Angels

Topics without scriptures: Ancient of Days; Andrew.

In one of my church's classes for college students during the week (called Institute of Religion Classes) I had the privilege of being taught by a woman who was fluent in ancient and modern forms of Hebrew and had a degree in Judaic studies. We had a joke that no matter what the topic of her class was it was always Old Testament. We also joked that we should have received language credit for how much Hebrew we learned.

Though I do not remember most of what we learned language wise, I do remember that the Hebrew word for angel literally translates to "Messenger of the King." The scriptures listed for this topic definitely show angels acting as such.

From simply delivering messages like in Genesis 16:9, or protecting God's servants like in Daniel 6:22 - they are always beings acting in the name of God to bring about his purposes.

So my question is, why did God send messengers? Why did he not just deal with his servants directly. I think it is for the same reason God chooses to answers prayers and give instruction to his people through his followers today - there is an important experience to be gained from participating in bringing about the will of God.

This means that we can be like angels, we can have the same opportunity to be messengers to our King. Our assignments may be different, but we are still in service to bring about God's purposes.

Three Days

By M. Misra

Mother once read me a story

about people in the Scriptures

who did good things.

God called them Angels:

Messengers to the King.

The next day I saw someone hurt,

and I walked by.

The day after that I saw someone sad,

and slowed down.

The last day I saw someone alone,

And I stopped.

And I grew up.

I became that scripture.

I became that messenger.

Ancient

I have a dream that I am sure most people my age do not have. My dream is to grow old, and to be one of those old people that everyone loves. That little kids feel free to come to my house for my amazing cookies that I will by then know how to make, and teenagers will feel free to come and talk to me about the things that are going on in their lives. Everyone will be able to feel my love for them and when I am too old to be of much use I can still be that cute old lady in the neighborhood with creases on her face from smiling too much and a head full of wisdom from a life full of experience.

I would like to think of describing myself by then using Job 12:12-13:

12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

However, there is a tendency in our generation not to respect our elders. When I was a kid, this made since because I thought back then that everyone had to earn my respect. But now that I am a little older, and survived high school and college, I am becoming overwhelmed at how much life I have ahead of me and am impressed with people that they have managed to live through it all. Maybe some older people are more equipped for counseling the younger generation than others, but I think they all deserve some respect as we take their place on the world stage of youth.

Anchor

Topics without scriptures: Ammon; Amorites; Amos; Amram; Ananias; Ancestors.

The purpose of an anchor is to keep a boat from drifting away once it is already in the harbor, not once it is out at sea. When there is a storm gives a great and dramatic picture to the purpose of an anchor, but just as dangerous to loosing your boat is when the skies are clear and calm and your boat can just quietly and without a scene drift away.

A scriptures I want to share is Ether 12:4:

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

A song that I use to listen to in high school came to mind while reading this scripture that I think is appropriate. I have the lyrics and a link below.

Stand in Holy Places

By Jenny Jordan Frogley

In a sea of shifting values
tossed on every wave
while the winds wail around me
I will not be afraid
to call out for my captain
to calm the waves in me
when I stand a little taller
it's only then I finally see.

There is a harbor in his holy house
an anchor in his grace
that steadies in the waves of doubt
and in every holy place
no matter where I travel
his spirit's guiding me
with the lord as my captain
there is a peaceful port in me.

I stand in holy places
protected from the storm
anchored safe in harbor
though my sails are ripped and worn
I stand in holy places
and I will not move
until the lord has come and says well done
he is the hope I hold on to
in holy places.

Amiss

Topics without scriptures: Amen; Americas.

When I first read this word, my first reaction was the phrase "What is amiss in my life?" After reading through the three verses listed, however, I find that the theme for these scriptures is more asking what am I lacking in my communication with God.

In James 4:3 it says:

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

God always answers prayers, but in the scriptures the only people who the Lord says he will given them whatever they ask for are those people who's wills are so aligned with God that they would never ask for something that God would not already think is good to give. I like to think of it as we are all part of a construction company. God is represented as the owner who knows what to do always and calls the shots, while we are like summer-hired help. As we are on the job we are learning, but we still need to call in for decisions. In the beginning we need to be walked through every step, but as we gain more experience the Boss gives us more trust. The highest we can reach is not having to call in at all because our judgement has become so sound that the Boss knows that we will make the same calls as he would.

Just like in this example, we trust God when we ask for help but we strive to be the kind of worker that does not have our own selfish desires getting in the way of the greater work.

Ambassador

Topics without scriptures: Amalek.

There are Mormon missionaries everywhere. Most people have seen the 19-21 year olds in their suits and name tags going around cities and biking the countryside looking for anyone interested in learning more about the restored Gospel of Christ. Growing up in the church, I have heard countless lessons and sermons directed to young people in terms of preparing for a proselytizing mission. One of the most common is "the moment you put on that name tag you are An Ambassador for Christ." This is not just a nice idea from someone, but actually comes from 2 Corinthians 5:20:

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

This scripture is not just for those serving full-time as missionaries. It is for everyone who is a deciple of Christ. In the Book of Mormon a prophet was explaining to his people the baptimimal covenant in Mosiah 18:8-10:

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you

"All times, and in all things, and in all places" means that when we become disciple of Christ and covenant to take his name upon us as our name, that we become witnesses of him 24/7 for the rest of our existence. You do not get a night off for a friend's party or get an exemption because someone at work is really annoying. It means that as Christ's representative to the rest of the world you are to live your life in a way that his message - to come to him and be saved - is broadcasted to the whole world without you having to say a word.

Alter

Topics without scriptures: Alpha, Alphaeus, Altar.

When we were younger, my older brother decided to bake cookies. He followed the recipe just fine, but at the end he decided that waiting for one batch of cookies to bake, take them out and then put in a second one would be too much work. So he decided instead to just make the lumps of cookies dough on the pan larger so they would all fit in one batch. The result was not a plate full of individual cookies to dip into milk, but instead a sheet of one solid cookie that needed to be cut with a knife. Not a huge deal as it still tasted delicious, but a very clear and visual result of what happens when you try to alter recipes.

Just like my brother learned in cooking, we can learn that when we try to alter the commandments of God we do not get the results promised from obedience. In Psalms 89:34 it reads:

34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

And later in 2 Peter 1:20 it reads:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Though these and other scriptures are pretty clear about not changing what you have agreed to in terms of following God's commandments in the way they are laid out by His prophets, there is a form of alteration happening in Luke 9:29:

29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Alterations can happen, but instead of it being man altering the things of God it is the things of God altering man.

Alone

In Exodus 18:18, Moses is trying to take care of the entire house of Israel (all several thousand of them) and handle all their daily problems by himself. In response to this, his father-in-law gives Moses this little piece of advice:

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

I am sure we have all been on that project team or that committee where even though there are five other members all the work ends up on your shoulders. This is a necessary trial that we will have to face at times, but God did not intend for this life to be a solo activity. In fact, I think he made working together a commandment while describing the city of Zion on Moses 7:18:

18 And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

Being part of the community that Christ would have the world live in requires that we help others. While I was in Barcelona, Spain my husband and I went to church and I heard this story:

Once there was a hive of bees that was different than most hives. All the bees inside were lazy. They would buzz around sometimes or would start bickering with each other, but the thought never really crosses their mind that they should be working. You see, they did not have to because one little bee, who loved his brothers and sisters very much, did all the work. This bee knew that someone had to work to get food, and everyday he selflessly and quietly went about doing it.

One day, the bees noticed that there was not any food. They were confused and started arguing to figure out what happened. Then a shout was given, and all the bees turned to find the one hard working little bee almost dead from over work. Now these little bees were not mean, just lazy, and their little hearts swelled up at the thought of their brother dying to take care of them. So they all started working, knowing that they needed to in order to save their brother.

A miracle happened! With ALL the bees doing their part the work was done every day so quickly and was so much easier than the bees had thought it would be. The bickering in the hive almost entirely disappeared, the little hard working bee became healthy again and everyone was happy. The End.

We may say "why didn't the hard working bee ask for help?" Though that is a very good question, I think it is because the hard working bee had no evidence to believe that the other bees would help him. The question to ask ourselves is "what evidence am I giving others that if they need help they can ask me?" Merely saying "if you need some help be sure to call me!" will probably get results in 2 in 10 times. If you really want to follow what Christ taught about sharing the load, show by your actions and your attitude that helping out and doing your share does in fact matter to you.