Our First Parents Adam and Eve

I believe the scriptures are a wonderful place to look to find examples of valiant women who honored their role as wife and mother. Since March is designated as National Women in History month, I have decided to honor a few of the significant women who have played important roles in the history of the world.

One of the greatest women to have come to this earth is Eve. Eve is the ultimate example of the word mother, for she was designated “the mother of all living.” Being given the title of the first mother, Eve naturally can be looked to as a model for all mothers to follow.

Joined together as husband and wife, she and Adam in obedience lived by the perfect pattern, set by the Lord, for all families to follow. Being symbolically formed from the rib of Adam, Eve became a lateral partner with her husband. Working side by side in equality Adam and Eve raised their children in righteousness, teaching them, making “all things known unto them.” Such is the job of righteous parent throughout all time periods.

As partners, Adam and Eve became co-creators with Deity, to build and organize bodies of mortal men. This partnership made them literal parents, or progenitors, of the entire human race. As their children we can all fondly call them Father Adam and Mother Eve. Thus the Lord declared, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be done flesh.” The pattern for procreation was clearly established on this earth, patterned after what was in Heaven before.

Eve was created in the image of God, and deemed “very good” by Him. She learned to call upon the Father in the name of the Lord as she learned to pray. She and Adam blessed the name of the Lord, and were taught the law of sacrifice as it pointed to the last great sacrifice, Jesus Christ. These concepts of prayer, calling upon the Father through Jesus Christ, and offering sacrifices, they lovingly taught their children.

As a mother, Eve knew the heartache of loss. She understood the effects of both the spiritual death and the physical death, learned very clearly through the example of her children Cain and Able. Eve also knew great happiness and joy in her posterity with the gift of an obedient child in Seth. She understood the blessing she received, in that, a righteous posterity would continue on the earth through his line. Eve received all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and enjoyed all of the gifts of the spirit. As a great mother and teacher she sought to prepare her posterity for all the same blessings she enjoyed.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie stated:

"Thus, in the beginning, the perfect pattern is set for perfecting the family. The man and the woman are together in worship; they are together in teaching their children; they are together in establishing the family unit that hopefully will endure in the eternities ahead, thus giving eternal life to all those who earn it."

In a time where the sanctity of marriage may be in question, and the importance of the role of mother is at stake, I am grateful for the example set by our righteous first parents, Adam and Eve.

Fig Trees and Priesthood

The scriptures use symbolic language and teachings. One of the symbols that I have been fascinated with is that of the fig tree. I have noticed that each time a reference is given in regard to the fig tree one might also be able to substitute it with “priesthood” and find some interesting comparisons.

The fig tree has long been known as the symbol of abundance, fertility and sweetness. The fruit of the fig tree has a tough peel, often cracking upon ripeness and exposing the pulp beneath. The interior is white with a seed mass bound in jelly-like flesh. It is very sweet to the taste. The common fig bears two crops of fruits. The first crop is the “breba” crop, which appears in the spring relying on the last season’s growth. The second crop is borne in the fall on the new growth and is known as the main crop, or the crop of actual value.

Some further information might be interesting as well; this was taken from an old Bible Dictionary that was published in the mid 1800’s.

Fig- three kinds are cultivated: 1. The early fig, ripe in June, green in color. 2. The summer fig, ripe in August, is sweet and the best, purple in color: and 3. the green fig, which remains on the tree all winter. It is one of the few plants which grow wild all over the country. The fig-tree puts forth its earliest fruit-buds before its leaves and the foliage forms a very dense shade. It grows best near a fountain or stream. The sycamore fig grows to a large size in Palestine and Egypt, sometimes 50 feet in circumference, and is evergreen. The fruit is purple, smaller than the other kinds, sweetish, and not so valuable. They ripen from November to June. The wood is used for many purposes, as it is almost the only large tree in Egypt.

As I believe that the fig tree and fruit thereon represent the priesthood organization and the fruits of the priesthood, I have found some interesting symbolism when considering this application in the teachings of the scriptures.

In the account in Matthew 21 the Savior teaches a wonderful lesson using the fig tree. It is interesting to note that in this account, the story of the fig tree is nestled between the cleansing of the Temple, and the Priests inquiring about what authority Christ had to teach. Both are very instructive as to the type of Priesthood holders who were abundant during this time period.

The cursing of the fig tree seems to serve as a lesson concerning the priesthood.

Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

I believe that a statement was being made as to the condition of those who professed to have the priesthood at that time period because there were only showy leaves upon the branches but there was no fruit. The priests who officiated in the Temple at the time were all show, but could produce no fruit. The cursing of the tree, in that it soon died, in my opinion, was an illustration of the soon to be apostasy that would occur because of the unrighteous priesthood leaders.

Another illustration of the unrighteous use of the priesthood during the time of the ministry of Christ is illustrated in Luke. On a side note, the Savior’s ministry was a little over three years. I believe He was allowing the priesthood holders to have a “change of heart” before He took that responsibility away from them completely.

Luke 13:6 ¶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Again in Luke also we can find another description of the type of priesthood that was being practiced by the priests in the Temple.

Luke 6: 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

Fig leaves were used in another illustration of priesthood authority. When Adam and Eve found they were naked, they tried to cover their nakedness, but did so with “false” priesthood. This priesthood, represented by fig leaves, would not be good enough to save them without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which was represented in the coat of skins. The fig leaves are now on the tree and as we are performing sacred acts in the temple dressed in white, WE have become the beautiful fruit. Yes, the beautiful fruit is now on the tree.

Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

What other correlations can you find if you thought of the fig tree as an illustration of priesthood authority?

Sacred Temple Service

“I want to commend those of our people who give so willingly of their time in attending to the sacred work within the temples of the Lord. In temple work is found the very essence of selfless service. In my judgment, one of the miracles of our day is the great consecration of time and effort on the part of hundreds of thousands of busy people in behalf of the dead. Those who are engaged in this service know that out of it all comes a sweet and satisfying feeling. This sweet blessing of the Spirit becomes literally a medicine to cure many of the ailments of our lives. From such experiences we come to realize that only when we serve others do we truly serve the Lord.” Gordon B. Hinckley

I am off for a fun day at the Los Angeles Temple with a group of Young Single Adults to perform baptisms for the dead. These Young Adults amaze me because of the dedication and love they have for Temple service. Contrasting the media attention that has been given of late, they understand the sacred acts of service that are being rendered within the walls of the Temple and choose to be there and feel of the peace that is offered. I guess I am just pondering the irony of the whole situation today and feel blessed to be able to understand the sacredness that the House of the Lord holds, and blessed to associate with those who understand it as well.

I couldn’t spend my time in any better way today, with any better group of people.

Oh yeah, and the icing on the cake is the fact that because of the New Family Search program I can take names of my own family that have passed away, that I have cleared on-line from my own home, and have saving ordinances preformed for them today. Such is the miracle of modern technology. The work moves forward despite opposition and persecution!

The Lord's Pattern For Overcoming Persecution- Section 24

Soon after the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints took place on April 6, 1830, the prophet Joseph Smith was hit with a deluge of persecution from the people of the surrounding areas by way of libelous law suits and unlawful arrests. These were times of great trial and a true test of the faith of the early saints of the Church.

The Lord knew that the Mormon's would be no strangers to persecution so, in His loving fashion, provided a pattern in Section 24 of the Doctrine and Covenants for the saints to follow, to help them endure and even avoid the persecution that would come their way. The pattern was that of pruning.

D&C 24: 19 For thou art called to prune my vineyard with a mighty pruning, yea, even for the last time; yea, and also all those whom thou hast ordained, and they shall do even according to this pattern. Amen.

The act of pruning a tree or a vineyard is the process of removing the “dead wood” or the “sucker saplings” so that the plant does not become drained of its strength and nourishment. By pruning away the unnecessary burden of unproductive branches the whole energy of the plant can concentrate on those branches that will bare fruit.

The Pattern

1) In verse 3 the Lord instructed Joseph to “magnify thine office.” These were specific instruction given to Joseph, but can also be profitable for us today. We all have a calling. We have been called as Children of our Heavenly Father to further His work by proclaiming His gospel, perfecting His saints, and redeeming our dead. When we magnify that office we are entitled to the added blessing of strength that is promised because of obedience and commitment to the Lord. This magnification of our sacred calling is proof to the Lord that we are willing to “make Him our God, and we will be His people” and willing to “walk with Him.” Knowing who we are and what we are called to do is the best protection against persecution that can be given.

2) In verse 5 He instructs us to “call upon God in my name”, or to pray. By submitting ourselves to constant prayer we are showing that we are willing to be directed in the path the Lord would have us take.

3) Also in verse 5, the Lord tells Joseph to “continue writing the things which shall be given thee by the Comforter.” At this time Joseph was in the process of working on the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. If we think about the process that took place to allow this to happen, it is actually the ultimate scripture study experience. Joseph read the scriptures, pondered their meaning, and was taught by the spirit the truth of the words. In this manner we are taught the perfect pattern for scripture study. When we actually study with this same amount of intensity the spirit will make the scriptures live in our hearts.

4) Again, in verse 5 Joseph is instructed to “expound all scriptures unto the church.” He was promised that “it would be given him in the very moment what he should speak and write.” This is another wonderful example of “teaching by the spirit”. The best way to fully understand a principle is to teach it. This instruction, to teach, was a process that allowed Joseph to solidify the concepts he had learned through his study. The best way to make sure you understand a principle is to try to teach it to someone else.

5) In verse 7 Joseph is instructed to serve. Service is the stepping stone for love. We serve those we love, but miraculously we come to love those we serve.

6) Verse 8 calls for patience. Patience allows for differences in opinion and charity towards those who have not received as much light and knowledge as another may have. Imagine the understanding that the Prophet Joseph Smith was given, and the amount of patience he must have needed to “wait” for others to simply catch up to him. Many times persecution exists simply from ignorance or misunderstanding. Patience is a quality that is essential to overcome the desire to “strike back” or retaliate for wrongs that may be done, or feelings that may be trampled on unintentionally or on purpose.

7) The next instruction given is directed to Oliver. It is to “open his mouth in bearing the name of Jesus Christ before the world”, in other words, bear his testimony. The promise for bearing his testimony was the blessing of “strength such as is not known among men.” This is the strength that is needed to overcome any amount of persecution. Every time a testimony is borne the person becomes more strengthened in his resolve and conviction of truth.

8) In verses 13 and 14 instructions are given regarding the use of priesthood authority. The Lord admonishes us to exercise the power of the priesthood righteously. The priesthood is never to be used to “prove” by way of miracles or in exhibitions of power.

9) Finally, they were admonished to take no “purse or scrip” making sure they relied solely on the Lord for their support. When persecution is raging there are times when we can do nothing else but rely on the Lord.

If we ponder this pattern, we can see that through obedience and commitment, prayer combined with scripture study, teaching and serving others in patience, the blessing that naturally follows is the development of a testimony.

The strengthening of that testimony comes in bearing it. Bearing your testimony among those who would persecute you requires a righteous use of priesthood power relying on the Lord for strength, or in other words a complete exercise of faith.

Thus the pattern is set for protection from any type of persecution that we may face. Our membership in the LDS Church today may not require that we face physical abuse like that of being “tarred and feathered”, but it will certainly be tried by fire none the less. As members we face many different levels of persecution, from public verbal abuse by way of inflammatory media attention, to abuse that may be suffered in the privacy of our own homes. We may be called upon in many different avenues to teach correct principles and bear pure testimony to those who do not hold sacred that which we hold sacred. To practice this pattern that the Lord has given us, to withstand the persecution that will come our way, is a requirement now as well as it was in Joseph Smiths time. That protection from persecution can only be found in the development and nurturing of a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.

How have you strengthened your testimony lately?

Why Mormons Build Temples

D&C 127: 4 And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven.

Six Tips For More Effective Scripture Study

I have the blessing and privilege of being a Young Adult Institute instructor in my Stake. What that means is that I have a wonderful opportunity to "rub shoulders" with some of the greatest people I know on this earth. I believe that one of my Young Adult friends summed up the character of these “Children of the Promise”, or this generation, best when he observed:

“Our generation will do things different from generations past. We are strong enough to do it. We were prepared that way in the preexistence. We have more scripture and examples to learn from. It's prophesied that we will come through, so we have that positive mindset. Nevertheless, it will still take great faith. When others have fallen in the past we will rise up because of our faith. We are still reliant on the Lord. We need to serve him in faith, love and humility. We will realize more fully than past generations and the Lord will lift us up.” Zeb Shockley

I believe that because of their desire to know, and willingness to study, they will be blessed with that strong foundation that is needed to combat the evils in the world coming at them with equal force and frequency as the good.

In the most recent BYU Devotional Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy spoke to the BYU students in attendance and emphasized to them the importance of building their testimonies on the rock Helaman spoke of.

Helaman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Elder Jensen gave six tips that he promised would help any student of the scriptures gain more insights from their studies when used. They are as follows:

First was to pray. He told of a time when he was waiting for his airplane to take off — he thumbed through the in-flight magazine and then began to flip through his scriptures. As he did so, he felt the Spirit tell him that he should pray before studying the scriptures instead of treating God’s word as he did a common magazine.

Second, pay the right price. It’s important to search, ponder, analyze and compare instead of merely reading.

“Going through the scriptures regularly is good,” he said, “but to have the scriptures go through you and have them change you comes with a price.”

Third, look for patterns, using whatever study aides necessary.

Fourth, have a pencil and notebook ready to write down impressions. He said we have the 138th section of the Doctrine and Covenants because President Joseph F. Smith wrote down the inspiration he received while studying the scriptures.

Fifth, mark, annotate and write in the margins. Jensen is on his fourth set of scriptures since serving as a mission president in Colombia. He said well-marked scriptures serve as a “portable revelatory filing system.”

Sixth, teach what you learn. He said he does not consider a principle mastered until he can articulate it to someone else. He said it is our responsibility to teach others.

We are long past the days of reading simply out of habit or obedience, and have moved into a time where it is imperative to read for direction in our lives. These Young Adults have been taught better than any other generation how to do this. Where much is given, much is expected.

What are some techniques you find helpful when you study the scriptures?

The Different Priesthood Roles of Men and Women

The Priesthood is the power by which all things are created, governed, and ultimately redeemed. Women and men both play integral roles in that priesthood responsibility, as delegated to them from the Father. Both are equally needed and important, and are required to fulfill their priesthood obligations as they covenanted to do, they simply have different assignments within that priesthood organization.

The priesthood responsibility of the woman is to provide physical birth. This is fulfilled through the righteous union of the opposite sexes through the sealing power available in the House of the Lord. Thus, as stated in The Family: A Proclamation to The World,

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose....

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”

Although some women may not have that sacred blessing of actually experiencing the physical birthing process in this life, ultimately she will be able to fulfill that priesthood responsibility if she remains true and faithful. As a testimony of that fact, she experiences the cleansing power of blood every month and is pronounced “clean”.

Men, on the other hand, have the sacred responsibility of providing an opportunity for “spiritual” birth. This process is done through the administration of the ordinances required to allow the spiritual birthing process to take place, these include faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. This may be referred to as the process of becoming “born again.” When the man faithfully fulfills his priesthood responsibility he “may become clean” as well.

Once the woman and the man have worked “with one heart and one mind”, submitting their will to that of the Father, by performing these sacred priesthood duties, they are then ready to enter the House of the Lord to administer in the “higher” priesthood saving ordinances together.

Thus, neither is the man without the woman or the woman without the man, in the Lord. Both are needed to further the beautiful plan that the Father has made to “bring to pass the immortality and Eternal life” of His children.

The Priesthood is the power by which this is accomplished.