Eternal Marriage is a Blessing

Here is something to chew on:
What does " love the sinner, hate the sin" mean? As much as I know that holy marriage is between a worthy man and woman, I am continually reminded that a man cannot force someone to be obedient to the laws of God.

Prophets teach that they are blessed for being compelled to be humble and teachable(Alma 32:13). But when the anti-Christ was brought before the king, though his teachings encouraged people to sin, the law of the land had no hold against him(Alma 30:12). I admire the people of Ammon who did not harm Korihor. They just picked him up and carried him out of the land. But it was strictly against the law to put men on unequal ground, "legally" speaking(Alma 30:7).

No one can enter the temple without thorough soul searching and being worthy before God to participate in the sacred ordinances there. Eternal Marriage is the highest ordinance preformed in the Temple and that cannot be achieved while participating in behaviors contrary to the laws of Him who's house it is. There are spiritual consequences for disobeying His laws and there are natural consequences(Darwin would agree that any species acting like that wouldn't survive).

It is God's Law that matters. He set down all laws natural, physical, and spiritual. When His laws are broken there are consequences that we cannot avoid. We lose privileges and blessings through disobedience. Isn't that punishment enough? Shouldn't we look to those who have lost these blessings with the greatest of compassion and longing to love them into the path of righteousness? To make them "legally" less or to discriminate them would bring them and us to a misunderstanding of each other.

When a person truly understands the gospel they will choose to be obedient on their own. As President Boyd K. Packer said in his April 1997 General Conference Talk,"
I have long believed that the study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than talking about behavior will improve behavior."
The law of the land can protect us but should it be used to lower the rights of others?

Please leave G-rated comments if you'd like to respond.

Jake-Truth is a Whole.

A Special Occasion

Today was Fast and Testimony meeting at Church. Since the time I left on my mission to Peru I haven't gotten up to share my testimony from the pulpit. My excuse for those two years was that i got to share it everyday and others should have the chance to share their's. I don't know what my reason has been for the last two years though. I don't think there was a reason not to, I just didn't. But today I knew I had to. As a baptized member of the church I promised to be a witness of Christ in all times and all places.

So I sat there trying to think of what I was supposed to say. With the scriptures open in my hand I flipped through the pages hoping that something would come to me. I said a prayer asking God to help me know what to say. As I finally decided that with or without something to say I would go up and share what I know, I was given what I just prayed for. A strong feeling of love came over me as my thoughts turned to how today was the Christmas devotional of the first Presidency of the Church and that two years ago I asked Kylee to be my wife. I was able to share with the ward how I know that God led me to be with Kylee and that He has blessed me everyday of my life with what I need most. I know He loves me and that He watches over me because He has promised me that I can be with Kylee for all eternity. Jesus Christ made that possible through His atonement and resurection.

thanks for reading this long post, I hope it brings the spirit closer to you all.

jake, in His name, Amen.

When a Prophet Speaks

For those of you who were able to go to or hear President Uchtdorf in the Relief Society session of Conference... We've Got Your Forget-Me-Not Seeds.

No I really didn't go or hear his talk but from all of the seed customers that have constantly been asking for forget-me-not flowers I'm pretty sure it was pretty moving.

I would say a few dozen or so people have asked us at Anderson's Seed and Garden when we will be getting in a new shipment of these seeds. the thing is we have never carried them. So what would any wise business do? Get some seeds! Of course we were all brainstorming on how else to monopolize on this situation and personally I think we should send President Uchtdorf a letter asking him to speak on how using Fertilizer is like faith. that may help us out after April conference.

Jake, Come listen to a Prophets voice!

Ways to know you have a great ward.

Let me be the first to admit that when you have nine-o-clock church on Sunday it is a very bad idea to go see a movie at ten-o-clock the night before and still have to drive home another hour after that. BUT, We made it on time! ( if i had the choice I'd do it all over again with Donnie and Jessica Howell)
This week we decided to go with the family ward to see how we fit in there. Thanks to an on-the-ball elder's quorum president, we were already known to the bishopric and had all the necessary paper work filled out for requesting our records before sunday school had started. This particular ward has what is referred to as a Snow Bird attendance. Members from Arizona and St. George come up here to Logan For the summer and go back down for the winter months. i think what really made this ward the right choice was all of the youth and kids from primary. Sacrament meeting always goes faster when i have a kid to tease on the bench in front of me. I love the inspired fact that i get to be with Kylee for two thirds of church but it would be so nice if she was by my side for the full three hours. I must say though, I get this really happy feeling when i get to leave priesthood and find her in the hallway waiting for me. What really warmed me up to this ward was the service that was given and still needed among the members. Quite a few of the families are like us, just starting out and getting through college. Others are well established and are working on having grand children. Family wards are a must in the church in my opinion. there is an invisible glue there that makes it hard to just move out without feeling like your leaving good friends behind. Its a place where life long friendships are made.
Maybe I'm biased having never been to a singles ward or any other limited demographic of a ward. But show me a child who misbehaved in primary and I'll show you a primary president who wants to know how his date to prom went. Family wards are not about going to church every week. They are your extended family for life.

~Jacob, the wild child in primary