D&C 59:7-15

59:7-8 - I know that last time we talked about gratitude and joy being the same thing, as far as my perspective, the Lord also continues that “thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.” Are we commanded to do this because God needs constant reassurance that he’s doing a good job? Is it because he’s a dictator that requires 100% allegiance from his subjects? No, it is because of the state of mind that it puts us in. I never really feel joy swell within me, like I’ve heard about so many times, unless I’m actively focusing on what I’m grateful for. There’s an empowerment, a humility, a lightening that comes when I stop whatever negative train I’m riding and focus on just one good thing, it’s a blessing and a shift in perspective that I don’t think can come any other way. The Lord continues, “Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” The IM teaches, “Before the birth of Christ on earth, the Lord commanded that sacrifices of animals or the fruits of the field be offered. These sacrifices signified both His own sacrifice and the willingness of the individual making the sacrifice to be obedient to God. After His Resurrection, Jesus ended those sacrifices, and He commanded that the sacrifice thereafter be a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Smith and Sjodahl explained the significance of the two phrases” ‘Contrite’ means ‘humble.’ ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise;’ a broken spirit and a contrite heart are those in which the obstinacy of pride has been replaced by the humility of repentance, frequently brought about by sorrow and affliction.’”  I really like DJR’s explanation of this phrase when he says, “we used the comparison of a ‘well-broken’ or ‘well-trained’ horse, strong and powerful with much spirit and energy but very quickly yielding to the slightest touch of the reins or directions of the ‘master.’ Thus, one way of looking at ‘broken heart’ of that of having our hearts willingly and easily controlled by the ‘Master’ through His gospel and our eagerness to keep His commandments. The word ‘contrite’ can be defined as being ‘humble’ or ‘meek,’ but it has the additional fine-tuned scriptural meaning of seeking correction as needed. Thus, having a ‘contrite spirit’ includes the desire to receive correction from the Lord as needed in order to grow and progress.” I feel like the IM’s definition is too abstract for me, but “seeking correction” and “yielding to the direction of the Master” is easier for me to understand and incorporate into my life. When I feel rebuked, do I have a tantrum or do I comply? Do I ask for guidance and then do what I’m told? Do I look for ways in which I can change my behavior to more fully meet the expectations of the Savior? Those are easier measuring sticks for me.

59:9-12 - The Lord continues speaking about the Sabbath by commanding that “thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.” DJR has an excellent explanation of this, saying, “Perhaps you are acquainted with someone who claims that he or she can get closer to God by going to the mountains, or wherever, on Sunday than by going to church. While it may be true that we can have spiritual thoughts and experiences among God’s creations in nature, there is a major flaw in such thinking. The problem is that such a person is making his or her own rules and is completely ignoring the ‘thou shalt’ of this scriptures. It is not an options matter for those who desire salvation.” I really like the simplicity of this, yes, we can become close to God doing any number of things, but his rule is that we go to church and take the sacrament on Sundays, to do something else purposefully, is to be disobedient, and lose out on all the blessings that that entails. The IM quotes President John Taylor as teaching, “To serve the Lord, is one of the great objects of our existence; and I appreciate as a great privilege the opportunity we enjoy of worshipping God on the Sabbath day. And when we do meet to worship God, I like to see us worship him with all our hearts. I think it altogether out of place on such occasions to hear people talk about secular things; these are times, above all others perhaps, when our feelings and affections should be drawn out towards God. If we sing praises to God, let us do it in the proper spirit; if we pray, let every soul be engaged in prayer, doing it with all our hearts, that through our union our spirits may be blended in one, that our prayers and our worship may be available with God, whose Spirit permeates all things, and is always present in the assemblies of good and faithful Saints.” It’s all about intentions, I desperately want to do the best I can but my end result is not nearly as good as it should be, but I guess that’s the difference between the wealthy tithe paying Pharisees and the widow’s mite. The Sacrament is a commandment, I’m at the point now where we really try to leave the house 10 minutes early so that we can be on time for church, usually we are at least 2 minutes late, somewhere between the opening and sacrament song, but we try. We used to sit in the foyer and play on ipads, then we moved into the chapel but still played on the ipads, now we are sitting in the chapel and not playing on any electronics. The kids have handled it a lot better than I thought that, and that’s where we are personally, and we are doing our best. Some other people might have all their 4 toddlers sitting quietly coloring and listening to the speakers, and that’s where they are, but that doesn’t mean that where we are is any less valid. We do our best with what we have and where, and then we improve. And we do these things so that we “mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world.” The Lord uses an interesting word, we are to “offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High.” The IM quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as defining on “oblation” as “giving full devotion to the Lord, of offering him a broken heart and a contrite spirit. In a lesser and more temporal sense, an oblation is the offering of sacrifices, or of fast offering, or off any charitable contribution to the Church. Isaiah spoke of vain oblations meaning the ritualistic offering of sacrifices when the spirit and meaning of the ordinance and offering had been lost. Ezekiel foretold that oblations would again be offered by Israel in the day of gathering.”  

59:13-15 - Now we get to the topic of food. The Lord tells us that we are to “do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart.” I heard something once where a woman had said in testimony meeting that “cooking in the crock pot is so easy, if you’re not using the crock pot to cook Sunday dinner, then you’re not keeping the Sabbath day holy.” I was like “is that doctrine?” I really like the way that DJR explains this concept, saying, “This phrase is considered by some to mean ‘simplicity.’ Yet others define it as meaning ‘with specific purpose.’ Thus, in a family where is means ‘simplicity,’ their meal preparation might be very simple and easy, with minimal effort to prepare and clean up. On the other hand, in a family to whom it means ‘specific purpose,’ the focus might intentionally include a more elaborate meal, with the desired result of attracting the family to join together and spend more time in food and conversation, during which family ties are strengthened and the family counsels together one with another. In either case or in any of several other scenarios, if the focus in the heart is on keeping the Sabbath, the meal preparation will more likely be appropriate. This is likely one of those matters where we are taught correct principles and expected to govern ourselves. John Taylor explained that the Prophet Joseph Smith said, ‘I teach the people correct principles, and they govern themselves.’” The Lord continues in that verse “that thy fasting may be perfect, or in other words, that thy joy may be full.” A fullness of joy and fasting go hand in hand? This is an interesting concept and one that I’m not really strong on, but I’m going to have to think about it. The IM quotes President Joseph F. Smith as teaching, “Now, while the law requires the Saints in all the world to fast from ‘even to even’ and to abstain both from food and drink, it can easily be seen from the Scriptures, and especially from the words of Jesus, that it is more important to obtain the true spirit of love for God and man, ‘purity of heart and simplicity of intention,’ than it is to carry out the cold letter of the law. The Lord has instituted the fast on a reasonable and intelligent basis, and none of his works are vain or unwise. His law is perfect in this as in other things. Hence, those who can are required to comply thereto; it is a duty from which they cannot escape; but let it be remembered that the observance of the fast day by abstaining twenty-four hours from food and drink is not an absolute rule, it is no iron-clad law to us, but it is left with the people as a matter of conscience, to exercise wisdom and discretion. Many are subject to weakness, others are delicate in health, and others have nursing babies; of such it should not be required to fast. Neither should parents compel their little children to fast. I have known children to cry for something to eat on fast day. In such cases, going without food will do them no good. Instead, they dread the day to come, and in place of hailing it, dislike it; while the compulsion engenders a spirit of rebellion in them, rather than a love for the Lord and their fellows. Better teach them the principle, and let them observe it when they are old enough to choose intelligently, than to so compel them. But those should fast who can, and all classes among us should be taught to save the meals which they would eat, or their equivalent, for the poor. None are exempt from this; it is require of the Saints, old and young, in every part of the Church. It is no excuse that in some places there are no poor. In such cases the fast donations should be forwarded to the proper authorities for transmission to such stakes of Zion as may stand in need.” I like DJR’s comment on this saying, “There is perhaps another aspect of ‘fasting’ that may be seen in the context of verse 13. It is the added dimensions that ‘fasting’ can also mean ‘fasting’ from the things of the world- the daily work and toil, entertainments and so forth- that use up much of our time and attention during the week.”  The IM asks “how can one’s fasting be done with singleness of heart” and answers, “Fasting is sometimes thought of as going without food and drink. Here the Lord uses the terms joy and rejoicing to describe fasting. The preparation of food and fasting can go together. Smith and Sjodahl pointed out that ‘upon the Sabbath, even the food should be prepared ‘with singleness of heart’; that is to say, in simplicity. Our hearts, our desires, on that day should not be elaborate feasts, whereby some are prevented from having a Sabbath. A simple meal should suffice. To that extent every Sabbath should be a fast day, one bringing perfect joy. Our Lord, on one occasion, entered the house of Martha and Mary. Martha was cumbered about much serving, desirous of giving the Master many courses, and all in grand style. Mary was anxious to listen to the Master. To Martha’s rebuke of her younger sister, our Lord gently replied, ‘But one thing is needful.’ This might well be always remembered on our Lord’s day.’”