Christ is the Reason

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Some of the things that are being shown in our theaters and broadcast to our homes via television and videos and over the Internet are insidious and dangerous. Rather than falling within the scriptural admonition to seek after that which is “virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy” (Articles of Faith 1:13), they are more clearly described in chapter 7 of Moroni, where the prophet Mormon teaches that “whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God. . . is of the devil” (Moroni 7:17). Now I’m aware that some of you may think that you know better than I do about this subject. And you will argue your case based on artistic merit or the fact that “everyone is seeing it,” or you will insist that you are not one of those people who will be influenced one way or the other by on-screen sex or violence. To you I have only one question: Are you going to follow the true and living prophets or not? It really isn’t any more complicated than that. The standard of the Church with regard to morality is clearly outlined in the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet, which you haven’t outgrown, even though many of you are no longer in Young Men and Young Women. If you choose to read anything that contains material that is contrary to the moral standards of the Church, then you are placing yourself and your own wisdom above the counsel of God’s prophets—a course of action that would indeed be very unwise. As soon as people begin to think that they know better than God or his oracles, or that counsel given doesn’t apply to themselves, they are stepping onto a slippery slope that has claimed far too many victims already. It takes faith—real faith, unequivocable and unreserved—to accept and attempt to live by prophetic counsel even when you don’t completely understand it. Such simple faith has the power to guide you safely through every challenge you may face in your life.” M. Russel Ballard When Shall These Things Be?

“For instance, it seems illogical to expect a youngster to feel uncomfortable about watching R-rated films on the sly if Mom and Dad bring R-rated videocassettes home for their private viewing. Justifications like “Well, it won an Oscar” or “There’s only one little scene (or word, or grotesque special effect) that gave it an R-rating” are just that: justifications, hollow excuses for going contrary to the Spirit of Christ. Never mind that Mom and Dad won’t allow the kids to watch the show with them. The only thing that particular limitation teaches is that it’s okay to assault your values with video violence, profanity, and sexuality, as long as you’re an adult. These are the standards we should hold to in our homes. Any film, television program, or video game, for that matter, that isn’t “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” should not be allowed on our TV sets, regardless of the rating or critical acclaim. And when we watch a program and something unacceptable comes on, we ought to have the courage—then and there—to turn it off, perhaps taking advantage of the opportunity to point out why we are doing so to children who watch with us. A child who has grown up in a home where the Spirit of Christ shines unobstructed by parental hypocrisy would be more likely to recognize that spirit when it prompts him, even in a difficult social setting.” (Joseph Walker, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, Sept. 1990, 72)

“Now, brethren of the priesthood, there should not be any X- or R-rated movies that we participate in viewing or talking about. There must be no pornographic magazines, pictures, or stories, no re-telling of filthy jokes or crude experiences. Once in a while we should stop and ask ourselves, “In whose army are we fighting? Whose battle lines are we defending?” Do you have the courage to walk out of an off-color PG-rated movie—or do you watch and listen, and suggest to yourself, “This soon will pass,” or “Everyone is doing it; it must be an acceptable type of entertainment”? Have you the courage to keep out of your home some television shows that are filled with suggestive sexual conversation—and even experiences? Have you thought lately how effective these shows are in piercing even the strongest spirits? Brethren, we must not feed ourselves a diet of trash!” ( Purify Our Minds and Spirits Bishop H. Burke Peterson First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric)

President Hartman Rector, Jr., of the First Council of the Seventy, for example, used the rating system as a guideline when he, counseled the youth of the Church in 1972 to “not attend R- or X-rated movies.” (Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 131.)

“We must be true to the very best that is in us. We are sons of God honored to hold His divine authority. But we live in a world of evil. There is a constant power, pulling us down, inviting us to partake of those things which are totally inconsistent with the divine priesthood which we hold. It is interesting to observe how the father of lies, that wily son of the morning who was cast out of heaven, always has the means and capacity to entice, to invite, to gather to his ways those who are not strong and alert. Very recently a certain moving picture was acclaimed the best of the year. I have not seen it, nor do I anticipate doing so. But I am told that it is laden with sex, that the use of profanity runs throughout.” Loyalty President Gordon B. Hinckley

Scripture 1 Nephi 21: 14-15

Perfecting Our Lives; Tithes and Offerings

Consecration Obedience Salvation Service Covenant of Gathering Atonement Love Coming unto Christ Abide in the Covenant

• Have you been saved? (Come unto Christ?)
• If you haven’t, how do you come unto Christ, practically speaking?

1.Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

2.Repentance

3.Baptism by Immersion

4.Gift of the Holy Ghost

If we do these steps, then we are saved, in the past tense; meaning we are justified (perfect) through Christ. (Read 3 Nephi 11:32-33 emphasis on the same shall be saved . See also John 3:16, Mark 16:16, Moses 5:14-15 etc.)

Read Math 7:13-14

What is that? It’s baptism! It’s coming unto Christ! For most of us, we’ve already accepted Christ and are currently in a covenant relationship with Him, meaning the strait gate is behind us, and we are currently on the narrow road, we’re in the kingdom of God on earth!

Now, a lot of my born again Christian friends talk about being saved, or coming unto Christ as the destination; once you do it, there’s really not a lot to look forward to. (Try having a conversation about what we do in the after life, and it will be a short one!) But for us Latter-Day Saints it’s merely the beginning of our journey, there’s a long way to go. That’s “abiding in the covenant.”

We’re going to talk about one of the essential things we must do in order to abide, or continue in our covenant relationship with Christ; our ultimate goal being perfection. And one of the conditions of this relationship is the Law of Tithing.

Law of Consecration

Before we talk about the lesser law, it’s important to understand the higher law.

What is the higher law of tithing?

The law of consecration has been in force in many dispensations including (but not limited to) Enoch, Melchizedek, Peter.

It was alluded to very early in church history. D&C 38:32 Where are they? (New York)

But before it was officially introduced, it was already being attempted in Kirtland. But it wasn’t unique in just Kirtland, for it flourished in Utopian societies of the day. It was called “common stock”, taken from the phrase “all things in common” from Acts 4:32. It didn’t work for several reasons. (Illustrate by having someone put there keys on the ground and go from there.) People took things without permission and without giving it back and that led to a lack of faith and uneasy feeling about it before it even had started.

It was finally introduced in D&C 42 (read verse summary)

Summarize versus 30-39 and or have someone try to explain what the Law of consecration actually was or how it worked.

1. Give all property to the church (31)
2. Shall be given what is sufficient for his family (32)
3. Give the rest that you don’t need to the bishop and it will be distributed to those as needed.

D&C 78: 6 is the gist of what the law of consecration is all about. The law of consecration was designed to make everyone equal.

• Why does the Lord require equality? Why is that important?

C. S. Lewis: "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, cleverer, or better-looking than others. If every one else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone."

If we are all equal the destructive pride that cost the Nephite Nation its existence is avoided.

(take it out of context)

• Why were the Saints driven from there lands to Utah? What force caused them to keep from building New Jerusalem?

D&C 105: 3-6

Both disobedience and Satan caused the Saints to be driven. At this time the law of consecration was suspended for a time. (This is in 1834)

Law of Tithing

Like the law of consecration, the law of tithing is not new. Early mentions of tithing include;

Genesis 14:20

Genesis 28: 20-22

Leviticus 27:30-34

First reference of tithing in this dispensation is D&C 64:23

• What year is this revelation? (1831)

This was actually given when the saints were still under the law of consecration, it has a different meaning, historically speaking.

The Law of Tithing wasn’t formally introduced into the church until 1838 with D&C 119.

One of the reasons the church was in such bad financial straits was because of the failure of the Kirkland bank. It was a time when each branch of the government was learning how to walk for the first time, so unlike now there weren’t a lot of regulations in any aspect, especially financial institutions. It was decided that it the power to create financial institutions was not a responsibility of the federal government, so many people tried to start there own banks. There turned out to be a lot of fraud through out the country and the faith in these institutions collapsed. Most of the Kirkland temple was built of the credit generated by the notes of the Kirkland bank, but when it folded the church was in a lot of debt. They were forbidden by the Lord to build the Far West temple in a similar way: D&C 115:13.

• What should they do? They had no money, no assets, and they were in debt. On top of that they were now commanded to build the Nauvu temple. How were they supposed to do it?

Read intro and all verses for D&C 119

Most people don’t realize, that the law of tithing was actually harder for the saints then the law of consecration. In the law of consecration, they gave there property to the bishop, received land and were only required to give the leftovers for what ever they had.

Now the law of tithing demanded them to give to the church before there expenses.

[The law of consecration is actually higher when its extended beyond just the temporal D&C 105:3-5]

Brigham Young documents some of the initial problems:

“The brethren wished me to go among the Churches, and find out what surplus property the people had, with which to forward the building of the Temple we were commencing at Far West. I accordingly went from place to place through the country. Before I started, I asked brother Joseph, ‘Who shall be the judge of what is surplus property?’ Said he, ‘Let them be the judges themselves, for I care not they do not give a single dime. So far as I am concerned, I do not want anything they have.’

Then I replied, ‘I will go and ask them for their surplus property;’ and I did so; I found the people said they were willing to do about as they were counseled, but, upon asking them about their surplus property, most of the men who owned land and cattle would say, ‘I have got so many hundred acres of land, and I have got so many boys, and I want each one of them to have eighty acres, therefore this is not surplus property.’ Again, ‘I have got so many girls, and I do not believe I shall be able to give them more than forty acres each.’ ‘Well, you have got two or three hundred acres left.’ ‘Yes, but I have a brother-in-law coming on, and he will depend on me for a living; my wife’s nephew is also coming on, he is poor, and I shall have to furnish him a farm after he arrives here.’ I would go on to the next one, and he would have more land and cattle then he could make use of to advantage. It is a laughable idea but is nevertheless true, men would tell me they were young and beginning the world, and would say, ‘We have no children, but our prospects are good, and we think we shall have a family of children, and if we do, we want to give them eighty acres of farm land each we have no surplus property,’ ‘How many cattle have you?’ ‘So many.’ ‘How many horses, &c?’ ‘So many, but I have made provisions for all these, and I have use for everything I have got.’

“Some were disposed to do right with their surplus property, and once in a whole you would find a man who had a cow which he considered surplus, but generally she was the class that would kick a person’s hat off, or eyes out, or the wolves had eaten off her teats. You would once in a while find a man who had a horse that he considered surplus, but at the same time he had the ringbone, was broken-winded, spavined in both legs, had the pole evil at one end of the neck and a fistula at the others and both knees sprung.” (Journal of Discourses, 2:306-7)

There are some mini controversies even today. Some of our off-shoot groups (RLDS) interpret interest to mean what ever is left over after expenses. But the general authorities of the church have declared that interest means income.

• Where does the tithing go to?(Page 209 of Gospel Principle book)

Other areas of Offering

Fast Offerings

Missionary funds

Service

• What blessings do we receive through paying tithing and offerings? Malachi 3:8-12

-Rebuke the devourer is similar to the word of wisdom’s “destroying angel shall pass you by” and the similarities do not stop there

Word of Wisdom

1. Genesis 9:3- everybody
2. Leviticus 11- Covenant Israel
3. Leviticus 17- The Lord’s Law

Tithing

1. D&C 19:5- non-covenant Israel
2. D&C 119:4 Covenant Israel
3. D&C 78:6 Lord’s Law

Joseph F. Smith

Most discussions about tithing revolve around its uses—building temples and meetinghouses, supporting missionary work, financing the day-to-day operations of the Church, and so forth. But the first thing we need to understand about tithing is the Lord doesn’t need our money. This whole earth and countless others are His. If He wanted to, He could finance His work in some other way. He could, for instance, turn the pebbles along the road into diamonds and have the deacons collect them. He could send Church leaders fishing and have them catch fish with valuable coins in their mouths (see Matt. 17:27). Or He could simply make it so the Church’s resources never run out (see 1 Kgs. 17:8-16). He could—but He doesn’t—which means the law of tithing must have a greater purpose than merely financing the Lord’s work.

What is this greater purpose? As many of our readers explain in their answers, the law of tithing is given not so much to benefit the Church financially as to bless individual tithe payers spiritually. Tithing is about faith, not just money. The Lord is not interested in how many doorknobs or hymnbooks your 10 percent can purchase. He is interested in the condition of your heart and your willingness to do His will.

Tithing is a pivotal commandment, one on which other larger issues turn. Only those Church members who pay a full tithing can receive temple ordinances. And the Lord tells us that those who pay tithing will not be burned at His Second Coming (see D&C 64:23).

Paying tithing seems to be a spiritual measure of a person’s commitment to the Lord. This law, said President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918), tests the loyalty of Latter-day Saints: “By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it. By this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of God and keeping his commandments … and who are opposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of Zion” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 276).

At the end of the 1800s, the Church faced a staggering financial debt, exceeding one million dollars. This financial obligation weighed heavily on Joseph F. Smith’s mind. At the October 1899 general conference he said: “We have had much valuable instruction in relation to our duties as Latter-day Saints, not only concerning the law of tithing, but also in reference to other things, which are as important in their place as the law of tithing. There is nothing, however, of greater importance to the welfare of the Church at present than the consideration of this law, by which means will be placed in the storehouse of the Lord, to meet the necessities of the people.”

(Bruce R Mckonkie “There are no part tithe payers”)

Brigham Young (Historic Background)

In the absence of a temple, the first School of the Prophets was held in a small room in the home of Bishop Newel K. Whitney. Brigham Young was one of the early participants in this school, and he described a scene which frequently presented itself during meetings:

“The brethren came to that place for hundreds of miles to attend school in a little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen. When they assembled together in this room after breakfast, the first they did was to light their pipes, and, while smoking, talk about the great things of the kingdom, … and as soon as the pipe was out of their mouths a large chew of tobacco would then be taken. Often when the Prophet entered the room to give the school instructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke. This, and the complaints of his wife at having to clean [the] floor, made the Prophet think upon the matter, and he inquired of the Lord relating to the conduct of the Elders in using tobacco.” (Journal of Discourses, 12:158.)

Verses 1-3 “As the prophet received it, the revelation began with the 4^th verse as it is now rendered. The first 3 verses were simply an introduction that he gave to the revelation.”

Why is it not given as a ‘commandment or constraint’?

“I recall a bishop’s telling me of a woman who came to get a [temple] recommend. When asked if she observed the Word of Wisdom, she said that she occasionally drank a cup of coffee. She said, ‘Now, bishop, you’re not going to let that keep me from going to the temple, are you?’ To which he replied, ‘Sister, surely you will not let a cup of coffee stand between you and the house of the Lord’ ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 67; or Ensign, May 1990, 51). Don’t be one of the “weakest”. (talk more about that later)

Verse 4 President Hinckley said “The same language might be applied with reference to that which we take into our minds.”

Verse 5-6

‘Pure wine’ in this instance simply refers to grape juice. But did Christ in his apostles drink this unfermented wine?

How do we know that ‘Strong drink’ means intoxicating drinks?

See Leviticus10:9/Numbers 6:3/ Dueteronomy 14:26/ 29:6

Verse 7 What does washing of your bodies mean?

Alcohol is good for cleaning wounds.

Verse 9 What does hot drinks mean? What about Hot Chocolate? What about cafeinated beverages?

This language is contemporary to the days in which the revelation was given, and tea and coffee were the only ‘hot’ drinks of the era.

The reason why those beverages were condemned was because they contain habit forming drug, rather then the temperature. It follows logically that any other beverage which contains a hurtful drug or element, is open to the same objection, regardless of the temperature at which it is taken.”

Manual says “We should avoid al drinks that contain harmful drugs.”

List things we should not take into our bodies

Harms of tobabco

Each year tobacco use causes nearly 2.5 million premature deaths worldwide. Tobacco use also harms millions of innocent victims. Each year more than 3 million babies are born with birth defects caused by their mothers’ smoking. Nonsmokers who regularly inhale secondhand smoke have much higher rates of respiratory illness and are three times more likely to die of lung cancer than those who do not inhale secondhand smoke. Smokeless tobacco is just as addictive as cigarettes, and users of smokeless tobacco have cancer rates up to fifty times higher than those who do not use tobacco. (See James O. Mason, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 59-61.)

Alcohol/ drugs

How can we resist temptations like this? (Alma 50)

How can we strengthen ourselves against temptations to use harmful substances? (Invite class members to tell of experiences when they have resisted temptations to violate the Word of Wisdom.)

Good for the Body

. D&C 89:10. (Wholesome herbs—nourishing vegetables and plants.)

b. D&C 89:11. (Fruit.)

c. D&C 89:12; see also D&C 49:19. (Flesh of beasts and fowls.)

d. D&C 89:14-17. (Grains.)

e. D&C 88:124. (Retiring to bed early and rising early—getting adequate sleep.)

Promises of obedience

a. D&C 89:18. (Physical health.)

b. D&C 89:19. (Wisdom and great treasures of knowledge.)

c. D&C 89:20. (The ability to run and not be weary and walk and not faint.)

d. D&C 89:21. (Protection from the destroying angel.)

What blessings have you received for obeying the word of wisdom?

Physical? Examples?

Spiritual? (Answers could include that we will have increased mental and emotional strength, self-mastery, and self-sufficiency.) “I have come to know … that a fundamental purpose of the Word of Wisdom has to do with revelation. … If someone ‘under the influence’ [of harmful substances] can hardly listen to plain talk, how can they respond to spiritual promptings that touch their most delicate feelings? As valuable as the Word of Wisdom is as a law of health, it may be much more valuable to you spiritually than it is physically” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 28-29; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 20).

Social scientists have found that Church members who live the gospel, including the Word of Wisdom, are more likely than others to be happy in their marriages and satisfied with their family life. They are less likely to engage in premarital or extramarital sex, to experience depression, and to be involved in delinquent, deviant, or antisocial behaviors. (See Robert L. Millet and Noel B. Reynolds, eds., Latter-day Christianity: 10 Basic Issues [booklet, 1998], 46-47.)

Word of Wisdom and economics

President Heber J. Grant, the seventh President of the Church, taught that “the Word of Wisdom … would solve the economic problems … of every … country, if it were obeyed by the people of the world” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1936, 48).

Verse 11 “in the season thereof”

This doesn’t mean, as far as I can see that you can’t eat apples if it isn’t apple season, but don’t eat apples if they are bruised in wrotting, or “out of season”.

Verse 12 Flesh of beasts/ fowls

Never is there a commandment not to eat meat (Jews/Muslims), but to eat it sparingly.

“Wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” (D&C 49:21.)

See also D&C 59:16, 18-20 “with judgment, not to excess” and JST Gen 9:8-11

Verse 13 Can we not eat in the Summer?

In the harmony of the revelation, and in the context it was given, I personally don’t think its saying that (its pleasing unto me) but that it is to be eaten sparingly

Other health laws see D&C 88:124/ Exodus 20:9/D&C10:4 Mosiah 4:27

Verse 18-21

Navel refers symbolically to the source of our original nourshiment and the marrow represents a source of strength see Proverbs 3:7-8 Obedience to Gods commandments brings a healthy body.

“hidden treasures” Its not simply a health law, a long life without spiritual truth, is not worth living. (seek the temple)

“run and not be weary” Does Heavenly Father get tired? See Isiah 40: 28-31 (that strength is ours)

Other promises D&C 84:33

Other Warnings Proverbs 23:20-21

“The destroying angel” Exodus 12:23,29 Is this figurative or literal? The answer, it would appear is both.

1)there are those whose lives have been destroyed by disobedience to these truths

2)We also no in the lsat days that the destroying angel will come again to separate the weat from the shaft.

Why Obey?

Please, never say: "Who does it hurt? Why not a little freedom? I can transgress now and repent later." Please don't be so foolish or so cruel. You cannot with impunity "crucify Christ afresh."⁷ "Flee fornication," Paul cries,⁸ and flee "anything like unto it,"⁹ the Doctrine and Covenants adds. Why? Well, for one reason because of the incalculable suffering in both body and spirit endured by the Savior of the world so that we could flee.¹⁰ We owe Him something for that. Indeed, we owe Him everything. "Ye are not your own," Paul says. "Ye [have been] bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."¹¹