Meeting the standard

In a discussion in my Doctrine and Covenants class last week, we discussed the four major commandments Joseph Smith was given in D&C 124. Then we looked at how, of the four commandments, Joseph only saw one fulfilled in his lifetime.

One of my friends asked the question, "If God knew Joseph Smith would be killed before he could complete all of those commandments, why did He command them?" This lead to a wider discussion on why God gives us commandments when He knows we will not obey them with perfection.

The Savior has commanded us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48). Yet we also know that no human will ever fulfill that commandment alone (Romans 3:23). In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul shares that the Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Moroni also tells us that we can become perfected through the grace of Christ (Moroni 10:32-33).

So, through our own efforts and the grace of the atonement, we can eventually meet the standard of perfection that the Lord has given (2 Nephi 25:23). In fact, because the atonement fills in the gap between our best efforts and the standard, we can reach whatever standard we are given. If the standard was merely to be pretty good, then the atonement would help, but that wouldn't be achieving the ultimate of our capabilities. I am so grateful that the standard given is that of perfection - celestial glory - because I know that through Christ, I can reach it.

Daughter, Sister, Friend, Woman

The visiting teaching message this month is about the divine role of women. As I've been preparing my message, it's given me time to think about my role as a woman, especially as a woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This has lead me on a trail of studying several chapters from books like Go Forward With Faith, Covenant Hearts, A Quiet Heart, The Belonging Heart, Teachings of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and Strengthening Our Families. Each of the chapters or addresses I looked at dealt with different aspects of the divine and eternal roles that women fulfill.

Last week, I had a good discussion with my friends Lynne and Justin about finances (especially starting to invest money and build credit). The conversation brought up the point that even though I don't have much money right now, I want to gain experience managing my finances so I can truly be an equal partner in my marriage. I believe that if I put in the effort now, I will have more to offer to my future husband and family, making our combined efforts even greater (hooray for synergy!).

In the gospel, married couples are seen as one (Genesis 2:24). The Family: A Proclamation to the World says that in family roles, men and women are "obligated to help one another as equal partners." Exaltation, the ultimate goal of existence, is not eternal life, but eternal lives, sealed together as husband and wife (D&C 132:24). At the October 2008 General Conference, Elder Nelson commented on this when he said, "In God's eternal plan, ... exaltation is a family matter. (Salvation and Exaltation, November 2008 Ensign)"

Equal partnership is not ensuring that each partner does the exact same work; it is more than keeping score. One of my favorite stories of equal partnership is about Elder Neal A. Maxwell and comes from an article in the Ensign by Elder and Sister Hafen:

"Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that for too long in the Church, the men have been the theologians while the women have been the Christians. To be equal partners, each should be both a theologian and a Christian.

"When Elder Maxwell learned in 1996 that he had leukemia, the diagnosis was discouraging. He had worked for years on making himself “willing to submit” (Mosiah 3:19) to the Lord’s will. If it was time to face death, he didn’t want to shrink from drinking his bitter cup.

"But his wife, Colleen, thought he was too willing to yield. With loving directness, she said that Christ Himself earnestly pleaded first, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” Only then did He submit Himself, saying, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). Elder Maxwell saw his wife’s doctrinal insight and agreed. As a result, they pleaded together that his life might be spared. Motivated by their determination, Elder Maxwell’s doctor found a new medical treatment that prolonged his life for several years. Elder Maxwell was grateful that he was not the only theologian in their marriage. (Crossing Thresholds and Becoming Equal Partners, August 2007 Ensign)"

The prophet Joseph Smith helped to set the tone for women in the Church. In 1842 he organized the Relief Society, and his relationship with Emma exemplified equal partnership. Doctrine and Covenants section 25 is a revelation given to Emma. Verse five reads, "And the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto... thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness." While verse nine says, "And thou needest not fear, for thy husband shall support thee in the church... (emphasis added)" Emma and Joseph were equal partners, they comforted and supported each other throughout life.

One of the beauties of the gospel is that the divinity of women and motherhood does not in any way lessen the divinity of men and the priesthood. Rather, they come together to make a perfect and complete whole that neither could attain individually. I was reminded of this on a plane ride a few months ago when, after hearing that I was not dating anyone, the woman next to me made a disparaging comment about men. I quickly felt the need to clarify that even though I was single, I knew many good and honorable men.

I am grateful for the status of women in the Church. In no other place do I feel more respected and more empowered to do good.

Welcome!

Hello! Thanks for reading my new blog. I started this as an assignment for a religion class at BYU, but I hope that it will be a place for friends and family to visit to get updates on my life.

Since I started a class on the Doctrine and Covenants this semester, I have given a lot of thought to what I gain from studying the Doctrine and Covenants in context. The list of blessings is long, but I think one particular example from my life shows the growth that I've experienced.

In April of 2007, I remember watching the PBS documentary The Mormons and learning of some historical aspects of the Church that I had never known. Though my testimony of the Church and of Jesus Christ stayed strong, the potential dangers of remaining ignorant of historical context of the truths I had learned became clear to me. Particularly, I realized that I needed to strengthen my testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet.

A few months later, I enrolled in a Latter-day Saint History class (taught by Susan Easton Black). Near the beginning of the semester, we discussed Joseph Smith's different accounts of the first vision. I learned that though this particular aspect of the story was not found in the cannonized account, in other accounts Joseph mentions that one of his purposes in praying in the grove was to receive a remission of his sins. When Christ appeared, one of the first things He said to Jospeh was, "thy Sins are forgiven thee."

Joseph describes the circumstances surrounding his 1823 visit by the angel Moroni, three years after his first vision, as:

"On the twenty-first evening of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might kinow of my state and standing before him... (JS-H 1:29)"

Doctrine and Covenants section 110 contains the vision, manifested to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, of Jesus Christ accepting the Kirtland Temple. Though I had read it many times, I never noticed that in the section introduction Joseph mentions they were engaged in "solemn and silent prayer" prior to the vision. I know of no place where Joseph has said what he was praying for, but verse 5 reads:

"Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. (D&C 110:5)"

Among other things, studying the Doctrine and Covenants in the context of Church History has strengthened by testimony that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I appreciate his example of continually seeking to be in good standing with God. The revelations he received mean even more to me when I learn of the comfort they provided him as they were answers to prayers regarding real-life situations, just as I face. I know the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants are true and I look forward to sharing my experiences with them.

Thank you for reading and I hope you'll check back often. Don't forget to post your comments!