Christian thing to do, Less sin for you

Jason had only learned to handle problems by reviling back.  He practiced the law of Moses.  It drove me crazy because he was so mean and angry and it solved nothing.  He blamed others for his behavior. I put scriptures on the fridge like:

3 Nephi 6: 13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.

and 

Alma 34: 40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have ^apatience, and that ye bear with all manner of ^bafflictions; that ye do not ^crevile against those who do cast you out because of your ^dexceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

There are other scriptures that say the same thing with out using the word revile.  Matt 5:39-40

 But I say unto you, That ye resist not ^aevil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right ^bcheek, ^cturn to him the other also.  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

And then Mormon 8:20 Behold what the scripture says—man shall not ^asmite, neither shall he ^bjudge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.

There is more than one form of smiting.  It doesn't always mean physical violence, but verbal  as well. 

It really came home to me though a few months ago when I was teaching the be-attitudes in 3 Nephi.  I light bulb went on so bring that had never been on so bright before. Here is a few of the scriptures from Matthew: 

6: 14-15  For if ye ^aforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye ^aforgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

5:44 But I say unto you, ^aLove your ^benemies, ^cbless them that ^dcurse you, do ^egood to them that ^fhate you, and ^gpray for them which despitefully use you, and ^hpersecute you;

 45 That ye ^amay be the ^bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth ^crain on the just and on the unjust.

 46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

3 Nephi 12: 22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is ^aangry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 23 Therefore, ^aif ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—

 24 Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be ^areconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full ^bpurpose of heart, and I will receive you.

Here is the big kicker.   If you want to come unto Christ and there are people that have anger towards YOU, (not you towards them) go to them and make restitution with them.  

So, I've had a lot of anger in the past towards Jason and the Twitchells, but I think I've almost let it go.  There are others too, but I'm learning that to be the righteous one, turning the other cheek is the best thing to do.  My dad was awesome at doing this.  It may seem like signing up to get walked on, but it's just letting it go and not letting it bother you.  Do not let someone walk all over you and treat you like crap. Do not. 

Not reviling back when someone reviles at you is the Christian thing to do and avoids MORE sin.  They can keep their sin.  You take the higher road, forget the law of Moses and that eye for an eye stuff!

So while I still want to send a letter I wrote to the Twitchell's or send emails to Jason that are true, but sarcastic, rude and in your face, I don't. I don't because it will do no good for me.  It will only cause me harm (bad replies and proof for them I'm crazy and have not moved on) and increase my anger and my sin. I take the high road of self-denial.  The road where even if you are justified, you don't act.  The road that at first that can be painful, but in the end will bring more peace once time has lapsed.  Good job Becky for finally learning this lesson.  It's about time! 

 Proverbs 25: 21 If thine ^aenemy be ^bhungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall ^areward thee.

The 5 Gospels Tradition

Many families will read from Luke ch 2 on Christmas Eve night as part of there traditions of celebration. I grew up with this tradition and sometimes we'd read from Matthew chapters 1-2 as well as Luke. I remember one Christmas Eve well, it was just my mom, dad and me. We read about Zacharias and Elizabeth and about Simeon and the widow at the temple too. It was a wonderful night filled with the spirit.

Another tradition came to me from a friend over 10 years ago. The tradition is this: Instead of reading of the Saviors birth one night a year, read about his whole life by reading all 4 gospels the 3 months before the sacred holiday.

Christs birth is prophesied in The Book of Mormon. It's in Helaman chapter 14. You can read it here. Even in America they knew about the star and 5 years from the date specified in that prophecy they saw the star.

Then in the next book called 3rd Nephi Christ comes to the people in America after his resurrection in the old world. Some call this the 5th gospel. This book tells about his visit after his mortal life on earth. He comes to his other lost sheep, also his covenant people, in the Americas after his resurrection in the old world.

If one starts on Oct 27 with Matthew continuing with Mark, Luke, John and then 3 Nephi reading 2 chapters a day you will
finish on Christmas!

2 Stories, 1 Message

Many Christian do not believe that in the next life if we run into each other we will know each other or that those on the other side are worried about us at all. Some think that we will be sitting on fluffy clouds praising God. I'm not sure where they get those ideas. They are not in the bible at all. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints know different.

Lazarus and the rich man on earth

There is one story in the New Testament about just what I'm talking about. It can be found in Luke 16 In this chapter the Savior is telling us a story. Some will say- it's just a story. Yes- but a story about the afterlife by he one who would really know about that. Had we not listen up?

This is the story: 2 men die. One was rich and unrighteous and had no name. The other was a poor beggar named Lazarus who went to Abraham's bosom. The rich man when to hell, and SAW ABRAHAM AFAR OFF and Lazarus. He asks Abraham for Mercy, by having Lazarus bring him just a little water. Abraham explains that he had received good things on earth (They have their reward) and poor Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted. Then Abraham explains the gulf that the Savior had not yet breached, so there is no passing in between. Once hearing this he begs Abraham for Lazarus to be sent to his 5 brothers as he thinks they will believe someone that comes from the grave. If they will not hear Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

The rich man tormented in Hell and Lazarus in Abraham's bosom.

Lessons about the after life.
1. We recognized each other.
2. We will feel pleasure and pain.
3. We will think about our family.
4. We will each be ourselves.

During the Christmas season another story is told by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol has the same message, only this time the rich man IS visited and BELIEVES and CHANGES, and the poor is helped too. Scrooge is shown the chains of Hell, the pains of the afterlife if life is lived poorly, and the happiness, yet heartache of those living now. Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited not by family, but by a business partner, or more aptly described as a partner in crime. We have all seen a movie or two done by Hollywood, or Disney, or the Muppets, or seen the play on stage or read the book. Which ever is your favorite the message is the same.

It matters how you live your life.
We will know each other in the next.

The Bible and The Book of Mormon