Monday, 29 October 2007
My NT lesson today was a survey of some of the Savior’s teachings on wealth and the attendant dangers. We talked about the rich young ruler in Mark 10 and the wonderful widow with her two mites in Mark 12, and we compared those two people.
We also discussed the disciple who asked Christ to oversee the division of a family inheritance in Luke 12, and the parable the Lord shared about the rich man and his big barns and his impending death.
We spent some time on the invitations to the great supper in Luke 14 and allocated just a moment to the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16.
The teachings of the Savior in these stories are direct and profound. I hope the students understood the messages.
The parable of the unjust steward deserved more time than I was able to give it. This is the account of an employee about to be terminated because he had wasted his master’s goods. Anxious to provide for himself in an uncertain future, he called his lord’s creditors and offered them each spectacular bargains on the debts they owed his boss. Then his master commended him: “because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (Luke 16:8).
The message of the parable is in that final phrase.
“Our Lord's purpose was to show the contrast between the care, thoughtfulness, and devotion of men engaged in the money-making affairs of earth, and the half-hearted ways of many who are professedly striving after spiritual riches. Worldly-minded men do not neglect provision for their future years, and often are sinfully eager to amass plenty; while the "children of light," or those who believe spiritual wealth to be above all earthly possessions, are less energetic, prudent, or wise” (James E. Talmage: Jesus the Christ, Ch.27, p.463 - p.464).
I wrote the following observation as an application of this parable:
I have sons who own dozens (perhaps hundreds) of video games. They play with remarkable skill and continuous delight. Suppose I asked one of them on one occasion a question like this: "Son, how does Zelda overcome the evil prince and destroy the Sultan of Suffering?" He would know the answer. He has paid the price in time and effort to know. But if I then asked, "How did Mormon maintain his righteousness in the world of sin and iniquity in which he was raised?" I think he would look at me like I was deranged. I have invited my boys to put as much effort into the scriptures as they do into games. I hope one day they will.
If we expend as much effort in preparing for the joys of eternity as we expend in preparing for the joys of mortality, we might well be translated where we stand. But we often spend great energy on things less durable than water on a summer sidewalk.
With regard to the man with the barns and the surplus of stuff, who was about to die, I shared this story:
What would you hang on to today if you knew you were going to dietomorrow? A true story illustrates the folly of this passion for acquisition:
My NT lesson today was a survey of some of the Savior’s teachings on wealth and the attendant dangers. We talked about the rich young ruler in Mark 10 and the wonderful widow with her two mites in Mark 12, and we compared those two people.
We also discussed the disciple who asked Christ to oversee the division of a family inheritance in Luke 12, and the parable the Lord shared about the rich man and his big barns and his impending death.
We spent some time on the invitations to the great supper in Luke 14 and allocated just a moment to the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16.
The teachings of the Savior in these stories are direct and profound. I hope the students understood the messages.
The parable of the unjust steward deserved more time than I was able to give it. This is the account of an employee about to be terminated because he had wasted his master’s goods. Anxious to provide for himself in an uncertain future, he called his lord’s creditors and offered them each spectacular bargains on the debts they owed his boss. Then his master commended him: “because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (Luke 16:8).
The message of the parable is in that final phrase.
“Our Lord's purpose was to show the contrast between the care, thoughtfulness, and devotion of men engaged in the money-making affairs of earth, and the half-hearted ways of many who are professedly striving after spiritual riches. Worldly-minded men do not neglect provision for their future years, and often are sinfully eager to amass plenty; while the "children of light," or those who believe spiritual wealth to be above all earthly possessions, are less energetic, prudent, or wise” (James E. Talmage: Jesus the Christ, Ch.27, p.463 - p.464).
I wrote the following observation as an application of this parable:
I have sons who own dozens (perhaps hundreds) of video games. They play with remarkable skill and continuous delight. Suppose I asked one of them on one occasion a question like this: "Son, how does Zelda overcome the evil prince and destroy the Sultan of Suffering?" He would know the answer. He has paid the price in time and effort to know. But if I then asked, "How did Mormon maintain his righteousness in the world of sin and iniquity in which he was raised?" I think he would look at me like I was deranged. I have invited my boys to put as much effort into the scriptures as they do into games. I hope one day they will.
If we expend as much effort in preparing for the joys of eternity as we expend in preparing for the joys of mortality, we might well be translated where we stand. But we often spend great energy on things less durable than water on a summer sidewalk.
With regard to the man with the barns and the surplus of stuff, who was about to die, I shared this story:
What would you hang on to today if you knew you were going to dietomorrow? A true story illustrates the folly of this passion for acquisition:
I think of Hisham, the mightiest palace an Arab ever built, just outside of Jericho . . . the prince took twenty-seven years to build it, and it was going to be the finest palace in the world . . . it was magnificent.
The night he was to enter it for the house-warming, there came a great earthquake. He had a heart attack and died, and the palace was completely destroyed. They were going to have this big housewarming, and everybody was to come. After twenty-seven years, poof, that's what happened (Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 2, Lecture 41, pp. 5,6).
Tonight Tiffy supervised FHE. We aare taking turns and we have been going over talks from Conference because President Hinckley asked us to. Tiffy’s talk was from Quentin L. Cook, the newest apostle. We had a good discussion on the message. One of his comments, about a favorite birthday card from a convert from his mission reminded me of a letter I received in November of 2001 from one of my Brazilian baptisms.
This is my translation. The letter came in Portuguese.
Votorantim, SP, 14 November 2001
Dear Brother Gibbons
It is with satisfaction that I acknowledge the receipt of your letter.
It has already been more than 35 years since you finished the mission and perhaps you do not remember, but I was the last person you baptized. I asked many questions and argued a lot, but, after my baptism and systematic and persistent study and with the testimony of the Holy Ghost, I soon had a certainty that the Church was true. I had wonderful spiritual experiences, not just with the Priesthood, but also with vicarious work for the dead. My wife and I involved ourselves with genealogical work and had real spiritual experiences confirming that this work is ordained by God.
Since that time, we have had five more children. We have seven children now, fivesons and two daughters. I sent six children on missions, and they are all active in the church. My oldest daughter is married to the brother of Elder Costa, of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and his wife encountered the church through the instrumentality of my daughter. Three of my sons are bishops and I have had the satisfaction of baptizing various people who afterward were called as bishops and stake presidents.
In my callings in the Church, I have been on Stake High Councils from time to time, and I have been Bishop or Branch President several times.
At the present time I am a Patriarch, which is a calling for old people like me.
You excused yourself [in your letter] for having forgotten your Portuguese, but, it is still good. You only had three errors. That is great.
I see that you have a great family, with 12 children and 7 grandchildren, and I have 7 children and 12 grandchildren. I hope, when I return to the presence of my Heavenly Father, I can say, “Father, here are all the children you have given me; none of them were lost. They were all married in the Temple (except for the youngest who is still unmarried, and they are all faithful in the Church."
A few years ago when I was bishop of the Castelo ward in Campinas, SP, I arose to speak from the pulpit, and was inspired to say to the members that they should prepare, because soon there would be a temple in Campinas. At the end of the meeting, some people found me and said, “Bishop, you are dreaming.” But I was not dreaming, our beautiful temple is almost ready and will be dedicated in two months.
It has been a joy to extend my feelings to you. I end asking that you send me your email.
I close with a hug,
Joao Apolonio Neto
2 comments:
Dad, keep up the good blogging! The good thing about doing your letters this way is that people are encouraged to respond and give you feedback!
(-Robert)
Welcome to the blogging world! And thank you for your inspiring words (as always). We love and miss you and the family! (-Jocelyn)
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