Lessons from the Calling of Moses

I studied Exodus 3&4 in depth this week, trying to understand what I could about Moses (actually, I was trying to compare what the scriptures ACTUALLY say compared to Hollywood movies about Moses). I learned a great lesson from what Moses said back to God after he was chosen to lead Israel out of Egypt.

Moses first responded by saying, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” Later, he had other questions: “When they ask who sent me what should I say? When they don’t believe me what should I do? How can I say it, seeing that I am slow of speech?” After the Lord answered all of those questions, he even said, “Can you please send someone else?” (Exodus 4:13, NIV version)

God reassured him each time: “Surely I will be with thee. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. I made man’s mouth, and I will teach thee what to say.” He even allowed Moses to do great miracles as signs to the people, and called another man (Aaron) to help him along the way.

As I was reading these chapters I had a few things come to mind. First off, that I was helped ALL THE TIME in my calling in the Bishopric. I remember looking throughout the congregation my first Sunday on the stand and only being able to name 5 people! President Monson said, "It is the Lord's work, and when we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies" (April 1996 Conference).

Secondly, a couple scriptures came to mind: The message that Christ will help us in our God-given responsibilities is summed up great in D&C 84:88 – “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” When I was on my mission Elder Holland came to visit us. He shared Moses 1:39 about the Lord's work and glory. Then he said, "To me, the two most important words in that verse are 'my' and 'my.' Remember that the work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man is HIS work. God's work and God's glory are in GOD'S HANDS." 

I have come to believe this principle. If we just do God's work, the way that He wants us to, then everything will work out. And God's power, grace, and guidance will be there the whole time.

Lessons from Joseph and His Brothers

One time I did a study on what it means to "be spiritual," or to be better at having the Spirit with you. I found a talk from Elder Oaks that really opened my eyes. In his Oct 1985 Conference talk, he defined spirituality as "being able to keep an eternal perspective." After I read that talk I tried to go through the scriptures and find good examples of people who were good at keeping an eternal perspective.

Other than Jesus Himself, Joseph in Egypt is one of my favorite examples. First, his brothers tried to kill him, then instead sold him to spice traders. He was passed on to Egypt and then sold again to Potiphar. After working hard as a slave, he was tempted by Potiphar's wife, then tricked into going to prison. While in prison, he was forgotten about by someone he helped, and had to spend even more time as a prisoner. All of that without "deserving" any of it.

When he finally revealed himself to his brothers, rather than holding a grudge or punishing them for all that had happened, he instead kept an eternal perspective: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20). 

After all of his hard trials, he realized that he might not have been able to save his family and the Egyptians without spending those hard years in servitude and in prison. Sometimes it is almost impossible for me to keep an eternal perspective during difficult trials, but I like to think of Joseph during those times. Even if he wasn't able to stay positive DURING his trials, but in those experiences time can be a great teacher. From Joseph (and Elder Oaks) I have learned that I can stay positive and keep the Spirit with me when I try to have an eternal perspective and see what things I can learn after it is all over. 

Lessons from Joseph in Egypt

Last week, while doing an interview on ESPN, Steve Young quoted Joseph Smith: “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that quote, and another one I heard from Elder Bednar in a seminary training speech. He said, “If they know the Why, the Hows will take care of themselves.”

I really believe those quotes. I feel like the teenagers in my classes really know the “Dos and Don’ts” of the Gospel well. They know what Mormons are and aren’t “supposed” to do. But often many of them don’t know the doctrine behind the actions.

I really gained a testimony of this principle when I lived in China. For the first time in my life I didn’t have to be spiritually accountable to anyone. I didn’t have anyone telling me what time to go to bed or when to wake up; I could eat as I pleased, and I never had anyone to check what I was doing on the computer; and on Sundays I was completely free to do WHATEVER I WANTED! During that time no one knew my background or my beliefs, so it was the ultimate test of integrity and testimony.

While reading the story of Joseph this week, my experiences in China really stuck out to me. When he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her, instead of saying “I can’t; I’m a Mormon,” (By the way, I HATE those t-shirts!), he told her the real reason – he couldn’t turn his back on God. If Joseph didn’t have a real relationship with the Father, I don’t think he would have lasted in Egypt. The reason he prospered and eventually saved the entire house of Israel is because he knew the real reason we keep the commandments.

I know that if we learn the whys behind keeping the commandments, and then try to teach those doctrines to our kids, the commandments will always make sense to us. I also know that if that is the case then God will always prepare a way for us to accomplish them. 

Lessons from Isaac and Rebekah

Someone once explained to me that if the power of God is like electricity, then covenants are like outlets. As I've studied more about Ordinances and Covenants, especially from the D&C, that object lesson really makes sense. Covenants are given to us so that we will stay in connection with the power of God. Through experiences, I've learned in my life that grace, the power of God, really es always accessible. And that His power comes into my life when He asks me to make promises to Him, and then to keep them.

During this last week I taught about Rebekah and Isaac. In my studies I have thought a lot about their marriage story. Although I don't know all of the details, it struck me that both of them (with support from their parents) went to so much effort to marry someone who believed in God and would be able to make a covenant to worship Him in connection with their marriage. They were both very adamant that they should not marry someone who was not from the covenant line.

From Rebekah and Isaac I have once again realized how much my marriage has pointed me toward Christ. Our covenant to each other, and to God, really has been the outlet that has plugged us in to grace. I've also realized how grace and the Spirit have been in our experiences and in our home when we have kept our marriage promises. Most of all, this truth is what has stuck out: being married in the temple, and returning often, has been really important because I keep my marriage promises best when I keep God at the forefront of my life.