Cleave

Stick with me on this one.  It might not seem entirely gospel linked for the first part.

One of my favorite shows is Super Nanny.  Not favorite as in I actively watch every new episode--favorite as in when I'm flipping through the channels, I will stop on it.  I love watching shows that teach "wild" kids manners and crucial social skills.  I like Super Nanny because Jo (the nanny) uses principles that I believe in.  She knows that children want attention and freedom, but they also need structure.  She teaches parents discipline techniques that don't harm the children, that help them learn lessons, and that aren't too straining on parents.

The other day I was watching and Jo was coaching a dad about discipline.  She said something along the lines of "when they say 'discipline with sharpness,' they don't mean you have to be scary.  They use the word 'sharp' in the way that it's effective and wisely timed.  And after you're done, always show them that you love them, because your love should be the motivation behind changing their behavior, not fear."  When I heard this, I thought of one of my favorite quotes:

"The sword can be used to slash or it can be used to merely point."

I've always liked the thought of using the sword as a sort of laser pen rather than a weapon.

Then I came across this scripture in D&C:

"Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou has reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;" (121:43).

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Nanny Jo is a Mormon and she doesn't even know it!

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

"For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be gloried in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace"(D&C 93:20).

I just have two thoughts on this, the second of them stemming from my interest in spelling.  First thought: the last sentence seemed italicized when I read it in the scriptures (not really slanted, but it seemed different and stood out somehow).  "...you shall receive grace for grace."

You know that eye for an eye rule?  I looked at "grace for grace" that way.  If you do your best to live with grace, act with grace, think with grace....whatever it is you can do with grace, if you give it, you will receive it.  Simple enough, right?  But I love that sentence.  I feel like those few words contain chapters of meaning, meaning that isn't expressed in words, but felt and observed and reflected on.

Second thought: "fulness" is spelled like it is the ending of a word, -fulness, that generally implies the quality of being full of something.  Like thankfulness, helpfulness, sorrowfulness...there are a lot of -fulness words.  I know that these scriptures were written a long time ago and fulness is most likely an alternative spelling of fullness, but isn't it interesting to think that the promise in the scriptures refers to us receiving the qualities of God?  Because isn't that what we're really striving for?  We are children of a god, and children have the inherent right within their very genetics to become as their parents are. We are like flower buds.  We are cute when we are so little, but we are beautiful when we are done blossoming.  Buds aren't meant to stay buds (unless we are talking about buds as in buddies--friends can stay buds). I hope to receive the -fulness of my Heavenly Father.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

I have a system worked out for this blog: read, highlight, then post about what I highlighted.  I'm pretty good at steps one and two...so now I have quite a few highlighted areas in my scriptures to catch up on.

D&C 88:78 says "Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand."

I was really excited about the promise in this scripture, and it stuck in my head until I started thinking that one of the differences between the great teachers and the so-so teachers might be diligence.  I know that most teachers try to make their classes good ones, but sometimes trying doesn't seem to cut it.  There must be a difference between trying and diligence.  So I looked up the meaning of diligence. The definition I found has 3 parts:

1. Conscientious in paying proper attention to a task; giving the degree of care required in a situation
2. Persevering determination to accomplish a task
3. Application; a diligent effort--"It is a job requiring serious application."

So I think teaching is a "job requiring serious application," which means we can't settle ourselves in with excuses of "I'm too busy," and "It won't be hard."  It is a job that requires a degree of attention and care in order to succeed, which means that we can't just read through a lesson and be prepared because we "know" what it is about.  And teaching a great lesson doesn't include a one-time performance.  There must be a "persevering determination."  Persevering implies that there is time passing in which the determination doesn't fail.  I take this to mean that from week to week, you never lose the desire to teach well, and you don't stop looking for ways to prepare yourself.

Teaching is important, and teachers who apply themselves with diligence can be blessed with the knowledge of that which is expedient for them to understand.  I also know that teaching will bless them in other countless ways.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

D&C 89:15: "...study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people."

In the past, I've had discussions with people regarding scriptures and how they help me become a better person.  Sometimes I've expressed interest in reading things from other religions, maybe some Buddhist stuff, to see what kind of things they can teach me about being a better person.  Some people encouraged me, some people laughed, and there were some people who freaked out a little and asked if I was okay and if my testimony was strong and if I was looking to convert to something else.  It was funny because they were so puzzled.  They couldn't understand that I would want to read something for another religion without being interested in actually converting to that religion.

I just wanted to make note of this scripture as I came across it, because we've been told to seek out the good books of the world.  Just because they are from a different religion doesn't mean they won't benefit us.  Not saying to go join another Church because they have something right. I believe most if not all religions have some truth and goodness in them, otherwise they wouldn't have followers.  But we've got the truth all put together here.  As we learn more about the gospel, we learn more about how the puzzle pieces fit together.  And as we learn more of the good things the world has to offer, the easier that puzzle will be to solve.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

I have been reading but not blogging.  I apologize.  I might make several posts in the same day, but that doesn't mean anyone should feel obligated to read them all.  Remember, my first priority is to document my own thoughts about what I study so that I actually learn something and so that I don't forget what I learn.  I don't expect you to read everything, whoever it is that you are.

D&C 88 talks about the varying degrees of kingdoms and such, but when I read verses 44-45, I thought of it in a little different way than I think most people have thought of it.

"And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days..."(44). "The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God"(45).

Okay, so here's what I thought about this passage regarding the cosmos:

The "They" in verse 44 represents us, God's children, and the "light" we give to each other is our service, our friendship and love, the gospel...you know, all that good wholesome stuff that light represents.  So 44 says that we brighten each other at various times throughout our lives.  In 45, it says all of us (we are the earth, sun, moon, stars) are going about our lives (the rolling of the earth is the turning of the earth, and that's what the earth does, it turns.  what we do is live our lives), and as we go about our lives, we give light at different points of time for each other.

Or another way to interpret it along the same lines: the earth doesn't really shine, so imagine you are the earth, and there are all these different factors of the gospel that are continually present, but for some reason, specific parts of the gospel seem to shine brighter at certain points in your life.

Either way, I think there's more to these scriptures than just the shallow interpretation that the sun, moon, and stars shine at different times.  I see a lot of symbolism there regarding the light we give and receive.  I'm sure there's even more, but I don't want to make this any longer.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

Doctrine and Covenants 82 is a great chapter.  I knew it was going to be a great read from the very first verse:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you."

How many times have I read this verse and heard this verse in Church?!  Right, a lot.  But this time for some reason, something completely jumped off of the page and bit me in the nose.  Lately I've been thinking about how we are our own worst critics, how we forgive our family and friends so much more easily than we forgive ourselves.  But lo and behold!  This verse offers comfort!

I've always heard this verse interpreted as we must forgive each other in order to be forgiven.  Today, I interpret it a different way.  I see that even as I readily forgive my family and friends, and even strangers, the Lord readily forgives me.

That doesn't mean he'll forgive me just like that (you didn't see it, but I just snapped my fingers on the word "that").  At the beginning of this verse, the Lord addresses His servants.  That means this applies to people who are striving to live in accordance to the Lord's will, the people who try to obey the word of God.  So yeah, you have to put forth some effort in order to change (by the power of the Atonement in order) to be forgiven, but the Lord is willing to forgive you, even as you are willing to forgive a family member or a friend who has done something wrong, feels bad, and who wants to fix it.  When you know they are sorry for what they have done, isn't it natural to forgive those who you love?  The Lord loves us, and He forgives us our trespasses.  Believe this.  It's an important concept to grasp, or He wouldn't say "verily" twice in this verse.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

Let me quote Proverbs 29:7 before I say what I thought about it.  It's a short one, but it says more than what its length implies:

"The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it."

I'm looking at one word: cause.  The righteous are considering the reason people are poor.  Once the righteous identify the cause, they can eliminate the effect, they can make the poor people not poor anymore.  We can't just give people fish, we have to teach them how to fish, and if they already know how to fish, we then don't you think we should give them a rod?  They can figure the rest out from there.  I believe in helping the poor not just by giving to them, but by helping them become self-sufficient, self-dependent.

The wicked don't look for the cause of poverty.  If they aren't stirred by the Lord's words in Matthew 25, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me," then maybe they should continue reading the chapter to discover another verse: "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me"(v 40, 45, italics added). Personally, I'd be more worried about what I didn't do to the Lord rather than feel content about what I have done for the Lord.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

Another late night post...I need to change this pattern rather quickly here...

I read half of D&C 76 tonight.  Verse 29 says that Satan makes "war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about."

It was a reminder that we are in a war and that we are surrounded by an enemy that is both visible and camouflaged.  If I were a general in an army, and I saw that I was surrounded by legions that outnumbered my army as far as and farther than the eye could see, I would not give up, but I would not delude myself into thinking I would survive the battle.  It would take a miracle.

Luckily, we live in a miraculous period of time, the miracle simply being that we were born where we can receive the Gospel and all the blessings that come with it.  We cannot fight this war alone, and even with the support of other members of the Church, we cannot fight this war alone.  But we are blessed enough to be part of this Church and to know that we have the support of our Father, His Son, the Holy Ghost, and the armies of Heaven, which are about two thirds as large as the forces of Satan.  We are as the army of Helaman.  We are the Lord's Warriors.  The only way we can lose is if we disobey orders, or disobey commandments.  So prepare your armor, ready your sword, and start fighting, for yourself and all the ones you hold dear.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

In D&C 69:8, John Whitmer is told to preach, expound, write, copy, select, and obtain "all things which shall be for the good of the church, and for the rising generations that shall grow up on the land of Zion, to possess it from generation to generation, forever and ever."


If anyone can help me with this reference, I remember a conference talk wherein some Elder of the church told a great story (maybe it was about a goat stuck on a very steep cliff face?) and in his mind, he related it to the gospel. After he thought this, a still small voice told him to write it down. He was told, more or less, that "I do not give you these things solely for your own good," which meant that his spiritual experiences were to be shared, that his eyes had been opened to receive spiritual lessons not just so that he could learn from them, but also so that others could learn from them. This inspired un-named Elder to write down his spiritual experiences more often.

I've been trying to write down my spiritual experiences ever since I heard that conference talk, and it is surprising--once I made an effort to try to write those things down, I realized that there were more to write than I expected. One of my friends told me something about journaling that I've used to help me not feel overwhelmed with how many things I have to write down. She said that if you start journaling, start with today. You will never be able to catch up if you tell all of your past experiences first, and a lot of the time, that's what keeps people from writing. They feel overwhelmed and they become discouraged, so they just don't record anything. But if you start with today, then I promise there will be days when you don't have anything to say, so you can flashback to one or two previous experiences that you remember.

I just think it is important to write down what you can when you can so that others can benefit from your experiences, because sometimes, others benefit more from our experiences than we do ourselves.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

I hear time and time again in the Church to forgive one another that we may be forgive, to forgive all men, to let God judge others for their sins.  I was reading D&C 64 today, and verse 8 jumped off the page and danced a bit for me, kind of shoving itself in my face:

"My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened."

Hi, my name is Brittany, and I'm not an alcoholic, but I do have a problem with something.  I forgive people out loud, in action, and in every outward manifestation there is possible.  But there are some people who I have not forgiven in my heart.  Is there anyone else in my support group?  Does anyone else have this problem?  I know there is.  I know it because acting out forgiveness is easy, but total forgiveness can be hard to offer.

But I know it's possible, or we wouldn't be commanded to do it.  As Nephi was sure that the Lord would provide a way for him to complete the commandments He had given, I'm sure that the Lord has, does, and always will provide a way for me to forgive others AND to forgive myself. That doesn't mean I know how to forgive in my heart yet, but I know that as long as I try and I don't give up, it is possible as long as I have patience and trust in the Lord and myself to overcome my injustices.

Because the second half of D&C 64:8 is true.  The unforgiving heart will always be afflicted with sorrow, anger, hatred, animosity...the list goes on.  And maybe I won't be chastised for an unforgiving heart in this life, but come judgment, I'll be chastised and it will not make it easy for me to be forgiven my sins.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

I was reading D&C 63 today, and I want to share my thoughts on one verse in particular: D&C 63:61.

"Wherefore, let all men beware how they take my name in their lips--"

This is the Savior speaking, and it reminded me of how often I hear His name taken in vain every day.  On campus, in movies, at grocery stores...it's happening everywhere, and I wish I could just shake people and say to stop it, because they apparently don't know what they are doing.  If they knew, if they truly understood, I doubt they would continue using His name so easily as they do.  And there are far too many people and far too many lips using His name inappropriately.

I remember a story (maybe I read it in an email...my citations are clear for this story) in which an old man with terrible wounds was rushed into a hospital (let's say he jumped in front of a bus to save a girl--heroic and deadly) and it didn't look like he'd make it through the night, and as one of the men on the ER staff is rushing beside the gurney, the ER guy lets out this profanity.  The old man grabs his arm and says softly to the ER man, "Why do you take my Lord's name in vain?  He is so precious to me," (or he says something to that effect).  The ER man was taken aback.  It wasn't something he thought about as profanity, and it wasn't something he really cared about because he wasn't Christian, but the old man was so distressed by this that he gained a new respect for things sacred to other people.  The ER man said, "I'm sorry."

I didn't give the story justice, so just trust me that it was really heart-touching when I heard it.  I don't have a problem with taking the Lord's name in vain, but I hope that I can build the tact and courage it would take to stand up and say something to those people who do have a problem with it.

Choose to Cleave
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

Has anyone wondered the difference between might and strength?  I have.  Today D&C 4:2 has been going through my head, and it's come up in lots of places throughout my life.  "...serve Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength..."

I know that this verse is mainly concerned with missionary work, but I can still serve Him even though I'm not a missionary.  So I'd like to follow this scripture, but it's hard to follow scriptures when you don't completely understand them.  I don't want to serve Him with double strength and no might (or vice versa) because I think might is the same thing as strength.

Luckily, my friend-roommate had an answer for me.  She said that strength is your ability and that might is your will.  She also said that you can substitute "heart" with emotionally (and desire), "mind" with mentally, "strength" with physically, and "might" with spiritually (and will).

I remember one of my wards was very service oriented.  That ward worked so hard to serve the Lord and others around them that one of the Bishop's counselors compared the ward's strength to an ant.  I'm pretty sure ants focus all of their entire being on their job.  They are determined creatures, they are strong, and I'm always amazed when I see one of them carrying anything, even if what they're carrying seems pointless to me, like a leaf.  Maybe the ant thinks it's pointless to carry the leaf, too.  But it trusts its instincts.  It trusts that it's headed in the right direction and that the leaf will benefit the rest of its colony.  I should be more like that ant.

Choose to Cleave.
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving

I know this post is late in the day (or early in the morning), but at least I'm doing it.  I really thought about just going to bed, but I'm keeping this promise to myself tonight.  I'm posting every day that I possibly can (and I count a day as a measure of the time period that I am awake).

But I'm still keeping this short, because I really am tired.

Today I read a scripture that reminded me of a random Liahona article I read on Sunday.  Doctrine & Covenants 59:6--"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it."

The article was on abortion, how even if a mother doesn't perceive that she is actually killing the baby, abortion is like unto killing, which we have been commanded not to do.  The article was by Elder Russell M. Nelson, and he explained some rare cases when abortion could be acceptable, such as when the mother's health is threatened, physically or mentally (mentally as in she was a victim of rape/incest and she would not be able to mentally cope, and this must be verified by a proper professional).  Click here if you would like to read it (in English).  It's called "Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless."  I know several people who wouldn't agree with this article, but I agree with it.  I don't know what more to say than Elder Nelson said in this article.  It touches all of the reasons that I cannot support abortion.

Choose to Cleave
*Read my first post, "Preface," for more information about Cleaving