5.11.2009

If you love them......

.....you will chasten them.

Since yesterday was Mother's Day, I've still got motherhood on my mind. So when I read D&C 95:1, "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten ..." I thought of my children.

Being a parent sometimes means saying no. It means giving reprimands and punishments. We do these things because we love our children and want what's best for them. I always try to remember D&C 121:43, that talks about showing forth an outpouring of love after a rebuke. (For the record, I didn't know the reference off the top of my head. I had to look it up. Lest you think I'm a master scriptorian.Ü) I try to make sure my boys know that I still love them, I'm just not happy about what they chose to do.

V. 4 has some language I've never heard before. (Or at least never paid attention to.) It talks about the Lord preparing his apostles to prune the vineyard that the Lord may "bring to pass his strange act." The footnotes go to two other verses, one in D&C 101 and one in Isaiah. These verses also use the phrase "stange act," butt there is no further clarification. Do you think it just means the Restoration? Like us being a peculiar people? The Church is "strange" compared to the ways of the world? Or do you think it could mean something else?

The nest verse talks about many being called, but few being chosen. Those who are not chosen are thay way because of a "grievious sin." Those who are chosen will be able to enter the house of the Lord and receive their endowments.

I've mentioned before that I've been able to hear Elder Bednar teach on many occasions at BYU-I. I once heard him talking about D&C 121:34, which is a wider-known scripture about many being called and few being chosen. I remember he taught that the Lord does the calling, but we do the choosing. By our actions, we decided ourselves whether or not we will be chosen. D&C 121:35 answers the question as to why some are not chosen. "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men..."

And of course, this "being chosen" doesn't end with being endowed. I think that's just the beginning of our journey -- to remain chosen.

3 comments:

Fiauna said...

This kind of goes along with the post on your other blog. I love the enlightened discourse you provide on the scriptures. Thanks for sharing.

Cluttered Brain said...

Good idea! I like the concept. Can I be your accountable buddy too? I need some help too.:)
I'll just comment on here everyday and tell you what I have read. Don't really want to start another blog cause hey thats YOUR thing. I don't want to seem like a copycat. But I like it. I like it. Maybe a scripture journal instead.
Good?

Michaela Stephens said...

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