Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Matthew 17, Mark 9

To Peter, the Lord promised -

"...I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (New Testament Matthew 16:19)

A few days later -

Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." (New Testament Matthew 17:1 - 8)

Of this significant event not much more is recorded by Mark. Nothing is written of the Peter receiving the keys that whatsoever he should bind on earth would be bound in Heaven. One would have to suspect that it was on this occasion these keys were given. Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained the significance of the two visitors -

“Moses, the great prophet-statesman whose name symbolized the law, and Elijah the Tishbite, a prophet of so great fame that his name had come to typify and symbolize the collective wisdom and insight of all the prophets. Moses held the keys of the gathering of Israel and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north; Elijah, the keys of the sealing power. These are the keys which they conferred upon Peter, James, and John upon the mount, and which they also conferred upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple nearly two thousand years later. (D. & C. 110:11–16.) Both of them were translated beings and had bodies of flesh and bones, a status they apparently enjoyed so that they could confer keys upon mortal men. We have a detailed scriptural account of Elijah’s translation (2 Kings 2) and a number of scriptural references concerning Moses which can only be interpreted to mean that he too was taken to heaven without tasting death. (Alma 45:18–19; Mormon Doctrine, pp. 726–730; Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 107–111.)

In that the first fruits of the resurrection had not yet taken place, Moses and Elijah, both as physical beings were present to present those keys to the Savior and Peter, James, and John. The keys related to the power to bind on earth and in Heaven is otherwise known as the sealing keys. Again, Elder McConkie explained -

“These keys include the sealing power, that is, the power to bind and seal on earth, in the Lord’s name and by his authorization, and to have the act ratified in heaven. Thus if Peter performed baptism by the authority of the sealing power here promised him, that ordinance would be of full force and validity when the person for whom it was performed went into the eternal worlds, and it would then admit him to the celestial heaven. Again, if Peter used these sealing keys to perform a marriage, then those so united in eternal marriage would continue as husband and wife forever. When they attained their future heaven, they would find themselves bound together in the family unit the same as they were on earth. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 615–16.)” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:389–90.)

As brief as the words of the gospel writers on this event, I find it interesting that as the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith how the earth would be transfigured, he also said -

"...even according to the pattern which was shown unto mine apostles upon the mount; of which account the fulness ye have not yet received." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 63:21)

In other words, no one yet has received a full account of what took place upon on the Mount of Transfiguration. Obviously there were others there. Elder McConkie writes that in the -

"...Joseph Smith Translation Mark 9:1-4, suggests that John the Baptist was also present on the Mount of Transfiguration. The original manuscript of the Joseph Smith Translation reads precisely as the printed editions do for these verses.

John would be a spirit only, since he had been slain some months before and the Savior's resurrection had not yet taken place. Just what John the Baptist's mission could be at this event is not clear, but perhaps there were many holy and angelic beings present for a number of reasons. Elder Bruce R. McConkie expressed his understanding of the event as follows: "It is not to be understood that John the Baptist was the Elias who appeared ' with Moses to confer keys and authority upon those who then held the Melchizedek Priesthood .... Rather, for some reason that remains unknown-because of the partial record of the proceedings-John played some other part in the glorious manifestations .... Perhaps he was there, as the last legal administrator under the Old Covenant, to symbolize that the law was fulfilled." (Bruce R. McConkie. Doctrinal New Testament Commentary. 3 vols. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-73, 1:404.)

What an interesting thought, which basically means -

“Until men attain a higher status of spiritual understanding than they now enjoy, they can learn only in part what took place upon the Mount of Transfiguration.” (DNTC, 1:399.)

Monday, January 29, 2007

Matthew 18:20

Within the Church we encourage those in leadership to hold regular presidency or leadership meetings. There are many that ask why. The Savior taught his disciples -

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (New Testament Matthew 18:20)

A meeting that is held is just a meeting. But a meeting performed in the name of the Savior, the Savior promises he will be in their midst. What a great promise.

A great example is amongst the Nephites where -

"...it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.
2 And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them...
(Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 27:1 - 2)

The Savior taught that in meetings -

"...he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 50:21 - 22)

Why then would we resist meeting regularly in the name of Christ.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Matthew 15, Mark 7

The scribes and Pharisees challenged the Savior -

"Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread." (New Testament Matthew 15:2)

In turn the Savior asked them why at times failed to honor their parents and then quoted Isaiah -

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (New Testament Matthew 15:8 - 9)

And then to the multitude he answered the scribes and Pharisees -

"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (New Testament Matthew 15:11)

He then explained to Peter and his apostles -

"...whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." (New Testament Matthew 15:17 - 20)

Much as the proverb of Solomon -

"...as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Old Testament Proverbs 23:7)

Which also follows -

"...let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:45)

Paul taught the Phillipians -

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (New Testament Philippians 4:8)

Jacob taught -

"...Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:39)

I remember the talk given by Elder Boyd K. Packer where he relates our mind to a stage. I was impressed with the words that followed by Elder Bruce R. McConkie -

“To enable us to keep our minds centered on righteousness, we should consciously elect to ponder the truths of salvation in our hearts. Brother Packer yesterday pleaded with eloquence that we sing the songs of Zion in order to center our thoughts on wholesome things. I would like to add that we can also—after we have had the opening song—call on ourselves to preach a sermon. I have preached many sermons walking along congested city streets, or tramping desert trails, or in lonely places, thus centering my mind on the Lord’s affairs and the things of righteousness; and I might say they have been better sermons than I have ever preached to congregations.

If we are going to work out our salvation, we must rejoice in the Lord. We must ponder his truths in our hearts. We must rivet our attention and interests upon him and his goodness to us. We must forsake the world and use all our strength, energies and abilities in furthering his work.” (Bruce R. McConkie in CR, Oct. 1973, pp. 56–57.)

As we learn to control our thoughts and desires, in that our hearts and minds are not defiled, we will experience an inward purity that will enable us to draw upon the powers of heaven, remembering -

"...the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:36)