The Lord’s Counsel to the Seven Churches

We studied the Book of Revelations this week. Boy, was that a tall order. I feel like I didn’t have nearly enough time to really get into it, and still hardly understand what it’s talking about. One part that was fairly cut and dry was the beginning three chapters. In it John is told to give certain counsel to the seven branches of the church in various parts of Asia. We can learn a lot from that council, such as what to do and what to avoid to receive amazing blessings from the Lord. 

1. Revelation 2-3

City	What they did that pleased the Lord	How they needed to repent	Promised Blessings
Ephesus (2: 1-7)	They have been patient and borne labor for the Lord’s sake and tried the false apostles and found them liars. They also hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, as does the Lord.	They have left their first love and failed to repent.	To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Smyrna (2: 8-11)	They had good works, endured tribulation and were poor in money but rich in spirit.	There are of Jews of the synagogue that are of the devil.	He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. If they are faithful through trials and imprisonment they shall receive the crown of life.
Pergamos (2: 12-17)	They’re being steadfast though they live in an evil place that slays martyrs.	There are those that hold to the doctrines of Balaam, that eat things sacrificed to idols and commit fornication, and also those that hold to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.	To him that overcometh he will give to eat of the hidden manna, and a new name which no man knoweth.
Thyatira (2: 18-29)	He is pleased with their works, patience, charity, service and faith.	They have suffered Jezebel to seduce them and commit fornication with them, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.	To him that overcometh and keepeth his works to the end he will give power over the nations. And he will give them the morning star (meaning?)
Sardis (3: 1-6)	Their works and that they have a name that they live (Christ’s name?)	Their works are not perfect before God. They have defiled their garments.	He that overcometh shall be clothed in white and his name shall not be blotted out of the book of life.
Philadelphia (3: 7-13)	They have kept his word and not denied his name.  They have kept the word of his patience.	Some of the Jews of the synagogue are of Satan and do lie.	Jews of Satan will worship at the feet of the righteous.  He will keep them from the hour of temptation. Those who overcome will be made pillars in the temple.  They will have the name of God written upon them.
Laodicea (3: 14-22)	Nothing	They are lukewarm in their devotion to God.	If they buy of Him gold tried in the fire they will be rich. If they hear His voice and let him in they will sup together. They who are righteous will sit with him in his throne.

2. Write a paragraph about what counsel given to the seven branches of the church in Asia applies to you today. Which of the promises the Lord gave to the seven churches most inspires you to seek eternal life? 

I really liked the counsel to not be lukewarm, but to put our full affections on the Lord. This helps me to really analyze if my actions and thoughts toward the church are passionately pious or just out of habit. I want to be fully engaged with the gospel and not just take it for granted as a “thing” that happens to be part of my life. 

I also related to the counsel given to the saints in Pergamos, telling them that he was pleased with them for being devoted though they were surrounded with evil and lived in an evil place. We can easily relate this to ourselves in these latter days. There aren’t many places on earth where the people aren’t surrounded by evil. Idaho happens to be a little bubble of good, as far as I’m concerned, but even here we are faced with tons of people questioning our beliefs or how strict our standards are. It’s hard to be strong and steadfast anywhere in the world right now, but it’s nice to see that the Lord acknowledges that difficulty and praises us for surmounting it. 

3. How does D&C 14:7, 63: 20 give meaning to the phrase “to him that overcometh”? 

It tells us what it means to overcome. This means to endure to the end and overcome the evil that is in the world through our adherence to God’s commandments and through the power of the atonement. 

How to have Fellowship and Joy through Christ

In 1 John, John begins his epistle by stating that he desires that the saints have fellowship with the apostles and that their joy may be full through the Father and the Son.

• In verses 8-10 he tells us that we can do this by confessing our sins, that by denying that we’ve sinned we’re deceiving ourselves and cutting ourselves off from the truth. 
• 1 John 2: 3-6 give us further advice, urging us to keep the commandments, because by doing so we are perfecting the love of God in us. If we desire to have part with Christ, then we need to do what he did and walk after the way he walked.   
• Verses 9-11 tell us to love our brothers, because we cannot truly have the gospel in us if we go around hating others. Hate blinds us, and so we must be forgiving that we can live in the light. 
• 1 John 3: 11-19 continues this theme, telling us not to be like Cain, hating because of envy, but to be loving and compassionate in word and deed.   
• In John 2: 15-17, John also urges us to not love the world or worldly things but to love the things of God. He says that loving the world separates us from God, but doing the will of God helps Him to abide in us forever.  
•  Verses 20-12 and 27 are a bit confusing for me. I think what they are talking about is being a chosen member, anointed and taught the truth and sticking with what you’ve been taught, learning to not look beyond the mark but to have faith in that truth that you’ve already learned. 
• Lastly, in 1 John 3: 4-6 he tells us not to continue in sin, but to take advantage of the atonement and to cease sinning that we may abide in Christ. 

I know that I can do a better job at implementing this advice into my life. Particularly, I can be better at learning about the life of Christ, reading through the gospels and through 3Nephi, and through Jesus the Christ, that I can understand his life better. By doing these things, I will set his example firmly in my mind, that I will really know what it means to “Choose The Right”. It’s not as if I haven’t read my scriptures or heard the stories of his miracles, but I haven’t studied them in depth the way I would like to. I really want to walk after the way that he did, that I may emulate his light and be a blessing and an example to others.

Living Our Religion

Living Our Religion

This is just a little exercise to see ways in which we can better please God and be not of the world. 

Bridling our Tongues- James 1:19, 3:1-13, 4:11

Things we say that are offensive to God	Things we say that are pleasing to God
Cursing man Speaking evil one of another Judging our brother Judging the law Quarrel	Blessing God Good conversation Meekness of wisdom

Being not of the World- James 4

Symptoms of Being in the World	Prescription for Being Out of the World
Wars Fighting Lusts Killing Ask amiss Adulterers/Adulteresses	Submit yourselves to God, resisting the devil. Draw nigh to God. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. Endure hardship. Humble yourselves. Speak not evil one of another. Judge no man.

Random musings

I am sitting at the kitchen table doing my homework, surrounded by 5 year old Mason who's steadfastly practicing his letters, U and L to be exact, and 7 year old Eli who is reading Curious George to himself. Even though it's mundane, completely unspectacular, it is the stuff my life is made of, and it makes life good. I am so privileged to be here, in this moment. It will be gone soon, but I hope not too soon. I can already feel the pain of the Empty Nest, just speculating on my future. I want to pause life and kiss each child a thousand times before pressing play again.

Note: I just found this unpublished draft today from 4 years ago. I liked it a decided to post it anyway. Just goes to show you how true the feelings are, because the last four years have gone by in a flash. Mason's 9th birthday is tomorrow.