Learned At Church

Today was fast and testimony meeting.  So many gems were revealed.  Two individuals each having severe mental and physical health issues counseled 1) the Lord helps each of us to understand "the bigger whys and the better reasons", and 2) the Lord will provide the "message of peace, as there is joy in the journey; there is an end to everything" (of difficulties and challenges). One young man said, "if you don't believe you won't receive". Someone's life motto quoted, "the church is true, and God is real". And another, advice to live, "serve in the church, marry a good woman, and drive a pickup truck".

I really liked how in Ezekiel's discussion of the temple, as water depths and lengths-like with life's issues, our measuring tape starts over each time we return from the temple with added personal depth perception.

1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (Old Testament, Ezekiel, Ezekiel 47)

And, 88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for 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. (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 84)

Dive Thoughts

The prophet Isaiah sure declared much about the temple, and our service in them.  I love the Isaiah scriptures. Indexing has now become a worship activity for the family, as well as regular temple service.  Read this below:

President Joseph F. Smith, in a mighty declaration, stated, “Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties.”⁵ My brothers and sisters, the work is ours to do."

Temple, House of the Lord

A rich Dive:

3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, 2 Nephi 12

7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Old Testament, Isaiah, Isaiah 56)

1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. (Old Testament, Ezekiel, Ezekiel 47)

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (New Testament, Acts, Acts 2)

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (New Testament, Revelation, Revelation 3)

22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 

23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. 

24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. (Old Testament, Isaiah, Isaiah 22)

Half Measure

"For me maybe half measure sometimes".  But I can tell you from experience and I can honestly say that blessings from God are beyond my comprehension and plentiful, overflowing my cup, and spilling beyond the pitcher. 

On the other hand, Some people live bitter and in depressing environments they build for themselves, sipping from measuring cups and selling on the sidewalks- thinking an expensive lemonade for people to buy, mostly waiting and empty returns. 

Topic

The topic to choose is-

Temple, house of the lord:

I thought of this quote;

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

This quote rings true.  If we approach temple activity from a "decent little cottage" to a "he building a palace" for me and my prosperity, we would live beyond half measure.

Searching for a Dive Topic

Yes, Ezekiel 47: 1-8; surely implies descriptive visualization about what flows from the temple, like unto a river- "waters of river, measured a thousand, ankles, knees, loins, then to swim in." Like, spiritually. Most rivers comply to a source. Here the power of God, flowing from the temple I believe describes the majestic power or inspiration from temple worship and service. And the multiplicity of flowing inspiration and guidance that comes by such worship. These verses are leading me to a topic. Prophets often used the description of the river flowing, "living waters". Or to be like unto a river, as expressed to Laman, 1 Nephi 2:9.  Are we taking temple privileges for granted? Are we fulfilling promises to those beyond the veil, and obtaining power personally and for our family through our regular temple attendance? For me maybe half measure sometimes.

Learned At Church

Today I don't know if I learned much at church. It was a little disjointed, and staying on the regular schedule was disrupted because of some family obligations. Sometimes these situations come up. I do remember one speaker who recommended holding on to the simple plainness of gospel teachings. Some people go beyond the mark and get lost in things beyond what really matters. "Doctrine usually answers the question “why?” Principles usually answer the question “what?” Whenever we emphasize how to do something without reference to why we do it or what we do, we risk looking beyond the mark. At the very least, we fall into the trap Paul described to the Corinthians: “For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life”." Elder Q. Cook.  He says, "God uses us “not according to our works, but according to his own purpose” (2 Tim. 1:9). We are looking beyond the mark if our consecration is conditional or does not involve daily devotion."

I do remember one brother who mentioned, in an answer, "is all we have to do is turn away from evil and turn toward good". His focus was on "daily devotion", our heartfelt intent.

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. (Old Testament, Ezekiel, Ezekiel 18)

If we turn not, meaning to not repent, or to justify are selfish behavior without acknowledging the love christ offered to us by his suffering, and the beauty of his mercy extended we have missed the mark.