"In the ordinances...the power of godliness is manifest" (D&C 84:20)

 Spiritual Thought

In order for each of us to be able to return to our Heavenly Father after our death certain qualifications have been set that must be achieved.  Included among these are obedience to the commandments of God, temple sealing, and, for men, receiving and honoring the Melchizedek Priesthood.  Without each step on this "Covenant Path" as President Nelson calls it, none of us will be able to return to our Heavenly Father and eventually become as he is.  As part of this journey to our heavenly home, indeed central to it, is our making sacred covenants with God through ordinances.  An ordinance is the vehicle through which covenants are made and lifelong faithfulness is promised.  In the Doctrine and Covenants we read that "In the ordinances...the power of godliness is manifest" (D&C 84:20).  Ordinances, and specifically the honoring of the covenants made therein, manifest the "power of godliness" in at least three ways.  

The first is in the necessity of ordinances in obtaining all that we have the potential to become.  Each and every one of us is a beloved son or daughter of heavenly parents.  We are not merely the byproduct of happenstance or environment.  All people in every corner of the globe carry a spark of the divine within them.  Each one of us are children of an omniscient parent whose "work and his glory" (Moses 1:39) is to enable his children to become as he is and reach the full stature to which we are heirs.  Such a majestic destiny requires a pathway lined with saving ordinances, beginning in the waters of baptism, leading to the receipt of the priesthood of God, and culminating in the Holy Temple.  Through the ordinances man's power to become like God is enabled.

The second observation on this verse is really more of an extension of the first.  After ordinances are received and covenants are made it is imperative to be true and faithful to the promises which have been made with the Divine.  As we strive to be ever more diligent in our adherence to God's law we will receive the power of Godly influence throughout our mortal experience.  Honored covenants bring with them the strength and protection of Deity.  Through the ordinances is Godly power brought into our lives.

The third and final observation is the culmination of them all.  As each son or daughter of God strives, over a lifetime, to gain a greater understanding of saving ordinances, the Savior's redeeming power is more fully comprehended.  The atonement of Jesus Christ is and forever will be the most important and sacred event in time or eternity.  Does it not logically follow that the greatest understanding and appreciation of such an event is gained in the most sacred of locations and through the most holy of acts?  In no other way will we more completly come to realize the efficacy of the Savior's atonement than through receiving the covenants enabled by Him.  Jesus Christ is the personification of the power of godliness.  He is the Lamb who was "slain from the foundation of the world".  It is through the sacred and infinite power of his Atonement that the ordinances of salvation are possible.  Through the ordinances the true power of the Atonement is realized.

It is my prayer that each of us will develop a greater desire to be faithful to the covenants we have made and yearning to more fully draw the inherent "power of godliness" into our lives.

In the name of the source of such power, Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Weekly Update

Hello everyone,

All of the people we are teaching have decided to either be sick for weeks on end, move to Colorado Springs, or avoid any contact with us/perpetually have something come up in their schedule at the last minute that requires them to cancel.  It makes things a little harder when nobody is willing to meet with you but we are pressing on and waiting for great things to happen soon.

The only exception to this trend is our good friend mentioned last week.  The one that finds the most joy in life from believing in reptilian alien overlords who control our every thought rather than a loving Father in Heaven who has a plan through which we can return to him.  There are some very large hurdles that need to be cleared in order for this individual to be ready for baptism.  Not the least of those is he will need to begin praying.  He told us very blatantly in our last lesson that he will not pray.  His reasoning?  George Carlen (the comedian, I don't know if I spelled his name right) told him praying is useless because if two football teams both pray to win then one loses the game, obviously our prayers are never heard or answered.  Like I said, there are some very large obstacles that need to be overcome.  Oh, one more thing, I think I forgot to mention last week that the alien overlords controlling every aspect of our lives came to earth in spaceships powered by gold.  That is why we still value gold today.  I always wondered about that so I'm glad to finally know why gold is so valuable!

Friday, the 17th, was the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.  There was a huge celebration in the Bountiful park from Thursday through Saturday in honor of the anniversary.  There were different tents set up with people dressed as founding fathers and other people who were important to the founding of America (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Christopher Columbus, etc.) who talked about those individuals contributions.  It was really neat to see.

On Thursday Elder Marchman and I were walking past the Bountiful park.  We were walking on the right side of the road so the traffic was moving in the same direction we were.  As we were walking down the road a car started very enthusiastically honking its horn from about half a mile back.  We get honked and waved at frequently but this was especially energetic.  The honking didn't stop as the car got closer.  Just before the car passed us I thought to myself "What obnoxious person is honking at us for so long?".  Right as I thought this someone yelled "Hi Elders!"  I turned to look at the car and saw President and Sister Johnson driving past.  Not only that but Sister Johnson had climbed out of the passenger window so far that both her arms and most of her torso were out of the window as she waved.  I'm glad I decided to be Christlike and not do anything rude to the mission president as he drove past.

We were able to give Michelle a blessing last night.  She is the deaf lady that I mentioned a few weeks ago.  The ASL sisters were able to interpret again which was really neat to see.  One of the sisters sat in a chair in front of Michelle and interpreted as we gave the blessing.  We are also trying to get Michelle into an ASL Endowment session in the next few weeks.  Apparently all of the temple workers forgot the ASL during the shutdown and are now having to relearn everything.  Because of that, ASL sessions are not starting until November and will only be done in the Jordan River temple initially.  It is a little disappointing that we won't be able to go to the temple but would still be neat if that is something Michelle could do.

I hope you all have a great week,

Elder Payne

 I don't know why but the street light by our stake center is the most vivid blue I have ever seen.  It is really strange.  Every time we walk by I feel like I'm in some weird disco party or that I'm about to be abducted by aliens.  Come to think of it, that might help our alien friend from last week listen to us if we told him we could teach him at an abduction spot.

There is a really big apartment complex in our area that has a lot of nonmember people we would like to talk to.  The only probably is that the complex has a very strict no soliciting/no knocking on doors policy.  Some missionaries have had the police called on them in the past.  We have started walking down the hall in each floor every few days in hopes of catching someone outside.  We also found a social area on one of the floors and left a copy of the Book of Mormon on the table with a section picked out that we thought somebody should read.

We left the Book of Mormon open on the table with the TV remote pointing to Moroni's promise.

I ran into George Washington this week!  

There was a revolutionary war era cannon in the park yesterday.  They dry-fired it several times throughout the day.  We happened to be in the park one of those times and it was pretty impressive to hear.  You could feel it in your chest and could feel the shockwave go through you.

A replica of the Mayflower.

There were American flags lining the street all the way around the park.