A while back I was struck by a particular phrase in the first commandment God ever gave: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:28--identical except for minor punctuation in Moses 2:28)
The word "replenish" sounds odd there. A bit of online research should show anyone that "fill" would be a more proper translation of the word, rather than something that usually means "refill". This means that "multiply" and "replenish the earth" are a bit redundant. Even so, the fact that some translators happened to choose that word (for unknown reasons) makes me think of something. I think of what it would mean to actually replenish the earth in relation to bearing more children, because as we live on the Earth, and have more children who also live on the Earth, thus using natural resources and making a mess.
For decade now there have been some people who argue that the Earth is overpopulated, and some are even proponents of laws that would limit child-bearing. This would be directly in opposition to God's first commandment. If anyone were to confront me about my large family and accuse me of wrongdoing, I would tell them that I do not believe at all that the Earth is over-populated, and that the real problem is that we're not managing the Earth and its resources well. Yes, some people on the Earth are hungry, but if we all managed the land well we could easily produce enough food for everyone currently on the Earth and more. I would tell them that the important thing is to teach children to be good stewards of the Earth, to avoid waste, and to contribute by helping others in need. There's not a lot of direct instruction from Church leaders about how to care for the Earth, and I would always want to avoid getting political (particularly as I don't trust people in government much at all in most cases but also when it comes to environmentalism), but I do believe in managing resources well and cleaning up messes. So on a personal level, I believe in picking up trash and recycling, among other things.
The other aspect to stewardship of the Earth is that it seems to be one of those topics that some Church members easily ignore. I feel that the attitude of not examining ourselves and considering ways that we should change is on of the most spiritually inhibiting factors that can be present in a person's life.
Last thoughts for now:
Granted, "replenish" in Genesis 1:28 would be better translated as "fill". That being said, as I do my part to fill the Earth with God's children, I want to teach them to care for it also, by both word and example.
Showing posts with label commandments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commandments. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Alternatives to Obeying the Law
This thought starts with something not spiritual at all. I drive according to the speed limit. Admittedly, I used to be more careful, but I still consider it personally unacceptable to exceed that limit. This means that I tend to drive slower than most people around me. I don't mind that. People tend to be polite and don't tell me I should drive faster, yet as with everything else, there is always a subtle pressure to conform to what everyone else is doing. There are surely those who would look down on me for restricting myself to obeying a law that most people don't obey, especially in light of countless reasons to drive faster. This was on my mind the other day, so I asked myself if I didn't follow the speed limit, what else would I do?
One of my options would be to match the speed of those around me, or, if I didn't happen to be in much traffic, to try to go as fast as I thought other people would drive if they were there. I don't like this idea because I believe in acting out of principle. I have a good mind that can think through problems and come up with reasons for taking any particular action, and I can use it when determining my driving speed rather than just going with the flow. Sure, there are a lot of social conventions that are harmless to follow, where it would be more trouble than it's worth to defy, but if it comes to social pressure vs. principle, principle will always be more important for me.
Another option would be to increase my speed but limit myself to only going five miles per hour over the speed limit. This is a pretty common practice, because people (like me) often want to take as little time as possible to get somewhere, but are content to get away with breaking the law a little bit when they know they won't get in trouble for it (which is not much like me). In this case, people driving five-over are still constrained by the law without respecting it. I don't like that. To undermine one law is to undermine the rule of law in general, and I believe in law. I believe that the commandments of God and usually the laws of the land are there for our benefit, and I don't want to undermine them.
I could also go flying down the road at very high speeds. I see people do this commonly, and I always think poorly of their actions. Not only would such an action show blatant disrespect for the law, but it can be very dangerous. It also sends a clear message to everyone that the driver considers himself or herself to be more important than everyone else, because there's no practical way that everyone could drive recklessly on the road. Even if I knew that there were no police officers or cameras on a given stretch of road, I wouldn't want to do this.
So the alternatives to obeying the law aren't acceptable to me.
I made the distinction between God's commandments and the laws of men. In matters such as the payment of tithing, no one is going to fine me or imprison me for not obeying the law. If I were to openly break the Word of Wisdom I wouldn't get tossed in jail either. So when I choose to obey the commandments, it's because I know the value of the law and the blessing I receive from obeying it.
As with man-made laws, people tend to have social conventions regarding obedience to the laws of God. The social pressure in a given context may be to obey the commandments or to disobey them. I don't ever want to obey commandments only because it's the socially acceptable thing to do, and I do want to obey them even if it's not popular. I'm not immune to social pressure; I do worry about being too concerned with what people think of me, and there have surely been times when social pressure has led me to do the right thing when I wouldn't have otherwise, but I believe in doing what is right just because it is right.
As a disclaimer, when my baby was born recently I sped while driving from an airport to the hospital. I bear in mind President Monson's words that "it is easier to keep the commandments 100 percent of the time than it is 98 percent of the time." But especially after missing the birth of my last child, I wanted to be there for this one. So my obedience to law is evidently not perfect, but after this experience I've continued in my regular driving habits.
Last thoughts for now:
I believe in obeying the commandments because they are God's will and He loves us and knows what is best for us. I believe in doing the right thing out of principle. What's really most important to me is knowing that I stand well with God and with myself. I will need the mercy of Jesus Christ, but I want to merit it by truly being His disciple.
One of my options would be to match the speed of those around me, or, if I didn't happen to be in much traffic, to try to go as fast as I thought other people would drive if they were there. I don't like this idea because I believe in acting out of principle. I have a good mind that can think through problems and come up with reasons for taking any particular action, and I can use it when determining my driving speed rather than just going with the flow. Sure, there are a lot of social conventions that are harmless to follow, where it would be more trouble than it's worth to defy, but if it comes to social pressure vs. principle, principle will always be more important for me.
Another option would be to increase my speed but limit myself to only going five miles per hour over the speed limit. This is a pretty common practice, because people (like me) often want to take as little time as possible to get somewhere, but are content to get away with breaking the law a little bit when they know they won't get in trouble for it (which is not much like me). In this case, people driving five-over are still constrained by the law without respecting it. I don't like that. To undermine one law is to undermine the rule of law in general, and I believe in law. I believe that the commandments of God and usually the laws of the land are there for our benefit, and I don't want to undermine them.
I could also go flying down the road at very high speeds. I see people do this commonly, and I always think poorly of their actions. Not only would such an action show blatant disrespect for the law, but it can be very dangerous. It also sends a clear message to everyone that the driver considers himself or herself to be more important than everyone else, because there's no practical way that everyone could drive recklessly on the road. Even if I knew that there were no police officers or cameras on a given stretch of road, I wouldn't want to do this.
So the alternatives to obeying the law aren't acceptable to me.
I made the distinction between God's commandments and the laws of men. In matters such as the payment of tithing, no one is going to fine me or imprison me for not obeying the law. If I were to openly break the Word of Wisdom I wouldn't get tossed in jail either. So when I choose to obey the commandments, it's because I know the value of the law and the blessing I receive from obeying it.
As with man-made laws, people tend to have social conventions regarding obedience to the laws of God. The social pressure in a given context may be to obey the commandments or to disobey them. I don't ever want to obey commandments only because it's the socially acceptable thing to do, and I do want to obey them even if it's not popular. I'm not immune to social pressure; I do worry about being too concerned with what people think of me, and there have surely been times when social pressure has led me to do the right thing when I wouldn't have otherwise, but I believe in doing what is right just because it is right.
As a disclaimer, when my baby was born recently I sped while driving from an airport to the hospital. I bear in mind President Monson's words that "it is easier to keep the commandments 100 percent of the time than it is 98 percent of the time." But especially after missing the birth of my last child, I wanted to be there for this one. So my obedience to law is evidently not perfect, but after this experience I've continued in my regular driving habits.
Last thoughts for now:
I believe in obeying the commandments because they are God's will and He loves us and knows what is best for us. I believe in doing the right thing out of principle. What's really most important to me is knowing that I stand well with God and with myself. I will need the mercy of Jesus Christ, but I want to merit it by truly being His disciple.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
"That every man might speak in the name of God"
I didn't grow up listening to a pastor or "holy man" preach every week. I grew up in a church where everyone was expected to contribute, and everyone was expected to keep the commandments. In hindsight, it's strange to me when I see others' religious experiences in which they are "normal" and some other figure is "holy". I don't mean to take a shot at other people's faith, but I know what it means to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Every member of the Church has been baptized. Through that covenant we all have promised to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, keep his commandments, mourn with those that mourn (Mosiah 18:9), and speak with the "tongue of angels" (2 Nephi 31:13-14, 32:2-3). We are all disciples of Christ who have covenanted to cast off sin and leave worldly ways behind. We all serve in the Church, and someone who is a mission president one month is a teacher for young children the next. We all have the same responsibility to have faith and to repent, and if we do so we are all candidates for positions of service that people outside of our religion might see as positions of prominence. Despite our weakness we are all saints; we are all Latter-day Saints.
I think sometimes we as members of God's Church don't realize what He wants for us. We are sometimes too content to let others lead. The truth is that we have all been called to serve and to lead and to be shining examples of discipleship. No one is inherently better than anyone else; there isn't a division of groups that are meant to be noble and groups that are meant to be prodded along. Instead, God desires "that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; That faith also might increase in the earth; That mine everlasting acovenant might be established; That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:20-23)
What's more, the breadth of Christ's Atonement itself implies that the glory of God is intended for all of us. "And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 9:21-23--a personal favorite) We all are supposed to benefit from the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and having been given so much we are then all required to do much. God desires for us all to receive His joy and glory, or as I mentioned in an earlier post, there's "Only One Destination in the Plan".
Last thoughts for now:
We all deserve to have hope, and we all deserve to know the joy of service. Heavenly Father wants us all to be righteous and holy. The Church exists to bring the children of God, every one of us a sinner, close to Him. I hope for us all to better understand Jesus Christ's Atonement and become better servants of the Almighty God.
Every member of the Church has been baptized. Through that covenant we all have promised to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, keep his commandments, mourn with those that mourn (Mosiah 18:9), and speak with the "tongue of angels" (2 Nephi 31:13-14, 32:2-3). We are all disciples of Christ who have covenanted to cast off sin and leave worldly ways behind. We all serve in the Church, and someone who is a mission president one month is a teacher for young children the next. We all have the same responsibility to have faith and to repent, and if we do so we are all candidates for positions of service that people outside of our religion might see as positions of prominence. Despite our weakness we are all saints; we are all Latter-day Saints.
I think sometimes we as members of God's Church don't realize what He wants for us. We are sometimes too content to let others lead. The truth is that we have all been called to serve and to lead and to be shining examples of discipleship. No one is inherently better than anyone else; there isn't a division of groups that are meant to be noble and groups that are meant to be prodded along. Instead, God desires "that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; That faith also might increase in the earth; That mine everlasting acovenant might be established; That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:20-23)
What's more, the breadth of Christ's Atonement itself implies that the glory of God is intended for all of us. "And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 9:21-23--a personal favorite) We all are supposed to benefit from the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and having been given so much we are then all required to do much. God desires for us all to receive His joy and glory, or as I mentioned in an earlier post, there's "Only One Destination in the Plan".
Last thoughts for now:
We all deserve to have hope, and we all deserve to know the joy of service. Heavenly Father wants us all to be righteous and holy. The Church exists to bring the children of God, every one of us a sinner, close to Him. I hope for us all to better understand Jesus Christ's Atonement and become better servants of the Almighty God.
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