8/8/2017 - Section 59:14-24

August 8, 2017

Section 59:14-24

Fasting, Commandments, Obedience to Commandments, Peace in this World, Eternal Life, Path to Perfection, Happiness Road To, Missionary Road to Progress,

Continuing on with section 59, nicknamed ““That thou Mayest More Fully Keep Thyself Unspotted from the World”

Christ’s discussion of fasting begins in v 14. He couples fasting with prayer. And He equates that process with rejoicing. His method of approaching fasting includes ‘thanksgiving’, ‘cheerful hearts’, glad heart and a cheerful countenance’, and then He cautions “but not with much laughter”.  Our time of fasting should be sweet, but with reverence. Throughout that 24 hour period, we should be alert to our sudden thoughts and perceptions. If we are asking for answers, or knowledge, or greater spirit, then we need to be tuned in and ready to receive what is given us. Is fasting difficult? Yes, there are times our body reminds us of its difficulty. But those are feelings that we should take for a reminder of what we are doing. Those are times we respond with prayer—whether on our knees or on the run—to maintain our alertness and our quest within our fast.

Do we fast to the detriment of our bodies? No! President Joseph F Smith said: “Now, while the law requires the Saints in all the world to fast from ‘even to even’ and to abstain both from food and drink, it can easily be seen from the Scriptures, and especially from the words of Jesus, that it is more important to obtain the true spirit of love for God and man, ‘purity of heart and simplicity of intention,’ than it is to carry out the cold letter of the law. The Lord has instituted the fast on a reasonable and intelligent basis, and none of his works are vain or unwise. His law is perfect in this as in other things. Hence, those who can are required to comply thereto; it is a duty from which they cannot escape; but let it be remembered that the observance of the fast day by abstaining twenty-four hours from food and drink is not an absolute rule. It is no iron-clad law to us, but it is left with the people as a matter of conscience, to exercise wisdom and secretion. Many are subject to weakness, other are delicate in health, and others have nursing babies; of such it should not be required to fast. Neither should parents compel their little children to fast. I have known children to cry for something to eat on fast day. In such cases, going without food will do them no good. Instead, they dread the day to come, and in place of hailing it, dislike it; while the compulsion engenders a spirit of rebellion in them rather than a love for the Lord and their fellows. Better teach them the principle, and let them observe it when they are old enough to choose intelligently, than to so compel them.   But those shold fast who can, and all classes among us should be taught to save the meals which they would eat, or their equivalent, for the poor. None are exempt from this; it is required of the Saints, old and young, in every part of the Church. It is no excuse that in some places there are no poor. In such cases the fast donation should be forwarded to the proper authorities for transmission to such stakes of Zion as may stand in need.” (Gospel Doctrine, pp 243-44)

As we near the end of this section, Christ reminds us that Heavenly Father watches over all of us, and that He has given us – and will continue to give us—deep blessings as we are diligent in following His commandments. He wants us to recognize the gifts that are ours--that sweet portion of our relationship with our father: v 21 “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” I can see why our Father does not want us to become like spoiled children who demand their every whim to be fulfilled (and expect that immediately), and who never stop to consider what they have. Children like these are most often selfish, self-serving, conniving, manipulative, pouty, etc. Those are not the qualities that bring us happiness. The Lord knows this, and that is why He gives us commandments, along with examples of other peoples’ obedience or disobedience to those commandments. He wants us to find the path to true happiness as quickly and as easily as possible. There is a clear path, and it is lighted by prophets, and scriptures, and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

His closing plea to us (v 23) “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” And this is exactly what I desire, what I pray for, what I hope for, and what I attempt to live for.

On p 128 there is a wonderful talk by Marion G Romney (Oct 1949 Gen Conf), that I want to remember: “When earth life is over and things appear in their true perspective, we shall more clearly see and realize what the Lord and his prophets have repeatedly told us, that the fruits of the gospel are the only objectives worthy of life’s full efforts. Their possessor obtains true wealth—wealth in the Lord’s view of values. We need constantly to deepen our understandings and sharpen our realization of what the fruits of the gospel are.     The Lord has defined them as “…peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come’. It is a bit difficult to define the ‘peace in this world’ referred to in the revelation. But we may be assured that it is not the ease, luxury, and freedom from struggle envisioned by the world’s utopian dreamers. Jesus told his apostle that it would be found by them even in their days of tribulation. “Peace I leave with you,’ he said, ‘my peace I give unto you.’ And then , by way of caution, it seems to me, he added,’…not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John 14:27) ….These fruits of the gospel—assurance that we shall obtain eternal life, peace in this world sustained by such an assurance, and finally eternal life in the world to come—are within the reach of us all….A half-hearted performance is not enough. We cannot obtain these blessings and be like the rich young man who protested that he had kept the commandments from his youth up but who went away sorrowful when, in answer to the question, “What lack I yet?’ Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor…and come and follow me.’ (Mat 19:21)….There can be no such reservation….Let us each day in solemn honesty confront ourselves with the rich man’s question, “What lack I yet?’ And thus, with utter frankness, discovering our own limitations, let us conquer them one by one until we obtain peace in this world through an assurance that we shall have eternal life in the world to come.”