).

We too must raise "Titles of Liberty" in our own lives today and strive to rally our families, friends, and everyone we can to those standards. We must raise the title of our own personal testimonies and become truly converted. We must do all we can to raise the same title in our homes by building and strengthening the testimonies of our families. We must have the courage to stand fast in the Cause of Christ and serve as His witnesses in all things, all places, and all times.

Additionally, we must support the cause of freedom by befriending our national "Title of Liberty", even the United States Constitution as the Lord commands in D&C 98:6 and keep in mind that the Lord said,

"And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this [speaking of the constitution], cometh of evil (See D&C 98:7)."

We must remember that the Savior taught the Nephites in 3 Nephi 21:4 that this nation would be "set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that [the gospel] might come forth." For that to happen, God raised up good men who redeemed the land by the shedding of blood and established the United States Constitution (see D&C 101:80). It had to be in place in order for the restoration of the gospel to take place. We must also remember that our inspired constitution was not only written and established for the freedom of the United States, but, as the Lord states in D&C 98:5, it belongs to all mankind and and should be "maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh," according to just and holy principles, (See D&C 101:77). For the gospel of Jesus Christ to continue to thrive throughout the world, it is incumbent upon us, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who know like no other people the importance of our constitution, to do everything in our power to uphold that sacred "Title of Liberty". To do so, we must befriend the constitution as instructed and also do as it says in D&C 98:10 seeking out honest, wise men and women for political office and doing all we can to uphold them--all the while remembering, as the Lord says, that "whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil," (see D&C 98:7,10). We must have the determination to stand fast in the Cause of Christ and, like Captain Moroni, pray mightily for God's favor upon "the cause of the Christians" and also for the "freedom of the land," (See Alma 46:16).

On To Victory!

We have a daunting task. However, going back to Elder Worthlin's talk, we must not fear. We must be willing to work hard. We must move forward with faith. We must become the leaders in our own lives and for our families that God needs us to be. Elder Worthlin reminds us, " Great leaders communicate a vision that captures the imagination and fires the hearts and minds of those around them... if you want to create a band of brothers, you must inspire those who work with you and encourage them to give their all in a great cause."

Our great cause is Christ's Cause.  Tremendous is our responsibility. To close with the words from Joseph Smith, "Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!

What a blessing it was last night to listen to more of God's servants during the Priesthood session of the 185th semi-annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I was especially touched by Elder Neal L. Anderson's talk on faith, particularly when he stated, "The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice."

Just what did he mean by that? To me he meant exactly what he said. Whether we have faith in the future is up to us to decide. If we have are to have faith in the future, then we have to choose to do those things that will not only maintain our current faith, but we must continually engage in those activities that will stretch our spiritual faith muscles so that we can grow.

Faith Strengthening Activities

So what activities will build our faith in such a way that we will be able to withstand the storms that are surely coming. Satan rages in the hearts of men and goes about as a lion seeking whom he can devour. How can we counteract Satan an his minions? Helaman taught his son's, Lehi and Nephi, that if men will build upon the rock of Christ, which is a sure foundation, they cannot fall, despite all the storm, the hail, the might shafts in the whirl wind that Satan may bring against them (See Helaman 5:12).

How then do we build on the foundation of Christ and how will that strengthen our faith? We build on the foundation of Christ by coming to know Him. We come to know Christ through prayer to our Heavenly Father. God and Christ are of one heart and one mind. We cannot come to know one without coming to know the other. Our Father loves us. He has promised us that if we will draw near unto Him, he will draw near unto us (See D&C 88:63). As we talk with Him in prayer, expressing our love and gratitude for His tender mercies and also asking for those things of which we stand in need, acknowledging His hand in all things, we will come to know Him. He will visit us with His spirit and the assurance that He is there and will, in His own way and time, give us answer to our prayers. These experiences will strengthen our faith that God and Christ love us, listen to us, answer us, and carry us through troubled times.

We come to know Christ by studying His word and putting His teachings in to practice. By doing so we gain first hand experience of the joy of service and seeing up close and personal the impact that Christ-like actions have in people's lives. We make the intentional choice to be men and women of the same manner as Christ and in return we become, like Him, saviors on Mount Zion. In doing these things, our faith in Christ and His ability to bless others through us will increase. Our faith in Christ will also increase as we realize that in serving others, our own concealed wounds will be healed.

We come to know Christ as we do our family history, and do work for those of our ancestors who need it, which they can not do for themselves. As we prepare their names and take them to the temple, we feel  closeness to them and a love for them. When we participate in the sacred ordinances on their behalf, we gain greater appreciation for the sacred sealing power which binds those ordinances on earth and in Heaven. With that appreciation comes strengthened faith in the love and kindness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in preparing a way that enables all of God's children to be saved.

We come to know Christ as we prove the Lord by paying our tithing, fast offerings, and living the Word of Wisdom. When we pay out tithing, we help provide the way for our magnificent temples and beautiful church buildings to be built throughout the world, thereby furthering God's work. When we pay fast offerings, the offering is used to bless those who are less fortunate than we are, who have a need of help, for a time, whether it be in the form of financial assistance or the form of food and clothing. God's promise in return is that He will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing such that we will not have room enough to receive it. He will also rebuke the devourer for our sakes (See Malachi 3:10-11).
As we live the Word of Wisdom, and keep all of God's commandments, we are promised that we will have health and strength both physically and spiritually, find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, and be protected from the destroying angel who shall pass us by (See D&C 89:18-21). As we receive these blessing in our lives, our faith will be strengthened, and we will grow firmer and firmer on the rock of Christ and become like the prophets of old who's faith became unshakable.

My Testimony

I know that these things are true. As I've striven to follow the counsel above, my life has been tremendously blessed. In so doing, my faith continues to grow and strengthen. I love the Lord. I know he hears and answers our prayers. Through prayer, in times of joy and times of great sorrow, I've felt the calm assurance that He is there and at the helm. As I've paid my tithing and offerings, especially in those times when I had no idea how we would make it financially, the Lord has always opened the windows of Heaven. I've also been tremendously blessed both with health, strength, and knowledge as I've lived the Word of Wisdom. My faith in God, as I continue striving to do these things, continues to grow.

An Invitation

If your faith is not where you would like it to be, or you feel it is lacking, make the intentional choice today, this very hour and minute, to start doing or more diligently do those things which will help you come to know Christ and center your life on Him. As you do so, I can promise you that your faith will grow, and become firmer and firmer and you will be planted solidly on the rock of Christ, a foundation where on if men build, they cannot fall (See Helaman 5:12).

One day as the Savior was with a group of disciples, he started talking to them about treasure, and the importance of laying up treasures in Heaven.

I was reading the verses depicted in the attached meme and couldn't help but ask myself, again, "What does Christ mean by 'treasures in Heaven'?" and "What am I doing each day to lay up 'treasures in Heaven'?"

Those are profound questions that can't be answered in one or two sentences. Why? For me the reason has to do with the fact that the actions required by the answers are life long, not something we do in an hour or a day and then we are done.

What does Christ mean by "treasures in Heaven"?

Part of the answer to this question is found directly in Matthew 25:34-40:

Those who serve Christ, will look for ways to bless the lives of others, not only when they are hungry or thirsty, but also when they are tired, poor, naked, ill, or in prison--not just physical prison, but spiritual prison induced by poor choices. We will forget ourselves and go to work, ever striving to give a hand up to anyone we can within our own sphere of influence.

Are there other ways to lay up treasures in Heaven? What about taking the time to listen? How about taking the time to play with a child, call a friend and say hi, welcoming a new neighbor to the area? All of these actions are acts of service that can lift and encourage the souls around us. How do these things help us lay up treasure? An ancient prophet king, known in the Book of Mormon as King Benjamin gives us the answer. It is found in Mosiah 2:17:

When we serve our fellow beings, we serve God. When we serve God, we lay up treasures in Heaven as our actions are recorded by the angels there and for which we will someday give an accounting.

What am I doing each day to lay up 'treasures in Heaven?

This is a very personal question--one that we must each answer for ourselves.

What do I do? I pray for the God to show me, or lead me to someone who life I can bless. I look first to those closest to me, meaning my dear wife, children, and wonderful mother-in-law. What can I do to help them today? How can I serve them? What can I do to bless and uplift them?

Then I work out from there. Is there a neighbor, either near, or far (with today's technology they can be half way around the world and still be a neighbor) that I can help? We have neighbors next door that we've adopted as surrogate grandparents. We get their mail for them. We take the trash out for them. We visit and talk with them and listen to them. We shovel the snow for them when needed. These are simple things, but they bless their lives.

The list of things we can do to bless others is endless. Each one of us has to determine what we do based on our time, talents, and abilities. What will you do?

On a final note, we must always remember that there is a key that unlocks the door to Heaven's treasure room where our treasures can be laid. We must always be sure that our motivation for doing what we do is not only because we the hope to receive a reward, either on earth or in Heaven. We must do what we do out of selfless love, just as Christ did. Only then will our actions turn the key and open the door. He is the keeper of that door, and He knows the thoughts, intents and desires of our hearts.

May each one of us live to hear the Savior say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," (See Matthew 25:34).

My intent today is to share a brief message about the greatest communication system in the universe. No equipment is needed. The only requirements to use it are humility, faith, and a willingness to open our hearts through words or thoughts.

What is this great communication system? It is prayer.

God, our magnificent Heavenly Father, loves us, as does His son, the Master, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because they love us, they want to bless us and help us in any way they can. To this end, they created and blessed us with the gift of prayer. There is no communication system equal in its capabilities. Through it, in an instant, we can contact the most powerful and glorious being(s) in the universe.

President Thomas S. Monson, in his 2009 talk, Be Your Best Self, given during the priesthood session of LDS General Conference, stated the following:

I know for myself that what President Monson taught is true. I can't begin to count the number of times when I've been discouraged and feeling down and turned to the Lord in prayer for comfort. There has never been a time when the Lord left me comfortless. The answers haven't always been immediate, or overwhelming, but they have always come. I know through prayer, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, that God is there, and that He loves me. I've felt His love envelop me from head to toe. In my own personal Gethsemane's I've felt His loving embrace and my soul has been given that peace which surpasses all understanding. I know God and Christ are there, they are real, and they hear and answer prayer.

For anyone reading this who may be struggling with any of life's challenges, I commend to you President Monson's recommendation. Take advantage of the passport to peace, even prayer, and approach your loving Heavenly Father with humble faith. If you will, I can promise you that He will hear your prayers and come to your aid, in His own way and time -- with the timing that is best for you. Trust Him, and all will work out right.

My message to day is a simple one. God lives and He loves us. Jesus Christ loves us. In fact, God loves us so much that He sent Christ, His beloved Son, to take upon Him all of our sins and die for us that we, through Him, might live.

Christ loves us so much that He willingly submitted to God's will and came into the world to teach and preach His glorious gospel which spells out a marvelous plan which, if followed, will lead to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.

That wonderful gospel message is on the earth today. Why? Because God still loves us. In Matthew 11:28-30, we read of Christ's invitation given in New Testament times:

That same invitation is still extended towards us today. Because Christ lives today, and still loves us as much today as He loved the people on the earth at the time He walked the earth, He wants us to, He pleads for us to come unto Him. We take His yoke upon us by learning His gospel and putting the principles taught therein into practice. As we do, we receive peace in our hearts, and "rest" in our souls.

When teaching the principle of tithing to the prophet Malachi so that he could share it with the people in Israel, God said, "prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." That same challenge can be applied to any of God's commandments. I know for myself that when I live the commandments, striving to fully live Christ's gospel, I am happy and truly feel of God's abundant love for me.

To one and all I send out the invitation to come unto Christ and put Him to the test. Learn of Him, follow Him, and God and Christ will fill you with their love and peace and bless you in all aspects of your lives.