Fathers from the Scriptures

As I think about Father's Day, I'm reminded of the all of the great fathers that are found in the scriptures. I was actually thinking about creating a longer blog on this, but then I heard an ad for a book called, "Men of Influence." I haven't read it, but it sounded like the author stole my idea. I might still write something more-in-depth though. Here are some of my favorite Fathers in the scriptures and what I learn from them:

Abraham: Trust your children to the Lord
Isaac: Find out the hearts of your children from your wife.
Jacob: Leave your In-laws for your family's sake. Don't pick favorites. Give your children and grandchildren blessings.
Saul: Look to the example of your righteous children and listen to them.

Lehi: Take your family where the Lord wants you to take them despite the family protests. Counsel each child according to their needs with love. At first they were subtle reminders. On his death bed it was, "Awake from the sleep of hell. Rise up and be men."
Nephi: Father of a nation-weeps for his people. Does our current father of the nation do that (I doubt it, maybe if his ratings go down).
Jacob: Teach your children in their youth and it will come back to them at unexpected times.
Benjamin: Teach and testify of the scriptures. Teach service by example.
Mosiah: Let your children go and they will be protected.
Alma the Elder: Pray and fast for your children. Teach your children despite their unwillingness.
Alma the younger: Take your children with you on mission (church duties) when appropriate. Counsel with them indivually based on their needs. Testify and tell them of your spiritual experiences.
Helaman I: Adopts 2,000 sons that he leads into war. Asks them for their advice before he proceeds.
Helaman II: Honor your name (surname, given name, or Christ's name). Remember what your ancestors went through and taught.
Mormon: Write to your children. Keep a record for your children. Correct incorrect doctrine or traditions even if it's not the popular thing to do. Another father of the nation who cares deeply about his people.

Well these are a few of my favorite father and son relationships in the scriptures. Unfortunately, I can't think of many examples from the Bible. It seems like of the Old Testament is about bad father examples. What are some of your favorite father examples from the scriptures? If you can't think of anyone from the scriptures, what are some prominent father figures that teach great lessons found in literature (or I'll even go with movies)? For example, one of my favorites is Atticus from "To Kill a Mocking Bird." Another is Jean Valjean from "Les Miserables."

Such as I Have Give I Thee

During this precarious economic time, money is an endangered species, perhaps extinct for some. I've read Acts 3 several times. Catie loves to sing the song, "Peter and John went to pray . . . Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. . . And he went walking and leaping and praising God." Anyway it's something along those lines. I've always focused on what Peter and John gave the beggar.

Today, my focus is more on what Peter and John gave. I know I've walked into temple square, especially during Christmas time, with my head down hoping that I won't be asked for any spare change. Most of the time when I've been asked, I reply that I don't have anything. A few times I've given a nickle or quarter or whatever is in my pocket. How does that compare with what this beggar received from Peter and John. Not only does he now have a chance to make an honest living, but he enters the temple and receives the warmth it offers him.

Catie told me the other day that one of the things she hates most is when she has the means to help someone, but she can't help them because they won't accept it. She proceeded to explain that she feels bad when she sees someone in trouble, but she doesn't have the means to help, but not as bad as when she has the means and they won't accept help. After reflecting on this scripture, I wonder how often we really don't have the means to help people. Obviously, we don't have the monetary means to help. As I explained in an earlier post, we've gotten ourselves in a bit of a financial bind by trying to help when we didn't have the means. But, can we still give such as we have?

One example Catie gave of someone she couldn't help is a car that is broken down. She is not a mechanic and usually, they already have a cell phone out. However, is there something that she could give? Perhaps some encouragement through some friendly conversation while they wait for some additional help? What about those beggars in front of temple square? We could follow the example of Peter and John and bring them into the temple (figuratively speaking); however, if they are sitting outside temple square I'm guessing that they already know about the church. Again, we may not be able to give them money, but is there something we can give that will lighten their load. Sometimes all it takes is a friendly conversation to let people know they are important if that's all we have.

I know this is something I need to work on, but these are my thoughts on the phrase, "Such as I have give I thee."

As a side note, it's interesting that just two chapters later, Luke tells us of Ananias and Sapphira who sell their land to give the money to the church, but keep a portion of the money for themselves. When Peter questions them about it, they lie and then lie dead. This makes an interesting juxtaposition when you consider Peter and John who give such as they have to a lame beggar, but these people who attempt to serve the All-powerful God can only give a portion of what they have.

He Took the Time

I'm not sure where these will end up. I started with the phrase Behold the Lamb of God. As I began a poem (you see, I didn't get very far) another thought struck me of someone in the Nephite crowd. Someone that was in the back of the line patiently waiting his chance to meet the Savior. Then, he looks up and sees a crowd of over 1500 people. He would have been in despair to realize he was in the back. But, the Savior took the time for everyone in that crowd. Just as he traveled many inconvenient and out-of-way courses just to help one individual. I decided to pursue a poem along these lines. So far, I only have two choppy verses and a chorus (any help or critique would be great. As I've said before, my rhythm is horrible).

Behold the Lamb of God

Earthquakes and darkness covered the Earth
Behold the Lamb of God


He Took the Time
As he called us forward, I noticed that I was at the end of the line.
1500 hundred people were in front of me pressing their way to the Savior.
As the day began to wane, I felt that I had lost my chance.
Then, I saw the nail prints in his hands.
He took the time.

He took the time to rescue me from darkness
He too the time to feed the hungry
He took the time to provide living water
He took the time to heal those who were sick
He took the time to bless my sweet child
He took the time to save me.

I sat at my father's well, drinking the bitter water
Contemplating my unrighteous dilemma
Suddenly he appeared asking for a drink of water
I left my water pot in exchange for his living cup
He took the time.

He took the time to rescue me from darkness
He too the time to feed the hungry
He took the time to provide living water
He took the time to heal those who were sick
He took the time to bless my sweet child
He took the time to save me.

As I wrote this, I realized something amazing. In John Chapter 4, Jesus comes to the woman at the well. He has nothing to draw with. In other words, he has no cup. He promises the sinful woman living water. Then, she leaves her water pot after she confesses her sin. Often, Jesus refers to His suffering for us as drinking out of a bitter cup. We give him our cups or water pots in exchange for his living cup of water. He then drinks from our bitter cups, so that we can receive His cup.

That Prophet

While I was on my mission teaching about Joseph Smith, I was often told that the prophets ended with Jesus Christ and the apostles. However, one my favorite scriptures that I believe shows that the Jews didn't believe this would be the case is in John chapter 1. In this chapter, the priests and Levites, the religious leaders and experts in the scriptures, were questioning John. They ask him three questions 1. Art thou the Chirst? No 2. Art thou Elias? No (however, the Joseph Smith translation says that he says yes to this question) 3. Art thou that prophet? No.

So is THAT prophet? It's not the Christ because John already said no to that question. It's not the Elias before Christ because that is John. It's definitely a prophet who is foretold to come after Christ. While this doesn't prove that Joseph Smith was that prophet nor that he was a prophet, it does show that Jews, John, whom Jesus calls the greatest prophet, don't hesitate to suggest that there is another prophet. The only way to find out if this is Joseph Smith is to try the fruit (read the Book of Mormon and pray), but I still like the added testimony found in John 1:21.

Josh's Writing

I've started writing articles for ehow.com. Most of the articles are tutorials. You can check them out at http://www.ehow.com/members/ds_joshua25797.html. I will occasionally post links to the articles as well.

My Precious

So I lost my wedding ring about a week ago. I seriously felt like Gallum from Lord of the Rings. One minute I was playing with my ring (I have a habit of pulling it off and putting it back on to make sure my fingers aren't too fat or something). Then, I went to lunch, ate my lunch, returned the leftovers to the fridge and went to the restroom. I'll admit that I was getting a little tired this afternoon, which was part of the reason I went to the restroom--to wake myself up a little bit more. As I was walking back to my desk, I started to play with my ring again. That's when I noticed that there was no ring. Apparently, it had decided it was done with me and slipped off my finger.

I was frantic. I searched everywhere in the restroom. I even took the sink apart (which, by the way, the pipes haven't been cleaned in a really long time), even though there was no way it could fall down the drain. All week, I prayed that I would find my ring. I was sure that it was hopeless. During this time, I also read the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the unjust judge. I think it was on Tuesday when I said something like this, "Heavenly Father, I recently read the parable of the unjust judge when Christ says that even the judge gave into this request because of the many petitions. I know this is just a ring, but it's very important to me. Please help me find it."

On Wed., my boss came back from vacation. I casually mentioned that I had lost my ring and he suggested that I send around an email. I hadn't done this because there are only three people who regularly use the building where I lost it.

Early the next day, my manager peaks his head in my office and says, "I found something you might be interested in. It's on the fridge." He had found my ring inside the fridge. To this day, I can't tell you what happened, but I have my ring back, and I didn't have to bite off a finger and fall into lava to get it back either. Prayer does work, even if it's for something petty like a ring, sometimes we just have to persistent (even a whole weeks worth). Now if only I could find my driver's license. It never leaves my wallet, but when I went to pull it out the other day it gone. Oh well, I'm not so attached to that and it's only like $20 to replace.

Various Thoughts on Value and Money

I couldn't think of poems for the following study sessions, but here are some thoughts that I might use some day if something comes.

More Value than Many Sparrows
Ye are of more value than many sparrows. I like this phrase and could see it working. Perhaps, I will incorporate something from Moses 1, where Moses speaks with God who says three times, "Moses, my son." Then, Satan comes and immediately says, "Moses, thou son of man." Satan attempts to destroy our self worth, but God always wants us to understand that we are of more value than many sparrows, which if even one of the sparrows fall, he notices. How much more will he notice when we, who are his sons or daughters, fall?

A man's life consisteth not of the abundance of things
A man's life consisteth not of the abundance of things. This is in Luke 12. I have recently been faced with a monetary and family dilemma. We lent almost our entire savings to my sister-in-law so that she wouldn't be stuck in a high-interest debt when she got married. She promised that she would make the payments us, but she wouldn't have to pay interest. We then let her rent our place when she got married. They moved out after three months because they had racked up so much debt again that they couldn't afford the rent. She promised to pay us the rent she owed. We have yet to see any of this money. When we ask her and her husband to help with the house in the slightest amount, they literally throw a tantrum and refuse to help. In addition, they are draining my in-laws of the little money they have. They refuse to eat anything that they dislike, which turns out to be anything that is not a name brand or fast food.

The point of this story is that I have been debating about sending them a long, angry letter telling them that I want the money back now. After she got yelled at when she asked for some help, Catie gave me permission to send them a bill for the damage that was done to our house within three months (red paint was spilled on our kitchen floor, their dog peed everywhere on our carpet, and Catie spent the first two weeks moving their stuff and cleaning the place before she could even start working on repairs). However, after reading this verse, I'm not sure that I can send them a letter like I was planning. I'm not going to clear the debt because they need to learn how to manage their finances in a responsible way, but I will give myself some time to cool down before I actually send them a letter. The abundance of things don't matter.

There Arose a Mighty Famine After. . .
After reading the story of the prodigal son, I noticed that when he wasted his father's inheritance it says, "There was a mighty famine in the land." I found this interesting because of the times that we are living in. There's a mighty famine in our land after we have wasted so much money during the prosperous 90's and 2000's. From this, I wrote some of the other mighty famines:
There arose a mighty famine after the prodigal son wasted his money
There arose a mighty famine after Israel's sons wasted Joseph
There arose a mighty famine after the world wasted the prophets and apostles