A New Blog

Everything we need to live and keep our bodies healthy has been provided to us on this earth by a loving Heavenly Father.  When our bodies are free from the distractions of pain, impurities, and disease, it is easier to focus our energy on our Savior, hear the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and have an eternal perspective.


I have started a new blog entitled A Natural Family to record our journey to living a healthier, more natural life.

A Testimony

Last night I had the opportunity to hear Thomas bear his testimony at the spur of the moment to almost 100 strangers, not all of who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He looked like a warrior.  I have never seen anything like it in my life.  What an amazing blessing for a mother to hear and see from a child.

Challenges

I am grateful for the challenges that push my limits and take me out of my comfort zone.

David, Jonathan, Saul

In reading 1^st Samuel, chapters 18-26, I have found the following character traits for - -

David: loving, obedient, trusting, accepted, loved, wise, skilled, kind, and merciful.

Jonathan: loving, generous, honest, and loyal.

Saul: jealous, angry, without God, deceitful, afraid, conniving, dishonest, not loyal, vengeful, and relentless.

What was the relationship between David and Jonathan?  David killed Goliath and he was anointed by Samuel the prophet to be the next king.  Jonathan was the son of King Saul and a great soldier.  The son of a king probably would expect to be next in line to the throne.  David and Jonathan’s relationship could have been one of jealousy and contention.  But it was not.  1 Samuel 18:1-3, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. . . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”  Jonathan was a prince.  Not threatened by David, he took off his princely robe and placed it upon David. 1 Samuel 18:4, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”  King Saul was jealous of David, but Jonathan never failed to praise David in the eyes of Saul.  1 Samuel 19:4, “And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father.”  Why was there such a powerful relationship between these two men?  I believe it was because they were both righteous, God loving men.

Saul was jealous of the success and popularity of David.  And he continually sought to take his life, even though David was anointed of God.  By contrast, Saul had also been anointed of God.  Yet, David twice had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he did not.  Saul was not living as to find favor in the eyes of the Lord now.  But David refused to Kill Saul because the Lord had appointed him.  David left the life of Saul in the hands of God. 1 Samuel 26:23 David says, “The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed.”

Today we have the opportunity to be led by the Lord’s anointed.  All of our leaders in the church have been called and anointed by the Lord.  David is a great example to each of us on respecting those anointed of the Lord.  If we are critical of the Lord’s anointed, the Lord will not be with us.  We are guided by the Lord’s anointed and we should follow that guidance and have faith in their words.  We should pray for them and also pray that we may have an understanding of their words and counsel. 

Saul Anointed King in Israel

The Israelites wanted a king.  From 1 Samuel, chapters 9 and 10, we learn the qualities of Saul that made him a good choice to be king.  1 Samuel 9:2 states, “And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.”  From the rest of chapter 9 we learn that Saul sought counsel from a prophet of God.  In chapter 10 we learn that Saul begins to prophesy and the Lord gives him a new “heart.”  In verse 24 of the same chapter, we learn that Saul was the one chosen by the Lord to be the king.  “And Samuel said to all of the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?  And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.”

Article of Faith 5 states, “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”  We can see that Saul being called as king, follows the same pattern of choosing leaders in the church today.  Saul was called to be king by the Lord, through prophecy, by the prophet Samuel.  Samuel anointed the head of Saul.

Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

Joshua 10:12-14, “Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.  Is not this written in the book of Jasher?  So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hastened not to go down about a whole day.  And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”  Did the sun really stand still in the heavens?  In the Book of Mormon, the Book of Helaman, chapter 12, Mormon describes the power of God.  He can move the earth, water, and mountains.  If God says it, it is done.  He also says it is the earth that was moved back to make the day seem longer and the sun stood still.

From Joshua, chapters 7 through 22 -- Israel’s successes: Guided by Joshua, Israel destroys Ai and its inhabitants.  Israel defeats the Amorites and their allies.  Many kings, cities, and nations are destroyed.  The Lord fought for Israel.  Inheritances are given.  The Lord fulfills His promises.  Israel’s failures: Israel is defeated by people of Ai.  Achan and household are destroyed because Achan disobeyed the Lord.  Gibeonites are deceitful to join with Israel.

In chapters 23 and 24 of Joshua, Joshua gives his final address.  He speaks to the children of Israel about being courageous in obeying the laws of God.  He tells them to cleave unto God and to serve Him.  He reminded them of the blessings they had received and the promises the Lord had kept.  But the major theme from his address comes from one of my favorite scriptures found in Joshua 24:15, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”  He wanted the Israelites to be responsible for their own conduct.  We each have the agency to choose good or evil.  It is our choice.  But the person who chooses the Lord, also chooses integrity and nobility.  They have proved their wisdom by showing greater insight.

The Lord Commanded Israel Not to Worship False Gods

Deuteronomy chapter 4 begins with, “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the Land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.”  Statutes are laws and judgments, according to the footnote, refers to ordinances.  The Israelites were promised if they kept the laws and ordinances, they would live and possess the Land that was promised to their fathers.  We can be converted and have a desire to keep the Lord’s laws and ordinances if we have a desire to know the truth.  The Holy Ghost will then touch our hearts and minds and we will know the truth.  In verse 10 of the same chapter, parents are given the responsibility to teach their children these same statutes and judgments.  In D&C 68:25-28, parents are counseled to teach their children repentance, faith in Christ, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.  If they do not, the sin is upon the heads of the parents.

Deuteronomy 6:5, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”  This is the greatest commandment given to the Israelites and to us today.  In verse 8 of the same chapter the Israelites are told, “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”  The Jews have taken this verse literally.  They write down certain scriptures, including these ones I have mentioned here, on small pieces of paper and put them in phylacteries.  Phylacteries are small, about 1 ½” square, boxes and tie them to their left arm or forehead, usually worn during morning prayers.  Verse 9 says, “And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”  The Jews also add these small scriptures in to a cylinder shaped box called a mezuzah and place them on the doorframe.  They will touch it as they come and go from their home.  Having these objects near them help them remember the Lord and devote their lives to Him.  I think we have similarities to these objects in out home; a picture of Christ, a temple picture, and several favorite scriptural passages on plaques throughout our home.  They are constant reminders for our family, to turn our hearts, minds, and souls to Christ.

Several times in Deuteronomy, we are counseled to not worship false gods, including chapter 6, verse 14, “Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you.”  The Lord feels so strongly about this that he counseled the Israelites to destroy any evidence of false gods (Deut. 12:3) and to put to death the people who worshiped false gods (Deut. 13:6-9 and Deut. 17:2-5).  There are many things in the world today that people worship like their occupations, their possessions, and money.  We must constantly be focusing on our Savior.  We all need those things to survive in this world, but we to not be obsessed or let them consume our focus.

In Deuteronomy 7:3-4, the Israelites are prohibited from marrying outsiders because, “they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods.”  As we marry someone who has the same love of the Lord that we do, we can support each other.  Our faith will grow together and we can teach our children our shared principles and values.  But the biggest benefit will be in the next life where we will have eternal life and obtain the highest degree of celestial glory if we keep our sacred temple covenants that we have made together.

Why is this Book Called “Numbers?”

Genesis . . . the beginning, the creation.
Exodus . . . the Israelite's departure from Egypt.
Numbers . . .
Why is the book of Numbers called “Numbers?”


Although the book of Numbers chronicles the Israelites as they traveled in the wilderness, I believe the title of the book, Numbers, is drawn from the fact that the book begins with a census.  Towards the end of the book, in chapter 26, another census is given.  The Israelites left Mount Sinai, traveled in the wilderness for forty years, and ended up overlooking the Promised Land at Mount Pisgah.  In chapter 1, the beginning of the their journey, there were 603,550 males age twenty and older.  In chapter 26, at the end of their journey, forty years later, there were 601,730 males age twenty and older.  There were only two men of the original number that were numbered in the final census, Joshua and Caleb.  Why, after forty years, did the population actually decrease instead of increase?

The Lord provided the children of Israel with manna to eat while in the wilderness.  They began to murmur.  They wanted meat instead of manna.  They Lord gave them what they wanted.  Their greediness and lust for more than they needed brought about a plague and many died.  I would say the Lord must have been exasperated.  He had given the children of Israel so much and yet all they did was complain and complain some more.  The Lord didn’t want to give the Promised Land to these murmuring Israelites, but instead wanted to save it for their children.

Just months after leaving Egypt, the Lord was ready to send the Israelites into the Promised Land.  Spies were sent into Canaan.  Most of them came out declaring that the inhabitants could not be driven out.  And Israel embraced their words.  How could they possibly believe there was no hope?  They had been witnesses to many, many miracles.  The Lord had shown them time and time again that he would watch over them and deliver them.  Yet they still lacked faith.  More murmuring.  They wanted to get rid of Moses and find someone to lead them back to Egypt.  They wanted to stone those who opposed them.  The Lord was angry.  Moses Prayed to the Lord for mercy.  The Israelites were spared but had to travel in the desert for forty years instead of entering the Land of Promise then.  The Lord told them they could not enter the Promised Land now.  Once again they ignored the Lord and tried to enter Canaan.  They were utterly defeated by the Amalekites and the Canaanites.  And all those, age twenty and older, except Joshua and Caleb, who lacked faith in the Lord and His power, would die in the wilderness and never see the Promised Land.


I hope we can all remember the miracles provided to each of us by the Lord.  And our faith remains strong.  Then, we may enjoy the blessings the Lord has in store for us.

Clean Versus Unclean

Clean animals that the Israelites could eat . . .

Leviticus 11:3, Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

 Leviticus 11:9, These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

 Leviticus 11:21, Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

 Leviticus 11:22, Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

Unclean animals that the Israelites could not eat . . .

Leviticus 11:4-7, Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.  And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.  And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.  7And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:12-24, Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall bean abomination unto you.  And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;  Every raven after his kind;  And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,  And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,  And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,  And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.  All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.  But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.  And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.  And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.  The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.  And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four,  those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.  And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

Leviticus 11:29-30,  These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

The Law of Moses was very strict.  It had 2 primary functions, to teach obedience and to keep their minds towards Christ.  There were practical reasons for these dietary laws related to health and sanitation.  The Lord used diet as a teaching tool.  People may forget to pray but usually do not forget to eat.  Each time they ate, they could remember the Lord.  By committing to a specific diet they were committing to the Lord.  The strict Law of Moses separated the Hebrews from the Canaanite neighbor. If we are to be God’s people, we must become different from other people.  We must not be influenced by worldly influences.  The Lord wants us to be clean and pure.  Pure implies unpolluted throughout the whole thing.  Clean implies free from contamination.

Modern day revelation pertaining to what the Lord ordained for the use of man . . .

D&C 89:6, And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

 D&C 89:10-17, And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man— Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used spareingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine. All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth; And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger. All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground— Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

Modern day revelation pertaining to what the Lord has restricted . . .

D&C 89:5, That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

 D&C 89:7-9, And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

D&C 89:12, Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used spareingly;

The Lord wants to sanctify us and make us holy.  There needs to be a separation between clean and unclean.  When we partake of that which is clean, it helps keep us clean.  When we partake of that which is unclean, it draws away our cleanliness.  Our bodies are a temple created for us by our Heavenly Father.  If we want the Lord to be with us and the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion, we must be clean and pure.  They cannot dwell in unholy places.  There are promises that will be given to us if we keep these words of wisdom like health in the navel and marrow in the bones, finding great treasures of wisdom and knowledge, running and not being weary, walking and not fainting, and the destroying angel shall pass us by, just as the children of Israel. (D&C 89:18-20)  By following these words of wisdom given to us by the Lord we are committing to Him.  We are making our bodies more clean and holy, a place where the Holy Ghost can dwell.  Following the word of wisdom is part of the sanctification process.  One way I could commit to living the word of wisdom better is to eat more whole and natural food.  I need to give up more processed food.

Prophets Talk to God Face to Face

Is it possible for a prophet to speak to God face to face?  Earlier in the Old Testament we learned that Abraham and Enoch talked with God face to face.  In Exodus we just learned that Moses and 70 of the elders of Israel saw God.  Exodus 33:11 it says, “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”  Yet in Exodus 33:20 it says, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”  And also John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”  Do these scriptures contradict each other?  Can man see God face to face or not?  Some words were been lost in translation.  Let’s take a look at the Joseph Smith Translation of both of these verses.  Exodus 33:20 says, “And he said unto Moses, Thou canst not see my face at this time, lest mine anger be kindled against thee also, and I destroy thee, and thy people; for there shall no man among them see me at this time, and live, for they are exceeding sinful. And no sinful man hath at any time, neither shall there be any sinful man at any time, that shall see my face and live.”  John 1:19 says, “And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son; for except it is through him no man can be saved.”  It is possible for someone to see the face of God and live.  Ancient prophets saw and talked with God face to face.  Modern day prophets can also.  Joseph Smith saw God, the Father, and His son Jesus Christ.