Recess...Sabbatical...Wait until...

Since being a young bishop, wanting to translate my ward, and feeling Charity, the concept of Zion, having all things in common, etc, I have loved the concept of His Zion, of loving others with the Pure Love of Christ, and the goal of seeking His Zion.  I once created and published a "Rhymes and Reasons of Charity" (copying the Times and Seasons, of the early church).

Because of the covenants we make in the temple, of the desire to know more, of desiring to live it, and study it, I started this blog. It is my PASSION.

I find it very difficult, challenging, almost impossible to be in the right mind-set, the right frame of mind to speak about, blog about Charity when our life is so "hanging."  Bon and I have not had our life on a secure footing, foundation for more than ten years, except the time in the Dominican Republic serving our King.  It was a time of joy, peace, hope, and contentment in our service to those wonderful people.

But, we are not there.  Things are changing in our unsettled, insecure lives.  I, therefore, am putting this blog on "hold" until things settle down, until we are secure where Father wants us to be, and feel comfort, not impending change.

I apologize, but my feelings are still true, strong, and I desire to study, learn more, and progress toward His Zion.  Timing is not quite right for me to pursue this yet.  I have had no one volunteer to help keep this going, thus I am announcing a time of  short delay, of recess, of wait a bit, until I again feel the urge, the inspiration to carry on in this blog.  Father will direct when the timing is right to begin again.

If anyone is reading these words and wants to be advised when I start again, please let me know.  Thanks for reading, supporting and being interested in this idea.  It will come, Father will have His people, and I want to be a part of it.  

...Is Given To Every Man...

We are told that the Spirit of Christ is given to every man.  I was once told that by choosing Christ over Satan in the Grand Council in Heaven we all inherited the Spirit of Christ.  Everyone in this second estate has the Spirit of Christ.  The scripture goes on to say that by this Spirit we can choose between good and evil.

Some, in this life, have totally rejected this Spirit of Christ.  Thus they are open to other influences.  These influences come from our hated adversary.  As one chooses to follow the negative influence, they get comfortable in their choices, and that sweet Spirit of Christ is no longer felt.

When missionaries go out and preach the gospel, often they feel a kinship, a "remembering" as they are taught the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is the light (Spirit) of Christ. Conversion is often waking up this Spirit of Christ within us.

Remember Christ said, "..they are mine, those whom the Father hath given me, etc."  

By our actions, we choose to strengthen this light, or we choose to destroy this light every day.  Thus we can comprehend how someone can choose to ignore, or murder this Spirit of Christ within themselves.  

It is a choice that each of us has.  Our actions, our words, our thoughts will either invite the Spirit into our hearts, or it will cause that our hearts will reject this Spirit.  We get to choose, that is what the council in Heaven was all about.  Our choice of what we want, and who we are.

The devil persuadeth no one to do good, no not one.  So if we have someone, something, a feeling, or whatever that we feel and it urges us to do good, then we can know with a surety that it is from Christ.

Then we are counseled to "lay hold upon every good thing" then we will certainly be a child of Christ.  That is our goal.  Being a child of Christ, listen to that which is good, judging good judgement.

Next posting will be Sunday, April 5.

By Our Works, We Shall Be Known

Moroni 7:5-11 we are told all about "works."  By our works we shall be known.  What are works?  They are acts of service, words we say, how we treat strangers and neighbors, what we say within our mind as someone treats us badly.  We remember "Faith without works is dead."  But it goes beyond that.  Yes, we need to do works, serve, fulfill callings, home/visit teach, etc.   But our works are not enough.

"...if their works are good, then they are good also."  Our prayers, our acts of service profit us nothing unless we do them with real intent.  We are told that it is not counted unto us as righteousness.  So just looking at our acts, they could be counted unto us as if we did not serve, not act depending on our inner feelings.

We have already discussed the "intent" we use to act, or serve, or give.  If we did any of these acts grudgingly, it is as if we did them not.  "...It profiteth us as nothing..'

"A man being evil cannot do that which is good,"  and "...a good fountain cannot bring forth bitter water."

"All things which are good cometh from God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil."

So, as we serve, give, fulfill our calling visit the sick, etc, will it be counted unto us as good, or will it be as if we did not do it?  Our attitude will determine this.

"Every thing that inviteth  and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve Him, is inspired of God."  It is interesting to note that doing good will entice us to love God and serve Him.

So no matter how much good we do, if our attitude is negative, and we do it out of obligation, not out of love for God it is counted unto us as naught.

This concept is taught as we proceed along the path toward Charity and Zion.  So, we need to assure we are serving and giving with the proper attitude.  Maybe we need to work on that?

We are told as this subject is concluded that it is giving unto us to judge.  We are counseled to make sure that we do not judge that which is good to be evil, and that which is evil is of God.

The next verse (16) we are given the sure way to know good from evil.  Next Blog,  on Wednesday, we shall discuss this.

Live What We Know, even though....

We should keep in mind we ARE truly children of a God, our Father in Heaven.

Bonnie and I went to the temple yesterday, seeking inspiration, direction, comfort, and love from Father.  As we sat in the Celestial Room after the session, I was taught a great lesson.

Yes I know, we are seeking to bring forth Zion.  Yes, we are trying to understand charity, Zion, and so forth.  But until we know who we are, learn to live what we know, and learn the lessons that Father is striving to teach us, we cannot make inroads into charity and the Pure Love of Christ.

Now my lesson.

As I sat there with Bonnie by my side, thinking of our life, our situation, how we pray and hope for answers, direction, and comfort since many things are not as we desire them to be, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit taught me.

I know that Father loves us.  I know that it is His glory and work to help Bon and me have Eternal Life.  It is difficult to understand certain things, but in the temple, I was told to improve my faith, my belief in His love and live my life as if I knew it in area of my life.  The main theme that Father/Divine inspiration taught me is this:   His perfect timing is not my timing.  My desires, what I pray for, what we wait for, what we think He wants for us is SO shortsighted.

Father has a timing, a schedule, a reason why things happen and do not happen.  He is aware of us and where we are, and what we want.  He wants us to be joyful and happy.  But at times, when we are struggling for lack of answers, no insights of timing when things will happen, it is the time we need to keep in mind  FATHER'S PERFECT TIMING IS SELDOM THE SAME AS OUR MORTAL TIMING.  There are always reasons why things happen, and why they DO NOT happen in our life.  His view of things, His purposes are not shown to us, and His way to treating us is divinely inspired and has Eternal purposes.

At least in my life, I need to strive to keep His love in my heart, my mind no matter how long I have to wait for answer to prayers, no matter how long I remain in any jail wondering when, asking, pleading for answers.  In other words, I need LIVE what I know to be true no matter what I am faced with every day, every prayer, every question, every trial.

If we can do that, live what we know, believing that He knows what is best for us, especially the timing of blessings and of trials, then we can proceed toward living the law  of consecration, living each day knowing and accepting His perfect timing involving each of us.

Look in the Mirror

As Kyle brought up, you have to love yourself.  In fact, can one love someone else, with Charity and not love themselves?  Many people have said that before one can love someone with the pure love of Christ, they need to love themselves.

Last post we talked about starting on a project to choose someone in the ward, or somewhere, and try to find and exercise the first steps of Charity.  So if you started to love someone, get acquainted with someone, and learn the beginning steps of Charity, congratulations.  Keep your goal going, and we shall touch upon that at a later date, but I have been "told" to dwell a bit more on loving oneself.

We have the DNA or the potential to become a God.  We need to incorporate that into our mental exercises each day.  When we begin the daily routine, it would be wise to start the planning of each day the fact that we are children of God, with attributes, and potential that is from our Father, or GODLY.

Let's say that every morning, we look in the mirror as we prepare for the day and imagine our potential.  We look at the image staring at us and envision that the person staring at us can be a God creating worlds one day.  That person is not perfect, but can be.

Let's imagine the attributes of our Father or of Jesus Christ. Let's think of ourselves endowed with Godly abilities.  Do not look at what you think is there, but envision one looking at you as a God one day.  Think of your talents, your abilities, the good you have done recently, and remember the love that our Father has for us.

We need to understand that He is aware of us, knows our weaknesses and has paid a great price for us, and is doing all He can do to help us become a God.  It is His desire, His work, and His dream that we will, indeed, become like him, being a God.

We should not dwell on our sins, or failures, what we cannot do, or have not done.  That comes from Satan.  We need to set plans each morning  how we are going to rid ourselves of any negative thoughts, and fill our minds with positive thoughts and think often our our potential.

This needs to be done every day.  We need to incorporate these thoughts in our daily actions.  We need to recall these things throughout our day and live AS IF we were a God.

We need to remember that the trials, afflictions, challenges are for our benefit and we will learn from them, but we need keep divine thoughts in our mind and slowly we will overcome the influences of that evil one.  We will move toward our destination.

Next Post, Wednesday March 25.

Where do we start?

Our goal is to learn about Charity, Zion, and Becoming One.  We have dealt with some of the challenges of life, and now are ready to make great strides toward this goal.

".. the pure love of Christ..."  Enoch taught this to his entire city, and they were all translated.  Joseph Smith tried to teach it to his people.  Brigham Young tried to teach it to many of his people.  Zion was a goal that many discussed as they crossed the plains.  There have been small groups who have approached the conditions of Nephi 4.

"Zion will be build upon the American continent.."   One day, in our lifetime? Zion will be here.  Will we be ready to participate in this glorious experience?

Let's do an experiment.  Choose one person in your ward.  Make sure it is a person that you don't know too well, or even have questions about.  This person is your "charity-person."

Now, if we were living in a Zion society, if we were living the principle of Charity, how would you feel toward this person?  How often would you think about this person?  If you have the PURE love of Christ for this person, how often would you talk to this person, serve this person, be with him/her?
Now, starting today, what would you want to do to feel Charity toward this person?  Where would you start?  Do you know about his/her struggles, challenges, trials, tests?  Do you know how to help  him/her, or to serve him/her?  Where would you start?

First of all, sit down and think of someone else who seems to have this pure love for others.  Why do you feel they have Charity toward you, or another person?  What are their actions?  Could you do the same?

Remember those words, .... no contention,... all things in common... becoming as one...  Can we do that in these days?

To really feel charity toward one person, we have to start somewhere. Perhaps we need to select someone in our ward that "needs" us, needs someone to feel charity toward them.  Could we not strive to feel charity, feel "one-ness" with this person?

It is hard.  There are so many things in this life, this age that fights against this type of condition between people.  But we must be above all those negative feelings.

It has to start somewhere.  So, try to imagine what you would do if you wanted to begin feeling charity, know more about it, serve one as your equal, and one who needs you to love them.  Now what?

Next Blog Sunday

Desire

After we have a firm belief, or an understanding of our divine position being a child of a God, and after we live our life knowing that He is our loving Father, always interested in us, in our actions each day, we search out the next step.  Living with this truth in our hearts, we will still be challenged with trials, obstacles, questions, and turmoil.

As we incorporate in our lives our knowledge that we will have these trials and opportunities of growth, we will be proven, we should be able to endure, learn from, and overcome any road block in our path.  If we desire, we will learn how to cope with "experiences" and endure them well if we couple them with service, forgetting ourselves, and giving.  The sweet blessings of service will strengthen us, and let us feel His love, no matter the difficulty of the day. 

Now we should turn our mind to the matter at hand.  Do we remember that our goal is to learn all about Charity and live it?  Can we do so with trials, questions, and struggles?  Of course.  In fact, perhaps the opportunity we have to go through challenges will set the circumstances to help us learn of Charity, Zion, the Pure love of Christ easier?

Remember the conditions: all things in common, no contention, everyone living and loving everyone, no pride among them, the law of consecration, serving everyone as our neighbor, the love of God in everyone's heart, no envyings, nor strifes, no lying, ..."surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."

We want to find and live in a world defined in Fourth Nephi.  YES it is possible.  But a people has to be prepared to live it.  But before  a people can be prepared, a person has to be ready and anxious to learn and to live it.  That is what we are doing in this blog.  What is the first step after we have accepted and after we desire this kind of life?  What do we do now?  

The first step is to consciously decide that is our goal, and that is where we are going.  That is what we strive for, and that is what we will work toward. Without the desire, there is no way.  So, to begin at that road, decide, commit, and accept that it is not easy. It will have many additional obstacles placed in our way.  But how firm is our goal, our desire?  Are we will to pay the price?

Next post Wednesday March 18th

Balm of Service

The last two posts talked about really believing and FEELING that we are truly children of God.  Our daily outlook will change,  Our attitude will be different, and our disposition will be improved toward everyone and everything.

The other post talked about realizing the purpose of trials and challenges, realizing that "all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things."  (2 Nephi 2:24)  Father knows us, He knows what we are going through and the lessons we are supposed to learn.  Even knowing all that, ti does not make it any easier.  Going through long-lasting afflictions or trials often makes life, believing in our Father in Heaven, and constantly feeling secure that He is aware of us, even though we do not get answers to our prayer very challenging.

Consider Abraham.  He took a while hiking with his son toward the martyrdom of Isaac.  I am sure during that hike toward the appointed location, he was struggling.  I am sure Joseph Smith was aching and wondering,  "Oh God where art thou..."  We all have times such as these.

But as I think, ponder, and pray about these times, the idea comes to me that during these "opportunities of growth," we do not have to sit and just question, ask why, and endure. Yes, endurance is required of us, "endure to the end".  But there are things we need to do.

Remember the scripture,  "... unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me."  Consider how you would feel in spending a few hours making some chocolate chip cookies and delivering to our Saviour Jesus.  As He accepted them at His door, He says, "Thanks so much, I love chocolate chip cookies..."  How would you feel?  In any service, we are doing it (as if) unto our Christ.

I am sure that everyone  of us remembers the sweet Spirit accompanying our service, our sacrifice when we just didn't have the time but we just made time to serve.  I am sure we can recall the sweet thoughts of how much that particular service was needed.  I am sure each of us has felt the healing, comforting balm of service.  Whether we think we are serving the Savior or not, we are giving, we are serving, we are planting the beginning of charity, love, and compassion.

While we suffer through our trials, if we can find ourselves looking for methods of serving, forgetting our trials, and putting into practice thinking of someone else, the healing balm of service will help us return to the Spirit, feel His love for us, and propel us toward the sweet condition of Charity.  Serving will put out thoughts outward, eliminate selfish thoughts lamenting our circumstances.   Service, giving, praying for others, knowing we need to be open to the Holy Ghost to learn.  We need to pray for help to learn the lessons that we are being taught in our Gethsemane..

Next Post cometh on Sunday March 15.

If so.... Then What?

So, the first thing we need to do is feel confident, feel comfortable in the knowledge that we are, indeed, children of God our Eternal Father.  That knowledge will give us great faith in the future, and hope for greater things to come in our lives.  It is a fact that we need to internalize and live.  So many problems come into in our lives when we do not remember, not feel the reality of our Divine Father.

As we strive to live with our Eternal Father in mind every day, we will be able to counter obstacles, afflictions, trials, and thoughts put into our minds by Satan.  Lucifer is one who wants us to be miserable just like he is miserable.  He is doomed to fail, and bringing others into his army so we too can fail is the only hope he has, to make others fail, and feel the hopelessness of Satan and his followers.

In the Pearl of Great Price, we are told about the pre-earth life.  We are told that will are put down here to experience mortality.  We are being proven to see if we will do all things He commands us to do, even in the midst of afflictions.  That is the purpose of this life.

If we can keep this in mind, and keep in mind that we are children of our Eternal Father, and that He is never far from us, we will not fail with Satan and his followers, we will be raised with our Savior.

As we go through this life, we will be tested.  We will fail.  We will go through times of loneliness.  We will go through temptations where we will not win the battle with the adversary.  We will feel depressed and feel He has lost our location and our phone number our email address, and even our social security card number.  We will feel forsaken.

But, if we KNOW that we are His children, if we keep that truth in our hearts at all times, if we keep in mind that we are going through these struggles with His knowledge - to teach us, prepare us, and to help us learn, we will be OK.

We will fail, but we have the atonement.  We will not live up to our potential, but we have a Father who knows us, how we feel, where we are, and what is in our mind.  He knows the intents and desires of our hearts.  (Alma 41).

No, it is not easy.  Yes we will fail.  Yes we will lose sight of our ultimate goal.  Yes, we will feel as if He has forgotten us.  Yes, we will feel that we have to do it alone.  But we need to remember who we are, who is our Father, and the why's of our difficulties.  We need to keep close and recall to our soul the experiences we have had bearing witness of His care, His knowledge of us, and His  purposes.

Yes, we really know Our Father in Heaven loves us.  He is ever close to us and involved in our lives.  But we need to keep that in mind as we experience our walk in mortality.  Father wants us to return to Him.  We won't be tested beyond our ability to overcome, but we are free to choose, and act.  He, is  on our side and with Him, we cannot fail.

Next blog post on Wednesday March 11, we will discuss how we can endure our trials, and draw closer to our Father in the midst of afflictions.

Who am I????????????

I am a child of God. We hear it.  We sing it.  We read these words.  But do we believe it and what it means, or should mean to each of us?  He is our Father.  We are His children.  Neal Maxwell once taught that if we really understood how involved He is in our lives, we would be totally amazed.  Elder Jeffery Holland said that he knows, and then he paused with a far away look in his eyes, then he returned to the present and he reiterated once again, "he KNOWS" how much Father loves each one of us.

When we think of our Eternal Father, what thoughts go through our minds.  What attributes, what words describe Him?  When we pray to Him, do we envision a powerful God who directed the creation of this world?  Do we think of a Being who is running the world and involved in all aspects of this earth?  Do we think of Kolob and what Joseph Smith preached about Him and His Being?  What goes through our minds as we think about Him as we "talk" with Him in our prayers near our bedside, while driving the car, in the middle of a test or trial?  

Do we feel afraid of a Being all powerful, all knowing, and all present to everyone who is praying at the same instant as we are?  Do we doubt that He can understand what we are going through?  Are we hesitant to ask certain thing, do we feel embarrassed with our weaknesses?  

When we pray and ask for something repeatedly and question if anyone is listening when there are no answers coming, nor feelings felt from our Father?  

Whenever I feel some of those feelings, I try to get away, alone, where I won't be bothered by others, by the phone, nor anything else.  I sit, or kneel, or just begin pondering about what it means to be a Father.  Then I think about my Father in Heaven.  I don't think about His life, His pressures, nor His thoughts being elsewhere.  I think about me being in His presence, having a personal interview with my beloved Father.  I let scriptures flow through my mind reminding me of His work and glory for Bill Partridge.  He is interested in me, where I am, what I am thinking, and what is going on in my life.  I look into His eyes and can feel His love, His understanding of my  life and problems, even my weaknesses and I see His never ending love and interest in me.  I almost feel like shedding tears for the love that His eyes portray for me.  I can almost feel His arms around me telling me that He knows how I feel. 

He reminds me of our Savior when He asked, "let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." He reminds me that I will struggle, I will cry, I will be tested, and I will fail.  I will feel forsaken, and I will feel so alone.  But He smiles and says that He will never be far from me and all these things are for my good.  They are preparing me for later in mortality, as well as for the after life.  

I take great comfort from His words, decide I can carry on, and return to my lonely life with hope and knowledge that my Father is, indeed, aware of me and is not far from ne.  Who am I?  I am a child of my Eternal Father.

Love Thyself

"...love thy neighbor as thyself..."  A dear friend suggested to me that no one can feel Charity, no one can learn the concepts of Faith and Hope working toward Charity unless they loved themselves.  How can one learn to have real, deep love for their own self?

We live in a society that emphasizes the negative.   Our children come home from school lamenting how many they missed on a test.  Seldom do they explain how many they got right.  The news every night is mostly reporting the negative things of the community.  The worse the news, the bigger the headline.  With so much negativity surrounding us, how can we be positive?  How can we see the good in the world?

With so much negativity in our lives, how can we see and accept the positive things of life?  How many commercials on television are urging us to spend money on reducing weight, better looks, catching up with our neighbor by buying a car like he has?  When we look in the mirror each morning, do we confirm the advertisements we have all around us in seeing what is wrong with us.

Or do we see this handsome man/beautiful woman staring back at us?  Do we think of how wonderful we are, how much service we did yesterday, or the last week?  Do we see what Father in Heaven sees in his child who is trying the best he/she can in mortality?  Do we internalize how many times we sacrifice daily, weekly in serving someone else?  Do we feel comfortable in knowing that we didn't have to read three chapters of the Book of Mormon, but spent extra special time with someone who needed our words of counsel, be it a neighbor, or a child?  Do we recall to our minds, OFTEN, special experiences that have built our testimony, the time that the Spirit touched our hearts in the temple, the time someone served us and lifted our spirit?

I agree.  We need to have a strong understanding of who we are.  We need to know how special Father thinks each of us are, even when we are struggling through trials and afflictions.  We need to have a deep commitment to the idea that we really are children of God, that He is our Father and is never far from us.  He loves us so much, that he is letting us experience challenges that build us and prepare us for our mortal, as well as eternal future.

How can one love someone else when they question their own worth?   Once in my life, I thought that serving someone else was easier than loving myself.  But in reality, I was mistaken.  The love of oneself is mandatory in order to be a servant in a Zion society.

I believe that most of us do love ourselves,  But I also believe that the adversary is constantly trying to destroy that love, pushes negative thoughts in our minds, and strives to prevent our feelings of importance to Father in Heaven.  As we let those thoughts remain and take residence in our hearts, we get depressed, sad, and cannot see the principles of faith, hope and charity.  Therefore, I am going to strive to analyze the love of self and discuss in this blog insights given me through the spirit of self love.

INTENT

"...with real intent..."   Since my last post on this blog, my mind has been running around, trying to figure out what "real" intent is.  Moroni 10:4 we read the scripture that the missionaries continually use explaining to investigators about having real intent.

Almost every missionary will tell you of investigators who pray, but not with real intent.  They do what they were asked, but they really don't have any intent at all.  They go through the motions, responding to missionaries, and then they don't get any answer and decide that the church is not true.

Real intent defines where the heart is.  One dear sister commented that she is trying "with real intent" to create a Zion atmosphere in her home.  It isn't easy, but her heart is there, she has real intent and tries continually.

Pause for a minute and consider in what aspects of life do you have real intent.  Do we really want to serve, love,  be involved in the lives of those we visit each month.  Do we commit ourselves with "real intent" in that program of the church.

Do we love our neighbors, do we love those who seem to be our enemies?  Do we read our scriptures with real intent? Do we pray with real intent?  Do we live our day with real intent with the foundation of our  planned activities with even a thought of the kingdom, seeking Zion, Charity?
Let's jump back to our subject at hand.  Do we desire to bring about Zion in our home, in our mind, within our neighborhood, within our marriage and relations?

How often do we even think about our concept of Zion/Charity each day, week?  To seek to bring forth Zion, we should be thinking of that glorious condition we read about often, every day, when reading the scriptures, in talking with others on the phone, in all aspects of our life.

I often question what I would ask for....  In the Bible, there are many times when Jehovah asks a prophet what they would like Him to do.  Soloman is one.  The brother of Jared is another, "what would you have me do?"  I wonder if I was asked that from my Savior/Father in Heaven, how would I respond?  Would I ask for Charity?  Remember the scripture that counsels us to pray with all the energy of our heart to be blessed with Charity.  So if God were to ask us, what would we have Him do for us?  Is our intent of understanding, living charity high on our "wish list?"

Where is your heart?  What is your intent?  It is interesting that in Moroni 10, the scripture counsels to have real intent, followed up by "with faith in Christ,"  so now we return to the purpose of this blog in the first place,  faith, hope, and then charity.  But first we need to solidify that our intent is where it should be???

Peaceable Walk with the Children of Men, Intent...

In Mormon's introduction to this sermon, (Mormon 7:2-4)  tells us that he is talking to the members of the church.  He said that his audience was composed of the "peaceable followers of Christ."  He also refers to the saints having a "...peaceable walk with the children of men."

What does the word "peaceable" mean?  It is not what we think the word means.  It is what Mormon meant when he used the word.  Remember, most all his life, he was trying to preach to the Nephites, get them to follow Christ, eliminate the prophesy that they were going to be destroyed.  Peaceable to Mormon must have meant those who were not warmongers, those who loved the Savior, those who loved peace.  For I am sure most did not.  But he expands this concept talking about intent.

Right after he talked about "peaceable" he mentions those who have good works.  If there works be good, then they are good also.  He says that a man being evil cannot do that which is good.  He also mentions that he who giveth a gift, except it be with real intent, it profiteth him nothing.

So, in my opinion, to begin the study of charity, hope, and faith, we need to consider if we are walking a peaceable walk, are we good?  Do we pray with real intent, or give gifts out of pure intent?  If not, then we are not on the road to charity.

Do we act with real intent?  Is our heart behind our actions?  Why do we serve?  Why do we give? What do we expect when we serve?  Do we have real intent?  If we do not, it is counted unto us evil before God.  If we do not pray with real intent, it profiteth us nothing.

I propose that "real intent" is what the main idea is behind this introduction of Charity. Intent refers to the purpose of why we do things.  What is our intent?  When we serve, why do we?  Where is our heart?  When we home teach or visit teach, do we do it with pure intent?  Do we do it so we can report it as being done.

When we help our neighbor, why do we do it?  Where is our heart?  When we give a gift, do we do it for what people will think, now people will feel toward us?  What is our intent?  What motivates us to serve, give, smile, visit, fill assignments? What is our reason for doing things?  "..except he shall do it with real intent,it profiteth him nothing."  We should evaluate our "intent."

Faith, the beginning of Charity

There are hundreds/thousands of references to faith in our scriptures.  Is it that complicated, or is it not understood, or are there different kinds of faith?  Does the faith that leads us to Charity demand a unique definition?  Or is it all the same and just demands many different references since it is so important?

Faith without works....  Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things...  Faith the grain of a mustard seed....  Faith precedes the miracle...  Plant the seed and watch it grow (faith)...  Do all things by faith...  Hearts changed through faith...  Strength according to our faith...  If a man knows, no reason for faith...  Faith is hope for things which are not seen...  Oh ye of little faith...  Look upon the Son with faith...  Hope comes of faith...  By faith Christ showed himself...  Ye ask in faith...  Christ is the author and finisher of faith...

Since this blog is concerning Charity, and if it be our goal to be "...filled with this love..."  which is charity, we should use as our text Moroni 7 which were the words of Mormon.

When Mormon was in his sixteenth year, he was chosen to be the leader of their armies.  Based upon the dates we have from the Book of Mormon, Mormon may have been around 75 years old when he was murdered by the Lamanites.

I would assume that in those years, there must have been many efforts to reclaim the Nephites from their "fallen" state.  There must have been many prophets, many sermons presented to the people, yet we have none recorded, except the few that Moroni included in the book of Moroni. I am so grateful he included Chapter Seven so we an learn about faith, hope and charity.  

HELP

I seem to be at a stupor of thought, or something like that.  I have been thinking about faith, how it relates to hope and charity, and I stupor over it.  I know there are countless scriptures about faith, but I feel there is a unique definition of faith that leads to hope, etc.

So, rather than struggle over this, I am asking those who are reading this, (assuming that there are some) to think about it, and please give me some insights, some suggestions, or anything that seems to have jumped into your mind concerning this stupor I have.

If you do not feel good adding a comment to this blog, for who knows what reason, please sent it to me at partridgemission1.dr@gmail.com.  And thanks, I need help, direction, and the insight to hurdle this stone in my path.

Charity - The Pure Love of Christ

There are many places defining Charity in our scriptures.  If we have not charity, we are nothing. We are told that we must have faith and hope to have charity.  We cannot be saved in His Kingdom without it.

Charity will be a large part of this blog.  If we seek for Zion/Charity, we will be blessed.  But what, truly, is it?

It is the Pure Love of Christ.  Even those four words do not specify, define, and teach what Charity is. It is like trying to "tell" someone what salt tastes like.  How do you do it?

When trying to understand the "Pure Love of Christ," are we talking about the pure love we have of our Savior?  Or is it the love our Savior has for us, being described as His love toward all?  Can we have that love toward our neighbor?  Can we feel that love for someone who has different standards than we have?  Can we feel Charity toward neighbors, and even for strangers whom we have never met?

As we read 1 Corinthians 13 and Moroni 7, does that let us totally understand the concept of Charity?

Zion will be built and based upon the principle of Charity.  A "Zion" people will understand, know what it is and live charity.

Since we are taught that one must have faith, and then have hope and then comes this Charity, therefore we should start to understand what this faith is, the first principle of the gospel.

"Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start," (Maria in the Sound of  Music.)  So, I propose that we analyze faith.  Let's find out what it is, and progress on from there.

"The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ...."  I would encourage anyone reading this blog to think about faith, where it comes from, how we develop our faith, and how it can grow.  I invite anyone to add comments, thoughts, or insights as we proceed along this journey together.

...Bring forth MY ZION....

Zion.  The pure in heart.  All things in common.  No contention.  All of One Heart.  City of Enoch.  There were no rich, poor...they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.

Fourth Nephi describes this condition.   Joseph Smith once said that whenever righteous men are called to a position of stewardship, they immediately think of Zion, Charity, becoming one, and following in Enoch's steps and perfecting a people to live in Charity.  Enoch took many, many years to create his City.

How do we become partakers of the "Heavenly Gift" or the gift Charity.  Moroni 7:48 tells us that we need to "pray with all the energy of heart that ye may be filled with this love..."

First, we need to understand what it is.  Then we need to study about it, learn about it, read scriptures about it, and listen to our leaders about it.  We need to pray to be blessed with this love.  We need to listen to the Holy Ghost to be instructed how to find it, learn about it, and then live it.

Enoch didn't start with the masses.  He didn't start with congregations.  He wasn't preaching in General Conference.  He started with one person, then he went on from there.

That is where we need to start.  We need to convince ourselves of the importance of His Zion, of Charity, of working toward that day when we shall have all things in common.  We need to pray for it.  We need to change ourselves first.

In my opinion, there are many saints today who are looking for this condition of Zion.  There are many who feel it, seek it, and even ache for Zion, even before they know exactly what it is.  The people on earth todayare the ones who are going to seek, work toward having Zion on earth.  They seem to have a innate desire, a hunger, a "need" to learn what it is, work toward it, and they will be a very important part of Zion.  These people (you and I) have been held back to come in these days, will be part of bringing His Zion to pass in these days.

This blog will start at the beginning.  We will discuss what it is, how to live it, how to feel it, and discuss with each other challenges, as well as the blessings of a Zion.

There is nothing as sweet, as rewarding, as all-consuming as the principle of Zion/Charity that fills the soul.

Please feel free, anyone who reads this blog, to post comments, insights, experiences, and insights.  That way we can all be together in our thoughts, learn from each other, and unitedly work toward bringing forth His Zion.

Brother of Jared

As I stare this challenge in the face and consider the challenge of writing about charity and "His Zion", I feel the challenge almost insurmountable.  I am a humble servant of our Savior, but as a dear friend said to me the other day, I have had the taste of charity, of a Zion society.  I feel the inner urge to record thoughts, experiences, and insights of Zion.

How I wish I was as the brother of Jared.  Ether 12:24 "...thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them."

I am sure that the readers of this blog will not be overpowered as they read these words.  BUT it is my wish that those who read these words, those who have an idea, an insight about what is said will take the time to share by commenting, by sharing, and by adding to the value of what is recorded.

We are all in this mortal journey, walking along the path of obstacles, as is the plan, and yearning to find feelings of Zion that awaken within us a remembrance of His Zion we all have felt before we received this veil of forgetfulness.  Perhaps this blog will help us "remember" our existence we enjoyed with our Father, with Jesus, and with each other.  This WILL give us strength to carry on, to keep trying, and possibly to work toward this Zion as we have been counseled to do.

HIS ZION

Zion,  Charity,  Being Of One Heart,  City of Enoch.  All things in Common.  The pure love of Christ.  Millennium.  Love with all Your Heart.  

These words have always created in my mind a desire to work toward this condition, this frame of existence.  1 Nephi 13:37 says that those who work toward Zion, will be blessed.

Father will have a people who live these principles.  Will we part of it?  What do we know of it?  Have we tasted of this goodness?  Do we desire to be included in the Zion that will come one day?  Are we "working toward His Zion?"