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January, 2011

  1. Temptation

    January 29, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    I was reading this weeks Gospel Doctrine lesson and there is one section in particular of the lesson that struck me.  (It’s all great but this section of the lesson stood out).  If you want to read the lesson it can be found here.

    In section number 3 of the lesson entitled “Jesus withstands Satan’s temptations in the wilderness.”  it talks about the ways that Jesus was tempted by the devil and the ways he chose to with stand the temptations.  Here are a three keys that we can use to withstand temptation based on the example of the Savior:

    1. Feast on the Scriptures
    In all three examples of temptation, Jesus quoted scripture.  Jesus knew and loved the scriptures.  He knew them so well that they instantly came to His mind when the proposed sin was offered to him.  Now I understand that of course He knew them because they are His words… however this can be an effective tool in our lives to withstand temptation as well.  If we feast on the scriptures, and even memorize passages, the Lord will bring those holy words back into our memories in the moment we need them.  What is also interesting to note is that Jesus was not only using scripture to rebuff Satan, he was also giving us an example to follow.  In Jesus mind, if the scriptures said it, He would not deviate from it.  He was completely obedient.

    2. The three examples given are examples of three “root” sins
    We know from Hebrews 4: 14-15 that Jesus was tempted “in all points btempted like as we are, yet without csin.” So the account of Him being tempted by the devil either doesn’t show all the temptations He suffered at that time, or it just one example of a time He suffered temptation.  But the three examples of temptation are illustrative of three “root” temptations that we all suffer.

    Most every other sin we encounter stems from these three root sins.  We need to be watchful and mindful of these three root sins and seek the Grace of Jesus Christ to overcome and master them.

    3. Don’t forget who you are
    The devil challenged the divine Son-ship of Jesus Christ twice by asking “If thou be the Son of God…”  this was a ploy to try and make Jesus forget or doubt who He really was.  The devil used this tactic on us today.  We know from the scriptures and from modern revelation that each of us are the literal spirit offspring of Heavenly Father. (Acts 17:26-29) We also know that once we have accepted Jesus atonement through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost, we are children of Christ. (Galatians 3:26, Moses 1:12-22)  If Satan can make you forget or doubt who you are, he can make you forget or doubt your worth.  And if you forgot your worth, you lose your desire to live up to your worth.  Remember, the very God of Heaven sent His Son to die for YOU.  That means you were worth it.  Don’t let Satan rob you of your divine heritage.  Do not sell your birthright for a mess of pottage.

    Bonus key:
    From the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible, we gain additional insight into the temptations of Jesus Christ.  We find out that Jesus didn’t go into the wilderness to be tempted, but rather He went in the wilderness to commune with God (The Father).  It was only after He had communed with God the Father that he was left to be tempted.  This same thing happened to Moses (see Moses Chapter 1) except in Moses’ case, He met with The Son (Jesus Christ) and then was left to be tempted.   This should give us pause and help us remember that just because we have marvelous spiritual experiences doesn’t mean we won’t be tested after or before them.  It would seem that the pattern here is part of the test of our faith is to be tested by temptation before or just after big spiritual experiences in our lives to see if we will be faithful and live up to the promises we’ve made or the things we’ve learned.

    I testify that Jesus is the Christ.  He is our Savior.  He love’s you and wants you to come to Him through faith, repentance, baptism, and the receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  He has restored His church and authority to perform these ordinances in these last days in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I invite you to come and learn more.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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  2. What is an Apostle?

    January 23, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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  3. “My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord”

    January 16, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    I taught the lesson in Gospel Doctrine today as a substitute for Brother Wittiman who had to be out of town.  The lesson focused on the lives of Elisabeth, Zacharias, John the Baptist, Mary, and Joseph.   Studying the lives of each of these people has greatly enriched my testimony.  Each of them played such a crucial role in bringing forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    One question from the lesson stuck out to me.  As we were talking about the Elisabeth and Zacharias, the quiestion the manual posed was:

    Zacharias and Elisabeth had probably prayed for many years that they would be blessed with a child. However, Heavenly Father did not grant them this blessing until the time was right to accomplish his purposes.) How can we remain faithful and avoid discouragement when our sincere prayers are not immediately answered in the way we desire?

    There were many great answers brought forth from the class.  Some of the answers brought forward were:

    • Count your many blessings. Focus on what the Lord already has blessed you with
    • Serve others. As you serve others you can find joy while you wait upon the Lord
    • Rethink the blessing you are asking for.  Is what you are asking really what is best for you?
    • Talk to others who are faithful to help strengthen your faith. Turn to others and lean on those around you to help you carry your burden.
    • Prepare yourself more fully to receive the blessing you are seeking.   Consider that you may need to make preparations or changes in your life before the blessing you are seeking can be realized
    • Be willing to accept the Lords will if He is saying no. The Lord may or may not choose to bless you with your desire in this life.  So be willing to take what ever answer he gives you.  This will build your faith that He really knows what is best for you and in the end is able to give you better things than you can imagine for yourself.

    I thought each of these answers showed a great depth of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  As we mature spiritually, we find ourselves more willing to submit to whatever the Lords will is.  And the more we do this, the more we “Magnify” Him as Mary did.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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  4. “We do this because we Love Jesus Christ”

    January 9, 2011 by Ben Tanner

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  5. New Years Resolutions.. 5 keys to Success

    January 2, 2011 by Ben Tanner

    New Years resolutions can either be invigorating or depressing.  If you look at the last year or even several years and think to yourself, “I just can’t seem to keep any of my resolutions” then perhaps  you’ve decided this year to not make any resolutions, or goals so that you don’t have to feel bad about not keeping them.

    A resolution is nothing more than a promise you are making to yourself.  Here are a few things that may help you when trying to mold your future…

    1. Only make goals that you have control over.
    Don’t make any resolutions or goals or promises where the outcome depends on other people or circumstances that are beyond your control.  Only make goals that are dependent on you.  Instead of saying “I’m going to make X amount of money this year” say “I’m going to measure my success by what I get done rather than how many hours I worked”  or something else that you can control.

    2. Find a middle ground.
    Don’t shoot for the stars, and also, don’t shoot for the floor.  Find goals that are attainable, but also are a challenge.  Pie in the sky goals will get you depressed fast as the mountain just may be too high to climb at this point in your life.  Conversely, if you make resolutions that don’t inspire you, they won’t really mean anything in the end.

    3. Create milestones and accountability
    Regular milestones can help keep your resolutions in the front of your mind.  If you know that you’ve promised yourself to step on the scale every morning, you will be reminded to make better eating choices that day, because you will be accountable to the scale the next day as well.  This will greatly enhance your ability to keep your resolutions.

    4. Create a consolation prize
    One of the problems with New Year’s resolutions is that if you are not exactly perfect with them, the first time you make a mistake, you lose all hope and then just stop moving forward all together.  Another option is to give yourself three outcomes.  One high, another medium, and another low.   All three should be challenging, but if you don’t hit the high, you can still hit the medium or even exceed it and consider yourself a success.

    5. Lastly and most important, call on power beyond your own.
    In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi was commanded to build a ship by the Lord.  He had no experience in ship building and really had no idea how to go about it.  But Nephi had the faith that if the Lord commanded him to do something, the Lord would provide a way for it to be accomplished.  Nephi understood that in the end, it was the Lords power that provides the real miracle in our lives.  If we put our faith in God, ask for His help, and then go to work on what we know He has commanded us to do, He will move mountains and even part seas to help us fulfill His commandments.

    Nephi said:

    1 Nephi 3:7

    7And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

    Nephi understood that God is the one that prepares the way and gives us the power to accomplish even His will.  Our part is just to have faith enough to act upon His commands and stay the course.

    When Nephi’s brothers mocked him for trying to build a ship he said:

    1 Nephi 17:50-51

    50And I said unto them: aIf God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

    51And 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 ainstruct me, that I should build a ship?

    In the scenario described here by Nephi, it wasn’t Nephi who changes the water into earth, rather it was the Lord.

    It is my testimony that God can do the same miracles in each of our own lives.  He can turn our water into earth.  He can change our very hearts and minds to be fit for His kingdom.  But we must be willing to show faith enough to act upon His commandments and stay the course through all the trials that come after that.  If we do, He will help use accomplish infinitely more than we could ever resolve to do on our own.

    So this year, don’t shy away from creating new goals for your life, you have a power beyond all other on your side.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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