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none none Mistakes vs. Sins Elder Dallin H. Oaks "Sins and Mistakes" BYU Devotional Aug 16, 1994 https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin-h-oaks/sins-mistakes/ In this devotional message I wish to reason about a basic principle given in modern revelation but not as well understood or applied as it should be. This principle was given to guide us in our relationships with one another. It is especially important for parents with teenage children. {nl}Three verses of the Doctrine and Covenants identify an important contrast between sins and mistakes. I had never noticed these verses until about one year ago, when I was reading the Doctrine and Covenants for the fifteenth or twentieth time. Their direction came to my mind with such freshness and impact that I thought they might have been newly inserted in my book. That is the way with prayerful study of the scriptures. The scriptures do not change, but we do, and so the old scriptures can give us new insights every time we read them. {nl}The twentieth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, given the same month the Church was organized, is the basic revelation on Church government. It contains one verse giving this important direction: “Any member of the church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault, shall be dealt with as the scriptures direct” (D&C 20:80). The clear implication of this verse is that transgressing is different from being overtaken in a fault, but that either type of action is to be dealt with as the scriptures direct. {nl}The scriptures contain various directions for dealing with members, but the key direction for present purposes is contained in two verses in the November 1831 revelation given as the preface to the book that is now the Doctrine and Covenants. These verses follow the Lord’s explanation that he has given his servants the commandments in that book “after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding” (D&C 1:24). Succeeding verses clarify the difference between error and sin, and give distinctly different directions for the correction of each. I quote verses 25 and 27: {nl}And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known. . . . {nl}And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent. [D&C 1:25, 27] {nl}Under these verses transgressing is different from being at fault, and to err is different than to sin. Here I need to define some terms. I believe that in these scriptures sin and transgression mean the same thing. Similarly, to err or to be at fault are also equivalent. In referring to this second category, I will use the more familiar description: “to make a mistake.” {nl}The subject of this talk is the contrast between sins and mistakes. Both can hurt us and both require attention, but the scriptures direct a different treatment. Chewing on a live electrical cord or diving headfirst into water of uncertain depth are mistakes that should be made known so they can be corrected. Violations of the commandments of God are sins that require chastening and repentance. In the treatment process we should not require repentance for mistakes, but we are commanded to preach the necessity of repentance for sins. {nl}That is my message. The rest of this talk is just for purposes of illustration and application. {nl}My first illustration uses words I learned as a young boy reading the Sears Roebuck catalog. In those days, each item of merchandise in the catalog was offered in three different qualities: good, better, and best. Sears didn’t use the word bad, but if I add that word I have four words that permit me to illustrate my first point with clarity. For most of us, most of the time, the choice between good and bad is easy. What usually causes us difficulty is determining which uses of our time and influence are merely good, or better, or best. Applying that fact to the question of sins and mistakes, I would say that a wrong choice in the contest between what is good and what is bad is a sin, but a poor choice among things that are good, better, and best is merely a mistake. {nl}Mortals make those kinds of mistakes all the time. We can read of some of them in Church history. I believe some of the persecutions our forefathers endured were a result of their sins. The Lord told them so by revelation (see D&C 101:2). I believe some of their persecutions were also the result of mistakes. ... Similarly, some mistaken decisions on Kirtland banking policies plagued the Saints for more than a decade. ... {nl}In teaching the Saints not to accuse one another, the Prophet Joseph Smith said, “What many people call sin is not sin” (Teachings, p. 193). I believe the large category of actions that are mistakes rather than sins illustrates the truth of that statement. If we would be more understanding of one another’s mistakes, being satisfied merely to correct and not to chasten or call to repentance, we would surely promote loving and living together in greater peace and harmony. ... {nl}The book of Proverbs is filled with advice on mistakes or errors, and the word most frequently applied to the person who fails to behave appropriately in these areas is fool. Our dictionary defines a fool as a person lacking in judgment or prudence. A fool is a fool, not a sinner. Our English writers understood that difference, and used it in their frequent contrast of fools and knaves. ... {nl}We [should] only chasten and call to repentance for those actions that are sins. ... {nl}We must make every effort to avoid sin and to repent when we fall short. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of our sins through repentance and baptism and by earnestly striving to keep the commandments of God. Being cleansed from sin and receiving forgiveness and reconciliation with God through the atonement of Christ is the means by which we can achieve our divine destiny as children of God. {nl}We should seek to avoid mistakes, since some mistakes have very painful consequences. But we do not seek to avoid mistakes at all costs. Mistakes are inevitable in the process of growth in mortality. … If we are willing to be corrected for our mistakes, innocent mistakes can be a source of growth and progress. Covenant Path Elder Renlund none none Momentum is the key to make sure we keep moving forward and are not capsized by the waves that hit our kayak. Elder Paul Pieper none none Building a relationship with God must be based on trust. He trusts us giving us agency. We need to develop complete trust in Him. Keys from Elias Derrick Shadel none none It is the work of helping one another walk along the covenant path to the tree of life to partake of God’s greatest blessing—that of eternal life. Keys from Elias Elder D. Todd Christofferson Gen Conf Oct 2023 none "These keys provide the “power from on high” for divinely appointed responsibilities that constitute the primary purpose of the Church.8 On that wonderful Easter day in the Kirtland Temple, three keys were restored: {nl}First, Moses appeared and committed the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, which is missionary work.9 {nl}Second, Elias appeared and committed the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, which includes the restoration of the Abrahamic covenant.10 President Russell M. Nelson has taught that the purpose of the covenant keys is to prepare members for the kingdom of God. He said, “We know who we are and [we know] what God expects of us.” {nl}Third, Elijah appeared and committed the keys of the sealing power in this dispensation, which is family history work and temple ordinances enabling salvation for the living and the dead. {nl}There are, under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, three executive councils at Church headquarters that oversee these divinely appointed responsibilities based on the keys that were restored in the Kirtland Temple. They are the Missionary Executive Council, the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, and the Temple and Family History Executive Council. {nl}Where Do We Stand Today in Fulfilling These Divinely Appointed Responsibilities? {nl}First, with respect to Moses’s restoration of the keys for the gathering of Israel, today almost 70,000 missionaries are spread across the earth preaching His gospel to gather His elect. ... {nl}Second, Elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, declaring that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. In this conference, significant guidance has been presented to assist in perfecting the Saints and preparing them for the kingdom of God. ... {nl}Third, Elijah committed the sealing keys of this dispensation. For those of us alive at this time, the increase in temples and family history work is phenomenal. This pace will continue and accelerate until the Second Coming of the Savior, lest the whole earth “be utterly wasted at his coming.” Family history work, heaven-blessed by technology, has dramatically increased in the past few years. {nl}"[All who are gathered] into the gospel covenant ... become 'the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.'(D&C 84:34)" Keys from Elias President Russell M. Nelson Oct 2011 GC, quoted in Liahona Oct 2021 "Why did Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear in the Kirtland Temple?" none “With this renewal [of the Abrahamic covenant], we have received, as did they of old, the holy priesthood and the everlasting gospel. We have the right to receive the fulness of the gospel, enjoy the blessings of the priesthood, and qualify for God’s greatest blessing—that of eternal life. Kirtland Temple Temples Joe Jackson personal conversation between Derrick Shadel and Joe Jackson; recorded 12 Jan 2023 at Emma and Joseph Smith Home, Kirtland Ohio none President M. Russell Ballard is a cousin of Wallace B. Smtih, President of the Community of Christ Church. Over the years they got to know each other at the Smith Family reunions. In 1994 President Ballard asked President Wallace Smith if he (President Ballard) could have a meeting in the Kirtland Temple. President Wallace Smith approved the meeting and said they could also administer the sacrament if they wanted to. Many people in the Community of Christ church in Kirtland were not happy with this decision. In particular the person who was the caretaker of the temple. The meeting grew in size from its initial list of invitees as other leaders in the Northeastern US heard about the meeting. The caretaker spoke with President Wallace Smith and expressed his strong displeasure with the meeting being allowed to take place. President Smith told him you have two options, 1. allow the meeting to take place or 2. resign your membership in the church. He did not want to resign his membership, so grudgingly he allowed the meeting to take place. On the day of the meeting he is in the congregation. One of the people who is going to pass the sacrament is Karl Anderson. Karl notices that the caretaker is in the area where he is to pass the sacrament and wonders if he should offer him the sacrament. The Spirit tells him to offer him the sacrament, but he probably will not take it. So as Karl passes the bread and water he offers it to the caretaker and the caretaker does not take either the bread or the water. After the meeting the caretaker pulls Karl aside and says I need to tell you what happened. The caretaker related that as he sat in the meeting, he planned to stand up and disrupt the administration of the sacrament and tell why the meeting should not be allowed to take place and especially that the administation of the sacrament should not be permitted in the temple. As he was about to stand up a heavenly power physically restrained him so he could not move and he heard an audible voice say to him "This is not your house, this is not their house, this is My House. I approve of what is happening." He could not move a muscle even to decline the sacrament. Joseph Smith spirit of revelation Brigham Young Journal of Discourses 9:89 none “those who were acquainted with [the Prophet Joseph] knew when the Spirit of revelation was upon him, for his countenance wore an expression peculiar to himself while under that influence. He preached by the Spirit of revelation, and taught in his council by it, and those who were acquainted with him could discover it at once, for at such times there was a peculiar clearness and transparency in his face.” Joseph Smith spirit of revelation Mary Elizabeth Rollins none http://ldshistory.us/pc/merlbyu.htm Mary Elizabeth Rollins as just a girl was also a witness. She left this description of events in February 1831. {nl}“Joseph got up and began to speak to us. As he began to speak very solemnly and very earnestly, all at once his countenance changed and he stood mute. Those who looked at him that day said there was a search light within him, over every part of his body. I never saw anything like it on the earth. I could not take my eyes off him; he got so white that anyone who saw him would have thought he was transparent. I remember I thought I could almost see the cheek bones through the flesh. I have been through many changes since but that is photographed on my brain. I shall remember it and see in my mind’s eye as long as I remain upon the earth. {nl}He stood some moments. He looked over the congregation as if to pierce every heart. He said, “Do you know who has been in your midst?” One of the Smiths said an angel of the Lord. Martin Harris said, “It was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Joseph put his hand down on Martin and said: “God revealed that to you. Brethren and sisters, the Spirit of God has been here. The Savior has been in your midst this night and I want you to remember it. There is a veil over your eyes for you could not endure to look upon Him. You must be fed with milk, not with strong meat. I want you to remember this as if it were the last thing that escaped my lips. He has given all of you to me and has sealed you up to everlasting life that where he is, you may be also. And if you are tempted of Satan say, ‘Get behind me, Satan.'” {nl}These words are figured upon my brain and I never took my eye off his countenance. Then he knelt down and prayed. I have never heard anything like it before or since. I felt that he was talking to the Lord and that power rested down upon the congregation. Every soul felt it. The spirit rested upon us in every fiber of our bodies, and we received a sermon from the lips of the representative of God.” Joseph Smith Visions Orson Pratt "An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, 1840 https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-orson-pratt-an-interesting-account-of-several-remarkable-visions-1840/6#full-transcript This glorious being declared himself to be an Angel of God, sent forth, by commandment, to communicate to him that his sins were forgiven, and that his prayers were heard; and also, to bring the joyful tidings, that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel, concerning their [p. 6] posterity, was at hand to be fulfilled; that the great preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah, was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel, in its fulness, to be preached in power unto all nations; that a people might be prepared with faith and righteousness, for the Millennial reign of universal peace and joy. He was informed, that he was called and chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God, to bring about some of his marvellous purposes in this glorious dispensation Restoration: Book of Mormon Orson Pratt Moroni quoted by Oliver Cowdery quoted by Orson Pratt, 1840, "An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions" https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-orson-pratt-an-interesting-account-of-several-remarkable-visions-1840/6#full-transcript [Moroni giving instructions to Joseph Smith on Sep 22, 1923 at the first visit to Hill Cumorah, said:] When these things begin to be known, that is, when it is known that the Lord has shown you these things [the plates], the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow. They will circulate falsehoods to destroy your reputation; and also will seek to take your life; but remember this, if you are faithful, and shall hereafter continue to keep the commandments of the Lord, you shall be preserved to bring these things forth; for in due time he will give you a commandment to come and take them. When they are interpreted, the Lord will give the holy priesthood to some, and they shall begin to proclaim this gospel and baptize by water, and after that, they shall have power to give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their [p. 11] hands. Then will persecution rage more and more. Jesus Christ: Ministry of President Holland Church News, 27 Jan 2023 none After being called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, President Jeffrey R. Holland searched the standard works, determined to learn all that was humanly possible about the Savior’s life and mission. He came away with a deep and powerful understanding that Jesus Christ focused His ministry on two things — teaching and blessing God’s children. Elder Bednar Church News, 27 Jan 2023 none "Perhaps the most familiar scripture that focuses upon the importance of work in God’s plan for His children is Moses 1:39 ... 'For behold, this is my work and my glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.'" In a companion scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 11:20, the Lord describes the primary work of the sons and daughters of the Father: “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.” Elder Bednar continued, “Thus, God’s work is focused upon the progression and exaltation of His children. Our work as God’s sons and daughters is to love Him and keep His commandments.” ... {nl}Doing God’s work changes individuals’ hearts and minds in remarkable ways. They become converted to Him, their devotion to Him deepens and they become “born again,” Elder Bednar said. “Our spiritual rebirth and progress along the covenant path enable us to become sanctified as new creatures in Christ. Ultimately, then, we become the works, or the results, of God’s work.” Endowment Anthony Sweat "We Need An Endowment," BYU Speeches April 5, 2022 https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/anthony-sweat/we-need-an-endowment/ "When you hear the word endowment, what comes to your mind? What do you envision? It’s likely that many of you picture a priesthood ceremony in the temple. That’s normal because that’s how we often use the word. But if I can, I want to shift our thinking to understand endowment a little differently. When Joseph Smith said we need an endowment to overcome the spiritual challenges we face, he wasn’t just saying we need a religious ceremony. What he meant was that we need an endowment of spiritual power, or a heavenly gift of divine knowledge, experience, capacity, and ability. That’s how he and the scriptures often described endowment — as a heavenly bestowal of spiritual power. {nl}"To say it another way, there is a difference between an endowment and the presentation of the endowment. The endowment is a divine power, and the presentation of the endowment is an authorized religious ceremony to facilitate that power." Derrick Shadel May 2024 none My thoughts: When a person is confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they are commanded: "Receive the Holy Ghost." They are given the right to have the Holy Ghost with them, but it is not automatic. Each individual must receive the Holy Ghost and learn how the Spirit speaks to them. It is the same with the endowment. We participate in the priesthood ordinance, but that does not give an automatic endowment of power. It gives us the right to receive that endowment of power, but it is up to each individual to learn how that endowment of power is received by them. Endowment Brigham Young Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young page 303 none The preparatory ordinances ... administered [in the Kirtland Temple], though accompanied by the ministrations of angels, and the presence of the Lord Jesus, were but a faint similitude of the ordinances of the house of the Lord in their fulness; ... Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels Endowment Church "A School and an Endowment", Revelations in Context none In later years, this endowment came to be understood as a specific set of ceremonies performed in the Nauvoo Temple and later temples, but in the 1830s it was understood to be a spiritual outpouring similar to what happened on the day of Pentecost, a literal endowment or bestowal of miraculous power on those who went to spread the gospel. Doctrine Elder David A. Bednar "Be Still, and Know that I Am God", General Conference April 2024 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/21bednar?lang=eng&id=p28#p28 As we build the foundation of our lives on the “rock” of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed by the Holy Ghost to receive an individual and spiritual stillness of the soul that enables us to know and remember that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, Jesus Christ is our Savior, and we can be blessed to do and overcome hard things. imperfection Elder Jeffery R. Holland "Lord, I Believe", General Conference April 2013 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/04/lord-i-believe?lang=eng&id=p14-15#p14 Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. {i}In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.{/i} {nl}So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is {i}not{/i} in the divinity of the work.