The atonement is for you — a lesson from John 5:1-9

The first nine verses of John chapter 5 in the New Testament have always held a special place in my heart. But I never knew why until today.

These verses tell the story of a man who had been sick for longer than I have been on this earth and whose hopelessness was turned to joy by the Savior:

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, (called) Bethesda, having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.

I have turned to this chapter often when I want to spend some time with the scriptures but have no particular place that I need or want to read. I love the story.

Today during priesthood class (the class for men during the last hour of church), the lesson was about Jesus Christ. The teacher read a few words from the lesson manual, but then he wanted to give most of the time for the class members to share some of their favorite scriptures about Christ. It was an inspired choice; the power of the Holy Ghost filled the room as people taught and testified to each other.

Someone beat me to sharing the first scripture I had been thinking about sharing, so I decided to turn to John chapter 5. But I wondered, what should I say about this? Why is this one of my favorites?

Finally, I began to understand why this story has always struck a chord with me.

This is the story of a man who wanted to be well. He wanted to solve a problem in his life. There was a very simple task required to reach this goal, but accomplishing this task was out of his reach. But still he stayed by the healing waters in hopes that, someday, he would be healed.

Jesus did not offer the man advice on how to try harder, how to find a friend who could help him out, how to sit closer to the water, or how to anticipate the angel and therefore be ready to take advantage of its healing powers. Instead, he blessed the man with the healing he had sought for so long.

The atonement of Jesus Christ is especially for the imperfect, the weak. It's for those of us who try again and again and still can't seem to get 100% home teaching, overcome addictions, serve completely unselfishly, or rid our hearts of envy. No matter how close we stay to the "healing waters," we all have have some weakness that we struggle with, a spiritual infirmity that hinders us in our quest to overcome that very weakness. If any of this sounds like you, the atonement of Jesus Christ is for YOU.

"My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me," the Lord told a Book of Mormon prophet. "For if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Today, I finally understood what this story from the New Testament actually means to me. None of us has the power to fully overcome all mortal weaknesses on our own. But the grace, mercy, and perfect love of Jesus Christ are such that he will seek us out and help us overcome these things in his time. The atonement is for us.

I can do hard things

A few days ago I was talking to one of the owners of a jewelry store in town. His store has an intern from the college where I work, so I was checking in about the possibility about writing an article for the college blog about this student's experience. I was impressed when I learned more about a gospel principle while I was there.

The jewelry store owner had many good things to say about the intern, who is developing social media marketing for the company. What stood out the most, he said, was her work ethic and her determination.

When she runs into obstacles, he said, she works and does research and experiments until she finds her way over or around the obstacle. He is accustomed to seeing people work until they get to an obstacle, and then use that challenge as an excuse for not continuing on to their goal.

This illustrates an important aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Life includes many challenges that stand between us and happiness, joy, perfect love, and true discipleship. Reaching the obstacles does not mean we can turn around and stop striving for those goals. The gospel and grace of Christ provide us away around and over the obstacles so we can reach our goals.

Several years ago, I began to hear a phrase in the church's general conference (a twice-annual worldwide meeting where Mormons hear talks by church leaders). Sometimes when leaders of the church's young women's organization spoke, they would talk about a motto: “I can do hard things.”

When I first heard this phrase referred to as a motto, I was puzzled. It didn't make sense as a motto, and it seemed so trite. But the more I pondered on that message and what it might mean, I realized it had a deeper meaning. More than just stating an ability, it implies that if something is hard, I can do it anyway. If I find something difficult or challenging, I can rise up to that challenge and do it. This is partly possible because I am a child of God, I am an intelligent creature who can solve problems and apply myself to accomplish many things.

It also is possible because of the grace of Jesus Christ.

The scriptures are replete with examples of people who were able to accomplish difficult tasks because of God's help. If you read Hebrews chapter 11, there are many summarized examples of people who accomplished great things through faith. The apostle Paul summed it up well: “I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” (Phillippians 4:13)

The Book of Mormon tells the story of the sons of Mosiah, brothers who left their homes to be missionaries to the mortal enemies of their nation. The prospect of them converting the Lamanites to the gospel of Christ seemed so unlikely that others suggested that the Nephites should send armies to destroy the Lamanites rather than missionaries to teach them. But the sons of Mosiah went to teach.

They knew that they did not have an easy task before them. The brother named Ammon recalled, “Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us and said: Go amongst thy brethren...and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.” (Alma 26:27)

The Lord made good on that promise. These brothers helped teach thousands of people about the plan of salvation and the atonement of Christ, their savior. Ammon explained a lesson that he learned from this: “I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things.” (Alma 26:12)

Another word for God's strength is grace. A later Book of Mormon prophet was concerned about his personal weaknesses, including an inability to express the gospel to his satisfaction using the written word. As he prayed and anguished about this problem, the Lord told him this:

...My grace is sufficient for the meek... If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27)

The grace of Jesus Christ allows us to overcome weaknesses, reach righteous goals, and accomplish other good things that otherwise are beyond our own personal ability, or seem to be at first. If you have reached an obstacle that seems to be keeping you from being happy, from following Christ, from spending more time with your family, or succeeding in schoolwork, or any other good thing, then God can provide a way. You can trust that the grace of Christ is sufficient for you.

If you humble yourself, pray for help, have faith in Christ, work hard, and be patient, he will help you overcome the obstacle and reach your righteous goals.

"I will have mercy, and not justice" — Coming to understand mercy

I recently came across a couple of scriptures that prompted me to spend a little time studying the topic of mercy. This is a very important and central concept in the gospel.

It all started when I was reading through the New Testament and came across this scripture in which Jesus is talking to a group of Pharisees, religious leaders in his community, who had questioned why he talked with and taught people they knew to be sinful:

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)

Just a couple of chapters later, I came across this verse, in which Jesus is (again) talking to a group of Pharisees. This time, they had accused Jesus and his disciples of sin because they picked corn on the Sabbath:

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. (Matthew 12:7)

When I realized that Matthew recorded two instances of Jesus saying this, I knew it must be important. Since in one case, Jesus directed his listeners to "Go and learn what this means," then I should learn a little more about what it means that "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice."

I Googled for a definition of "mercy," and found that mercy is "Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." As I studied scriptures about mercy, it was clear that God's mercy involves forgiveness and compassion.

Jesus was quoting or paraphrasing the words of the Old Testament prophet Hosea, who called upon the Hebrews to repent with these words: "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

Looking in my scripture index under the word "Mercy" took me to several other scriptures that indicated that mercy is an attribute of God. "For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful," "he delighteth in mercy" "for his mercy endureth for ever." Jesus became a mortal "that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest."

Mercy is very much related to repentance and forgiveness. Although it is extended because of God's grace and perfect love, he wants his mercy to move our actions, thoughts, and feelings toward him so he can bestow us with mercy. Several Old Testament scriptures indicate that God shows mercy to those who love him and keep his commandments. Another mentions his mercy and reminds us that God "will not turn away his face from you, if ye return to him.

These verses from The Book of Mormon indicate the relationship between mercy and repentance. Like Hosea's scripture, it points out that the sacrifices done in Old Testament times were not the point:

And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. (Alma 34:14-15)

Mercy overpowers justice. If we have faith in Christ, we will get what we do not deserve—repentance and salvation.

God's mercy also means compassion. The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi uses these words to summarize the lesson he hopes we will get from his story about God saving his family from a murderous plot:

The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. (1 Nephi 1:20)

I think this means that God is kind as well as forgiving. He desires to bless us.

Of course, Jesus told us that we should strive to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Therefore, it would behoove us to be merciful, right? Several scriptures confirm this, reminding us that "he that hath mercy on the poor (is) happy," "the merciful man doeth good to his own soul," and, as Jesus said himself, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

What does it mean for us to develop the God-like attribute of mercy? We should not seek revenge, but we should offer forgiveness. We should not condemn others, but we should give the benefit of the doubt when possible, and show love at all times. We should have compassion and act in kindness.

Another Old Testament prophet, Micah, described a person wondering what he should give to God as recompense for his sins. Sacrificial calves? A thousand rams? Ten thousand rivers of oil? My firstborn, "The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

The answer to the question is profound: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

These are just a few of the many, many scriptures in the Bible and the Book of Mormon on the topic of mercy, and I know I am at some point midway in my journey of understanding mercy. But these thoughts helped me know even more that God is merciful, forgiving, and compassionate. If we are kind, forgiving, and full of mercy, we will obtain mercy ourselves. That is what the Lord desires.

Happy Mother's Day 2013

This is my wife's first Mother's Day as a mother with a baby (although on Mother's Day 2012, she was carrying our baby, who was born about a month later, on Father's Day). I'm pretty excited about being able to tell her "Happy Mother's Day" with a whole new meaning that those words have never had for her before.

Family is very important to Mormons, and so, of course, motherhood and fatherhood each are very important. While we try to honor these positions year-round, we enjoy having the opportunity to celebrate on Mother's and Father's days.

Each Mother's Day at church, we do something special at church. During the last hour of church, the men serve a luncheon to the women. Because many of the women are involved with teaching various classes during that hour, some of the men and the teenage boys volunteer to take their spots. It's always a fun day in Primary (the children's Sunday School) when a lot of these substitute teachers come in. Of course, I'm in Primary every Sunday because my calling is to teach music there, but I usually try to make it more fun for the kids by bringing my guitar for the accompaniment.

Here is video that the Church produced in conjunction with other faith organizations to celebrate the importance of mothers and the love they give to their children:



And here is another video, a "Mormon Message" about the most important thing a father can do for his children...love their mother:



Happy Mother's Day!

What does "Mormon" mean?

"Mormon" is a nickname often applied to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But many people have never heard where this name came from. And sometimes when people ask Latter-day Saints what "Mormon" means, the church member answers the question factually, but not completely. Here is my take on the question.

The nickname "Mormon" was applied early in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of church members' belief in The Book of Mormon. This book of scripture tells the story of a group of people who lived on the American continent centuries ago and knew about Jesus Christ because he sent prophets among them. Eventually, a prophet named Mormon compiled and abridged the writings of these prophets. Because Mormon was the principal author, the book was named after him (much like books in the Bible were often named after their authors, i.e., "The Gospel According to Luke").

So the nickname "Mormon" came from a book, which was named after a man who wrote and compiled it under the inspiration of God. Although this is where we often stop when answering this question, we can go further by explaining where this man named Mormon got his name. This is what Mormon himself wrote about his name:

I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people. (3 Nephi 5:12)

Here we learn that Mormon was named after a place called Mormon. What was so important about that place? Earlier in the Book of Mormon, there was a group of people who had forsaken the ways of God. A man named Alma repented of his sins and was called to teach repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. One day as he taught a small group of people who believed his words by a pool of water in a land called Mormon, he pointed to the water and suggested baptism in these words:

As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? (Mosiah 18:8-10)

These verses beautifully describe the covenant we make as we come to Jesus Christ and are baptized into his church. It is a promise to follow God's commandments, stand up for what is right, and relieve the suffering of others. These people did receive baptism, and the Spirit of God was poured out upon them. Later, the book says this about the land of Mormon, where this baptismal scene took place:

The place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever. (Mosiah 18:30)

So now we know that the nickname came from a book named after a man named after a place that represents the blessings of redemption by Jesus Christ and the transformation of ordinary people into his disciples who will sing his praise forever.

The message of Jesus Christ is central to the Book of Mormon, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strive to make Christ, his saving power, and his teachings the center of their lives. We all strive to live up not only to the baptismal covenant described by Alma, but this other statement that Mormon gave about his identity:

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. (3 Nephi 5:13)

This is an identity to which every member of our church aspires. We strive to be Christ's disciples. We strive to share his gospel with others so that they can have greater happiness. Because this is the symbol of the place named Mormon and the identity of the man named Mormon, I and millions of others are proud to say: I'm a Mormon.