Be Ye Therefore Perfect

 

 

Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.   (Matt 5:48)

I'm pretty sure this request is beyond me. WAY out of my reach.
Perfection. Unattainable. But whose definition am I comparing myself to?

Nephi has some of the same feelings: "Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea , my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am compassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me."
(2 Nephi 4:17-18)

Valiant Nephi. A prophet of God. Feeling the same way I do - will I ever get it right?

This doesn't even begin to hold him back: "I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
(1 Nephi 3:7)

A way prepared.

What is the thing we are trying to accomplish?
 To become something different.  A journey meant to change us. Perfect, but not as the world defines perfection. Better than anything worldly. Perfect like our Father. Step by step he leads us.......

He gave us the first basic steps through Moses. Ten commandments. Baby steps to prepare us for the higher law which he would teach us personally.
The next steps he gave at his great Sermon on the Mount, eight Beatitudes, a higher law. All steps, both the lower and the higher law, meant to teach us how to live the two great commandments. To help us understand how we should treat God as well as each other.
 



The Two Great Commandments

Matthew 22:37–40

 



1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.
 2. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
 

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

 Both the first four commandments and the first four Beatitudes teach us how to show our love for God:

(Mostly)Thou shalt nots:   1.No Gods before me 2.No graven images 3.No taking God’s name in vain 4.Remember my day, the Sabbath, and keep it  holy

Blessed ares:   1.The poor in spirit- feeling ourselves as spiritually needy and ever dependent upon the Lord for all our needs. Realizing that no day should pass without fervent prayer of thanksgiving, for guidance and forgiveness and strength sufficient for each days need. Being humble and teachable      2.They that mourn- 'godly sorrow that worketh repentence' and wins for the penitent a forgiveness of sins and forbids a return to the deed of which he mourns       3.The meek- humbly patient, as under provocation from others, one who has the courage of his moral convictions despite worldly pressures, strong with self-mastery. Looks to the Lord for His strength rather than his own      4.They that hunger and thirst after righteousness - spiritual hungering and thirsting that leads us to seek the spirit and induces worship on the Lord's Day wherever we are. It is that which prompts fervent prayer and leads  our feet to holy temples and bids us be reverent therein

The remaining commandments and Beatitudes teach us how to love each other:

(Mostly) Thou shalt nots:                                           Blessed ares:

5. Honour thy father and thy mother 6. No killing 7. No adultery. 8. No stealing 9. No bearing false witness against thy neighbour. 10. No coveting

5. The pure in heart for they shall see God - the pure in heart will love his neighbor for the potential growth and good they can see in him   6.The merciful- "Our salvation rests on the mercy we show to others"   7.The peacemakers- "they shall be called the children of God"   8.They which are persecuted for His name's sake- patient in adversity, quick to forgive, quick to love

 

The Beatitudes have another name:

                      A Constitution for a Perfect Life

 

The prophet Harold B. Lee also described them as the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The Savior called each of these laws, "Blessed."

What does it mean to be blessed?

"Blessedness is defined as being higher than happiness. Happiness comes from without and is dependent on circumstances; blessedness is an inward fountain of joy in the soul itself, which no outward circumstances can seriously affect." (The Life and Teachings of Jesus & his Apostles, pg 60)

 

President Joseph Fielding Smith observed: “I believe the Lord meant just what he said: that we should be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. That will not come all at once, but line upon line, and precept upon precept, example upon example, and even then not as long as we live in this mortal life, for we will have to go even beyond the grave before we reach that perfection and shall be like God.

“But here we lay the foundation. Here is where we are taught these simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in this probationary state, to prepare us for that perfection. It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today. Why? Because … if we are keeping the commandments of the Lord, we are on that road to perfection, and that can only come through obedience and the desire in our hearts to overcome the world.

“… It is the duty of every man to try to be like his Eternal Father.”⁸

Feelings of inadequacy or anxiety about perfection should not surprise us. Only with the Savior’s help, including the Atonement and Resurrection, will perfection ever be possible. But the marvelous promise is that He can and will help! “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”
(Moro. 10:32). And Nephi offers this encouragement: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Ne. 31:20). 

 (Prophetic Enlightenment on the Sermon on the Mount, Ensign Jan 1999 by Jeffrey Marsh, Associate Professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University.)

Well, when He breaks it down like that, maybe perfection doesn't sound so out of reach after all?!

 Mourn? I'm certain I feel bad enough to repent when I mess up - totally!

Poor in spirit? Do I recognize I need Him every hour? Absolutely! (Sometimes every minute - I can be very needy) 

Hunger and thirst after Him? Got It! The more I learn the more I realize how much more I need to learn.

SO there are several of the others I may need to work on (alot), but that's a good start. And I don't need to get it all right today. I just need to keep trying to be a little better each day and to bring my best to Him, no matter how imperfect I might think my best is. That's when my Savior steps in and doesn't just make up the difference of where I think I fall short. That is where he makes ALL the difference.

I think that sounds just about perfect. 

 

 

 

Posted by Sister Montgomery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Calling of the Twelve

Do you remember that day?
The day you first chose Him?
Held in the hands of priesthood authority.
Immersed
Pulled up out of sacred water to a new life. Bearing a new name.
His name
Covenants made. A promise to stand as a witness at all times and in all things and in all places.
To follow. To remember. To be His disciple.

Anyone can be a disciple.
A Christian.
All of us can follow Him. He hopes that we will.
Many lights have been left to illuminate our path, leading us to Him. Small bright witnesses testifying that he is the Christ. Smaller lights pointing the way to a greater light. Out of darkness to His light.
What are these witnesses? Speaking to the Jews, Christ also teaches us........

Therefore if I bear witness of myself, yet my witness is true  - Jesus Christ

Holy Ghost - For I am not alone, there is another who beareth witness of me, and I know that the testimony which he giveth of me is true

Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness also unto the truth. And he received not his testimony of man, but of God, and ye yourselves say that he is a prophet, therefore ye ought to receive his testimony - John the Baptist

for the Works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me    
  
 And the Father himself, who sent me, hath borne witness of me  

 Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me
(John 5:31-47with JST)

In preparation for the time when he would depart from the earth, Jesus chose from among his disciples righteous men who were valiant in their testimony of him. These men were called by revelation from the Father to be living witnesses of Jesus Christ and leaders of His church. They would add their testimonies to those witnesses that had already been given......

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples; and of them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles. (Luke 6:12-13)

"These were to be special witnesses of the sanctity of His life, and of His Divine mission, and to be responsible for transmitting to the latest posterity, a genuine account of His doctrines, and principles, and ordinances essential to the salvation of the human soul...." (Harold B. Lee in CR, Apr. 1955)

Then Jesus said to them, "Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you..... that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)


  

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof   

Article of Faith 5

Our modern apostles are called by the same pattern established by Christ himself. Different from the process by which worldly leaders are chosen. There is no compaign. No competition. No application. No resume to submit. Instead, there is something much more powerful:

 A gathering of apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ

  prophets, seers, and revelators

 



 A solitary place

 The Mountain of the Lord, a holy sanctuary - the temple

 

Prayer



  

Revelation

 

A calling extended

A new witness, a lifetime of service to the Lord

 



Ordination

Laying on of hands by those holding priesthood authority

 

I love these men.  I cannot count the times I have listened to them teach and give counsel that was meant just for me. Messages I needed to hear. Counsel that I had prayed for. I cannot fathom the responsibility that lies on their shoulders. 

  

Harold B. Lee, who later went on to become the 11th president of the church,  shares his experience when he received the call to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ:
"Since nine o 'clock last night I have lived an entire lifetime in retrospect and in prospect. I spent a sleepless night. I never closed my eyes one moment, and neither would you if you had been in my place. Throughout the night, as I thought of this most appalling and soul-stirring assignment, there kept coming to me the words of the Apostle Paul...... Therefore I shall take the word of the Apostle Paul. I shall come boldly unto the throne of grace, and ask for mercy and His grace to help me in my time of need. With that help I cannot fail. Without it I cannot succeed. Since my childhood I have looked upon these men as the greatest men on the face of the earth, and now the contemplation of an ultimate association with them, is overwhelming and beyond my comprehension."

Posted by Sister Montgomery

 



The Galilean Ministry, "This is He of Whom it is Written"

mir·a·cles
noun \ˈmir-i-kəl\:  an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs; an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment.

Extraordinary events
Palsey, leprosy, fever cured - physical healings.
Unclean spirits cast out, sins forgiven -spiritual healings.

We have defined what a miracle is. But there are many other questions to answer. When I want deeper answers I put my Websters dictionary back on the desk and reach for my Bible Dictionary. It is in the pages of that volume that I find the answers to not only what, but why, and how:

Miracles. An important element in the work of Jesus Christ, being not only divine acts, but forming also a part of the divine teaching. Christianity is founded on the greatest of all miracles, the resurrection of our Lord. If that be admitted, other miracles cease to be improbable. Miracles should not be regarded as deviations from the ordinary course of nature so much as manifestations of divine or spiritual power. Some lower law was in each case superseded by the action of a higher. They were intended to be a proof to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ (Matt. 11:4–5; John 2:11; 10:25; 20:30–31). Many of them were also parabolic and instructive, teaching by means of symbols such divine truths as the result of sin and the cure of sin; the value of faith; the curse of impurity; and the law of love. The miracles of healing also show how the law of love is to deal with the actual facts of life. Miracles were and are a response to faith, and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith.

It is important to notice the different names by which miracles are described. They are called signs, as being visible tokens of an invisible power; they are powers or mighty works, because they are the acts of One who is almighty; they are simply works, or the natural results of the Messiah’s presence among men; they are wonders, marvels, because of the effect produced on those who saw them.  (Bible Dictionary)

 

 

The New Testament records many, many miracles performed by our Savior, but the details for all of them are not given. Some are just mentioned in passing. That leads me to believe that the specific miraculous events that ARE shared with us must be especially noteworthy. Each containing a special lesson and purpose for us to find. A treasure hunt. Treasure that He wants us to uncover.
Seek and ye shall find.....

Requirements of miracles:
1. Faith
2.Need
3. Ask

At one time or another, every single one of us is in need of both physical and spiritual healing. It just comes with the whole mortality package. What if the miracle we need is greater than our faith? What then? Is my faith sufficient for my needs? Do I have enough to lift another who is lacking?

All around us are those who are in a state of spiritual decay. We see it in the moral decline rampant in the world around us. Everywhere. You can tell in a person's countenance when they have the light of Christ. They glow! It's not hard to tell when they don't. The Jews were in a state of spiritual decay. Spiritual leprosy. Leprosy was an outward manifestation symbolic of their spiritual state. Ugly. It was also one of the more memorable maladies mentioned in the Old and New Testaments, cured more than once by our compassionate Savior.
Again, from the Bible Dictionary:

Leper. Leprosy is a terrible form of skin disease, still common in dry climates, and highly contagious. Lepers were forbidden by the law to enter any walled city. If a stranger approached, the leper was obliged to cry “unclean.” The disease was regarded as a living death, indicated by bare head, rent clothes, and covered lip. For the regulations concerning the treatment of lepers, see Lev. 13 and 14.

The Jews had chosen to turn away from the Lord. Cut themselves off from him. Likewise, lepers were not allowed inside the city walls and therefore were cut off from entering the House of the Lord, the holy temple. Sin and leprosy, both incurable by the art and skill of man. Both the Jews and the lepers in a state of living death. Cure required nothing less than a miracle.


There was a father who was in desperate need of a miracle. His only child possessed by a devil.
He had great need.

The plea for help:
"Master, I have brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit that is a devil."

The last necessity required for the miracle to be possible:
Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt believe all things I shall say unto you, this is possible to him that believeth."
The father's desperate, tearful reply, " Lord I believe; help thou my unbelief!" (Mark 9:14-29 with JST)

The desire was there. It was enough.The boy was healed
Miracles were and are a response to faith, AND its best encouragement. (Bible dictionary)

We all need a little more help at some time or another. Sometimes we struggle more than others. Sometimes we are the ones with enough reserves to lift and strengthen. Christ is with us always, knowing what we need before we do. Even if all we have is just a tiny spark of faith. Even if all we have is just a desire to have a spark of faith. He can work miracles in our lives. It is enough.

 

posted by Sister Montgomery 

 

Early Judean Ministry,"Ye Must Be Born Again"

24 And it came to pass that Jesus grew up with his brethren, and waxed strong, and waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come.

25 And he served under his father, and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him.

26 And after many years, the hour of his ministry drew nigh

Matthew 3:24-26 Joseph Smith Translation

 

 

His preparations were complete. He had taken the covenant of baptism upon him. He then,"being full of the Holy Ghost," was led by the spirit into the wilderness to commune with our Father.

A solitary place. Fasting. Angels ministering to Him. Receiving greater light and knowledge.
 

The inspired version of Matthew clarifies for us what occurred, shortly after the ordinance of baptism had taken place:

JST Matt. 4:5 Then Jesus was taken up into the holy city, and the Spirit setteth him on the pinnacle of the temple.

JST Matt. 4:6 Then the devil came unto him and said, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down.....
 

Righteous people do not seek out temptation. They don't have to. It will find them. Fresh from the waters of baptism. Even at the very door of the temple.

 

 

The more we are determined to put God first in our lives, the more determined Satan is that he should be first. He doesn't concentrate his best efforts on the weakest link. Often, it is after we are firmly commited to following the Savior that our greatest trials come.
 

Alma teaches: "....for I do know that whosoever shall put their ^atrust in God shall be supported in their ^btrials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be ^clifted up at the last day. (Alma 36:5)

If we put our trust Him. Turn to Him. Allow ourselves to be supported. Led. Comforted. Instructed.

That is when we grow in spiritual light and power. In love for our Savior. In love for our Father. Closer to them.

The time had come for Him to teach us. Through his words as well as through his example.

 

And so his ministry began. He first went to the temple. The house of his Father. His house. It needed to be cleansed. He put it in order. He announced who he was. He proclaimed his mission to the Jews that were there. They did not understand, nor did they want to understand. As Jesus and his disciples began to teach and baptize, they sought to take his life.

Rejected by his own.

There were some though, who were ready to learn from Him.

To receive His tender mercies.

 Elder David A. Bednar taught that "... the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15). (General Conference April 2005.)
 

The reading this week talks about a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. I think she must have experienced plenty in the trial department. She was a Samaritan first of all, whom the Jews considered unclean. Second class citizens. Anything they touched was considered unclean. A Samaritan woman was even lower. The lowest of all was an unchaste Samaritan woman. Beneath notice. Not worth acknowledgement.

 This woman had had five husbands. It doesn't say what happened to them, but the sixth man whom she was with she had not married.  Jesus had departed from Judea and was traveling through Samaria on his way to Galilee. Unheard of - most Jews refused to enter Samaria and would travel all the way around the country to avoid it. Jesus was tired, hungry, and thirsty. He had gone to the well while the disciples went to buy food. He asked the woman for a drink - at the very public well in the busy noon time of the day.

What?! Her incredulous response: "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the ^aSamaritans." (John 4:9)

Then he taught her. Individually. He spoke of Living Water. He made it obvious that he knew her personally. He was familiar with the details of her life. As he taught, the level of her understanding increased. First she acknowledged him as a Jew, then, "Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet."(John4:19). Finally, she understands. She immediately leaves her water pot and runs to tell others, "Come, see.....is not this the Christ?"(John 4:29)

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? (John 4:27)

What makes this story so beautiful is not just that the Lord taught her, but the way that he taught her.
He was not ashamed to be seen speaking with her. Just her. He taught according to her level of understanding. He talked with her about her life. He manifested to her personally who he was.These were very personal and individualized blessings, guidance, loving-kindnesses, support. A spiritual gift. A tender mercy.

I have been thinking of tender mercies alot lately. Although we don't receive them face to face as the Samaritan woman did, we do still receive them. I have received them. Elder Bednar stated, "I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them."

I had to have surgery last week. I was not at all excited about it. In fact I have a great aversion to the thought of being cut open with a sharp object and having my insides manipulated. I prayed about it. Alot. I went back to see both my primary doctor and the surgeon again. Twice. I was given a priesthood blessing. I prayed some more. Each time I prayed I would feel a warm sense of peace and calm wash over me, but not long and I would have myself worked up into a state of high anxiety again with thoughts running through my head such as: pain, hemmorrhage, risks of anesthesia, infection, pain......

Then during a family home evening lesson my son was teaching, he read the words, "Have  I not spoken peace to thy mind?"

Yes. He. had.

I knew undoubtedly that those words were for me. I felt that same feeling of peace and calm. I felt grateful.

But, I am persistent, and inspite of myself I would eventually have anxious words running rampant through my head again: bleeding, ouch, I don't have time for this, what if...... 

Worrying about ............   EVERY          LITTLE         THING!

I was in the car, worrying, listening to some music. The words that came out of the speaker said,
"Don't worry. Every little thing, is gonna be all right."

I laughed out loud! I had tears in my eyes. Another tender mercy from a loving Father in Heaven. A Father who knows who I am. Who cared that I was scared. Who knew the details of my life. I can't think of a time when I have felt more personally, tenderly loved by Him.

He gave me the exact words that I needed. With a sense of humor.Through the words of Bob Marley. He made me laugh.

 Posted by Sister Montgomery

Family Home Evening Ideas:

Read the talk, "The Tender Mercies of the Lord," by Elder David A. Bednar. April General Conference 2005. Have family members look for the tender mercies in their lives and keep track of them in a notebook or journal. Share them with each other after a week, or two weeks or so.