Anger

There is a book that has an interesting spin on anger called "How to Hug a Porcupine" by Dr. John Lewis Luna. In this book, he said that the first natural reaction to an unfavorable

situation is frustration, but from there it is really our choice what happens next. I would add that sometimes, like river beds that have been carved out of the earth from years and years of water taking that particular path, that it is hard to change which direction our emotions go, but like anything with the Savior it is possible to change.

Anger is not a source of power. It is a chaotic emotion that takes away our control and ability to make choices. It has a lot of energy behind it, energy that can lead us to do things that we normally would not be able to do, but usually those are also things that if we were thinking clearing we would not want to do do them. Acts in anger almost always lead to regret - no matter what the reason or how badly you were hurt or offended. In the end, anger has nothing to do with the other person and punishing them, and has everything to do with how much control you have over yourself.

In this last General Conference of the Church, Elder Boyd K. Packard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a message on letting out anger go - and he made some very piercing and honest remarks about the realities we face.

There are so many scriptures speaking on anger and how one should not be angry. But is there such a thing as righteous anger? I would say no, not as we see the definition. God's anger may have been provoked, Moses may have destroy the tablets containing God's Law at the sight of the Israelite's sin, and Christ may have purge the temple of shops with a wipe - but I do not believe it was the kind of uncontrollable anger that we are familiar with on a daily basis. I believe it is more of a calculated frustration that is meant to teach us something more than simply lashing out to punish us. Like how an angered father will send his disobedient child on a time-out, he's trying to teach him something instead of satisfying some flaring emotional need.

To end this topic, I wrote something the other day while feeling quite grumpy from a particularly bad day of pain. I now find myself repeating it in my own quest for self-control.

Hard times - pain, grief, hunger and all the conditions that take away my comfort and peace - will always destroy me and create a new creature. It is my choice what that creature will be - an animal or an angel.

Angels, Ministering

In my last entry I touched upon what the broad definition of an angel is and how we along with those who have gone before can be angel's to God (see D&C 130:5). I would like to expand on the specific word "Ministering" and what it means.

In this month's Ensign (the LDS monthly magazine for adults) there was an article about how we can minister to each other. In this article, Sister Allred defines our roll as ministers to each other as:

Observe and anticipate needs. For instance, if a sister you visit has an upcoming test at school, perhaps you could make her dinner sometime during the week so she can have more study time. If the brother you home teach is looking for a job, introduce him to people who might be able to help.

There were other sections in the article about praying with them and watching over their spirituality, but for ministering she said that looking over and acting on the individual needs of people is what it is all about.

When thinking about angel's in the scriptures who ministered, I found that they too were looking out for specific needs. When Gabriel visited Mary, he had a specific message to give her and specific comfort to give. It was not just a random visit to give a practiced, generalized message about spirituality. This is also true of the angel who visited Alma after he was kicked out of Ammoninhah for preaching the gospel. He needed a pick-me-up and some specific encouragement, not a random quote from a past prophet about being good.

When we minister to each other, it is not just the service or the teaching, it is really paying attention to an individual need and doing our best to address it. God's kingdom may be a community, but it is a community of individuals who have needs that God expects us to meet as best we can.

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.