The Natural Man is an Enemy to God

As I was working today I had a insightful, delightful experience of edification brought to my by my principal at Bingham Seminary. We were going through the teaching schedule for this upcoming school year, as I was giving input, we stopped on the Plan of Salvation, or Plan of Happiness. He asked me questions I hadn't really reflected on a while and I acknowledge I will be forever grateful for the time he took from his busy schedule to teach me this afternoon.

What he asked was powerful and may best be pondered upon: 1) What is the overarching purpose of the plan-the end result? 2) What are the most important items rarely discussed or briefly brushed over as the plan is taught to others, or explained by others and my question to him 3) Do men really come into the world with a natural disposition to do evil?

The overarching purpose of the plan is to enable us with knowledge and an ability to set our sites on steps in proving ourselves worthy to going back to live with God, living in such a way we become like Him and then ultimately gain everything He already has. The key here is becoming like him. Moroni teaches, "But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure." We should live together in love in our hearts that through our actions our hearts become pure. It is then we will know and understand Him, since we have transpired into a being of such caliber.

The items in the plan either not discussed of in briefness brushed over are: 1) The Atonement of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ 2) Agency 3) The Fall 4)Principles and Ordinances and 5) The Creation. Where would we be without these doctrines taking an active part in our lives? The plan couldn't be fulfilled without each of these integrally working together for our individual and collective good. I can't imagine teaching the Great Plan of Happiness minus these pivotal points of doctrine.

After talking about the plan I had a question that has been brewing in my mind since placed there in June...Are we all really born carnal and devilish? There is a two part answer to this question: Yes-our bodies have a great disposition to do evil. King Benjamin taught, "For the ^anatural ^bman is an ^cenemy to God, and has been from the ^dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he ^eyieldsto the enticings of the Holy ^fSpirit, and ^gputteth off the ^hnaturalman and becometh a ⁱsaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a ^jchild, ^ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." This is one of my favorite verses of scripture, for it gives us all of the keys to fulfill our divine birthright as future kings and queens, priests and priestesses and children of a Heavenly King and being we have the privilege to call Father. The mortal body we were given is corrupt and mortal, it will invite and entice us to go with the ways of the world and take us from Christ and all His plan has to offer-even eternal life. The flip side of the coin is we have our spirit that have now united with our physical bodies. Depending on who we were in the pre-existence and how we are choosing to currently in our lives, we are given power, strength, and direction to not be enticed by that which cannot satisfy. It is all a choice in if we place our bodies in control of our spirits or if we place our spirits in governance over our bodies. Who are you enlisting to obey-I know as for me and my house, or temple, we will serve the Lord.

I look forward to the day of His appearing and hope previous to His coming I may purify my heart, be filled with His love, that I may recognize Him inasmuch as I have become like Him.

Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself! FDR

I wonder how many have researched out the background and source of this quote. I have seen it used by many, but I think it would mean more to us if we researched the context from whence it came. It was from Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural speech into the presidency of this great nation. It came at a time when many in the country began losing hope they would ever see through the time known as the great depression. It was 1932, in 1933 the bottom fell out and and most of the country began to despair.

I had this thought cross my mind this morning as I thought how my father fashioned a road bike to and from work. It was he that insisted on me finding a love in the great sport of biking. I love mountain biking and down hilling, but there is something many of you, if not all of you don't know. The summer between my 5th and 6th grade year I had was in a biking accident and I'll be the first to admit it scarred me something horrific. Every time I straddle a bike, push on the pedal-I feel it. The fear in the pit of my stomach and I force it out with every pedal I push. My brother got me into mountain biking a few years ago and I was able find a love for trails, however in going to Moab two years ago on a biking trip the slick rock freaked me out enough that I left the group and went off by myself-I just didn't want to slow them down.

I've lived with friends who had road bikes, but until this summer haven't been around so many people with such passion for road biking. My first time going was week before last and as scary as it seemed, when all was said and done I found therein happiness, for "It lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort (also FDR)." I didn't have to go by myself, I had another friend who'd never gone and we had other friends who let us borrow their bikes so we could go.

However, more importantly it's what gotten me to the point of purchasing my first vintage Schwinn road bike this morning. She's a blue beauty, in fact this is what I've named her. Beauty comes in life as we embrace the hard things, not only to learn from them, but change in the face of them. So I will work backwards-Alaina thanks for riding your bike the other night, it made me recognize I didn't need a new bike. My weekend will be reserved for climbing and lovely rides with you.

Cameron, Andi, Dan and James-it's your outward enthusiasm about biking that makes me have a desire to rise to the occasion. I may never be able to go on your extravagant rides and trips, especially after I've seen how jacked up you all come back afterwards. I get enough scrapes and scratches from climbing. :o) Thank you for always inviting me, one of these days I will surprise you and say indeed! Dan do it-my bike was a steal of a deal and you only live once.

Brent and Tiegs thanks for being such an example of what a great family activity it is to be on bikes! Then letting me experience multiple kinds of riding. :o) It reminded me of why I began biking in the first place, as a child I was the kid that rode my tricycle for as long as physically possible-I remember having the seat heightened to the max and my knee caps hitting the handle bars because I didn't want to give up the safety of the three wheels. It kept me grounded and for some reason I didn't care all of my friends were on bikes!

Ian thanks for explaining me enough logistics behind road biking it peaked my curiosity to begin asking questions. It is all about asking questions and obtaining knowledge.

Molly I will be taking you up on your teaching offer in the near future, preferably before you move to Texas! It's so horribly humid there-not nice biking weather.

Overall the purchase I made this morning made me reflect when we are surrounded by those who will uplift, teach, and edify we can then have the courage to place ourselves in scary situations realizing if we fall there are others around us to help catch us, brush us off and help us hop back into life!! Thanks for your love and friendship-I look forward to a fall of fun-filled cycling adventures!

The gifts and talents we are given...

The other day a sister from my previous ward made some FB comment about not knowing what to do with her studies and formal education. I've had a few years to ponder on this question and only in the past few months solidified I've had the answer all along-well ever since I came home from the mission.

We are given so many talents, righteous desires, hobbies we adore, etc. What do we do with them? Here is an example: one who relates well to children, but in particular children who are extra special. Kids that have received labels in life: those with Asperger's, Autism, Down's Syndrome, and the list is endless. They seem to love me as much as all of the others. I can't help, but feel the reason for this is because I treat them no different. I don't baby or caudal, talk down to, or think myself better than them. They merely learn differently than I do or have different capacities than the "norm" of the population. Who defines normal anyway or wants to be normal?

I work with a darling young man I will call Hen. He has Asperger's syndrome and is one of the most brilliant peeps I have the privilege of associating. He has been the highlight of my summer and brings fulfillment and joy into everything we do together. We've read two books, worked on social interactions, mathematics, and lots of reinforcement through recreational therapy. Today he had a bit of a validated melt-down this evening. Hen had worked all afternoon at a crafts camp, which is mentally taxing on the creative end of the spectrum. He was tired and ready to jet when I came to collect him. It was obvious to me he was thirsty, lonely, and sad. After purchasing a notebook, we started in on fractions. I should have seen it coming-it's amazing how I've had the educational background and work experience to deescalate such a situation that could have gotten out of control very fast.

It was all thanks to the still small whisperings of practices I've been taught academically and seen in action previously. He wanted to shut down, scream, fight, throw things, and lose it. I got very quite versus aggressive and started whispering. Immediately he calmed and within 5 minutes we talked through his frustration of showing his work in math problems, gained an understanding of why it's important, and found real life application and problems to his predicament. It was a great teaching opportunity. Further we talked through self control and why it may be important how others perceive our actions and why communication is key in all the relationships we have with others.

We caught the movie Mr. Popper's Penguins, which we both found to be absolutely delightful! Much better than the "grown-up" movies I've seen as of late. It was a warm and fuzzy movie-we laughed and giggled, he asked question (always feels like a touchdown when this happens!), and we even talked about acronyms for texting; he's a pretty hip bloke! All in all it was rewarding because he wasn't a lump in the theater-it was interactive reinforcement and the conversation is always so intellectual and invigorating-I wish I could say as much for most of my cohorts. Hen and I both have a deep love for animals and in this case birds. We went to Fairmont Park and enticed ourselves to come back and feed the ducks before they fly south for the winter.

I enjoy spending my time with him so very much-it almost seems absurd I will get paid to spend time with him. I guess this is how you know you are in the right spot-when you love what you do so much it feels like you should be paying someone because you enjoy doing what you do so much. It becomes you, it defines you, it allows/encourages you to be the best you!

Neither cold nor hot

In the Book of Revelations the saints of the church are being rebuked for being lukewarm. Are there times in our lives when we are spiritually lukewarm? How can we increase our commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained, " Those destined to inherit the terrestrial kingdom are those who are lukewarm members of the church and who have testimonies, but who are not true and faithful in all things" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 1985, 146).

In retrospect of a conversation I had last week I am rarely if ever lukewarm-I am always one extreme or another. Unless in an exception I am worried in my decision making process, when I feel one thing, but talk myself into another or not following through on my initial desires place within me by Him whom knows me best. Are you getting hotter or colder?

I began reading the Book of Mormon at the beginning of the summer and am a few chapters away from finishing it cover to cover. In my study I have been pondering and noting actions and the motivators in the peoples lives and conversion. More than anything I have noted it is all about the hearts of the people(159 references in the B of M). If the people's hearts are in the right place-goodness prevails. If their minds or lips are in filled with knowledge that's how far it stops-the front door of the mind or the mouth. When our hearts are involved in our personal conversion process and that of others, it penetrates to the deepest chasms of our soul. Our minds can be a part of this process with our heart, but our minds must be faith filled and ready to believe. Faith casts out fear or doubt which surrounds us in the world in which we now live, there are absorbent amounts of the philosophies of men mingled with truth. We must follow our heart that our minds may resist the logic and craftiness of men (D&C 52:14-20).

May I be as a child of Helaman and apply his words into my heart, "I desire that ye should deny the ^ajustice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his ^bmercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in^chumility." May I neither be cold or warm, but filled with His love that all may have a desire to come unto Him.