Things As They Truly Are

  Pieces of the Puzzle? When I was younger I loved putting together the pieces of the puzzle of Gospel doctrine. This week's Come Follow Me reading assignment includes Doctrine & Covenants 113, which contains one of the "pieces" that I have used in different ways at different times in my life. Specifically, Doctrine & Covenants 113:1-6, which interprets some enigmatic verses from Isaiah 11. 5. What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter? 6. Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendent of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days. Nephi quotes t his same chapter of Isaiah in  2 Nephi 21, and Moroni quoted it when he appeared to Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith-History 40). So it seems pretty important. So who is this "root of Jesse"? The Come Follow Me lesson states that this is "a prophecy that descr...

The Way Begins in the Hole Have you ever felt like you had to measure up in order to be worthy of love or help? I have. In last week's General Conference Sister Susan Porter, first counselor in the Primary General Presidency, said: "Sometimes we mistakenly think that we can feel God's love only after we have followed the iron rod and partaken of the fruit. God's love, however, not only is received by those who come to the tree but is the very power that motivates us to seek the tree." While I don't know that I ever consciously believed this, looking back it is clear to me that I did. It's another manifestation of the enoughness heresy, which simply says love is something I must earn. I must be enough before I am worthy of being loved, and I am not yet enough. A corollary to this belief is I can only expect God's help if I am worthy of it, and I am only worthy of it if I have already done enough. Whatever "enough" is. I love the following quo...

Blessings? "God's love is not found in the circumstances of our lives, but in His presence in our lives."  --Susan H. Porter, 1st Counselor, Primary General Presidency I often hear people talk about how God has blessed them with material goods, with health, with wisdom or other desirable things. The problem this creates is that a lack of these "blessings" must mean that God is instead withholding blessings. Or worse, that He is cursing them. And then there's the pernicious idea that if we just have enough faith, then God will "bless" us with health, wealth and wisdom. So either we're deficient, or God is cruel.  What if it's neither? I love what Sharon Porter said in her Conference talk today. I think she hits the nail right on the head. Our circumstances--"blessings" or lack thereof--are not evidence of God's love. The evidence is that He is with us regardless of our circumstances. Brent Nielsen of the Seventy also touched on...