Tomorrow is the 24th of July a large day in the history of the church, A day on which we celebrate the arrival of the Saints in Utah.  Regardless of where you currently live, this day is more worthy of fireworks and celebrating than most Latter-Day Saints want to admit.  Most of us will take any opportunity to relax and get together with family and friends, or go to a parade or watch fireworks.  My question is why?  How many Americans re-read the Declaration of Independence on or before the 4th of July?  Or how many reviewed the martyrdom on the 27th of June?  Tomorrow, what will we talk about with our families and friends, will we share stories of faith rewarded with a place where we would be left alone to worship as we saw fit, where our women wouldn’t be raped and beaten by angry mobs?  Or will we just show up with another Jello salad?

The celebrations of the Jews were all associated with religious holidays, and as such they were edified by celebrating them, as we are with Christmas, and Easter.  What does it mean to break away from oppression, to declare to the world the reasons why you must rebel, even though that means treason?  We could re-read the Declaration of Independence every year our whole life and strengthen our faith every time.  We can make our celebrations worshipful, but it requires study before hand, which stories and books will be reviewed?, which scriptures memorized?  Which contexts of famous quotes will be studied to better understand what was meant and felt when Brother Brigham said ” This is the right place drive on”  or “Here we will build the temple of our God”  What prophesies were fulfilled, or promises made upon arrival in the valley.  Who was and wasn’t there.

Today’s lessons were learned by those who went before, that we may study them, and be worthy of celebrating, having the knowledge required to appropriately oo and ah, dance, sing, play and celebrate arrival in another country where none would dare to bother or make us afraid for years.  It was the right place, now lets celebrate.

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With so much pressure on our youth, it seems as if we need to re-focus on the teaching, and learning of true doctrine.  Elder Perry in the last general conference said “Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility.”  Key to studying together is to be sure that all are learning together.  There isn’t much as inspiring as everyone learning together.  Parents can guide discussions, however, I’ve found that kids can feel when the study session turns into a lecture, or a lesson.  Take time during family scripture study to comment on how this applies to you and encourage your kids to do the same.  When they watch you learn they will see that you need what the scriptures offers, and they will be much more likely to desire that same guidance.

When we all learn together, we all are edified.  There should be time for more formal or structured teaching, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of real group study.

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I was recently asked to speak in my ward, about Missionary Work.  Being a convert from Utah I have a unique perspective.  We don’t have close friendships with those of other faiths, why I can’t explain, but we rarely do.  For example when was the last time your family got together with another family where the adults had a beer with dinner?  Or went out side to have a cigarette while you were visiting?  Do you have close friends that dress immodestly?  You probably don’t associate with many of this kind, however I remember Jesus almost always eating with “sinners” and when he was the adulterous woman was there.  He was eating with people he knew were having affairs, certainly more than a “small sin”.

My parents lived in Utah for 17 years and none of their good friends are LDS.  We only had a few families over who were LDS!, and we even less frequently were invited over.  My folks are good people, and we boys were for the most part very good boys.  We were however given many, many copies of the Book of Mormon.  Who gives away books of the highest value without getting together for dinner as neighbors.  All the inscriptions read like “our family regards you with the highest esteem”  but the actions showed that we weren’t esteemed highly enough to break bread.  Certainly there are some downsides to eating with a family where the parents are good people who drink wine with dinner.  Your kids might get the idea that drinking is an acceptable practice, however, not going they might get the idea that we don’t associate with sinners, also the wrong idea for budding missionaries. Lest we make this out to be a Utah thing, We’ve lived outside Utah for many years now and the feeling is slightly better if any.

I don’t know of many members of other faiths who don’t drink occasionally, or converts who never had any vices, so don’t let that scare you away.  We can teach truth by being friends, not so that we can preach the gospel but because we are like Christ who was a friend, to all.  None of us would have had Saul over to dinner until he became Paul, but what about Alma the Elder?  Or Lamoni? What about John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff, who both drank before they joined the church.  You get the idea.  If we strive to be friends with people who live up to their light and knowledge rather than look for some who live up to our level, we will find we are truely in good company, even if they are “blinded by the subtle craftiness of men”.  My response is “Therefore should we waste and wear out our lives” to teach and love them D & C 123:12-13.  Go out and make a friend.

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In a recent personal discussion, an important point was raised.  How do we define the amount of evil we will let in to our homes and lives?  Although we’d all like to say none, if we have specific limits we will be much safer.  For example, how many swear words do we hear before we turn off a movie regardless of its rating?  Will we turn it off or walk out because of one “!@#%” ?  What about taking of the name of God?  Is one person saying “God” in a way that it inappropriate too much?  I think we would be much safer if we were to have defined limits such as 4 uses of _____ , or 1 use of ______.  Or one implication of extra marital relations, or (insert your number here) of jokes about inappropriate things.  Or how many senseless killings or close range gun shots, or… If we have guidelines then we don’t get to the end wishing we had walked out.  Other aspects of our lives need better personal rules as well, such as magazines we view which contain scantily clad advertisements.  Do we remove pages, or color over, or leave it knowing the benefit of the good out weighs the bad.  At least we made a conscious decision not under the pressure of the moment.  Make your decisions and then stick to them, you will be blessed for your discipline.

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As General Conference approaches I become almost giddy to sustain the brethren.  When President Monson was first sustained as the President of the Church, it marked the first time I had sustained a new President, since I was baptised shortly after Pres. Hinckley was sustained.  In my ward and stake, and even in the church in general there was much talk of Pres. Monson’s preparation to be the President.  I was curious as to why, since we follow a leader who is called, and ordained of God.  The lack of faith in the keys he holds was manifest in the need to look to his preparation.  A Bishop is not called, because he is the best or even most prepared man in the ward, any more than Pres. Monson was called because he was the most righteous man in the Church, or the most humble, or …   We celebrate Joseph as the Prophet, and he was completely unqualified, if you look at his prior earthly accomplishments.  We must not rely on the “arm of flesh”  The Prophets and Apostles, and other leaders in the church are not to be deified.  They are generally good men, and women who have been given perfect keys and stewardship.  We sustain keys and offices in spite of imperfection in the leaders who hold those positions.

I’m glad that the Lord has chosen men whom I think are qualified, for the the most part, however when he doesn’t I don’t protest in the least.  This is His kingdom on the earth, and he can call His stewards as He wishes.  The right to preside is not directly related to righteousness, other wise the patriarchal order would be flawed.  If you believe that those who are asked to preside are actually better or above you, then you are also stating that men are better than women in all cases, since “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their family in love and righteousness”  (from The Family: a proclamation to the world).  We know that can’t be true if as it goes on to say that fathers and mothers are “equal partners” also, logic dictates that the most righteous of women must have advanced beyond the basest of men and were they to marry he would preside in their home.  Thus, we have a Prophet, whom we all will sustain because he was and is called of God and is accountable to Him only, for the exercise of his stewardship, regardless of earthly or perceived preparation.  Isaiah reminds us in the Lord’s own words “neither are your ways my ways” Isa 55:8  Lets sustain the Lord in His callings, not the qualifications of men.

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Although there are many wonderful commentaries, we cannot forget to go to the source text.  As members of the Kingdom of God, we must be able to feed ourselves, or rather know how to get the Holy Ghost to feed us from the scriptures.  Reading what someone else understood, although very insightful, will not substitute, for personal understanding.  We must individually read, struggle with, and ultimately apply the standard works for our selves.

“All that we teach in this Church ought to be couched in the scriptures. . . . If we want to measure truth, we should measure it by the four standard works, regardless of who writes it. . . . This is the standard by which we measure truth. (Harold B. Lee, Improvement Era, January 1969, p. 13.)  Joseph Fielding Smith wrote similarly “It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. . . . We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man’s doctrine.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Bookcraft, 1977, 3:203.)

What was the last doctrine you struggled with to apply, and in prayer and pondering spent more than a week striving to learn how to put this new truth into your life?  I hope, your answer is with in the last year, or even the last decade.  We give up so easily, focus so poorly, and actually try so little, so as to not qualify for real revelation from our Father, Jesus said “Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord…” (Matt 7:21) Oliver Cowdrey was chastised

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

We pray about it all right, but when we get up that is usually where it ends.  Diligence, Brothers and Sisters!  This struggle is the key to personal revelation.  Elder Richard G. Scott came to my mission, and said to us “If you knew the revelation we receive, you would surely pay the price we pay”  Oh may we pay the price!

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Much has been written about Pres. Wilford Woodruff’s missionary activities.  I re-read this preparing for a talk this weekend on missionary work.  This is still borderline unbelievable.  This comes from his biography written by Mathew Cowley “We then took the old military road leading from Little Rock to Memphis, Tennessee. This road lay through swamps, and was covered with mud and water most of the way for one hundred and seventy miles. We walked forty miles in a day, through mud and water knee-deep.  On the 24th of March, after traveling some ten miles through mud, I was made lame with a sharp pain in my knee, and sat down on a log. My companion, who was anxious to get to his home in Kirtland, left me sitting in an alligator swamp. I did not see him again for two years. I knelt down in the mud and prayed, and the Lord healed me and I went on my way rejoicing.”  Really, just down and pray after abandonment by your senior companion?  How great of him, then he walks to Memphis and records;

“On the 27th of March I arrived at Memphis, weary and hungry. I went to the best tavern in the place, kept by Mr. Josiah Jackson. I told him I was a stranger and had no money, and asked him if he would keep me over night. He inquired what my business was, and I told him I was a preacher of the gospel. He laughed and said that I did not look much like a preacher. I did not blame him, as most of the preachers he ever had been acquainted with rode on fine horses or in fine carriages, dressed in broadcloth, had large salaries, and would likely see this whole world sink to perdition before they would wade through one hundred and seventy miles of mud to save the people.  The landlord wanted a little fun, so said he would keep me if I would preach. He wanted to see if I could preach. I must confess that by this time I became a little mischievous, and pleaded with him not to set me preaching. The more I pleaded to be excused the more determined Mr. Jackson was that I should preach. He took my valise, and the landlady got me a good supper. I sat down in a large hall to eat. Before I got through, the room began to be filled by some of the rich and fashionable people of Memphis, dressed in their broadcloth and silk, while my appearance was such as you can imagine, after traveling through the mud as I had done. When I had finished eating, the table was carried out of the room over the heads of the people. I was placed in the corner of the room, with a stand having a Bible, hymn book, and candle on it, hemmed in by a dozen men, with the landlord in the center. There were present some five hundreds persons, who had come together, not to hear a gospel sermon, but to have some fun. I read a hymn, and asked them to sing. Not a soul would sing a word. I told them I had not the gift of singing; but with the help of the Lord, I would both pray and preach. I knelt down to pray, and the men around me dropped on their knees. I prayed to the Lord to give me His spirit and to show me the hearts of the people. I promised the Lord, in my prayer, that I would deliver to that congregation whatever He would give to me. I arose and spoke one hour and a half, and it was one of the best sermons of my life. The lives of the congregation were open to the vision of my mind, and I told them of their wicked deeds and the reward they would obtain. The men who surrounded me dropped their heads. Three minutes after I closed, I was the only person in the room.

The Lord needs willing people to open their mouths, people who will try much more than he needs people who are good at something.  No where is this more true than in missionary work, successful missionaries are those who start talking, and testifying in spite of looking run ragged, or being made fun of.  In the Alligator swamp young Wilford earned the right to preach to this group in Memphis, and strengthened his courage to do so.

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Part 2 is about how I might teach this lesson, both some cautions and ideas, with some additional insight into the nature of the fall.

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Part 1 is a doctrinal overview, or summary of major concepts from the lesson with additional insight into the Fall.

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This Video gives some ideas I might use to teach Gospel Principles lesson 5 entitled the Creation.

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