Faith without works is dead {James 2}

I remember having a deep conversation with a Christian friend in High School about faith and works. He didn't like our emphasis on works and I didn't like their lack of emphasis on it. However, I came out of that conversation a bit more understanding of where he was coming from. Grace and works. They are equally important. One is not better than the other. We can not emphasize one without the other. Even though we work our hardest, we still fall short. On the other hand , we are told to not only be "hearers", but "doers" of the word.

The Mormon.org website describes grace as the following:

The prophet Joseph Smith taught ‘Therefore ye are justified of faith and works, through grace...’ (see JST Romans 4:16). The Book of Mormon teaches ‘For we labor diligently to write to persuade our children, and also our brethren to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace we are saved after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23). The Book of Mormon adds ‘all that we could do [was to] repent of all our sins’ (Alma 24:11). A Book of Mormon prophet named Lehi taught, ‘There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah’ (2 Nephi 2:8).

We need to exercise faith in God's grace. It is through faith in Him that we return to live with him again. However , in our mission to become perfected through him, we have to put in some work. We cannot grow if we sit idly by on the sidelines. We jump in the journey and pedal the best we can. We have to show we have a desire. (Matthew 7:21)

Works of Righteousness {Paul To the Hebrews, Chapter 13}

1. Remember strangers and those that are in bonds. (v. 2-3)
2. Marriage is honorable. (v. 4)
3. The Lord will never leave or forsake us, so we should be content and not covetous. (v. 5)
4. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (v. 8)
5. We are sanctified through Jesus Christ's blood. (v. 12)
6. Joyfully obey those that rule over us who have spoken the word of God.  (v. 17)
7. Pray for our leaders [Paul]. (v. 18)

Greater than the Angels - Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews

When Paul returned to Jerusalem, he found thousands of Jewish converts still practicing the Law of Moses. His purpose in writing to the Hebrews was to help the new Jewish converts understand  that the Law of Moses has been fulfilled and that Jesus Christ has replaced it with a higher law and that they should no longer practice this law. 

Jesus Christ is greater than....
*the angels..they are His servants
*Moses. Moses was a faithful servant, Jesus was his Son.
*Prophets. God speaks through prophets, but Jesus Christ is the heir, the creator, and the exact image of the Father.
*High Priests of the Law of Moses - he was a High Priest of Melchizedek. 
*The tabernacle service and traveling of Israel out of Egypt is symbolic of Him.  Bible Dictionary: "The tabernacle service was symbolic (or a shadow) of the real events: (a) The high priest under the law went through the veil into the Holy of Holies; but Jesus, the great high priest, has gone into heaven itself  (b) The traveling of Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness, crossing over the Jordan River into the promised land, is similar to a man forsaking the worldly things, going through the wilderness of temptation, and finally passing through the veil of death into the celestial kingdom (D&C 84:21–24; see also Alma 37:38–45).

Hebrews 1: He made the worlds. He is the first begotten son. He is the appointed heir of all things. 

Hebrews 2: Our Salvation is made perfect through his sufferings. He suffered temptation so that he may succor us during our temptation. 
Hebrews 4: He has grace to help us in time of need. 
Alma 7: He suffered pain, afflictions, and temptations of every kind so that he may take upon the pains and the sicknesses of people. He will take upon death in order to loose the bands of death which bind us all.  His bowels will be filled with mercy for us. 
D&C 122: He descended below us all. 

Solutions in the Scriptures to Life's Challenges

Problem: Arguments and complaints over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week.

Paul's Solution: Give comfort and love, have compassion, and try to understand the other person. Be unified. Don't think you are better than others.

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-8, 14-15:

 1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,being of one accord, of one mind.

 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to equal with God:

 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Problem: Relying on your parent's testimony; their's is good enough.

Paul's Solution: Our testimony requires consistent work. We cannot just say we believe or else when hard times come heading or way, we won't be strong enough on our own.

Scripture: Philippians 2: 12

 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"A man may say he believes, but if he does nothing to make that belief or faith a moving power to do, to accomplish, to produce soul growth, his professing will avail him nothing...It is to perform daily, hourly momentarily, if necessary the immediate task or duty at hand." (David O. McKay in CR, April 1957)

Problem: An investigator is considering joining the church, but the family will no longer associate with them him if he does.

Paul's Solution: I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me. 

Scripture: Philippians 3 and 4

3: 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Summary:

2 Nephi 32:3

 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

When we have challenges, we can turn to the scriptures and the Holy Ghost will tell us what Christ would have us do. The scriptures apply to us today!

Becoming Creatures in Christ

Paul's Descriptions of the Savior {Colossians 1-2}

*delivered us*translated us*redemption through his blood*firstborn of every creature*creator*head*beginning*made peace*holy*unblameable*unreproveable*treasures of wisdom and knowledge*

Christ has done so much for us, and it is completely up to us to take advantage of what the Lord has given us and then to pass that same love on to other to feel it.

Not Going Anywhere : 

{Helaman 5:12 (Book of Mormon)} and{Colossians 2:7 (Bible)}

"Rooted and built up in him, and established in faith." It doesn't take much to look around and see that all things testify of Christ. As a mom, I like to think of all the daily things I do for my children as strengthening their roots. It's pretty easy for a tree to fall over in a windstorm, but when we invite the spirit in our home daily and teach our children to recognize that spirit, their roots get deeper and deeper. 

Means of Deception

The Gnostic philosophy held was that you couldn't approach God directly - it had to be through the worshipping of angels that were less divine. Paul warns not to be beguiled by this, and that it is just vainly "puffed up" and imagined. We can have direct conversations  with our Father in Heaven through personal prayer.  Nephi points out that this is Satan's plan to lessen our relationship with our Heavenly Father by telling lies that simply aren't true. {2 Nephi 9:28}

.

"Putting On" and "Putting Off" {Colossians 3}

Things we should seek after or "Put On":

Seek affection for things above

Put on the new man

bowels of mercy

kindness

humbleness of mind

meekness

Forebearing

Forgiving

Give thanks

Support and love your spouse

Obey parents

Do things heartily

Things we should avoid or "Put off":

Seek affection for things of the earth

Fornication

Uncleanliness

Inordinate affection

Covetous

Idolotry

Anger

Wrath

Malice

Blasphemy

*****************

Paul's counsel for family relationships:

Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter

Wives, submit to your husbands, as fit to the Lord

Children, obey your parents

**********************

We can learn wisdom and teach each other through singing hymns. It is more than just unifying when we sing together; our spirits can be taught and lifted. Music is a beautiful teacher and can touch the heart like nothing else.

Colossians 3:16

  16 Let the ^aword of Christ dwell in you richly in all ^bwisdom; ^cteaching and admonishing one another in psalms and ^dhymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Baptism {Romans 6}

{Romans 6:1-13}

Paul teaches us that before we bet baptized, we need to repent and stop committing sin.

The ordinance of baptism is very simple but it symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection. It can only be done through immersion because it is through that symbolism that we show our commitment to becoming spiritual reborn. See Baptism, Bible Dictionary

We feel a newness of life by remembering our special day of baptism. It is our first covenant with our Heavenly Father that we will always remember him and keep his commandments. He in return promises that he will always have his spirit to be with us.

Mosiah in the Book of Mormon teaches us that when we are baptized, we are giving away our natural man and through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can become as a child - humble, submissive, meek, patient, and full of love.

Who do we serve?

Paul teaches us that we show who we serve by our actions. Obedience to God's commandments actually give us more freedoms. It may seem more restricting at first, but now looking back on my life, I know that all of my biggest joys are directly related to my choices to keep the commandments.

God Comforts Us in Tribulation

How Paul and Timothy were able avoid despair despite everything...

1.  They know Christ has been there too. "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."   {2 Corinthians 1:3-5}
2. God loves us and wants us to grow through our experiences. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth...If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons." {Hebrews 12: 6-7}
3. Eternal perspective! Faith in Christ is even more powerful than even death.  "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." {2 Corinthians 4:5-17}

***********

I think when times are the hardest, I recognize how insufficient I am on my own. I turn for help, go on my knees, and have the most sincere conversations with my Heavenly Father. It's all about the opportunities these trials give us to strengthen that relationship with Heavenly Father that we normally wouldn't have had. 

From the video:
"It's our spiritual nature, though, to turn to our God, that gave us life and has given us this mortal experience - to turn to him and either thank him for the happy times or pray for his help during the hard times."

*********

Jeffrey R. Holland: 
"When suffering, we may in fact be nearer to God than we’ve ever been in our entire lives. That knowledge can turn every such situation into a would-be temple...
Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88). That is an everlasting declaration of God’s love and care for us, including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble."

**********

Joseph Smith and Paul

The first president of our church, Joseph Smith, found strength in Paul's testimony and ultimately died for his convictions just as Paul. They both were was persecuted relentlessly for leading the Church. In order to cope with their hardships, they both had to have their eyes set beyond  this life. They both understood that this life was meant to be difficult and enduring hardships now is worth the triumphant bigger picture in the end.

Joseph Smith said:

"And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me... But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it." {D&C 127:2}

***********

Grace & Trials: 

Grace gives us strength where we are weak and cannot carry on our own. Grace is enabling power. Wow. Grace doesn't only make up for our mistakes, but in any difficulty, our Savior has already paid the price. We can cast any burden on the Lord and he will give us rest. 

The Bible Dictionary states that "through the grace of the Lord... through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, [we] receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

So because of our trials, we become strong through the grace of God. Paul said, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." {2 Corinthians 12:7-10}

***********                                                                           

Burdens can become lighter                                                    

In the Book of Mormon, the people of Alma were put to death for praying. They were under horrible circumstances and they asked the Lord for help. He didn't take away their problems, but they made their burdens seem light. {Mosiah 24: 13-15}

Our burdens becoming light. They may not disappear, but they become manageable through the grace of our Savior. How do my burdens become light?

It happens when look outward instead of inward and serve others. It happens when I turn on an uplifting General Conference Talk. It happens in the middle of sacrament meeting and somebody's testimony strikes me to the core. It happens when the Spirit whispers to me that this Gospel is true. It happens when a friend drops off a plate of cookies, or dinner. My burdens have become lighter because I am surrounded by wonderful, supportive people that don't even know it.