Cleave

GENESIS: 2

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

SECTION 42

22 Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.

SECTION 25

13 Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.

With my marriage coming up in a little less than a year, I have developed a strong interest to know exactly what I am committing myself to. While thinking about the subject a single word kept coming back to me: cleave.

cleave

   [kleev]

1.

to adhere closely; stick; cling.

2.

to remain faithful: to cleave to one's principles in spite of persecution.

I like the slogan I've often seen on television, "Verb, it's what you do", not, "Verb, it's what you ought to be doing." The word cleave is a verb. Once we understand what words mean, it is makes "to engrave them upon our hearts" a more meaningful commitment. In the world today, the society in which I have been raised, cleaving to one's wife is not portrayed well. The commitment of marriage is seen as limiting and degrading to a man, while living an immoral, single life with "no strings attached" is glorified and set as the role model for us by media and celebrities.

Though, I'm sure many of us are already well aware of this.

Have any of you seen Dick Van Dyke? It's one of my very favorites, in fact, I would say it is my favorite television program. In a particular episode titled The Man from Emperor, the main character Rob Petrie is faced with the very same issues I described above. His reactions and defense for his family strong values are admiral and warm my heart. Below is a link to watch the conclusion of the episode. For a little background, Rob has just come home from a business meeting to discuss a job offer from a magazine known as Emperor, which is known for it's very scandalously dressed women. I think it was meant to be a Playboy imitation of sorts.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/114054/the-dick-van-dyke-show-the-man-from-emperor?c=1237:1522

Though the link is only of the conclusion of the episode (about 5 mins) I hope you will take time to watch the full episode (25 mins). It' not only funny, but teaches even more good values.

Unchanging God

Recently while studying the New Testament for my personal study and also the Old Testament for Sunday School, I have noticed a difference with God. Which bothered me, since I have been taught that God is always the same; same as he was then as he is now. The differences I've noticed is that in the Old Testament God was much more violent and aggressive with his children. Some examples of God acting this way is: Samuel 15, when God commands all the Amalekites to be slain (including man, woman and child, even all beasts), or Acts chapter 5 when God kills a couple for not being honest about their tithing. Can you imagine God asking us to kill an entire nation of people, even children? Or killing us as we stand at the bishop's office when we know the amount isn't honest? Crazy right?

At first I didn't think too much about it because it bothered me so much. I asked myself, "So, why is it that God is so harsh and so justice oriented whereas today I feel like the God I know is much more merciful and loving?", "Did the prophets who wrote the scriptures just forget to write about that subtle, caring and forgiving side of God that I know so well?", or, "Does God really change?" I felt like a cat whose fur was being rubbed the wrong way whenever I read stories like the ones I mentioned. But I feel like I can finally give an answer to my questions, and better yet, reasons for those answers too.

First and foremost I know that God is the same today as he was yesterday, because he is perfect and perfection has no need to change. So if God didn't change what did? I think we did, the children of Israel. I think although God himself, his nature, does not change his methods of working with his children change according to what we need. I related this idea to a 6 year old and a 16 year old to my boyfriend, Jeff. Here is exactly what I said through several texts:

"I've learned that God is always the same. God of Abraham is my God as well. I understand that he does not change, but his children do change. And because we change, his methods change. Like Jacob 5 (the parable of the olive trees of the Lord's orchard), how to best nourish us. I like to think of ourselves like the "older children" of God. you wouldn't spank a 16 year old- but that doesn't mean they need less discipline than a 6 year old either. I think the Israelites of the ancient days were more like [6] year olds [and they required a stricter, firmer form of discipline in order to understand and appreciate God's will.]"

I am happy with this answer and I am no longer bothered about those stories I read about in the Old Testament. Boy, it sure feels great to find answers to questions!

Being Blind

Here's an entry in my note journal that I thought I would share from March 1st.

Scripture Study while @ work

Today, I've been reading in Matthew learning more about the Savior's life and ministry while he was on this earth. I've been reading for about 2 hours now, in between calls at work, yet nothing I've read today impacted me as strongly as this short miracle that Jesus performs for two blind men.

Matthew 20:32-34

^30. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

^31. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

^32. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

^33. They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

^34. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him

Comparing this to other miracles that I had recently read about, (like Christ raising the dead) it seems odd, that this one stood out to me so strongly. The verses of 30 and 31 of this chapter, painted the scene so clearly: Two blind men sitting by the road, Jesus Christ and his followers passing by, the two men cry out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David!", Christ's followers "rebuked them" ( Rebuke: to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand. -Dicitonary.com ), Yet, "Jesus stood still, and answered them."

I can't help but wonder about those two blind men. Who were they? How long had they been blind? Where were their families? What kind of hardships had they been through?

What did Jesus Christ see in them that others did not see?

What does Christ see in me?

(While typing this I noticed that it was Christ's followers that chastised the blind men for calling out to Christ, while weren't they themselves blind to the worth of these two men? I think, in a way, we are all blind, and, in contrast, it is Christ who is the one who can see all things.)

I am so grateful for my Savior. His compassion becomes more and more clear to me as I read of his life in Matthew. His compassion and mercy is my hope and security. I know he lives and I will follow him. I hope that as I follow Christ, I will not be blind as his followers were, but learn to see the value of everyone and everything.

-Tessa Dior

Giant Swing

On Sunday, I bore my testimony. During that testimony I shared an experience I had a few years back at OYA with my little brother. For those of you who don't know, OYA, Outdoor Youth Adventures, is like an efy held outdoors. At OYA you have spiritual devotionals, firesides, ropes courses, camping, and all sorts of other things. (to learn more go tohttp://www.byui.edu/ce/oya/ )

One of these ropes courses is called a Giant Swing. How that works, is that you are hoisted up by your team until you reach the very top, while holding the rope in place that is keeping you connected to that safety rope. To get back down you must let go of that rope, and once you do there is this incredible sensation of falling and the rope catching you until you are caught in the most thrilling swing of your life!

To add spiritual meaning to this, our leaders challenged us to think of a bad habit that we've been working on, and when we let go of our rope, to imagine ourselves letting go of that sin.

As fun as my experience was, it wasn't my turn on the swing that touched me as much as that of my little brother's. He had had some serious struggles in his life and at that moment he could feel the desire to change so strongly he was overcome with emotion, and had to sit down while he cried, harder than I've ever seen him cry. As I watched him, I could feel my own heart break and ache for him. I felt such love for him. A weird feeling came over me when I looked at my brother, and I described it as such in my journal, "I've had these glimpses when someone is in need, almost like I've seen them through my Savior's eyes. When it happens, it's as if my whole being is filled with love for them, and I feel so at peace, gentle, and bright, and I'm so full of love for this person I can scarce feel anything else."

As I comforted my little brother, immediately all my own problems were very far away in my mind. I found that my own trials were fleeting and trivial. I felt slightly shamed for focusing so often on my problems, and not reaching out more to those around me.

During my testimony, I spoke of mediocrity. If you ever get stuck in that rut of mediocrity, like I so often do, find someone to love. And by love, I mean serve, and by serve I mean love, for I've come to know that sincere service is born from sincere love, and only sincere love is brought through sincere service.

I love my family very much, and I think I've been very blessed to have been given the brothers that I have. I'm not always a good sister, but I hope that they know that I love em both so much.

Well, let's get to it.

Tonight, I was feeling rather glum, and so after I ate a lonely dinner, I started the drive home from Provo in the snow. As I got to Pleasant Grove, the Timpanogas temple came into view. I turned the radio off and whistled I Love to See the Temple over and over, until I couldn't see the temple any more. When I stopped I decided on a whim to drive by the temple, just to park and look at it a while. When I got there, I sat in the parking lot for a second then decided I needed to go in.

It was a little awkward to walk into the temple with my jeans on, but as I settled into one of the lobby chairs, I felt comfortably at home. I prayed, picked up some scriptures, and read about Christ's life while living on Earth.

Christ had a rough life, and I'm amazed that he got through it so humbly, willingly and lovingly. In the passage I read in the early chapters of Matthew, Christ traveled a long ways to only be rejected by the people and be sent away from their city.

I guess I was just remembering how put down I feel when I am rejected by someone, and wondered how he could have continued with his travels so steadfastly. It makes me wonder what Christ must feel like when one of us denies or rejects him, after all he did for us, after all that he suffered for our sakes. His example strengthens my will to be better.

As I sat there, on that blue couch in the temple lobby, I was given an impression of peace and encouragement. I felt utterly ok, and could almost feel a little spiritual nudge as if someone was telling me, "Well, let's get to it."

With that, I left the temple, taking a deep breath when I got outside into the cold air. Suddenly, the world didn't seem quite as overbearing as it had been just 10 minuets before.

Russell M. Nelson

Today Russell M. Nelson spoke in devotional at BYU-Idaho.

He spoke about the church's efforts in Haiti, education being sacred, and that the Earth has enough resources for everyone. It really was a fabulous talk. I always feel the love from the leaders of the church when our apostles preach to us, makes me want more! I want to start reading talks from the past, see what I've been missing. Look more intently at my notes from previous conferences. I just want to be better.

Concerning Haiti, I have decided to give what I can when fast offerings come this next Sunday. Watching the news, you see really devastating pictures of these good people homeless, and many without family. What would you do if your home was destroyed in just one day? What would you do if you were separated from your family, not knowing if any of them were alive? I breaks my heart to think about it. Surely I can live off of baked potatoes and ramen for one more week to help the people in Haiti.

Education is sacred. I've never thought of education as being sacred before. Sure I've heard of its importance, that it is eternal, but sacred? That gave me food for thought. Nelson's reasoning was thus: Our minds are sacred. Our minds are our best ticket into the celestial kingdom (along with our hearts), because when we die, all of our possessions, every dime, will be lost to us. But our knowledge will be kept, preserved and expanded upon for the rest of eternity. What we put into our minds, directly effect the course of our lives, which, in turn, directly effects where we will end up in the eternities. Therefore, education (by definition means, acquiring knowledge through instruction and personal study) is sacred.

The Earth has enough. Russell m. Nelson shared a very interesting fact today. There are approximately 6.8 billion people living on our planet. If every one of them was given a quarter of an acre of land (that would mean that a family of four; including a mother, a father, a daughter, and a son, would live on one acre), you could easily fit all 6.8billion people in Brazil, with 20% of Brazil still remaining unoccupied. Is that not absolutely nuts? This makes me want to point this out to those who say we're running out of room for people, we need to stop having children, we are over populating the Earth, we are going to run out of resources (etc.). We need to have more faith that the Lord will provide for us, he's got this whole deal figured out!

I would also like to share that I attended the temple today and performed baptisms for the dead. It was the first time I had gone to the temple for at least a couple of years, and I'm ashamed it took me this long to renew my temple recommend. But what a joy it was! I felt so at peace and calmed when I was at the temple. I love knowing that God is watching out for me, and I can feel his love when I perform temple work. I can't imagine what it must be like to be endowed, but I'll be sure I'm worthy for it when my time comes.

If any one who is reading this has put of renewing their recommend, like I had, I want to encourage you to do all you can to go to the temple again. One thing that held me back was feeling unworthy, telling myself I wasn't ready yet, I wasn't good enough yet. But now I realize that, though there are some of us that do need to repent before coming to the temple, for many others, it is going to the temple that we really need. I remember an old bishop telling me that the temple is a place of healing, and I know that the temple can help you heal those misleading feelings of unworthiness. I know because it happened to me today.

What a good day, I'm glad I am able to be here in Rexburg, Idaho. I've really become closer to my Savior since moving here, and I'm excited to see what else lies in store for me here.

It's time.

I have decided to start this blog, to create a place where I can freely talk about what I believe. I invite all to feel free to comment and read to your heart's content, but would ask that you refrain from disrespecting my opinions, and of those that may comment.

I'm really exciting to get this blog going! I've thought about creating a blog like this for quite some time, but during our stake fireside today, I made the decision to sit down and type. And so I did!

So, welcome to my little world of my spiritology .blogspot.com, where ibelieve. :)