the work shall commence

3 Nephi 21 is interesting because the whole chapter consists of the Savior talking about the last days, namely, the Book of Mormon. So meta!

I love it though because he explains why it shows up, when it will show up, and what it means when it finally shows up.

 7 And when these things come to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things—it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel.

I've always been confused by the use of the word 'gentile' in the scriptures. I always took it to mean 'people who were not descended from Abraham/Isaac/Jacob', meaning, like, those who were currently on the Earth: Romans, Greeks, Celts, those living in Asia and Africa, etc. There were TONS of people who would not be included in the Abrahamic covenant and whom the Lord would 'adopt' into the covenant should they accept His gospel.

But, I figured, after literally thousands of years and lots of war and plunder and 'scatter', that those descendants would become pretty spread out across the globe. They wouldn't be concentrated in the Middle East any more, but Europe, Africa, etc. Especially considering Lehi's group and the offshoots that ended up in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. I guess I thought that it would be kind of hard to find a true blue pure-blooded gentile any more.

But in this chapter, the Lord talks as if everyone not of Lehi's/Zoram/Ishmael's descent is a gentile...meaning....European settlers and EVERYONE else who shows up. I guess I get that. It's more of an 'us vs. them' feeling that works for the point he's making.

12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

 13 Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.

I suppose it doesn't matter what your lineage is. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is open to everyone. The promises of that covenant are available to all who accept and are baptized.

 24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.

 25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.

 26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.

 27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.

 28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.

 One of these days I'll get to ask God about that covenant. Why Abraham? Why that particular people? I'm just curious.

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that ye might feel and see

Reading 3 Nephi is probably one of the coolest things to do with my time. EVER. I haven't read it in a very very long time (except for the yearly run through the first few chapters around Christmas time) and I'm almost grateful for that. It's making this time through a thrilling and almost new experience.

A few verses from today that I just wanted to grab and remember for later...

From chapter 18:

 18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

 19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

 There's another verse that says something very similar which I've had in my mind lately as well. From D&C 10:5 (which is also Christ speaking):

 5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

 6 Behold, they have sought to destroy you...

I remember learning that last one in seminary and coming up with an interpretive dance to help us remember it. It worked.

The concept of being protected from temptation is...kind of new. To me at least. I lead a sheltered, awkward girl life. There hasn't been a lot of temptation to speak of in my life. My teen years were spent with boys who thought I was too tall and the drama geek set who all came out of the closet at once and never did drugs. It was pretty...low key. It wasn't until I became an adult with means and TIME and a place of my own that I understood how susceptible I am to temptation. The opportunity to be protected from it became something that I actively had to seek out. And I can say truthfully that prayer is the key. Actually, I believe that the Holy Spirit is the key. He's the protector. But I have to seek him out, show him that I'm willing to try. And then He'll come. It might sound nuts, but I've definitely felt the difference between days I tried (prayed) and days I didn't.

-*-*-
 And some more from chapter 18 of 3 Nephi (emphasis mine):

22 And behold, ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not;

 23 But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name.

 24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.

 25 And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.

I loved that phrase so much. "That ye might feel and see." He'll never tell us to go away. He wants us. All of us. Imperfect, sinning, repeat offending, mean, sad US. None of us should 'go away'. These verses are important to my heart and soul right now.

"Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up..." Gosh. It's so true. When we focus on anything but the Savior, His example, and our own relationship with Him, it's kind of...pointless. We end up going round and round. We end up in the self-congratulatory rut of .... all the other stuff we could 'hold up' as a light. Instead of Him. My testimony of Him, His work, His life, and His sacrifice is the light I need to hold aloft. I am a bit of a coward, so I will work on that.

-*-*-
 Today's a hard day for a lot of folks. My heart is rather achy in general about everything. I'm grateful that these words were in my reading today when I really needed them. From chapter 18 (emphasis mine):

29 For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.

 30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.

 31 But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.

 32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

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More or less than this

More from 3 Nephi 11. There's nothing really to expound. It's the Savior talking and He puts it all out there in no uncertain terms:

 28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.

 29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

 30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

 31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.

 32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

 33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.

 35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

 36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

 37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

 38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

 39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

 40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

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they came from the sky

This is an excerpt from the book I'm reading right now - Columbus by Laurence Bergreen. This is less than a week after his first landfall during his first voyage to the New World in October of 1492. He really did think he was in Asia. In this particular passage, they are actually in Cuba. (I'm a tiny bit obsessed with maritime things and I'm on an explorers kick right now. First was Magellan, then Shackleton, and now Columbus.)

Anyway, I read this passage last night, took this picture of it, and texted it to my sister:

 You might guess to what we are referring...

If you can't guess, then I'll make it easy and tell you that today I happened to land on 3 Nephi 11 in my Book of Mormon reading, also known as one of the most revered passages of scripture recording the life and works of the Savior, Jesus Christ. 3 Nephi 11 was (maybe still is) the main passage we as missionaries would mark (along with Moroni 10) when giving copies of the BoM to investigators. It records the beginnings of Christ's visit to the people who lived on the American continent, soon after his crucifixion and resurrection.

The fact that I read these two different passages from two different books, one within 24 hours of the other kind of startled me. Reading them almost side by side is pretty amazing (notice that passages from Columbus in quotations are passages from the journals of the men on the voyage. Firsthand.) Think what you will about Columbus as a man (oh yeah, there's some fodder for discussion there) but it has to be said: Dude kept good records!

And now, a few choice passages that I decided to pair together:

From the Book of Mormon:

 8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

From Columbus:

They were pleased to report that the inhabitants "touched them and kissed their hands and feet, marveling and believing that they came from the sky."

 From the Book of Mormon:

 12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

From Columbus:

[de Xerez and de Torres]  were offered chairs, while their hosts squatted at their feet, as one of their Indian companions explained to the throng that as Christians, their visitors "were good people." A respectful frenzy ensued.

From The Book of Mormon:

 15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

 16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

 17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him

 From Columbus:

"The men went out and the women entered, and squatted in the same fashion around them, kissing their hands and feet, feeling them to ascertain if they were of flesh and bones like themselves; begging them to stay at least five days." 

And this last passage reminded me of another verse in the Book of Mormon. Though not from chapter 11, it occurred during the Savior's visit in chapter 17:

1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand.

 5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

No I know that these 15th century explorer accounts are translated to English from Castilian Spanish, so I don't put to much stock in the similarity of the phrasing...But wow! The similarity of the phrasing is rather striking, is it not?  :)

These two explorers had been instructed by Columbus to "find the Island's king" and they had six days. The men traveled pretty far inland before running onto this large village in which the quoted encounter took place. I imagine the villagers were rather shocked to see an outsider...and the way they treated the outsiders is telling.

We know that between the coming of Christ in 33 (ish) A.D. and the coming of the European explorers in 1492, the people on the American continents went through war and the obliteration of one entire civilization. Those who were left had plenty of stories to tell, to pass on to their children over the next 1500 or so years.

I am no scholar. These little comparisons I make are just for fun, but they do make me think. If I were one of a people ravaged by decades of war and bloodshed, I might want to keep that sliver of bright hope in my mind and the minds of my posterity... as clearly as possible. I might want to remind them of this visit to our land from a great and wonderful man who came from the sky. I might try really hard to pass that on...

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The Ordain Women Peanut Gallery Redux

When I eventually kick the bucket, I wouldn't be at all surprised if my tombstone read:

Here lies Cecily. She made so many lists.

And here's another one!

This one is mostly for me and serves as a round up of some of my favorite blog posts/articles on the recent developments in the Ordain Women movement and disciplinary action as taken by the LDS church. I am not as educated, smart, or word-brilliant as some of these cool bloggers, but I want to keep their logic close at hand in case I ever need to reference it.

Honestly, I am not debating these issues ANYWHERE and I plan to keep it that way. This list is just for my own perusal and reminding as well as anyone else that may want to have a bunch of stuff all in one place.


It’s Not About Questions—and it is
by Rachael (There is no other info about her on the site which is rather maddening)

In the recent Trib interview with John Dehlin and Kate Kelly, Dehlin argued that the situation signals the Church is “trying to stem the tide of Mormons asking hard questions and struggling”; in Kelly’s interpretation, she stated that “at this point, it’s [about] the interpretation of what apostasy is, and to me, having a question and asking it publicly is not apostasy.”

I disagree with this assessment; not only do I disagree, but I think that casting their situations in this light— that they are being punished for having and vocalizing questions— may perpetuate a harmful and erroneous interpretation that could make members with questions feel needlessly at risk, and could give members or leaders uncomfortable with questions a trump card to draw on (see last paragraph in link]. That result— the reversal of the more welcoming and open Mormon culture of recent years— is one that gives many people a legitimate feeling of anxiety or deep discouragement.

This may seem like strictly semantics, but the author makes a great case for why semantics are important in this situation. This post is also full of links to lots of other posts and info that has been made public by OW and it's leaders.


How the Conversation About Women Can Go On 
by Neylan McBaine

What is it specifically about her tactics that separated her participation in the conversation from those many others of us who also care about women in the church? I believe the answer comes from understanding that our prophet and apostles take very seriously their calling to keep our doctrine pure. The scriptures are rife with examples of what happens to communities when they do not have checks in place to keep their belief systems from modulating in different directions. In one extreme example from the Book of Mormon, the Zoramites, who had once honored the Nephite truth, went so far as to pray on the Rameumpton. Having a centralized body responsible for keeping doctrine pure is at the very heart of what makes us different from so many other denominations today and why saying we have a living prophet on the earth actually means something. Trying to change that doctrine and recruit others to a vision of changed doctrine goes against one of institution’s central purposes.

I did not think that Ordain Women tried to change doctrine or recruit others to that changed doctrine when it staged its actions during the priesthood sessions of general conference. As much as I was uncomfortable with the action, I did not see them usurping the right of the apostles to teach truth to the members of the Church. They were just asking, trusting in our beloved principle of continuing revelation. However, it was on May 15, 2014, that I believe the tide changed for Ordain Women and for Kelly specifically. It was on that day, the 185^th anniversary of the Priesthood restoration, that Ordain Women launched a series of six discussions on the topic of women’s ordination with the stated purpose of effecting “change through faithful agitation.” Readers were encouraged to form discussion groups and use the six discussion packets to lead conversations about the symptoms of patriarchy, the history of the priesthood, the power of revelation, and more.

I LOVED this one. It had a lot more info about the nitty gritty with a really logical analysis that made sense to me.

Changing the church: How Ordain Women gets it wrong
by Ashley Isaacson Woolley

I have neither the divine calling nor the necessary perspective to resolve complicated doctrinal issues for the church. Intellectual discussion and questioning of doctrine is the privilege of all members. But to claim that my own interpretation is right for the whole church is beyond the scope of my authority. That is, I believe, what prophets are for.

This one is a bit more...blunt and obviously on the opposing side of OW. But she gets her point across without wasting any words and I admire that.

Hopefully adding to this list soon.....

Update 6/20/2014:

LDS Church responds to concerns over member questions
by Jessica Moody as posted on Deseret News

The scriptures are full of examples of how to receive answers to our questions — to find truth and align our will with God's — and that process includes studying, praying, learning and discussing Church doctrines. Millions of people do this throughout their lives. How and why one asks is as important as the questions we're asking. What causes concern for Church leaders is when personal motivations drive those conversations beyond discussion, and a person or group begins recruiting others to insist on changes in Church doctrines or structure. When it goes so far as creating organized groups, staging public events to further a cause or creating literature for members to share in their local congregations, the Church has to protect the integrity of its doctrine as well as other members from being misled. 

Update 6/21/2014:

 Ordain Women is not the answer on Mormon women’s equality
by Ashley Isaacson Woolley

As an LDS woman who welcomes efforts to address women’s concerns in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I find Ordain Women counterproductive. Whatever its original intent, it ironically demeans Mormon women as well as men and hinders progress on women’s issues.
One example is Ordain Women's upcoming “Sisters in Silence” candlelight vigils, staged outside LDS meetinghouses, at which Ordain Women instructs individuals to repeat phrases like, “For my sisters who have no voice in the church, I will not be silent.”

I am not voiceless in the LDS Church, I do not need them to speak for me, and I personally find demeaning the implication that Mormon women are oppressed and cowardly if they do not share Ordain Women’s views or choose to deal with concerns by other means. Ordain Women also invites a caricature of Mormon men and leaders as sexist and oppressive, or as their founder put it, “cowardly and un-Christlike.” Even if many supporters of Ordain Women understand and respect their fellow Mormons, the national media whose spotlight they have sought does not, and draws an inaccurate and unfavorable picture.

Dang. She doesn't mince words at ALL. I admire her for putting so succinctly into words how I feel about this whole issue. Her last phrase is a gem, too: "I have no opinion about whether anyone should be disciplined and find it unproductive and uncharitable to speculate." BAM. Go girl.

How LDS Church disciplinary councils work, change lives
by Tad Walch

"We are not dishing out punishment," he said. "The goal is to help, love, aid and bring them to Christ so they can be a disciple again, to help them take full advantage of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."

 This is a great piece mostly because the author reiterates at least 5 times that these councils are not public unless the person involved chooses it to be so. I have never been involved in a disciplinary council myself, but I have dear friends who have. I've been blessed to hear about some of those councils and feel the relief and rest on behalf of my friend as he/she felt the love and care from those priesthood leaders. The truth is, it's kind of like a librarian who will forgive your fines because she just wants her overdue books back. Christ just wants the people back.

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I do not know the meaning of all things

I'll admit it. I've shed some tears this week about the public issues going on in the LDS church right now. It's mostly Facebook that makes me cry as I see the posts of 'evidence', debate, and get that awful feeling of impending loss that I dread. I've considered deleting the FB app from my phone so I'm less ... immersed in it. I'm trying to decide if that's the cowardly reaction. The jury is still out. (Less Facebook is never a bad idea though, right?)

My tears come when I think of the rancor and contention that's present right now. I mean, I guess it's always been present, right? The internet has made that even easier than it used to be. It may be that I'm just more aware of it at this point.

The issues at hand actually have something to do with me. I'm a member of the church. I'm a woman. I don't currently hold the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ on the Earth. I'm unmarried and therefore don't even have 'in house' access to someone who DOES have that authority. And I'm ok with all of that. I have been my whole life. This is my story. 

What I've come to accept this week as I entertained tiring thoughts of digging around and 'getting to the bottom' of all of this, is that I'll never know any one else's story but my own. I can't possibly know the hearts and true motives of people I've never met. I'll never know anything about their personal history or individual relationships with God. And now I finally understand that I don't need to know all that. The only story that matters to me is mine. I own it and I feel the need to tell a little bit of it here, just to ease my heart and 'anchor my soul' a bit.

My story centers around my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As I prayed this morning I weepily said to Heavenly Father "I know you're there. It's you and it's me." And I knew in my heart (again) that I was right.

I believe in God as a loving Father who sent His Son Jesus Christ to die and pay my eternal spiritual debt. To me, this truth is absolute. I've felt His love for me and my family. I've had overwhelming  glimpses of the deep love He has for my fellow men and women on this Earth. He's kept promises. He protects and comforts my soul. He's honored His end of all the covenants I've made with Him over the years. These things are true and real. I cannot deny them.

Here's where it gets a bit less calm as I continue to think and pray about these things with a fervency I never really have before. And it has come to pass that I still believe that God and Jesus Christ visited Joseph Smith in a grove of trees in 1820. I still believe that Joseph Smith subsequently translated a previously unknown book of ancient scripture. And, as a result, I still believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored version of the original church that Jesus Christ organized while He was here on the Earth 2000 years ago. These parts of my belief story might be the 'crazy' ones....parts that make Mormons the butt of a lot of jokes...parts that have probably worn out the eye-rolling muscles of many people over time. I totally get that.

However, to me, this testimony of mine is all I personally need to close the door on any other worries and stresses that might come up about the church, the brethren, or anything else. This testimony is what I need to remember when I feel sad and cry over all the angst and contention happening amongst friends and loved ones. Oddly enough, in a church that is centered on service to others, my own heart is really all that matters when it's time to make choices.

The bottom line is this: The organization of the church, including its leaders, members, policies and teachings, come part and parcel with these beliefs I hold so dearly. I can't really separate them, even when there may exist flaws or perceived contradictions. 

Honestly, I've got my own list of head-scratching dilemmas which come with being a single, 35-year-old, professional woman in this church. I think about them. I pray about them. They're not all resolved by any means, but when I think back on the foundation of my faith, the reasons for all my choices in life (see above), I know that it's ok. These questions don't change the true and unchangeable parts of my story.

The next step is clear: How can I reconcile a testimony of the gospel with things I may perceive to be wrong or unfair about it (or about the church)?

I dearly love the scripture found in 1 Nephi 11 when Nephi utters the words that have become my recent mantra of truth: "I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."

I also love the passage in Mosiah 4, in which King Benjamin urges his people to "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." (emphasis mine)

Those scriptures are on my mind a lot lately and they bring me soul-healing peace. It may seem strange that I take such comfort in the admission that I really don't know much about anything at all, but I think that's one of the best parts about this Gospel! We live in a tragic, unfair world and my belief in an omnipotent God relieves me of so much grief and stress. He is bound to be eternally fair to us when all is said and done. He knows more than all of us about how, what, and when things should happen for our good and the good of the church. My trust in His love for us and in His all-knowing timing soothes my soul. It is this trust that allows me to have hope and joy here in this life. 

Don't think I'm not aware that what I refer to as 'trust' others may refer to as 'blind faith'. I know there are many who view me and others like me as brainwashed followers of a bunch of old white dudes in suits. I guess I get that. But those folks don't really know my story (just like I don't know theirs.)

My story is so much simpler than that: I am a follower of Jesus Christ and I follow Him in the best way I know how. I cannot claim to know otherwise about anyone else.

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