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Post by Joseph Jr. on Dec 18, 2023 17:21:35 GMT
In the northern hemisphere right now winter is here. It is a time of cold and sometimes dangerous weather. Some poor cannot get work, because they do not have proper winter clothing. Some poor have to subject themselves to living in dangerous shelters. It is humiliating to show up looking for work, and you are shivering so bad, you cannot even speak your own name clearly. Who will hire you? The company does not want that risk! There are all kinds of reasons that people can lose their way and enter poverty; and let us face it, most of this situation is from some sort of foolishness. Nevertheless, how many of us are claiming to be as smart as God? Are we not all ignorant and foolish compared to the Great Creator? If the Great Creator feeds us, even through all our foolishness compared to Him, then we should feed our fellowman, even if they are foolish in our eyes! If we do not do the same as our Heavenly Parents, then we do not worship them, and make no mistake, if we are not like them, we will not be with them, let alone ever becoming!One of my favourite stories is one of Martin of Tours. The story goes something like this: How can we claim to follow the Saviour, when we are nothing like Him? Will the scripture apply to us: Verily, Verily, I say unto you: You never knew me! And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.Verily, I say unto you: You never knew me! ~ Matthew 25:40
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Post by Admin on Dec 18, 2023 19:09:46 GMT
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 "and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." This really sums it up nicely. This is a great scripture! It reminds us that we not only need to take care of each other, but to be nice while we do it! How often do we see people give with an unkind heart? We must give in all four directions of the Sacred Circle, physically, how we communicate, in our thoughts, and emotionally as well. This is a great reminder!
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Post by Amy on Dec 19, 2023 22:03:39 GMT
Book of Jacob ch 2, pg 126Book of Mormon
Think of your brethren, like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all, and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the Kingdom of God. And after that ye have obtained a hope in Christ, ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them, for the intent to do good; to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick, and the afflicted.
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Post by Admin on Dec 20, 2023 20:31:03 GMT
This is a very intriguing scripture! It certainly lays out a few ideas for us to consider.Book of Jacob ch 2, pg 126Book of Mormon
Think of your brethren, like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all, and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
This first part certainly leaves nothing to be interpreted. Just think of your brethren like we think of ourselves; be family with all; be free with your substance, so they are as rich as you! Notice how there are no conditions here that a person can use to justify not following this direction; it is a must!But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the Kingdom of God. And after that ye have obtained a hope in Christ, ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them;
This second part starts off with a pre-requisite: Before you seek for riches, seek for the Kingdom of God. Now many people say they are seeking for the Kingdom of God, but what does 'seeking for the Kingdom of God' mean? The next sentence sheds light on the meaning of "Seek ye for the Kingdom of God." It says: After you have obtained a "Hope in Christ", then "if" you seek riches, you will obtain them. So the question is, what is a "Hope in Christ?" Because, we need the "Hope in Christ" in order to have seeked the Kingdom of God! And we need to have sought the Kingdom of God first, before we seek for riches.
So, what is this "Hope in Christ?" It is the word of God that you have made it. It is not a maybe; it is that you have been saved, because the voice of God said so, so that now you actually have a hope of making it, as long as you do not mess up!
In summary, you have sought the Kingdom of God until you have received the "more sure word of prophecy", after which you would obtain riches if you seek them, because ...and ye will seek them, for the intent to do good; to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick, and the afflicted.
Because, by this stage of your progression, you have fallen in love with giving and helping so much, that you live at the bare minimum, because you keep helping so many people. You will only be seeking riches for the intent to help more people, not to use any of those riches yourself! This is why you are trusted with riches, because it is selfless! Because you are now only 'clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, liberating the captive, and administering relief to the sick, and the afflicted." Your heart and hand did this when you were poor, and you will keep doing this, and keep being poor, when you obtain riches to help others.
People think this scripture does not work, because they do not get the results. They do not bother to realize that they do not get the results, because they did not do their part.
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