This is the Greatest of all Dispensations

This quote from Jeffrey R. Holland gives me great hope in this troubled time:

Over a representative period of time, our prophets have focused not on the terror of the times in which they lived and not on the ominous elements of the latter days, in which we are living, but they felt to speak of the opportunity and the blessing and, above all, the responsibility to seize the privileges afforded us in this, the greatest of all dispensations. I love the line from the Prophet Joseph Smith saying that earlier prophets, priests, and kings "have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and … have sung and written and prophesied of this our day." What were they so joyful about? I can assure you they weren't concentrating on terror and tragedy. President Woodruff's words were: "The eyes of God and all the holy prophets are watching us. This is the great dispensation that has been spoken of ever since the world began." Let me repeat President Hinckley's words: "Through all the perils of the past, [s]omehow, among all who have walked the earth, we have been brought forth in this unique and remarkable season. Be grateful, and above all be faithful."

I don't know how all of that makes you feel, but suddenly any undue anxiety about the times in which we live dissipates for me, and I am humbled, spiritually thrilled, and motivated at the opportunity we have been given. God is watching over His world, His Church, His leaders, and He is certainly watching over you. Let's just make sure we are the "pure in heart" and that we are faithful. How blessed you will be. How fortunate your children and grandchildren will be.

Jeffrey R. Holland, "This, the Greatest of All Dispensations," Ensign, Jul 2007,  52–58 http://tinyurl.com/2mgjeh

The raising of Lazarus was a type of the Savior's own resurrection

When Jesus finally arrived at the tomb of Lazarus, he had been dead four days ( John 11:1–54).  No doubt existed that he was dead.  In delaying his arrival until so long after his friend's death, the Savior demonstrated his divinity and power to bring the dead back to life.  This was also a type for his own resurrection.  Jesus himself would die and come back to life.  And through this divine power, all will be resurrected even as was the Savior.

Spiritual blindness

John 9 describes the story of how Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees refused to believe, claiming that Jesus was a sinner for he healed the man on the Sabbath.  Jesus then taught about spiritual blindness.  This story still applies in our day.  So many refuse to hear the glad tidings of the restoration of the gospel because of spiritual blindness.  They act exactly like the Pharisees of old, even saying many of the same things. John 9 is worth reading and applying to today's situation.

Choose to do good in things that matter

President Spencer W. Kimball, a former prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stated:

 

"May I counsel you that when you select causes for which you give your time and talents and treasure in service to others, be careful to select good causes. There are so many of these causes to which you can give yourself fully and freely and which will produce much joy and happiness for you and for those you serve. There are other causes, from time to time, which may seem more fashionable and which may produce the applause of the world, but these are usually more selfish in nature. These latter causes tend to arise out of what the scriptures call "the commandments of men" [Matthew 15:9] rather than the commandments of God. Such causes have some virtues and some usefulness, but they are not as important as those causes which grow out of keeping the commandments of God."

 

He also said that "none of us should become so busy in our formal Church assignments that there is no room left for quiet Christian service to our neighbors." We give service in our congregations that is visible and rewarding because other people see us doing that service.  Too many times we give the appearance of being good Christians through our attendance at church meetings, our singing and prayers.  However, what really will make a difference is the kind acts we do for each other and for those in need.  I've often heard it said that God uses us as his instruments in blessing others and answering their prayers. 

 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a home teaching and visiting teaching program where every man and woman in a congregation is assigned to visit monthly a family or woman to see that their spiritual and temporal needs are cared for.  It might be a gospel message that uplifts, a meal, a house repair, or just being company when someone needs someone else.  It's these acts of service that are among the good causes Pres. Kimball is talking about.  There are other good causes in the service of others, but often the most worthy are those that go unrecognized and are given with no thought of reward. Service on a committee or board is already rewarded.  It is what one does beyond this service for individuals that truly makes a difference.

 

(See other things Pres. Kimball said about service at http://tinyurl.com/237muk.)

 

 

Pray Always

Spencer W. Kimball said,  "Prayer is not an optional activity; it is basic to our religion."  Prayer is a commandment, just like Sabbath observance, tithing and living the Word of Wisdom. 

In numerous places the scriptures tell us to pray always.  "But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." (2 Ne. 32: 9)

The scriptures also tell us why it is important that we pray always. "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  (Luke 21: 36)

Nine times in the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord commands us to pray always as a means of avoiding temptation.  To Newel K. Whitney and to all of us, he said, "What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always lest that wicked one have power in you...." (D&C 93: 49-50)

The Lord has blessed us with all that we have.  We should willing accept his command and show our gratitude through prayer.

Pray for our leaders

President Spencer W. Kimball taught that we should pray for our leaders.

Paul wrote: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. For kings, and for all that are in authority." (1 Tim. 2:1–2.)

Pres. Kimball said, "We will develop loyalty to country and to the laws that govern us if we so pray. And we will develop love and faith in our Church leadership, and our children will come to respect them."  It is hard to be critical of Church leaders if we sincerely pray for them. We become more positive and happier as we pray for our leaders, rather than being always critical of them. 

As a Church leader and the prophet, Pres. Kimball knew how important prayers were for him. "And in recent years, I have felt a great power coming to me because of similar prayers of the Saints, raised to heaven in my behalf." 

We may not agree nor even be of the same philosophy as our country's leaders, but if we will pray for them and show them due respect, our attitudes will change.  In addition, a kind Heavenly Father, hearing our prayers, may help our leaders to make good and righteous decisions.

Receiving the blessings of the Atonement

Here is commentary from Spencer W. Kimball about what we must do to receive the blessings of the Atonement.

Every soul has his free agency. He can have all the blessings Christ lived and died to give him. But Christ's death and plan are all in vain and even worse than futile if we do not take advantage of them: "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent" (D&C 19:16).

The Savior came "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). His birth, death, and resurrection brought about the first. But we must join our efforts with his to bring about the second, to attain eternal life. When we think of the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and the sufferings he endured for us, we would be ingrates if we did not appreciate it so far as our power made it possible. He suffered and died for us, yet if we do not repent, all his anguish and pain on our account are futile.

His suffering before and on the cross and his great sacrifice can mean little or nothing to us unless we live his commandments. For he says: "... why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46.)

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15.)

Men who know God and love him and live his commandments and obey his true ordinances may yet in this life, or the life to come, see his face and know that he lives and will commune with them. We believe, and it is our testimony, and we proclaim it to the world "that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent" (Mosiah 3:17).

We know, and it is our testimony, and we also proclaim it to the world that to be saved men must "believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent" (Mosiah 3:18).

Thus, with Nephi, "we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Ne. 25:23, 26)

http://tinyurl.com/2v5tmf

Jesus Christ is the son of God

An apostle and prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, bore witness that Jesus Christ was the God of the Old Testament. He said, "It was He who conversed with Abraham and Moses. It was He who inspired Isaiah and Jeremiah; it was He who foretold through those chosen men the happenings of the future, even to the latest day and hour." He is the great Jehovah and his father is the holy Elohim, our Heavenly Father.

At the time of the tower of Babel, in response to a prayer of faith, Jesus Christ, as Jehovah, appeared to the brother of Jared, as described in the 3rd chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon (http://scriptures.lds.org/). This what the Savior told the brother of Jared.

14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

15 And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.

16 Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

Heavenly Father introduced Jesus Christ, our Savior, on at least four occasions, once to surprised listeners at Jordan (see Matt. 3:13-17), at the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matt. 17:1-9), at the temple of the Nephites (see 3 Ne. 11-26), and in the grove at Palmyra, New York [see Joseph Smith-History 1:17-25]. At each of these times the Father testified that Jesus is his son. He declared, "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased."

There can be no greater testimony than that of the Father, witnessing that Jesus Christ is His son.

Why did John reject the Sadducees and the Pharisees?

The Sadducees and Pharisees were curious about John's teachings and came to see his baptisms, but they chose not to repent and to be baptized. When he saw this, he chastised them and called them to repentance. His message must have angered them.

He warned them that they must repent and told them if they didn't they would be rejected as the children of Abraham. They would lose their inheritance and not receive eternal life. They would be cut off at the root and thrown into the fire. Then, his most important message was of the coming Messiah, who he said would baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost. This message they rejected and did not understand. This is what he said to them as recorded in Matthew 3:7-12:

7 O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

His message, however, was received by the publicans, who were tax collectors under the Roman rule. (See Luke 7:29-30)

Who were the Sadducees? (see http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/s/7)

The Sadducees were a party or caste among the Jews, originating at the time of Solomon. They included the families of high-priests who came forward and defended Judah in the Maccabean war. Although they were few in number, they were powerful and formed the Jewish aristocracy. They followed to the letter the Mosaic law and denied the authority of ancient tradition, thus opposing the Pharisees who believed in angels and spirits and the doctrine of immortality. Through their influence, Greek culture spread in Israel. They were opposed to Jesus Christ and the work of the apostles because they preached the resurrection (Acts 4: 1-3; cf. Mark 12: 18-27; Acts 23: 7-8).

Who were the Pharisees? (see http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/p/30)

Another religious party among the Jews, the Pharisees "prided themselves on their strict observance of the law, and on the care with which they avoided contact with things gentile." They believed in the doctrine of immortality and resurrection of the body and the existence of angels and spirits. They regarded oral tradition as of equal value with the written law. The word Pharisee means "separatist" and, because their strict observance of a multiplicity of ceremonial rules, they separated themselves out from the rest of Judah and considered themselves better. Their opposition of Christ prevented many Jews from accepting his message. For the Lord's judgment on them and their works see Matt. 23; Mark 7; Luke 11: 37-54.

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ to come

Ancient forerunners ran before the chariot of the King, cleared rocks and other obstacles from his path, and loudly proclaimed his coming. Similarly, John prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ. He exposed the false teaching and sins of the leaders, preached repentance, and proclaimed the imminent coming of the Messiah. His influence extended to individuals who later became followers of the Savior. Andrew followed John's teachings and Peter was his brother. John the Beloved may also have been a disciple of John the Baptist. And Peter suggests in
Acts that others of the Twelve were tutored by John (see http://beardall2000.com/nt/nt04.html).

The prophet Joseph Smith summarized the role of John the Baptist. First, he was entrusted with the divine role of preparing for the coming of the Savior. Second, he was required to baptize the Lord and testify of his divinity. Finally, he was the only legitimate authority at that time on earth. Christ recognized this and came to him to be baptized (TPJS, p. 276).

A similar command is given to us in D&C 65 which is a prayer given through Joseph Smith. We also are to prepare for the coming of Christ. (see http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/65)

The Aaronic Priesthood, which John restored to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, is a preparatory priesthood. It prepares someone to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. It also plays a key role in preparing for the coming of Christ. (see http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/13)

Where did John the Baptist get the authority to baptize?

According to D&C 84: 23-28 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/84), after
the Melchizdek Priesthood was taken from the earth with Moses, the
Aaronic Priesthood remained, even up to the time of John the Baptist.
His father held the priesthood and as the oldest son of Zacharias John
would also receive it. Joseph Smith said: "The Levitical Priesthood
is forever hereditary – fixed on the head of Aaron and his sons
forever, and was in active operation down to Zacharias the father of
John" (TPJS, p. 319).

John was filled with the Holy Ghost from his womb (v.27). When Mary
who was carrying the unborn Savior visited Elizabeth, John leapt in
her womb.
John was baptized as a child (v. 28) and ordained by an angel at eight
days old to become an Elias, the forerunner to the Savior.

Although Zacharias was killed by Herod's soldiers, before his death he
must have baptized his son and ordained his son to the Aaronic
priesthood. Zacharias and Elizabeth were likely witnesses to their
son's ordination by an Angel of God to the calling of Elias. It may
have been about the same time that he was circumcised, received his
name and a blessing from his father (Luke 1:59).

The work of John the Baptist

Isaiah 40:3-5 prophetically describes the mission of John the Baptist
who would "prepare the way of the Lord" before both his mortal
ministry and his second coming. Further John was to "make straight in
the desert a highway for our God [that] every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low and the crooked shall be
made straight and the rough places plain." Roads in ancient Israel
and even today are sometimes crooked and they go up and down with the
terrain. When a high way is straightened and the dips are removed by
raising the valleys and lowering the mountains and hills, it becomes
much easier to travel upon. In the section of Missouri where I live
the roads twist and go up and down. It requires slowing down at every
turn. However, across the border in Iowa the roads are straight and
the dips have been removed.

Such was the mission of John in preparing for the first coming of
Jesus Christ. He prepared the road so that when the Savior began his
ministry in the Meridian of Time there was already a following and
many had been baptized. Similarly, in this age, on May 15, 1829 John
the Baptist came to the prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and
conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood and gave them the power to
baptize (see D&C 13). This began the great preparatory work for the
Lord's Second Coming, which is yet to occur. (See also 1 Nephi
10:7-10.)