Submit Yourselves - 1 Peter 2

2:1-3 - Because “the word of the Lord endureth forever,” Peter speaks in specifics about how we should live in order to qualify for “the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” Peter makes an interesting analogy about the process of building a testimony, likening us to “newborn babes” who “desire the sincere mild of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” This is not the first time we have seen the “milk” and “babes” reference before, in fact this verse is cross-referenced with 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 and Hebrews 5:13-14 which are interestingly Paul’s writings so this begs the question, had Peter read Paul’s epistles and continued on with the idea or is it just a universal concept that everyone is familiar with? In line with the “milk” and “babies” the article on this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com points out that a baby grows on nothing but milk because it is incapable of consuming anything else. The article continues, “The same is true of our consumption of gospel principles. It is just as inappropriate to teach deep doctrines to gospel novices as it is to feed meat to a baby. Besides, it is the simple gospel principles which edify anyway.” I think that this concept is one of the reasons people look at the gospel from the outside and consider it a “lie.” There’s a guy, I think it’s Bill Maher who said something once. He was talking about Trump and the Christian community that followed him and Bill said something like, “I can’t believe I’m going to say this but the only Christian group who recognized Trumps BS for what it is, was the Mormons. And that’s saying something because Mormons will believe anything. They believe you get a planet when you die, but they didn’t believe Trump.” This was interesting for a couple of different reasons. First, well, yeah, when you say it like that it sounds crazy, but how is that definition any different than being promised “all that the Father hath” in the next life? Hath he not planets? The second interesting point though is exactly what Peter is talking about here, that can be considered an “advanced” spiritual concept and giving that knowledge to someone who is not only not ready for it spiritually but is looking to mock it is not beneficial to anyone. Not to the person who learns it and not to the people that that person influences. Someone might look at that statement from Bill Maher and upon learning that the principle is true, could say “I was lied to, no one ever told me that, therefore the whole church is a lie.” But were they ready for it? Were they ready to understand exactly what that statement entails? God is the master psychologist for a reason. People are complicated and this life is difficult. We are taught the gospel in such a way that we accept it when we are ready. Sometimes that means fear of fire and brimstone and gnashing of teeth, sometimes that means thinking that God is a woman hating jerk, because it all just gets you to the next step, whatever that is. We are all on our own paths and they are personally planned for and executed by God, each individually and that starts with “milk.” The article is so interesting because it continues with the “food” and “eating” analogy saying, “Unfortunately, many of our spirits are already undernourished but on a diet anyway. Sometimes we make the mistake of spiritual anorexia, denying our souls the necessary sustenance. Other times we are spiritual bulimics, regularly consuming gospel principles but vomiting them out before they have time to nourish us. Alternatively, some prefer to satisfy their oral fixation with the pacifier of one gospel principle to the neglect of nourishing milk. Others, in their overconfidence, endlessly chew on the meat of deep doctrines without ever truly digesting them. Gospel meat is an acquired taste. It is not the diet of the natural man. It may be consumed by the masses but can only be savored by those who have acquired a taste, line by line, precept by precept. Until that taste is fully developed we should ‘desire the sincere milk’ of the basic gospel principles.” I absolutely loved this analogy because we think about “feasting” on the gospel and that seems so straight forward, but there are so many ways in which we can neglect our spiritual nutrition that we don’t even think of. If successfully embracing the gospel is to “feast” on it, does that mean anything short of that is failure? Because “feast” is a pretty daunting definition, so we might feel like the only way to not “feast” is to simply “not eat.” Meaning that if we are partaking in the gospel at all, we might consider ourselves doing what it takes, but that’s not always the case. We might be reading the scriptures or going to church, but not ever thinking about any of it ever again. We might fixate on one gospel principle and ignore the rest. I feel like this might have been one of the Pharisees’ problems, they were so focused on the physical obedience of the law that they never stopped to consider the spiritual implication. We might focus on the superficial appearance of obedience without truly becoming an obedient person in our hearts, meaning we might have the right answers at church but then act rudely or judge others when we don’t think anyone important is watching. 2:4-8 - The “graciousness” of the Lord that we “taste” when we drink gospel “milk” means that He truly is the “living stone” and the ‘chief corner stone.” The phrase “living stone” seems contradictory because we all know that stones are alive. And it’s not even a matter of being alive instead of dead, as in the concept of resurrection because at least with that we know that something was once alive but then wasn’t. What would a living stone do? Why would it be significant? It could be a building block or in the case of the Savior, “the head of the corner.” But not only would the stone provide a proper foundation for our spiritual house but the “living” component means that He is invested in our success, that He is building the house with us instead of us doing all the work alone. Ironically, the “builders” rejected the stone of the Savior but now that stone “is made the head of the corner.” The IM comments, “Peter also called Christ the ‘chief corner stone,’ emphasizing that the house is built upon the resurrected Jesus Christ.” When we studied about the Savior’s resurrection, one thing that stuck out to me was the fact that if the Savior had done every single thing the same except being resurrected, then nothing would have mattered. Everything in the whole universe throughout all time is contingent on the atonement and in particular, the resurrection. The “living” component also entails the same stone that enables the whole spiritual building, also is “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence” to those who are “disobedient.” 2:9-10 – Just because others reject the “stone” of the Savior, doesn’t mean we have to. In fact, Peter says “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people… which in time past were not a people, but are not the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” We heard this phrase “peculiar people” a lot and in our vernacular it implies a weirdness, something that is to be avoided. But God doesn’t mean for his people to be avoided or off putting. The IM quotes Russell M. Nelson as teaching, “In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means ‘valued property,’ or ‘treasure.’ In the New Testament, the Greek term from which peculiar was translated in peripoiesis, which means ‘possession,’ or ‘an obtaining.’ Thus, we see that the scriptural term peculiar signifies ‘valued treasure,’ ‘made’ or ‘selected by God.’ For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order.’” We are to be a chosen people, but what does that mean? How does being chosen change us? Well, we can know that we are valued, that we are important. When we know that someone cares about us, we are usually more careful about our behaviors, we transform our feelings of self-worth. We are more willing to keep the commandments because we know that they were given to us by someone who is highly invested in our happiness and salvation. It also makes it easier to endure hardship, because we believe that it will be worth it in the end. 2:11-12 - When we know we are valued, we don’t have to act out of insecurity and are more able to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” Once when I was working at a clinic, this one doctor was talking about his daughter who had just turned 13 or 14 and he was worried that she was going to start being promiscuous with boys and get pregnant. I told him that I didn’t think that she was going to get pregnant, and when he asked why I told him it was because he is a good dad. This isn’t a universal principle but working in women’s health for the last 15 years, and living my own life and having friends with similar backgrounds, I’ve observed that women who become pregnant young many times don’t feel valued by their parents or families. And to be fair, these girls are treated horribly and they are correct, they are not valued by their families, which is tragic. But the psychology behind sex and relationships is complicated and a lot of it has to do with trying to get our need to feel significant and empowered filled. If we can take the emotional neglect component out of our decisions to indulge “lusts” because it is already filled by knowing we are a valued treasure of God, then we can make better decisions and be honest about what our real motives are. We can also have “conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” I love this because it’s one of my two missionary mottos, which this one is, “Live your life everyday so that those who don’t know Christ will want to know Him because they know you.” Everyone is on their own path, and those paths are under the watchful care of the Savior. “Now” isn’t the right time for all people to be ready to accept the gospel, in fact “now” isn’t the right time for MOST people to be ready to accept the gospel. If we can build good relationships with people, and add to their lives as they add to ours, then when their time comes they will have the good experiences with us to reference when deciding whether or not to accept the gospel. This is a great comfort to me when I consider all the people that I love who have declined the gospel at this time, knowing that they just aren’t ready but that the Savior is carefully plotting each step along their path to prepare them to make the right choice when the time comes. It’s not my job to get them ready, it’s not my job to make them be ready now, it is my job to love them as the Savior loves them and me. 2:13-25 - You know, it’s easy for me to sit here in my 2021 American life and talk about how we are supposed to act, etc. I recognize that I have one of the most privileged existences possible throughout human history. I’m not just part of the 1% right here right now, but I’m part of that 1% of anyone who’s ever lived on this earth. History has been horrific to most people, and Peter recognizes that many of the Christian converts were not in ideal circumstances. The IM says, “Peter specifically addressed household servants, who in the Roman Empire were almost always slaves and were often mistreated by their masters… he taught about the different between suffering for one’s faults and enduring underserved punishment… Elder Alexander B. Morrison taught: ‘Peter, the great apostle, who himself suffered a martyr’s death, recognized that divine merit is associated with patient suffering for Christ’s sake but that little glory accurses to us if we suffer for our own sins. As we endure underserved suffering, we develop Christ like attributes that perfect our souls and bring us closer to Him.” Even though I might not be a slave myself, this is still counsel for us, and it’s honestly been a little bit of a harder pill for me to swallow, but ultimately has relieved me of a lot of anxiety about the state of our American government. Peter advises, “submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors… Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” I might have serious issues with the way that the government is currently being run, I might find it appalling and have anxiety because of the injustice of so much of it. And I am a rebellious person by nature, but we are commanded to obey our government and those in charge of us, to be good citizens because ultimately, our freedom depends on the will of God, not on how hard we can fight. Look at the situation Alma the older found himself in when his people were enslaved by Amulon. What did they do? Did they fight for their freedom? No, Zeniff’s people did that and it cost them almost all of their men of fighting age and they were still enslaved even worse than before. Alma’s people prayed so much and so loudly that Amulon decreed death for anyone who prayed out loud, so they took it to their hearts. When did they start fighting? Never. When did all their men die in battle for freedom? Never. But did they live enslaved forever? Nope. God freed them, and not only did he eventually lead them away to safety but he made their time as slaves pleasant. So do we vote for legislation we agree with? Absolutely. Do we demonstrate peacefully as is our right as Americans? For sure. Can we personally run for office to make the changes that we see fit? If we feel prompted to do so, then without question. But what really matters when it comes to preserving our “freedom” is our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. Obsessing over details of our government’s incompetence is not helpful, it doesn’t bring us closer to the Savior, which is what allows us to be free. Focusing on the character flaws of our political leadership doesn’t bring us closer to the Savior. Wringing our hands over perceived injustices knowing that we are just as impotent to stop it as the ancient Roman slaves were to overthrowing the empire, doesn’t bring us the peace that comes with a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I’ve spent thousands of hours thinking about my country’s leadership and trajectory. I’ve spent thousands of hours reading articles and listening to books and podcasts about how broken our system is and how to fix it. It drove me insane, I was upset about it all the time, I was fighting with people over these issues, I gave up relationships with people because I just couldn’t stand that they felt differently than I did. I spoke harsh words and got angry because I couldn’t understand why people felt the way that they did. It was a very high price to pay for feeling like I was “making a difference.” But I wasn’t making a difference, at least not a positive one. I finally realized that at this point in time, it is not my calling to try to make change in the political sphere. If Peter and Paul both urged literal slaves to obey their masters in a cruel, lawless time because it would enable them to grow closer to Christ, then I could sit in my little condo in America and do the same. Is it right for the citizenry to be oppressed? No. Is injustice ok? Absolutely not. Is that easy for me to say as a well to do white woman? Too easy. But I feel that for my part, letting go of the political sphere that I can’t control, has allowed me to focus more fully on my spiritual sphere and now I have more peace, less righteous indignation, and more eternal perspective. It has been liberating and absolutely brought me closer to the Savior, who “suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” I can’t control the political climate. I can talk about it to every single person that I come in contact with and try everything. I believe that one person can make a difference, but when it comes to the American government, that focus isn’t my calling right now. I can control how I treat others. I can control how much I listen to and love who each person is whoever they want that to be. I can become educated on issues that I don’t understand by the people who live them every day so that I can take it to the Lord and ask for clarification and guidance. I can do these things, this is what it means for me to “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”