Be the Leaven

Hey there Everyone, hope your week is going well!

So this week I wish to talk about one of my favorite parables from the Gospel of Matthew.  It's a pretty short one, but I've come to love it recently as I've been studying the importance of doing good and being good at all times. The parable comes from Matthew 13 verse 33, which reads:  "Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."  

So I love this short parable, one because it references baking bread which is one of my favorite things, and it also references what we as people should strive to do as we go about our mortal probation, which is simply to uplift the world.  To "lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ." (Preach My Gospel, p168)

A message similar to this one was the basis for the General Conference address by Sister Linda K. Burton where she spoke of the importance of lifting one another in our families. One of the quotes that she used from Elder Robert D. Hales has stuck with me recently, which goes as such:

"Thee lift me, and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together"  

 (Robert D. Hales, “Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty,” Ensign, May 1999)

Within our society we should be looking to help uplift those around us.  Many of our spirit brothers and sisters are worn down and wearied by the world.  They are in need of our support and any strength we can lend.  When Christ was upon the earth he came to serve, not to be served.  And if we desire to live a life like Christ's we should go about doing things as he would do them. 

I would challenge each of you to be the 'leaven' in society that will lift those around you.  We are all striving towards creating Zion, but the people in that glorified city didn't become that way because of one person living a Christ-like life.  Zion was created as every member of that society lifted one another until they were brought up in their glory. 

Look for at least one person that you can uplift this week.  Look for someone that may need a kind word, or some assistance that you could gladly render.  What small act of service you render may make the world for someone else, never underestimate the power of simple acts of kindness, for it is upon simple acts that we gain our salvation and "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).

I wish you all the best, and I can't wait to write again next week!

Love, Elder Gailey

"Because they knew not..."

Hey there everyone!

I thought this week I would talk for a little while about Laman and Lemuel, specifically from one lesson that I learned from them.

It has been pointed out to me, and I would now like to point it out to you if you didn't know, that every character in the Book of Mormon is either an example, or a warning.  To list a few examples there is Nephi, Nephi, and Nephi.  They're all great men with unshaken faith in the Lord.  And those are Nephi son of Lehi, Nephi son of Helaman, and Nephi son of Nephi; respectively. 

Some examples of prime warnings to us are Korihor, Nehor, and of course the subject of today's blog, Laman and Lemuel. 

We often look at Laman and Lemuel and see their story as almost comedic.  There is the oft repeated cycle in the 1 Nephi where a trial comes, Laman and Lemuel murmur, Nephi shows faith and works miracles, and Laman and Lemuel repent for a short while before murmuring again about some other inconvenience.

I have often wondered how and why Laman and Lemuel could be so hard in their hearts that even a visitation of an angel wasn't enough to set them on the right path.  To cover the how, lets turn to the very beginning of 1 Nephi, beginning in Chapter 2, Verse 12:

"And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them."

This scripture was one that I have missed many a time while reading the beginning of 1 Nephi.  But it tells where Laman and Lemuel made their grave error in their path to salvation.  They strayed so far from the 'straight and narrow' because they had disregarded the teachings of the prophets and the testimonies of the future birth of Christ.  And while this is how Laman and Lemuel became warnings, I find the why to be even more intriguing. 

We learn about the all important 'why' to Laman and Lemuel's actions in the 17th Chapter of 1 Nephi.  Amidst Nephi's obedience to build a ship, Laman and Lemuel in their usual fashion come and mock Nephi's righteous example, seeking to tear him down even to being "exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when [Laman and Lemuel] saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts".

In the rebuttal to their mocking attitude, Nephi drops some doctrine on his brothers from the Plates of Brass.  In verses 26 and 51 of the above chapter Nephi states:

"Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground."

"And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?"

I find there are two things to be learned from these short passages.  One is that Laman and Lemuel were not completely ignorant of the past.  They understood and even believed that Moses, Abraham, and Jacob were men that were called of God and performed many great and miraculous things.

In the second item to note we see that Laman and Lemuel, despite their belief in the books of Moses, believed that the works of God were merely a thing of the past.  They did not, and it seems that they could not, believe that God was still a god of miracles. 

A lesson to be learned from this is to never put the things of God in the past.  Don't restrict your belief in God to that of a partially loving or partially powerful deity.  If we desire to not be like Laman and Lemuel, believe that God is, not that God was.  Understand and study the scriptures with the mindset that if "the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men," he can still do so today.  Equally important with the worship of God is having the understanding of who it is we worship.  I exhort you to focus this week on growing in understanding of who you worship.  Know who your Heavenly Father is, because without understanding who your God is and his manner of working among us, your worship is misplaced much like Laman and Lemuel's. 

It has become my firm testimony, and I use the phrase become because I did not always know this, that God is our ever-loving Heavenly Father.  He perfectly understand us and our struggles.  Just as he has worked in the past, he is working in the present, and throughout the remaining time on this earth, he will be working among the children of men as they are faithful in keeping his commandments. 

I hope and pray that you all have a great week, and I'll speak to you again next week!

Love, Elder Gailey

He Lives

Hello Everyone!

So this week, I would like to do something a little different.  Seeing as how it was both Easter Sunday and General Conference this weekend.  I would like to issue you all a mini challenge for this upcoming week. 

The challenge is as such:  Follow the link below and watch the video "Because He Lives".  I would then like for you to find two things.  One is a quote or a story from General Conference pertaining to the Atonement and Resurrection of Christ.  The second is a story from your own life, or a testimony of Christ's Atoning power.  Once you have both of those things, I would challenge you to post on Facebook or a personal Blog, the video, quote, and story/testimony for the world to see.

I find it so amazing to hear how the Atonement of Christ has enabled people to become better humans.  But I find it more amazing when I see and hear of people sharing those stories so that others can partake of the joy that is available to all of our Heavenly Father's children. 

I would like to just bear my short testimony of the power in the Atonement.  It allows us not just to change those negative portions of ourselves, but it also enables us to enhance the positives.  The purpose of this gospel is to make bad men good, and good men better.  I know that the Atonement can work miracles in your life.  There isn't a day that goes by when you can't use the Atonement, and not a day goes by when you shouldn't use it.  You can never repent too much or show too much gratitude for what the Savior has done.

Because He Lives: http://www.mormon.org/easter

General Conference: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2015/04

I love you all, and hope that you had a wonderful weekend!

Love, Elder Gailey

Roots and Branches

Hello Everyone!

So this week I thought that I would share a scripture that caught my eye during my most recent read-through of the Book of Mormon.  I think that most of us know of the great allegory of the tame and wild olive trees in the 5th chapter of Jacob.  Some of us love the chapter and the great insights into the mind of our Heavenly Father.  Others look at it as a trudge though a never-ending series of grafting, digging, pruning, and dunging.  I personally love this allegory, and so does Jacob as it appears.

After relating this 77 verse parable to the Nephites, Jacob continues his address by expounding upon the tale in the 6th chapter of Jacob.  This is where my focus will be.  More specifically I would like to focus on the 4th verse in this particular chapter, which reads:

"And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God."

As I was reading through this verse, a tie in to recent activities in the church stood out to me.  The phrase that hit me was that our merciful god remembereth the house of Israel "both the roots and branches".  In line with the allegory, we can see how we as current house of Israel are the branches.  We are currently flourishing and giving life to the tree of which we are a part.  In missionary work, at least the sort that I am partaking in, our focus is generally on the 'branches'.  But I would like to make a push, in line with the recent "Temple Challenge" for the youth of the church, to find and to do missionary work for those in the 'roots' category.

I would like to echo Elder Anderson's challenge to the youth of the church.  To see the video of this challenge if you haven't already, feel free to check out the link below.  But I would like to extend this challenge to all people.  Temple work, and work in the church in general, are not age specific.  Temple work is for all of the church, and I would encourage each of you to find just one name from your 'roots' that you can bless by preparing to take it to the temple.

I would encourage all of you to gain the Spirit of Elijah, and see the great worth in temple work and completing temple ordinances.  Remember the scripture in the15th verse of the 18th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, which reads:

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

Find that one soul, living or dead, that you can help bring into the kingdom of our Father.  I hope that you will all partake in the joy of temple work.  And I pray that you all have a great week, it truly is a blessing to be able to write to you all.

Love, Elder Gailey

"That they may always have his Spirit to be with them."

Hey there Everyone!

Gahhh...Life has been so crazy since I've gotten transferred to Binghamton.  I'm glad I finally have some time to sit down and write a full blog post.  It's been a long time coming, so I hope it pleases you all.  As I stated in my last post, this one will be focusing on the Holy Ghost, and how diligence to the commandments brings the Holy Ghost.  It will also touch on the role the Holy Ghost plays in our lives and why it is so essential to our progression. 

To begin let's list a couple main roles that the Holy Ghost plays in our lives:

1. It sanctifies and purifies our hearts.  It increases the strength of our spiritual side, while weakening the natural man within us. 

2. It testifies of truth.

3. It gives knowledge and understanding to those who seek it. 

In this post I wish to focus on how the latter two roles bring about the first, which then in turn brings about the "immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

So last time I wrote a full post we touched on the subject of how diligence brings blessings.  That post leads right into the 3rd point above.  To those who diligently seek it, the Holy Ghost will enlighten your mind.  He will grant unto you rich stores of knowledge.  But this is not just a free gift.  Just as with any blessing from the Lord, our blessings will not be full if we do not recognize and give thanks to where the understanding comes from.  While talking with the leaders of the early Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith counseled them on the importance of taking notes when it comes to spiritual matters.

"Here is another important item. If you assemble from time to time, and proceed to discuss important questions, and pass decisions upon the same, and fail to note them down...for neglecting to write these things when God had revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, the Spirit may withdraw, and God may be angry; and there is, or was, a vast knowledge, of infinite importance, which is now lost." [Teachings, p. 73]

All understanding and knowledge is a gift from God.  It is prideful to glorify yourself and your ability to learn, when it was a gift from God that you are able to comprehend even the simplest ideas.  When you receive inspiration, of any form, I fully encourage you to kneel down at the next available time and simply say a prayer of gratitude.  Your Heavenly Father speaks to you daily, but sometimes we miss it because we have forgotten where the source of knowledge and understanding are. 

So now that you are working through your doubt by recognizing it for what it is, and studying it out.  Now comes the time when we fully rely on the Lord.  Diligent prayer and scripture study may take a fair bit of time.  Perhaps the Lord is waiting for your heart to be humble, or for your mind to be prepared for the answer he will yet give.  If you are currently waiting for an answer, I encourage you to keep working and being patient.  Do all you can until you receive your answer. 

Sometimes all that is holding us back from an answer is an ounce of uncleanliness.  The Spirit of the Lord will not abide in an unclean vessel.  If there are things amiss in your life, I would recommend that you humble yourself and repent in 'sackcloth and ashes'.  I echo the words of Jeffrey R. Holland when he said "I am asking you...men to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to getactive and get clean."  The Holy Ghost is the catalyst to conversion, and the guide that will lead us to Eternal Life.  Please strive to do all you can to be worthy of it's companionship.  (We Are All Enlisted, October 2011 Priesthood Session)

And if you feel you are doing all you can, like you couldn't give another drop of effort if someone wrung you out like a towel.  Keep that effort going.  Our God is a 4th Watch God.  He will let us toil and struggle so that we are sufficiently humble and grateful for the assistance we require.  Do not give up working because you're giving 110% and you feel like you're in the 15th Watch.  The Lord knows our limits, we barely understand our potential.  The Lord will not try you above that which you cannot handle.  In the words of Winston Churchill "If you're going through Hell, keep going".

The Lord has given his "good spirit to instruct" all of his children (Nehemiah 9:20).  Please take full advantage of that gift.  Pray for it and seek after the Holy Ghost.  Show the Lord that you love him and the blessings he has and will yet give.  I have taken a fair bit of time in dealing with doubts.  But it is for the purpose that they plague all of us.  I hope that I have managed to make sense. 

Since this little doubt-fest has taken a long time, I have a fair number of posts lined up.  I'm looking forward to writing on them, and I hope that they will be of worth to you and to your loved ones.  I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful week. 

Love, Elder Gailey

"That they may have his Spirit to be with them: An Introduction"

Hello Everybody, I apologize early for the shortness of this post.  Some crazy things have happened this Monday and I ask your forgiveness for the length of this weeks blog post

As I intended to do this I want to speak a little bit on the gift and power of the Holy Ghost.  But since I'm on a major time crunch currently I'm going to assign some homework for next week when I'll have more time to write.  In preparation for next week's installment I would ask all of you to read a Devotional given by President Henry B. Eyring titled "Going Home".

This devotional is largely the basis for what will be in next week's blog post.  I pray that you will read and study this devotional.  It spoke on a very deep level to me, and I know it can do the same to you.  I can't wait to write out my thoughts and experiences on the Holy Ghost.  But this will suffice me for this week.

Here is the link to the devotional:

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=824   

I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful week. 

Love, Elder Gailey

Diligence Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven

Hey there everyone, hope you all had a great week.

This week I wanted to move forward into the next portion of how I have come to work through doubts.  As I said last week this next portion will be focused on how diligence in scripture study and prayer will open the windows of heaven and give you great gifts of knowledge to help you work through your doubts.  

To open I want to share a small section out of Preach My Gospel - if you don't have a copy I'd highly recommend it, it's a wonderful study guide for the basic principles of the gospel.  This particular passage comes out of Chapter 6 under the section of Diligence:

"Diligence is steady, consistent, earnest, and energetic effort in doing the Lord’s work. The Lord expects you to work diligently—persistently and with great effort and care."

My favorite part of the definition of diligence is that it is an energetic effort.  The energy that you display in your study and in your approach to solve your problems will have a massive impact on how you receive your answers.  By studying with full purpose and heart you show the Lord that you value the knowledge that is available and that you have faith that he will enlighten your mind.  Think of it kind of like a task at work.  If your boss sees you sluggishly moving around he likely won't offer much in the way of benefits.  If your boss sees you sprint around for an hour and then stop for the rest of the work day he isn't likely to help you as well.  

Diligence can be seen as a triangle, with each of the three points representing an adjective to describe your work.  These points are:

1. You must work steadily.  
2. You must work smart.
3. You must work hard. 

If you work steadily and hard but not smart, you're going to waste your time.  You're not going to find an answer on temple marriage by studying the word of wisdom.  If you work steadily and smart, but are slow to do the job, you're just dragging things out.  And if you work hard and smart, but don't work steadily you will reap inconsistent blessings and miss out on many pieces of knowledge.  

If you take away one of those points you no longer have a triangle, and your growth and increase in knowledge will suffer to some degree.  When it comes to studying the scriptures and prayer you need to work with this triangle in mind so that you can have that balance in all things.

In my study for this post I read a scripture in the 123rd Section of the Doctrine and Covenants.  In verse 15 we are given some council from the Lord pertaining to seemingly 'small' things.  

"Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints,which depends upon these things."

Scripture study and prayer may seem like small things.  But we often do not see how they are the basis for all of the future blessings that are in store.  Those future blessings are amazing, and are built and earned based on the principles of diligence in this gospel.  The small and simple things of this church are able to work mighty miracles.  

It is my hope that you will have faith in the words of prophets and apostles, both modern and past.  Learn the basics, learn them over and over.  If you are a master to the basics of the gospel, then the blessings of heaven will be available unto you.  

I love you all, and can't wait for the opportunity to continue this mini series, which will end with a post based on the power of the Holy Ghost.  It will cover his role, power, and importance in our everyday lives.  I hope you all have a great week.  

Love, Elder Gailey