Youth - 1 Timothy 4:6-16

4:6-9 - If Timothy teaches “the brethren” these things, he will be a “good minister of Jesus Christ.” Paul counsels him to “nourish up in the words of faith and of good doctrine” instead of relying on “profane and old wives’ fables.” This is kind of a comparison of the gospel truth and traditions that aren’t rooted in it. Interestingly, Paul continues, kind of in the same vein of meat eating and getting married, saying, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things.” This statement is interesting for a couple of different reasons. First, Paul just talked about eating meat and getting married to counteract those who are saying “deny yourself all physical gratification,” which might imply “physical gratification is ok.” But then he takes the opposite approach when it comes to exercising your body. Both of these perspectives seem to endorse moderation in all things, but you can’t commit adultery in moderation, you can’t steal in moderation. There are clearly some things that are completely forbidden in any amount, and then there are others that should be used here and there. There are teachings throughout the scriptures saying “your body is a temple” and clearly demonstrating that our bodies are to be used for good and are for our spiritual progression, so it’s not just that we can ignore our physicality. But on the other hand, we’ve been taught repeatedly to “master ourselves,” resisting temptation, etc. So it seems that there is a balance in using your body to grow your spirit and just using your body for non-spiritual things. The article from this chapter quotes President Nelson as teaching, “I would not want you to neglect your body. It deserves daily care. Physical conditioning through regular exercise requires self-mastery too.” He then goes on to talk about one of his colleagues in the Quorum at the time who was 96 years old and swam everyday for exercise. He notes that his motivation “has never been to attain physical longevity. That has come only incidentally. His desire has been to serve God and His anointed. Elder Anderson has followed what I label as the Lord’ prescription for a long and useful like. Those faithful in ‘magnifying their callings, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become… the elect of God.” I thought that quoted scripture was interesting because it again connects what we do in the spirit to our physicality. 4:10-16 - The relationship with God that Paul and Timothy have is why they “both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God.” This belief is what drives them to live morally clean lives, to teach the gospel even though it requires much sacrifice on their part, and to suffer persecution because of their faith. Even though Timothy is in a leadership position, it appears that his young age is still a point of ridicule for him. Paul counsels him, “let no mane despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” Timothy is young, but the content of his character should be the basis of how people judge him. Age is an interesting concept. I’ve always felt like I was 103 years old, even now I’m tired physically and emotionally. But there are times when someone, usually a politician, will do something crazy and his supporters will blame it on “youthful indiscretion,” and I think “I’m younger than he is, and I know better than to do that.” There are “old souls” and those who are “kids at heart.” And really, because we are intelligences that have always been, the amount of time that we’ve spent on this earth specifically shouldn’t govern anyone’s opinion of anyone else. Paul plans of visiting Timothy soon, but he says that until he is able to get there, Timothy should teach what’s in this letter, and devote time to study the scriptures. He’s advised to magnify his calling, which he was appointed to “with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” I like that this is noted here because that’s how we are set apart for our callings today and I like when aspects of the church today are demonstrated in the ancient church as well. Timothy is counseled to “meditate” on these teachings and to “give thyself wholly to them… for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” This is something that I think is overlooked a lot of the time. We think about sharing the gospel or even just living it as a way for others to be saved or converted or taught or whatever. But what happens is we end up strengthening our own testimony, become more committed ourselves. In fact, one thing I think that happens for missionaries isn’t how many people they baptize, but I firmly believe that a main focus on missionary work is to become more converted ourselves.