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9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte...
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Alma 18 - A Portion of That Spirit Dwelleth in Me


As a missionary Ammon was an impressive individual who demonstrated talent, strength, and loyalty. The king's servants recounted how Ammon had miraculously defended them and prevented the king's sheep from being scattered. "Whether he be the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but this much we do know, that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king; neither can they scatter the king’s flocks when he is with us, because of his expertness and great strength (Alma 18:3). Ammon was expert and strong. When king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, "because of the faithfulness of Ammon" (Alma 18:10). Later we also learn that Ammon was "wise, yet harmless" (Alma 18:22). From the example of Ammon we find inspiration to refine and prepare ourselves to fulfill our personal ministries and serve God. 

 A few months I was asked to interpret for Elder Cook while he visited Taiwan to conduct a day-long training for stake presidents. During that meeting he said, "It is not enough just to be good. We must also do the work." This idea has lingered with me as I have realized that our purpose in life is not just to purge evil from our own lives, but to actively do good in our families, in our communities, in our congregations, and in the world. In order to do this work we have to exert great effort and expand our capacity professionally, financially, socially, physically, and spiritually. God would have us achieve excellence and use these strengths to bless His children. The more capable we are, the more we give God to work with. 

This apostolic instruction to be diligent, hardworking, and proactive is a beautiful counterpoint to an analogy that I often come back to. As an art student in college I once took an experiment drawing class. One day our drawings as a class were stiff and uninspired, so our professor pulled out a large 6 foot by 6 foot wood panel and invited us to simultaneously start making marks. We all drew at the same, some of us using towels to smear gesso, others pounding the surface like a drum with brushes dipped in graphite. At intervals he would rotate the canvas, paint over entire swaths of the canvas, and instruct us to keep going. After nearly an hour of drawing, we all stood back and looked at what we had created. It was gorgeous. From improvised tools and broken instruments we created a work much more expressive and original than we could have planned or imagined. 

 No matter what accomplishments we attain in this life, we will always be broken nubs of charcoal and soiled rags.  This idea was beautifully summarized by the Savior in the query to His Apostles, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature" (Matthew 6:27)?  But in the hands of an expert artist we can be wielded to create beauty and clearly render the purposes of our Heavenly Father. Ammon understood this principle and humbly attributed his power and knowledge not to his own prowess or personal accomplishments, but to the portion of the Spirit that dwelt within him stating "a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God (Alma 18:35). 
Application Questions

 If you could only focus on one thing to improve in your life (professionally, financially, socially, physically, spiritually, etc.), what would it be?

 How has God used you to achieve and create things that you never would have thought possible?
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