One of my biggest weaknesses has always been in the judging of others choices and actions. I can't help but wonder why someone is not wearing their garments, or chooses to do certain activities on the Sabbath Day or make certain comments at church that give pause of concern.
Last Saturday, while Del and I were serving ice cream at the Aubrey Peanut Festival, several members of the church came by our booth to get ice cream and it was obvious, by their dress, that they were not wearing garments. Del and I both made comments about it to each other. I have noticed in facebook posts of certain members, that several of their pictures are taken while not wearing their garments. Both Jordan and Kylie don't wear their garments during certain activities but fail to put them on after the activities are done.
But these people are all, still, good people.
But they are not keeping covenants. But not my place to judge?
No, not my place to judge.
My scripture study today finally got me out of the book of Ether, the final chapters ending in the same blood and carnage of millions that were slaughtered in wars due to unrighteousness: That the Lord had ceased to abide with them. I am now in Moroni where the spirit has once again, given comfort to my soul as the sacrament prayers are introduced and meetings are held with the spirit of the Holy Ghost.
And now, in chapter 7, it explains how the Spirit of Christ allows us to know good from evil and how, bottom line, 'all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil. The good and evil being defined here are by the standards given us by God, not of the world. That which is of God 'inviteth and enticeth us to do good continually'. God is very specific in what He considers to be 'good'. His definition of 'good' is keeping his commandments and doing all things in our lives to turn us towards him and his teachings.
Of course, if you are to take God out of the equation, and the discussion becomes, 'Am I a good person?' Who becomes your judge?? what then, is your definition of good? What is your definition of right and wrong? It can only be the definition given us by man, because man is the only other person to give a definition of right or wrong, and good from evil. It's the world's definition.
So the question asked then is; Who's definition do we measure ourselves by? God's or man's?
That answer also tells us who's opinion we value more and who we actually serve. God or man?
Moroni teaches me that 'the Spirit of Christ is given to EVERY man, that he may know good from evil'. And with that Spirit of Christ, Moroni teaches how we can know good from evil, right from wrong. And we ARE to use that Spirit of Christ TO JUDGE GOOD FROM EVIL. Moroni teaches the simple truth that, verse 16, 'every thing which enviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know "with a PERFECT KNOWLEDGE it is of God". And the same is explained about evil - verse 17, 'whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a PERFECT KNOWLEDGE it is of the devil.'
So, in defining good from evil, WHO IS MY JUDGE??? GOD or MAN???
Thursday, October 10, 2019
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