The Meditations of a Latter-day Saint

  Living the Higher Law (This is a topic which has weighed upon my conscience for some time, and figured it would be better to write these impressions down.) In His message from the Sermon on the Mount, as found in the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus calls for us to live the higher law. What is the higher law? And how are we to live that way? In my experience I have come across people who claim they "live by the spirit of the law", when it turns out they're using that phrase as an excuse to break the rules or commandments that are fully established. The Lord Jesus Christ commands us to live the higher law, because living by the lower law (or the letter of the law) is not enough! What's an example of the letter of the law? Let's go to the Ten Commandments. The Lord said specifically in the Mosaic Law not to commit adultery, not to murder, not to bear false witness, or steal, as well as to not worship other gods before Him. (See Exodus Chapter 20) The Tenth Comman...

"Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" - Micah 6:7-8

Courage "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." -Joshua 1:9 Fear, the Counterfeit "And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory." -Moses 1:20 Three Christ-like Attributes: Faith, Hope, and Charity To begin with these attributes it's appropriate to pose the following questions: What is faith? What is hope? And, what is charity? To the first of these three, faith is defined thus: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen." -Hebrews 11:1, with the Joseph Smith Translation and Greek Mark 5, with the Greek A good illustration of this comes from the story of   Jairus, w...

 What is Stoicism? Stoicism has been exaugurated to be defined as one who is without feeling or emotion. But this is simply not true. It means to compose oneself. To regulate one's thoughts and emotions. In the Book of Mormon, Alma shares the following counsel with his second son, Shiblon, who had was "stoned for the word's sake". Alma 38:10-12 10. And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things. 11. See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength. 12. Use boldness, and not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness. The list of these four cardinal virtues of stoicism: 1. Wisdom 2. Courage 3. Justice 4. Temperance This blog is the beginning of a new series wherein I will address these virtues.

 The Pursuit of Wisdom "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." -Philippians 4:8 The appreciation I have for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the invitation we receive to find things in this world which are true, good, and beautiful. In the pursuit of these things, I believe it's important to take these things and elevate them to a higher plain or standard. In a world where Post Modernism places truth and beauty into moral relativism, the Gospel allows us to take the good things that can be found and to remove them from the mire of sophistry. A House of Learning In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord stated that we should seek an education with faith. "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another wo...

 A Man of Christ Alma 48 10. And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of the Christians.  11. And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; 12. Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. 13. Yea, and he was man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood. 17. Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever...