Elder Quentin L. Cook - Personal Peace in Challenging Times

 As Elder Cook teaches how we can achieve "Personal Peace", not necessarily universal peace, he counsels - 

"If we want to have the peace which is the reward of the works of righteousness, we will not pitch our tents toward the world. We will pitch our tents toward the temple."

As well as - 

"We are children of God and part of His family. We are also part of the family into which we are born. The institution of the family is the foundation for both happiness and peace. President Russell M. Nelson has taught us—and during this pandemic we have learned—that the home-centered, Church-supported religious observance can “unleash the power of families … to transform [our] home[s] into a sanctuary of faith.” If we have this religious observance in our homes, we will also have the Savior’s peace. We are aware that many of you do not have the blessings of righteous homes and contend regularly with those who choose unrighteousness. The Savior can provide protection and peace to guide you ultimately to safety and shelter from life’s storms.

I assure you that the joy, love, and fulfillment experienced in loving, righteous families produce both peace and happiness. Love and kindness are at the center of having Zion in our hearts and homes."

Abraham 5

 Abraham suggests more evidence of a pre-mortal life as he teaches - 

"...the Gods formed man from the dust of the ground, and took his spirit (that is, the man’s spirit), and put it into him; and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

8 And the Gods planted a garden, eastward in Eden, and there they put the man, whose spirit they had put into the body which they had formed."  (Abraham 5:7–8)

Obviously, his spirit existed before it was placed in Adam's body.

Abraham 4

 It becomes clear that the Creation as described in Abraham 4 is the planning of such for - 

"...the Gods said: We will do everything that we have said, and organize them; and behold, they shall be very obedient." (Abraham 4:31)

Another note in Their planning is the words - 

"...and it was so as they ordered..."  (Abraham 4:9)

Some might interpret "ordered" as a command.  My thoughts are "ordered" as more of a sequence.

Abraham 3

 In many things, we are tested to see if have sufficient knowledge and experience to be qualified.  Having tests motivate us to study and learn.  Thus the Lord said concerning our 2nd Estate or this life - 

"...we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them..."  (Abraham 3:25)

Even though God may know how we will do, it is still necessary for us to learn and grow.

Elder Dale G. Renlund - The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity

 Speaking on the need for unity and avoiding contention when we don't agree with others, Elder Renlund taught - 

"Unity requires effort. It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts and we focus on our eternal destiny. We are united by our common, primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents.19 If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should reexamine our priorities and change."

Adding - 

"When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We “seek to moderate and unify.” We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have."

Abraham 3

 As the Lord compares the universe and governing planets to spirits and that there exists two facts being such that there is always one greater than another, He teaches Abraham using the same logic - 

"...if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal.

19 And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all."  (Abraham 3:18–19)

He also defined - 

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."  (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36)

Agency, obedience and faithfulness develops intelligence or light and truth.

Abraham 2

 Though I have read many reasons of why Abraham was justified in telling Pharoah that Sarai was his sister, the one the justifies all is - 

"...the Lord said unto me: Behold, Sarai, thy wife, is a very fair woman to look upon;

23 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see her, they will say—She is his wife; and they will kill you, but they will save her alive; therefore see that ye do on this wise:

24 Let her say unto the Egyptians, she is thy sister, and thy soul shall live."  (Abraham 2:22–24)

Receiving this instruction from the Lord justifies all actions.

Abraham 2

 As the Lord covenants with the seed of Abraham the blessings of eternal life or exaltation, He provides two conditions one being - 

"...thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations..."  (Abraham 2:9)

And - 

"...for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name..."  (Abraham 2:10)

Receive means to me that you continue faithful and endure to the end.

Abraham 1

 In the Books of Moses and Abraham, we learn that the Cain and his posterity was cursed and forbidden to hold the priesthood because of their wickedness, as we read - 

"Now the first government of Egypt was established by Pharaoh, the eldest son of Egyptus, the daughter of Ham, and it was after the manner of the government of Ham, which was patriarchal.

26 Pharaoh, being a righteous man, established his kingdom and judged his people wisely and justly all his days, seeking earnestly to imitate that order established by the fathers in the first generations, in the days of the first patriarchal reign, even in the reign of Adam, and also of Noah, his father, who blessed him with the blessings of the earth, and with the blessings of wisdom, but cursed him as pertaining to the Priesthood."  (Abraham 1:25–26)

I can't help but ask, does that mean all the posterity of Cain were wicked.  Absolutely not!  Obviously, Egyptus, wife of Ham, must have been righteous, and I assume her daughter Egyptus was righteous because the first Pharoah was righteous.

I assume that because of Cain and much of his wicked posterity, that it must have been understood from the great patriarchs, that the priesthood was at that time to be withheld from Cain's posterity.

How long was this withholding to take place?   I don't know.  But I do know that there were many of Cain's posterity that repented and were faithful.

Abraham 1

 A troubling event we learn from Abraham was that - 

"Now, this priest had offered upon this altar three virgins at one time, who were the daughters of Onitah, one of the royal descent directly from the loins of Ham. These virgins were offered up because of their virtue; they would not bow down to worship gods of wood or of stone, therefore they were killed upon this altar, and it was done after the manner of the Egyptians."  (Abraham 1:11)

We later find that when Abraham was to be sacrificed, the Lord saved him.  Interesting, but why?  We know that the Lord intended for Abraham to have a great posterity.  Why did He not allow these three virgins the same?  If we are faithful and declare "Thy will be done", we will come to understand at a later time.

Moses 8

 I think it is important to understand that - 

"...Noah and his sons hearkened unto the Lord, and gave heed, and they were called the sons of God."(Moses 8:13)

Noah's sons were righteous men.

Moses 7

 As Enoch witness the "God of Heaven" weeping, he asked somewhat in confusion - 

"...How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?

30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;

31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?"  (Moses 7:29–31)

Being a parent also, the Lord then explained - 

"...Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;

33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;

34 And the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.

35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.

36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.

37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?

38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.

39 And that which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;

40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands"  (Moses 7:32–40)

As Enoch began to understand, seeing all the doings of the children of men - 

"...he had bitterness of soul, and wept over his brethren, and said unto the heavens: I will refuse to be comforted..."  (Moses 7:44)

But as the plan of salvation and redemption is presented to him including - 

"...the Lord showed Enoch all things, even unto the end of the world; and he saw the day of the righteous, the hour of their redemption, and received a fulness of joy..."

(Moses 7:67)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Daily Restoration

 As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the importance of staying on a straight line or "the path", he counseled - 

"...Unlike the wandering test subjects, we have reliable, visible landmarks that we can use to evaluate our course.

And what are these landmarks?

"Surely they include daily prayer and pondering the scriptures and using inspired tools like Come, Follow Me. Each day, we can approach the throne of God in humility and honesty. We can ponder our actions and review the moments of our day—considering our will and desires in light of His. If we have drifted, we plead with God to restore us, and we commit to do better.

As our days go, so go our lives. One author put it this way: “A day is like a whole life. You start out doing one thing, but end up doing something else, plan to run an errand, but never get there. … And at the end of your life, your whole existence has that same haphazard quality, too. Your whole life has the same shape as a single day.”

Adding - 

"Do you want to change the shape of your life?

Change the shape of your day.

Do you want to change your day?

Change this hour.

Change what you think, feel, and do at this very moment.

A small rudder can steer a large ship.13

Small bricks can become magnificent mansions.

Small seeds can become towering sequoias.

Minutes and hours well spent are the building blocks of a life well lived. They can inspire goodness, lift us from the captivity of imperfections, and lead us upward to the redemptive path of forgiveness and sanctification."