This week was the best week ever. We were filled with many spiritual experience. I felt the spirit testify to me, that the Lord calls Apostles and prophets to the earth today, as I looked one in the eyes, shook his hand, and introduced myself. The countenance he held was touching. I listened to him testify to me and every other missionary here that we are the "noble and great ones" as defined in D&C 138 he said "I don't know what you did in the pre-exsistance deserve a mission call like this one". I loved Gary E. Stevensons training. Before this, I had the opportunity to give a training to 9 companionships on Friday. I witness the reality of the Plan of Salvation, as I stand in my flesh and bones, and I see the children of God walk this earth. I know that I told the father that I would come here, I not only know that I told him that, but I know that every person that walks this earth told him that. Heavenly Father wants all of his children back. We are infinitely far greater than we think. As stated in Ephesians 1, the Latter Day Saints were foreordained as members of this church. That means we have a work to do. How great is our calling as members here in the latter days.
I attached a copy of my training.
And this picture of my new bestie since all of mine are married now.
"Believe in Christ, and Deny Him Not"
Elder Jared M. Greenburg
March 13th, 2016
The concept of Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement has caused me much reflection lately. As I have studied the doctrine, it is my prayer that I might know what more the Lord would have me do as his authorized servant.
2 Nephi 25:29 "...the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out."
What exactly does it mean to worship him with all your "Might, mind, and strength and your whole souls"? I have studied it out, and defined each word; that I might fully understand what it means to exercise my faith in him.
Might
In this context it means power. Allowing Jesus Christ to have power over you, is in essence worshipping him with your might, and so qualifying you to exercise more faith. Satan can't have power over you unless you give it to him. The same concept works with Christ. It is aligning your will with his, and relying on his power to guide and direct you. When we act on the impressions we receive from the spirit, we are honoring him, and showing him our faith.
Mind
To worship Christ with our mind is to study his doctrine and become familiar with his teachings. What would he say if he were here today? What would he do if he were here today? In the sacrament prayer we covenant to "always remember him". Keeping our thoughts clean and pure, and when they are not, we immediately turn to him and ask "Lord what would thou have me do"?. Worshiping him in faith, is knowing him, and working to allow his attributes to come to fulfillment in our lives. The only way this is accomplished is by studying his doctrine, and allowing our head knowledge become heart knowledge, even to the cleansing of our souls.
Strength
When temptation is at bay, it takes a lot of strength to keep His commandments. Worshiping Jesus Christ with all our strength is working from 10am to 9:30 pm. It's placing our physical wants aside, and placing all of our energy toward his cause. It's fearing God rather than the precept of man. It's trusting that he is there. When this is applied, fear is no longer an option. It's giving everything you have and relying on grace to come into your life as you physically, and spiritually burn out. I imagine someone fighting a war, and placing all of his training, and knowledge into the battle field. He unloads, he isn't afraid to go the full 15 rounds, and when he is finished he remembers who it was that he trusted. So it is with Christ's Atonement. If you "Remember how merciful the Lord hath been from the creation of Adam, even down until [this point in your life]"; Then you are truly remembering in whom you've placed your strength, and you will accomplish more that day than you would have if you placed your trust in yourself.
Whole Soul
Repenting, and knowing that you are forgiven of your sins. You trust, and have faith that Christ kept his word when he said "16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--
19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men." (D&C 19) it's trusting that the atonement happened. It's knowing and feeling that he has payed the debt, and after we have done all things to make it right, We will be forgiven. Faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement not only means to trust in the Redeeming power, but also the Enabling power of Him. Knowing that his grace is sufficient to help you put off the sins, and to put off temptation. Trust that he won't let your soul perish. That if you turn to him, you will be healed, and at the final day be able to stand in the presence of God.
I now know, and understand that "there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God." As the scripture reads "believe in Christ, and deny him not." I now realize that I deny Jesus Christ when I let myself believe that he can't take my weaknesses from me. I deny him when i put all my might, mind, strength, and whole soul into my own efforts rather than relying on his. When I tell myself that I can do this on my own, when I rely on the carnal, rather than the councils of God.
I simply know now, that it is truly him in whom we need to place our trust. Like Nephi, "I know in whom I have trusted....My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep...He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh."( 2Nephi 4:19-21)
He can help each one of us overcome each temptation we receive, pain we have ever felt, guilt can be swept away, and hearts can be healed. It is by the only true doctrine. It is the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and the only doctrine of the father.
Conclusion
I now turn to Alma chapter 32 in closing as he explains better than I can how we can build our faith.
Alma 32:12 I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble."
Step 1
A man must be humbled by being compelled or by his own instance. Faith cannot work without a building place, therefore we must give place in order for faith to grow.
Alma 32:13 "And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved."
Step 2
Repentance, we must seek to change, get a fresh view of God, and so qualify for his guidance, we will obtain mercy from it.
Alma 32:16 "Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe."
Step 3
Believe in the word of God, and be baptized, be born again! Partake of the sacrament, and be ready for him to bless you as you follow his commandments.
Alma 32:23 "And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned."
Step 4
Listen to the spirit with submission. Even like a child. Promise to follow those promptings.
These first 4 steps are the pre-ground for faith. Every farmer plows his field before dropping seed. We can plow our fields, and prepare our spiritual grounds for seed and nourishment in preparation for more faith.
PHASE 2 Of Faith Building. Action.
Action 1 Begin
Alma 32:28 "Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. 29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge. 30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness. 32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away. 33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good."
Alma uses the word "Beginning" 8 different times in these verses, in connection with "grow" and "enlighten". Everything has to have a beginning before progression starts, and hearts are changed. The beginning could be finding people to teach, it could be a lifelike matter such as someone prepared their field for a seed, the beginning could simply be the missionaries knocking on their door, or a member inviting them to dinner with the missionaries. Whatever the case may be, it has to start with a beginning before it can progress to something greater. It only progress to something greater if the Holy Ghost can testify of its goodness.
Action 2 Recognize
Alma 32: 34 "And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. 35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? 36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good."
The action word is "KNOW". You must recognize that the seed is good or in other words-the word is good. Acknowledge that it is from God, and that your own mind did not come up with it. But it was divine revelation from the almighty. The spirit is what expands our knowledge in that thing
Action 3 Nourish it
Alma 32: "37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. 38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof. 40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life. 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."
Nourish it until it takes root, and then continue to nourish it with an eye of faith, looking forward to the fruit. The fruit, Is revelation and guidance. If we desire more guidance and revelation, we must have more faith, we must nourish our spiritual trees and be able to pluck the fruit by and by and reap the rewards of everlasting life. Nourishing the word takes diligence, patience, long suffering, submission, and the continuation of the spirit. We can expand our knowledge, our testimonies unto conversion, by nourishing the good word of God, exercising what we know, and looking forward with a positive mind to the future. If we dwell in the past, we will end up doing past things. If we dwell in the future, and the future is a righteous desire, we will eventually become that righteous desire, our hearts will be changed, and we will know with a perfect knowledge that it is in fact a good seed. We will be building our foundations upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ the son of God. And THAT, is how we can become "disciples of Jesus Christ, and declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life"
Elder Jared M. Greenburg
Missouri Independence Mission
Lenexa Kansas Ward
