DO JUSTLY, LOVE MERCY, WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD!

Jesus is the Christ, Yeshua, The Holy Messiah who soon will some so repent and get your house in order, art by Richard W. Linford
  1. Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God
  2. By Elder Dale G. Renlund
  3. Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
  4. To do justly means acting honorably.
  5. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him.
  6. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.
  7. As followers of Jesus Christ, and as Latter-day Saints, we strive๏ปฟโ€”and are encouraged to strive๏ปฟโ€”to do better and be better.1 
  8. Perhaps you have wondered, as I have, โ€œAm I doing enough?โ€
  9. โ€œWhat else should I be doing?โ€
  10. or โ€œHow can I, as a flawed person, qualify to โ€˜dwell with God in a state of never-ending happinessโ€™?โ€2
  11. The Old Testament prophet Micah asked the question this way:
  12. โ€œWherewith shall I come before the Lord,
  13. and bow myself before the high God?โ€3 
  14. Micah satirically wondered whether even exorbitant offerings might be enough to compensate for sin, saying:
  15. โ€œWill the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten [thousand] โ€ฆ rivers of oil?
  16. shall I give my firstborn for โ€ฆ the sin of my soul?โ€4
  17. The answer is no.
  18. Good deeds are not sufficient.
  19. Salvation is not earned.5 
  20. Not even the vast sacrifices Micah knew were impossible can redeem the smallest sin.
  21. Left to our own devices, the prospect of returning to live in Godโ€™s presence is hopeless.6
  22. Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves.
  23. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough.7 
  24. All people will be saved from physical death by the grace of God, through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.8 
  25. And if we turn our hearts to God, salvation from spiritual death is available to all โ€œthrough the Atonement of [Jesus] Christ โ€ฆ by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.โ€9 
  26. We can be redeemed from sin to stand clean and pure before God.
  27. As Micah explained, โ€œ[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?โ€10
  28. Micahโ€™s direction on turning our hearts to God and qualifying for salvation contains three interconnected elements.
  29. To do justly means acting honorably with God and with other people.
  30. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him.
  31. We act honorably with others by loving mercy.
  32. To do justly is therefore a practical application of the first and second great commandments, to โ€œlove the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind โ€ฆ [and to] love thy neighbour as thyself.โ€11
  33. To do justly and walk humbly with God is to intentionally withdraw our hand from iniquity, walk in His statutes, and remain authentically faithful.12 
  34. A just person turns away from sin and toward God, makes covenants with Him, and keeps those covenants.
  35. A just person chooses to obey the commandments of God, repents when falling short, and keeps on trying.
  36. When the resurrected Christ visited the Nephites, He explained that the law of Moses had been replaced by a higher law.
  37. He instructed them not to โ€œoffer up โ€ฆ sacrifices and โ€ฆ burnt offeringsโ€ any longer but to offer โ€œa broken heart and a contrite spirit.โ€
  38. He also promised, โ€œAnd whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.โ€13 
  39. When we receive and use the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, we can enjoy the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost
  40. and be taught all things that we should do,14 
  41. including how to walk humbly with God.
  42. Jesus Christโ€™s sacrifice for sin and salvation from spiritual death are available to all who have such a broken heart and contrite spirit.15 
  43. A broken heart and contrite spirit prompt us to joyfully repent and try to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
  44. As we do so, we receive the Saviorโ€™s cleansing, healing, and strengthening power.
  45. We not only do justly and walk humbly with God;
  46. we also learn to love mercy the way that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do.
  47. God delights in mercy and does not begrudge its use.
  48. In Micahโ€™s words to Jehovah, โ€œWho is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, โ€ฆ will have compassion upon us,โ€ and will โ€œcast all โ€ฆ sins into the depths of the sea.โ€16 
  49. To love mercy as God does is inseparably connected to dealing justly with others and not mistreating them.
  50. The importance of not mistreating others is highlighted in an anecdote about Hillel the Elder, a Jewish scholar who lived in the first century before Christ.
  51. One of Hillelโ€™s students was exasperated by the complexity of the Torah๏ปฟโ€”the five books of Moses with their 613 commandments and associated rabbinic writings.
  52. The student challenged Hillel to explain the Torah using only the time that Hillel could stand on one foot.
  53. Hillel may not have had great balance but accepted the challenge.
  54. He quoted from Leviticus, saying,
  55. โ€œThou shalt not avenge,
  56. nor bear any grudge
  57. against the children of thy people,
  58. but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.โ€17 
  59. Hillel then concluded:
  60. โ€œThat which is hateful unto you, do not do to your neighbor.
  61. This is the whole of the Torah; the rest is commentary.
  62. Go forth and study.โ€18
  63. Always dealing honorably with others is part of loving mercy.
  64. Consider a conversation I overheard decades ago in the emergency department of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.
  65. A patient, Mr. Jackson, was a courteous, pleasant man who was well known to the hospital staff.
  66. He had previously been hospitalized multiple times for the treatment of alcohol-related diseases.
  67. On this occasion, Mr. Jackson returned to the hospital for symptoms that would be diagnosed as inflammation of the pancreas caused by alcohol consumption.
  68. Toward the end of his shift, Dr. Cohen, a hardworking and admired physician, evaluated Mr. Jackson and determined that hospitalization was warranted.
  69. Dr. Cohen assigned Dr. Jones, the physician next up in rotation, to admit Mr. Jackson and oversee his treatment.
  70. Dr. Jones had attended a prestigious medical school and was just beginning her postgraduate studies.
  71. This grueling training was often associated with sleep deprivation, which likely contributed to Dr. Jonesโ€™s negative response.
  72. Confronted with her fifth admission of the night, she complained loudly to Dr. Cohen.
  73. She felt it was unfair that she would have to spend many hours caring for Mr. Jackson, because his predicament was, after all, self-inflicted.
  74. Dr. Cohenโ€™s emphatic response was spoken in almost a whisper.
  75. He said, โ€œDr. Jones, you became a physician to care for people and work to heal them.
  76. You didnโ€™t become a physician to judge them.
  77. If you donโ€™t understand the difference, you have no right to train at this institution.โ€
  78. Following this correction, Dr. Jones diligently cared for Mr. Jackson during the hospitalization.
  79. Mr. Jackson has since died.
  80. Both Dr. Jones and Dr. Cohen have had stellar careers.
  81. But at a critical moment in her training, Dr. Jones needed to be reminded to do justly, to love mercy, and to care for Mr. Jackson without being judgmental.19
  82. Over the years, I have benefited from that reminder.
  83. Loving mercy means that we do not just love the mercy God extends to us; we delight that God extends the same mercy to others.
  84. And we follow His example. โ€œAll are alike unto God,โ€20 and we all need spiritual treatment to be helped and healed.
  85. The Lord has said, โ€œYe shall not esteem one flesh above another,
  86. or one man shall not think himself above another.โ€21
  87. Jesus Christ exemplified what it means to do justly and to love mercy.
  88. He freely associated with sinners,
  89. treating them honorably
  90. and with respect.
  91. He taught the joy of keeping Godโ€™s commandments
  92. and sought to lift
  93. rather than condemn
  94. those who struggled.
  95. He did denounce those who faulted Him for ministering to people they deemed unworthy.22 
  96. Such self-righteousness offended Him and still does.23
  97. To be Christlike, a person does justly, behaving honorably with both God and other people.
  98. A just person is civil in words and action and recognizes that differences in outlook or belief do not preclude genuine kindness and friendship.
  99. Individuals who do justly โ€œwill not have a mind to injure one another,
  100. but to live peaceablyโ€24 one with another.
  101. To be Christlike, a person loves mercy.
  102. People who love mercy are not judgmental;
  103. they manifest compassion for others,
  104. especially for those who are less fortunate;
  105. they are gracious,
  106. kind,
  107. and honorable.
  108. These individuals treat everyone
  109. with love
  110. and understanding,
  111. regardless of characteristics such as
  112. race,
  113. gender,
  114. religious affiliation,
  115. sexual orientation,
  116. socioeconomic status,
  117. and tribal,
  118. clan,
  119. or national differences.
  120. These are superseded by Christlike love.
  121. To be Christlike, a person chooses God,25 
  122. walks humbly with Him,
  123. seeks to please Him,
  124. and keeps covenants with Him.
  125. Individuals who walk humbly with God
  126. remember what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for them.
  127. Am I doing enough?
  128. What else should I be doing?
  129. The action we take in response to these questions is central to our happiness in this life and in the eternities.
  130. The Savior does not want us to take salvation for granted.
  131. Even after we have made sacred covenants,
  132. there is a possibility that we may โ€œfall from grace and depart from the living God.โ€
  133. So we should โ€œtake heed and pray alwaysโ€ to avoid falling โ€œinto temptation.โ€26
  134. But at the same time, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do not want us to be paralyzed
  135. by continual uncertainty during our mortal journey,
  136. wondering whether we have done enough to be saved and exalted.
  137. They surely do not want us to be tormented
  138. by mistakes from which we have repented,
  139. thinking of them as wounds that never heal,27 
  140. or to be excessively apprehensive that we might stumble again.
  141. We can assess our own progress.
  142. We can know โ€œthat the course of life [that we are] pursuing is according to Godโ€™s willโ€28 
  143. when we do justly,
  144. love mercy,
  145. and walk humbly with our God.
  146. We assimilate the attributes of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ into our character,
  147. and we love one another.
  148. When you do these things,
  149. you will follow the covenant path
  150. and qualify to โ€œdwell with God
  151. in a state of never-ending happiness.โ€29 
  152. Your souls will be infused with the glory of God
  153. and with the light of everlasting life.30 
  154. You will be filled with incomprehensible joy.31 
  155. I testify that God lives
  156. and that Jesus is the Christ,
  157. our Savior
  158. and Redeemer,
  159. and He lovingly
  160. and joyfully
  161. extends His mercy to all.
  162. Donโ€™t you love it?
  163. In the name of Jesus Christ,
  164. amen.

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WHAT IS FAITH IN GOD?

  1. Question. What is faith in God? How valuable is it during Covid?
  2. Answer. Consider this Lectures on Faith attributed to Joseph Smith, Jr. and read https://rsc.byu.edu/lectures-faith-historical-perspective/authorship-history-lectures-faith

LECTURE FIRST

1 Faith being the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness, necessarily claims the first place in a course of lectures which are designed to unfold to the understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

2 In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe the following order:

3 First, Faith itselfโ€”what it is:

4 Secondly, The object on which it rests; and

5 Thirdly, The effects which flow from it.

6 Agreeably to this order we have first to show what faith is.

7 The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter of that epistle, and first verse, gives the following definition of the word faith:

8 Now faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

9 From this we learn, that faith is the assurance which men have

of the existence of things

which they have not seen;

and the principle of action

in all intelligent beings.

10 If men were duly to consider themselves,

and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds,

they would readily discover that it is faith,

and faith only,

which is the moving cause of all action, in them;

that without it,

both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity,

and all their exertions would cease,

both physical and mental.

11 Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their lives,

from the period of their first recollection,

and ask themselves,

what principle excited them to action,

or what gave them energy and activity,

in all their lawful avocations, callings and pursuits,

what would be the answer?

Would it not be that it was the assurance which we had

of the existence of things

which we had not seen, as yet?

โ€”Was it not the hope which you had,

in consequence of your belief in the existence of unseen things,

which stimulated you to action

and exertion,

in order to obtain them?

Are you not dependent on your faith,

or belief,

for the acquisition of all knowledge,

wisdom

and intelligence?

Would you exert yourselves

to obtain wisdom

and intelligence,

unless you did believe

that you could obtain them?

Would you have ever sown

if you had not believed that you would reap?

Would you have ever planted

if you had not believed that you would gather?

Would you have ever asked

unless you had believed

that you would receive?

Would you have ever sought

unless you had believed

that you would have found?

Or would you have ever knocked

unless you had believed

that it would have been opened unto you?

In a word, is there any thing that you would have done,

either physical

or mental,

if you had not previously believed?

Are not all your exertions,

of every kind,

dependent on your faith?

Or may we not ask,

what have you,

or what do you possess,

which you have not obtained

by reason of your faith?

Your food,

your raiment,

your lodgings,

[your properties,]

[your knowledge,]

[your talents,]

are they not all

by reason of your faith?

Reflect,

and ask yourselves,

if these things are not so.

Turn your thoughts on your own minds,

and see if faith

is not the moving cause

of all action

in yourselves;

and if the moving cause in you,

is it not in all other intelligent beings?

12 And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns,

so it is in spiritual;

for the Savior has said,

and that truly,

that he that believeth 

and is baptized,

shall be saved.

(Mark 16:16)

13 As we receive by faith,

all temporal blessings

that we do receive,

so we,

in like manner,

receive by faith

all spiritual blessings,

that we do receive.

But faith is not only the principle of action,

but of power, also,

in all intelligent beings,

whether in heaven,

or on earth.

Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. (11:3):

14 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God: so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

15 By this we understand

that the principle of power,

which existed in the bosom of God,

by which the worlds were framed,

was faith;

and that it is by reason of this principle of power,

existing in the Deity,

that all created things exist

โ€”so that all things

in heaven,

on earth,

or under the earth,

exist by reason of faith,

as it existed in HIM.

16 Had it not been for the principle of faith

the worlds would never have been framed,

neither would man have been formed of the dust

โ€”it is the principle by which Jehovah works,

and through which he exercises power

over all temporal,

as well as eternal things.

Take this principle or attribute,

(for it is an attribute)

from the Deity

and he would cease to exist.

17 Who cannot see,

that if God framed the worlds by faith,

that it is by faith that he exercises power over them,

and that faith is the principle of power?

And that if the principle of power,

it must be so in man

as well as in the Deity?

This is the testimony

of all the sacred writers,

and the lesson which they have been endeavoring to teach to man.

18 The Savior says, (Matthew 17:19-20),

in explaining the reason

why the disciples could not cast out the devil,

that it was because of their unbelief:

“For verily, I say unto you,”

said he,

“if ye have faith

as a grain of mustard-seed,

ye shall say unto this mountain,

Remove hence to yonder place!

and it shall remove:

and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

19 Moroni,

while abridging and compiling the record of his fathers,

has given us the following account of faith

as the principle of power:

He says, in Ether 12:13,

that it was the faith of Alma and Amulek which caused the walls of the prison to be wrent, as recorded in Alma 14:23-29;

it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi which caused a change to be wrought upon the hearts of the Lamanites, when they were immersed with the Holy Spirit, and with fire, as seen in Helaman 5:37-50;

and that it was by faith that the mountain Zerin was removed, when the brother of Jared spake in the name of the Lord. See also Ether 12:30.

20 In addition to this we are told in Hebrews, 11:32-35,

that Gideon,

Barak,

Samson,

Jephthah,

David,

Samuel,

and the prophets,

through faith

subdued kingdoms,

wrought righteousness,

obtained promises,

stopped the mouths of lions,

quenched the violence of fire,

escaped the edge of the sword,

out of weakness were made strong,

waxed valiant in fight,

turned to flight the armies of the aliens;

and that women received their dead raised to life again, etc.

21 Also, Joshua,

in the sight of all Israel,

bade the sun and moon to stand still,

and it was done. (Joshua 10:12)

22 We here understand,

that the sacred writers say,

that all these things were done by faith

โ€”It was by faith that the worlds were framed

โ€”God spake,

chaos heard,

and worlds came into order,

by reason of the faith there was in HIM.

So with man also

โ€”he spake by faith

in the name of God,

and the sun stood still,

the moon obeyed,

mountains removed,

prisons fell,

lions’ mouths were closed,

the human heart lost its enmity,

fire its violence,

armies their power,

the sword its terror,

and death its dominion;

and all this by reason of the faith which was in them.

23 Had it not been for the faith

which was in man,

they might have spoken to the sun,

the moon,

the mountains,

prisons,

lions,

the human heart,

fire,

armies,

the sword,

or to death

in vain!

24 Faith, then,

is the first great governing principle

which has

power,

dominion,

and authority

over all things:

by it they exist,

by it they are upheld,

by it they are changed,

or by it they remain,

agreeably to the will of God.

Without it,

there is no power,

and without power

there could be no creation, nor existence!


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON THE FOREGOING PRINCIPLES

Question 1: What is theology?


It is that revealed science

which treats of the being and attributes of God,

his relations to us,

the dispensations of his providence,

his will with respect to our actions

and his purposes with respect to our end.

(Buck’s Theological Dictionary, page 582)

Question 2: What is the first principle in this revealed science?


Faith. (1:1)

Question 3: Why is faith the first principle in this revealed science?


Because it is the foundation of all righteousness. 

Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please God. 

1 John 3:7: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness, is righteous, even as he [God] is righteous. (1:1)

Question 4: What arrangement should be followed in presenting the subject of faith?


First, Should be shown what faith is: (1:3)


Secondly, The object upon which it rests; and (1:4)


Thirdly, The effects which flow from it. (1:5)

Question 5: What is faith?


It is the assurance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen: 

Hebrews 11:1. That is, it is the assurance we have of the existence of unseen things.

And being the assurance which we have of the existence of unseen things,

must be the principle of action in all intelligent beings. 

Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God. (1:8-9)

Question 6: How do you prove that faith is the principle of action in all intelligent beings?


First,

By duly considering the operations of my own mind;

and secondly,

by the direct declaration of scripture. 

Hebrews 11:7: By faith Noah, being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 

Hebrews 11:8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went. 

Hebrews 11:9: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 

Hebrews 11:27: By faith Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. (1:10-11)

Question 7: Is not faith the principle of action in spiritual things as well as in temporal?


It is.

Question 8: How do you prove it?


Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Mark 16:16: He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. 

Rom. 4:16: Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. (1:12-13)

Question 9: Is faith any thing else beside the principle of action?


It is.

Question 10: What is it?


It is the principle of power, also (1:13)

Question 11: How do you prove it?


First, It is the principle of power in the Deity, as well as in man. 

Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand

that the worlds were framed

by the word of God,

so that things which are seen

were not made of things which do appear. (1:14-16)

Secondly, It is the principle of power in man also.

Book of Mormon, Alma 14:23-29: Alma and Amulek are delivered from prison. 

Helaman 5:37-50: Nephi and Lehi, with the Lamanites, are immersed with the Spirit. 

Ether 12:30: The mountain Zerin, by the faith of the brother of Jared, is removed. 

Joshua 10:12: Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 

Joshua 10:13: And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves of their enemies.

Is not this written in the book of Jasher?

So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 

Matthew 17:19: Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 

Matthew 17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 

Hebrews 11:32 and the following verses: And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again,

and other were tortured,

not accepting deliverance;

that they might obtain a better resurrection. (1:16-22)

Question 12: How would you define faith in its most unlimited sense?


It is the first great governing principle,

which has power, dominion, and authority over all things. (1:24)

Question 13: How do you convey to the understanding more clearly, that faith is the first great governing principle, which has

power,

dominion

and authority

over all things?


By it they exist,

by it they are upheld,

by it they are changed,

or by it they remain,

agreeably to the will of God;

and without it there is no power;

and without power

there could be no creation,

nor existence! (1:24)

Lectures on Faith, http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/56684

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MY PERSONAL NEW YEAR’S INVITATION TO YOU. JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE HOLY MESSIAH, WHO SOON WILL COME, AND HE HAS RESTORED HIS original Church of Jesus Christ through living prophets and apostles. See www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org for access to a free Bible and Book of Mormon and details about this wondrous restoration of Christ’s true Church. If you are not a baptized member or if you are a baptized member and you are not presently active, simply call 1-801-240-1000 and an operator will connect you with missionaries so you can join and be active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. Click the red Translate button to translate into another language!! May God be with you and your family, Richard Linford

My painting. Richard W. Linford

See https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng

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Do you Swiss want comfort despite COVID? Do you know that the Second Coming of Yeshua, Jesus Christ, the Holy Messiah, is near? Do you appreciate the fact that you could die any time and meet God anyway? So shouldn’t you repent of your sins and pray and go to Church and read the scriptures and get ready? (Just a couple of comforting thoughts for your consideration. Richard W. Linford, editor.)

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