HOW TO BE SPIRITUALLY HEALED
This is from a talk given by Boyd K. Packer entitled, Strengthening the Less Active on 19 Feb 1969 and then reprinted in the Feb 2011 Ensign. Only a very small part of that talk is included here.
“Activity – the opportunity to serve and bear testimony is like a medicine. It will heal the spiritually sick. It will strengthen the spiritually weak. It is a most necessary ingredient in the redemption of the lost sheep. Yet there is a tendency, almost a programmed tendency, to give opportunities for growth to those who are already over-surfeited (over burdened) with activity…
(At a stake conference of the Church, where Elder Packer presided) an elderly woman sat on the front row, holding hands with a weathered-looking man. She looked a bit out of place in the fashionably dressed congregation – rather homespun by comparison. She looked as if she ought to talk in conference and given the privilege, she reported her mission. Fifty-two years before, she had returned from the mission field and since then she had never been invited to speak in church. It was a touching and moving witness that she bore.
Others were called upon to speak and near the close of the meeting, the (stake) president suggested that I take the remainder of the time. ‘Have you had any inspiration?’ I asked. He said that he kept thinking of the mayor. (The voters in that large city had elected a member of the Church to be mayor and he was in attendance.)
When I told him we could have a greeting from the mayor, he whispered that the man was not active in the Church.
When I suggested that he call upon him anyway, he resisted, saying flatly that he was not worthy to speak in that meeting. At my insistence, however, he called the man to the stand…
(The mayor) came to the pulpit and spoke, to my surprise, with bitterness and with hostility. His talk began something like this: ‘I don’t know why you called on me. I don’t know why I am in church today. I don’t belong in church. I have never fit in. I don’t agree with the way the Church does things.’
I confess that I began to worry, but he then paused and lowered his eyes to the pulpit. From then until his talk was over, he did not look up. After hesitating, he continued: ‘I guess I just as well tell you. I quit smoking six weeks ago.’ Then, shaking his fist in a gesture over his head towards the congregation, he said, ‘If any of you think that’s easy, you have never suffered the hell I have suffered in the last few weeks.’
Then he just melted. ‘I know the gospel is true,’ he said. ‘I’ve always known it was true. I learned that from my mother as a boy. I know the Church isn’t out of order, he confessed. It’s me that’s out of order and I’ve always known that too.’
Then he spoke perhaps for all of the lost sheep when he pleaded: ‘I know it’s me that is wrong and I want to come back. I have been trying to come back, but you won’t let me!’
Of course we would let him come back, but somehow we hadn’t let him know that. After the meeting the congregation flooded up – not to us but to him to say, ‘Welcome home!’…
When a toddler is playing near the road, we steer carefully around him. Few will stop and see him to safety and, if necessary, discipline him. That is, unless it is our own child or grandchild. If we love them enough, we will do it.
To withhold discipline when it would contribute to spiritual growth is evidence of lack of love and concern. Spiritual discipline framed in love and confirmed with testimony will help redeem souls.”
ETERNAL PROGRESS
(By Dr. David J. Ridges BYU Educator and author of The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part Two, page 187)
“Some members of the Church have the mistaken notion that eternal progress applies to all people in the hereafter. This can lead to some serious and damaging false doctrine, for instance, that no matter which kingdom of glory (telestial, terrestrial or celestial) you end up in on final Judgment Day, you will eventually progress until you have reached the highest level, that of exaltation in celestial glory. This is false doctrine. The fact is, ‘eternal progression’ applies only to those who become gods, who are exalted in the family unit in the highest degree in celestial glory. All others have eternal limits placed on their ability and privilege to progress.”
Dr. Ridges tells us of three scriptures that help point this out:
First, D&C 131:1-4
1. In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2. And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3. And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
Two, D&C 29:29
29. And now, behold, I say unto you, never at any time have I declared from mine own mouth that they should return, for where I am they cannot come, for they have no power.
And lastly, D&C 76:112
112. And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.
We are blessed to have the King James Version (KJV) of the scriptures available to us and doubly blessed to have the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the scriptures, which illustrates even more. Below is an example of how the JST brings added insight.
Matthew 7:4-17 (KJV)
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15.Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matthew 7:4-17 (JST)
4. And again, ye shall say unto them, Why is it that thou beholdest the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
5. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and canst not behold a beam in thine own eye?
6. And Jesus said unto his disciples, Beholdest thou the Scribes, and the Pharisees, and the Priests, and the Levites? They teach in their synagogues, but do not observe the law, nor the commandments; and all have gone out of the way, and are under sin.
7. Go thou and say unto them, Why teach ye men the law and the commandments, when ye yourselves are the children of corruption?
8. Say unto them, Ye hypocrites, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
9. Go ye into the world, saying unto all, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come nigh unto you.
10. And the mysteries of the kingdom ye shall keep within yourselves; for it is not meet to give that which is holy unto the dogs; neither cast ye your pearls unto swine, lest they trample them under their feet.
11. For the world cannot receive that which ye, yourselves, are not able to bear; wherefore ye shall not give your pearls unto them, lest they turn again and rend you.
12. Say unto them, Ask of God; ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
13. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
14. And then said his disciples unto him, they will say unto us, We ourselves are righteous, and need not that any man should teach us. God, we know, heard Moses and some of the prophets; but us he will not hear.
15. And they will say, We have the law for our salvation, and that is sufficient for us.
16. Then Jesus answered, and said unto his disciples, thus shall ye say unto them,
17. What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine?
TRUDGING THRU THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
Have you ever tried to get thru the Book of Isaiah? There is so much symbolism and puzzling jargon that the natural man in me says I’d just as soon have a root canal. There have been many scholars who have written commentaries about it, but even many of them admit that parts of it are still challenging. Educators tell us that the best commentary on scripture is scripture.
Second Nephi 12, footnote 2a, page 81 of the Book of Mormon informs us:
“Comparison with the King James Bible in English shows that there are differences in more than half of the 433 verses of Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon, while about 200 verses have the same wording as the KJV.” The Book of Mormon contains about 35% of the Book of Isaiah’s 66 chapters, found in the Bible. Since this is so, we should be able to understand at least some of the passages because the Savior tells us in 3 Nephi 23:1 that:
And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. Further the LDS Bible Dictionary tells us that:
“Isaiah means The Lord is salvation. He was the son of Amoz and a prophet in Jerusalem during 40 years, 740–701 B.C. He had great religious and political influence during the reign of Hezekiah, whose chief advisor he was. (This probably made Isaiah an aristocrat). Tradition states that he was “sawn asunder” during the reign of Manasseh; for that reason he is often represented in art holding a saw.
Isaiah is the most quoted of all the prophets, being more frequently quoted by Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John (in his Revelation) than any other O.T. prophet. Likewise the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants quote from Isaiah more than from any other prophet.
The writings of Isaiah deal with events of his day as well as events beyond his time, some of which have already come to pass and others are yet to be.
A major difficulty in understanding the book of Isaiah is his extensive use of symbolism, as well as his prophetic foresight and literary style; these take many local themes (which begin in his own day) and extend them to a latter-day fulfillment or application. Consequently, some prophecies are probably fulfilled more than one time and/or have more than one application.
The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.
As one understands these works better he will understand Isaiah better, and as one understands Isaiah better, he more fully comprehends the mission of the Savior, and the meaning of the covenant that was placed upon Abraham and his seed by which all the families of the earth would be blessed.”
How about some examples of how the Book of Mormon helps us understand the Book of Isaiah? Let’s look at Isaiah 2:9, page 864:
9. And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
The footnote on the word “mean,” which we might think means less than friendly, actually means ordinary man.
If an ordinary man bowed down and a great man humbled himself, to me, that implies repentance, why wouldn’t they be forgiven?
If we check the equivalent translation in 2nd Nephi 12:9 it reads:
9. And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not.
Now that makes sense. No humbling, no forgiveness.
Then Isaiah 6:9 reads:
9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. (Hear, but don’t understand; see but don’t perceive)?
Compare that with 2nd Nephi 16:9
9. And he said: Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not. (That looks like a big change from above).
Isaiah 13:3 says:
3. I have commanded my sanctified ones; I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. (Isaiah is hard enough without a statement like this that makes no sense).
Compare with 2nd Nephi 23:3 that mentions:
3. I have commanded my sanctified ones; I have also called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness. (much better)
These are just three tiny examples of how the Book of 2nd Nephi helps us understand the Book of Isaiah. There are so many more. Since the Savior has given us a commandment to search these things diligently, by reading this, you have completed another step in that direction.
ONE ETERNAL ROUND
From Alma 7:20 we read, concerning God:
I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one eternal round.
The phrase “one eternal round” above, can have many definitions. The one which seems to fit here is that the same plan of salvation, including faith, repentance, baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, working in harmony with the Atonement of Christ, will bring anyone, anywhere, any time, who follows the laws of God, back into the presence of God to live with Him eternally.
Thus, in effect, we come from God (from premortality, to earth and then “full circle” back to Him, if we follow the gospel.) (Bishop, Stake President, Patriarch, BYU Education Week Instructor and author Dr. David J. Ridges in his book, The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part 2, page 177)
