Chapstick

It's been a while, but I feel like I'm ready to get back to sharing through this blog. Today will just be a short post, but I hope it helps someone.

This year, our church has started a study program that focuses on learning in the home and then bringing what you learn to church for discussion and group learning. It's been a wonderful experience to really study on my own time and then get perspectives and opinions from others at church.
Here's a link to the manual. We're studying from the New Testament, so it's applicable for other faiths as well (although some resources reference modern-day prophets and the Book of Mormon for further light and truth).

As I was reading in John 2 for this week's lesson, it asked to consider how Jesus Christ uses simple objects to teach lessons. Then it invited the learner to look at common household items and draw their own connections. It just so happened that I had chapstick sitting on my desk in front of me and a few insights immediately leaped to mind...

  Firstly, while chapstick will help if your lips are already dry, it works much better as a preventive measure. We can always repent after we've gone down the road of sin; but if we can catch ourselves as we're starting to eye that thorny path, we're much better off.

Chapstick (at least for me) should be used regularly. I put it on whenever I notice it (I applied it before starting this post). That's how repentance should be. Whenever we think about it, we should repent (something I will do after this post).

Finally, chapstick is sweet, smooth, feels good, and helps keep my lips healthy.
All I have to do is apply it.

12 Days of Easter: Day 11-- The Life of Jesus Christ

I loved this compilation of the Bible Videos the LDS Church has been putting out.
It is very long (almost three hours), but if you just pick a point and watch for a while it really portrays the life of Christ in a very understandable and moving way.

Twelve Years

A Retelling of Mark 5 and Luke 8 by Tova
All scripture references are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

I stare at him in shock. This feeling I've had, inside of me, is bleeding? It can be fixed, he says... with a miracle. 

*** 

That same day... 

Looking at my wife, I smile; then turn back to my little girl, my firstborn. She smiles at me.  

"We did it, Jairus," I hear my wife say. "We've been blessed." 

I nod to her. Gently taking her hand, I squeezed it with the force of my love. This child filled something in me that I hadn't know was void. 

*** 

Twelve years later... 

Oh please, Messiah! Come, take me away from here! Save my daughter!  

All night I have worked, my husband beside me. All night, yet still she fades. Our only one, our blessing. 

Please, Messiah! Please! 

The Messiah. 

I turn to my husband, "Jairus, search out Jesus. Find Him, beg Him to come." 

Briskly nodding, he steps out, and leaves. I turn back to our daughter-- pale, on the threshold of death. 

*** 

I must get to Him. He can heal my daughter. No matter what the Pharisees say; No matter if I lose my place in the synagogue; I must find Him 

*** 

The man from the synagogue hurries past me. I can barely touch his hem as he rushes past. I am too weak to go many places now. I just sit here, focusing on living.  

Too many physicians. Too many herbs. My issue is just the same, or worse, than it was twelve years ago. I just wait here for my chance; for my time.  

The lepers speak of Him, as do those who were lame. Jesus of Nazareth, the Savior. He can heal me. I must wait for Him. Even if I only touch His cloak, that will be enough. I just need Him near. 

*** 

Stretching, I step off of the ship. Across the sea, I'd just seen a mad man freed from the legion of devils which had bound him. Musing, I looked at the man walking in front of me, meeting the people. Nothing much on the outside, a normal face and stature. Yet inside, you could tell, He was pure, radiant, loving, innocent, guiltless, and all other things good. Whenever His eyes rested on me, I knew He knew me, and loved me in spite of that. A feeling rose up with in me, which I'd come to recognize. It was the feeling He brought, and that thoughts of Him brought. It rose from my heart into my throat, and tried to express itself, but my mind understood that there was no words which could conjure this feeling, except words expressed by Him. 

A man is racing through the crowd, right up to the Master. Falling on his knees, he cries out, "Lord, my little daughter lies at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy ahands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live" 

How amazing that this man, a ruler of the synagogue-- where many have rejected the Master-- should show such faith. 

Of course, the Master agrees, and follows the man. The crowd follows us, pushing in from all sides. 

*** 

I can see an unusual crowd coming. Could it be? Yes! I see Him! He is at the front, smiling, with His hands reaching out; comforting, accepting gifts. Where His hands can not reach, His eyes go. Bridges of light offering love to one and all.  

I don't ask for His hands, or even for a glance from His eyes. I just need a bit of his garment, a brief contact, and I will be whole.  

He's approaching. I gather my strength. Just one moment... please.... It happens! Through the crowd, I reach, and barely catch the tip. I feel a surge coming in me, and my bleeding stops. 

*** 

The Master is no longer following the ruler. He's looking around. What could He be looking for? 

"Who touched me?" 

Confused, I ask Him, "Thou sees the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" 

"Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that power as gone out of me." 

Power. Had some devil come? Or was it something more simple, more righteous? 

*** 

He's searching the crowd. Could He have perceived my small touch? I didn't disturb Him, did I? I never meant to cause trouble. I never even spoke.  

Soon, He will see me. Trembling, I step forward, and our eyes meet. All my fear washes away with those love-bright eyes. I tell Him what I'd done, and why.  

"Daughter, be of good cheer. Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." 

*** 

As the Master speaks, a servant runs up to the ruler--Jairus-- who has been waiting impatiently behind us. I catch their whispered words: "Thy daughter is dead. Trouble not the Master." Turning, I can see the ruler's face fill with despair. He nearly drops, but miraculously, the Master is there. 

"Fear not, only believe, and she shall be made whole." 

*** 

"Whole" I hear the word, floating above my dark thoughts. I look at the woman, the cause of this delay. She had just been made whole. Maybe the Lord could make my daughter that way, too. Alive. Happy. Whole.  

*** 

Oh Messiah! Oh my daughter! 

He did not come! Jairus... he was not here.  

My daughter! The last feverish throws! Oh, horrid memory!  

Why are these people here. Trying to seem sad, beggars in rich clothes. Oh my daughter! 

Messiah! Bring her back! Please, bring her back to me! 

*** 

Three of us follow the Master and Jairus: Peter, my brother John, and myself. Working our way from one crowd to the next mob-- the one surrounding Jairus' house.  

Distinctly, we hear the tumult, sounding like one, loud, confused noise. Above the minstrels and mourners, the Master casts his voice.  

"Give place, why make ye this ado, and weep? The maid is not dead, but sleepeth." 

*** 

Who is this man, to disturb us? 

We have seen the girl, there is no breath in her. Does he take us for fools? 

He is deserving of ridicule, and mockery.  

The audacity! This common man, never seen before in this house, presumes to make us leave.  

The master of the house does nothing. He just wallows in his own sadness as we are escorted away.  

The audacity! 

*** 

Oh my daughter! The Messiah has not come! 

The noise dims around me dims. I look up from my daughter's death bed. 

Through my tears, I see a man, light radiating from him. He approaches, and I turn back to my child, and lay, weeping, across her still body. 

*** 

The hope that first woke in my heart on seeing the woman made whole has grown.  

This man could heal my daughter. Still, seeing her eerie quietness, I cannot help but cry. I go to kneel by my wife, one hand on her shoulder, the other on my child's knee. 

*** 

"Talitha Cumi. Damsel, I say unto thee, arise." 

Through my sobs, I feel a different throb. My daughter stirs. 

*** 

The three of us look at each other, astonished at the power the Master holds. To be able to raise from the dead... what a wonder. What a gift for these two parents, who are now embracing the maid.  

Finally, they remember who has blessed them, and they turn to the master. 

He tells them to tell no one what had happened. 

Then, with a gentle smile, he reminded them that the maid should have something to eat. 

Videos about the Scriptures

How the Scriptures can Bless our Lives

(From General Conference April 2010)

The Book of Mormon-- A Gift from God

(General Conference Oct. 2011, Tad Callister?)

A Mormon Message about the Bible

A Funny Video parody of a movie based on 3 Nephi

 

 Video based on Ether 8

What do those crazy Mormons believe in, anyway? part 8

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 

This is one of my personal favorites. I love the scriptures, and the comfort they can give me. 

So, the first part: The bible.

(In English) we use the King James version of the Bible. Throughout the book, there are footnotes with "JST" = Joseph Smith Translations.
i.e. In Exodus, when Moses is sending the plagues, it says "And the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart". Wait a sec. Why would God do that? that just doesn't make sense. JST says "And Pharaoh hardened his heart against the Lord." That's better, isn't it?
JST also clarifies confusing passages; you know, when it seems everything is contradicting each other, and then a whole 'nother thing comes out?
Anyway, JST makes those things clearer.

Since we already have a bible, why doesn't that just work? Why do we need other scriptures?
There was an awesome talk given in General Conference that I'm going to post.....
jk. I've just spent 10 min trying to find it :S. Well, in the talk, it says to imagine one point. How many lines can you draw through that point? An infinite amount, right? Or at least a lot :). But now, take two points. How many lines can you draw connecting them? Just one.
(Side note-- This is one of my brother's favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 29:3 ... Many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible)

****** *****

The Book of Mormon is the second point. Historically, it was written by the early people of America. Geographically, it probably takes place in Central America, and ends up in the NE US area. Spiritually, it is the "journal" of the prophets of that place. The first prophet was Lehi/Nephi (there used to be a Book of Lehi, but it was stolen from Joseph Smith; so the first book is actually the 1st Book of Nephi). The last one was Moroni. He was probably the last living "Nephite." He sealed up the Book of Mormon in the "Hill Cumorah" (a place in NY, I believe). Then, Joseph Smith got them. He didn't write anymore in them, he just tranlated them. Here are some excerpts from his own record about the Book of Mormon. (When he refers to "the plates", it's talking about the Book of Mormon, which was written on Gold Plates)

JS--H 1:29-35, 50, 52-54, 59 "The Vision with Moroni; Joseph Smith finds the Gold Plates"
29 ...on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer ...
30 While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a ^alight appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a ^bpersonage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.

 31 He had on a loose robe of most exquisite ^awhiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.

 32 Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was ^aglorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like ^blightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was ^cafraid; but the ^dfear soon left me.

 33 He called me by ^aname, and said unto me that he was a ^bmessenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do...

34 He said there was a ^abook deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the ^bfulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;

 35 Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a ^abreastplate, constituted what is called the ^bUrim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted ^c“seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.

50 I left ... and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant that I arrived there.

 52 Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the ^aplates, the ^bUrim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them.

 53 I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger, and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates.

 54 Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him...
59 At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to ^ame with this charge: that I should be ^bresponsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any ^cneglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to ^dpreserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.

Here is an intersting story from Martin Harris, who helped fund the translation: JS--H 1:64-65
64 “I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

 65 “He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of ^aangels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were ^bsealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.”

 Another thing about the Book of Mormon. There are some people who give Mormons a hard time becuase they have another book of scripture, and there is a scriptures in Revelations that says: "22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" 

I have two things to say (but they both have the same effect). 

1) There is a scripture in Deutronomy, also that says "4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Does that mean that the whole Bible after Deutronomy is forbidden? I doubt it. I think that it's just talking about not changing the scriptures, or adding to the book of Deutronomy.

2) Revelations (although it is placed at the end of the New Testament) was written before many of the other books of the Bible. At least the 3 books of John were written after it. 

I'm going to finish up now, with my testimony (my feelings and beliefs) of the Book of Mormon.

I know that it's true. I can feel Heavenly Father speaking to me and answering my questions through the scriptures. Even if you do not believe in what the Mormons believe, I think that you should at least read the Book of Mormon. It might have something to help you. There is peace, there is war, there is inspiration, there is everything you need. I love my scriptures, and have them all marked up from my times reading them. I hope that you can also know that they are true.