clay.

What does clay have to do with God?

Just like prophets prophesied of Christ coming in the Bible, prophets writing in the Book of Mormon also prophesied of Christ coming. Mosiah 3:5 says:

"For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases."

Tabernacle of clay?

This tabernacle of clay that was prophesied of Christ coming to dwell in is a body of flesh and bones.

My study of the word clay was a little messy so I decided that a visual would be best.

I would love to write pages and pages about what I learned from this word study and how we can apply it to our lives. Instead, I would love for your to receive your own insight and revelation from the Holy Ghost about how this applies to you.

I simply want to testify that we are all dwelling in our own tabernacle of clay. We must allow ourselves to be molded and shaped by the potter, our Heavenly Father. We must yield to Him, be led by Him, and adjust our lives to be more like Him. If we do this, "the Lord will make much more out of [our lives] than [we] can by [ourselves]. He will increase [our] opportunities, expand [our] vision, and strengthen [us]." (For the Strength of Youth, 43) He will shape us into the beautiful, magnificent, unique vessels that we were meant to become. I know that He loves each one of us.

"Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?" (Mormon 5:23)



Photo courtesy of lds.org.


References and other links:
"A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit" by Bruce D. Porter
"Jeremiah: As Potter's Clay" by Jean A. Tefan
"The Potter and the Clay" by President Heber C. Kimball
Moroni 9:6
Isaiah 64:8
Jeremiah 18:3-6

abide.

I know that God answers our prayers. But what if I am praying and tell my Heavenly Father that I really want to get a pony? What if I ask very sincerely and promise Him that I will feed the pony and take the pony on walks?

In John 14:13-14 (see also John 15:16; 16:23-24) it says "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

In that scripture Jesus Christ gives us a condition to answering our prayers. We must ask in His name and then He will do it.

In a previous blog post I discovered what it means to take upon us the name of Christ, but what does it mean to pray in the name of Christ?

I was taught by my parents and church leaders to always close my prayers "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

So when I pray for a pony, is this good enough?

Dear Heavenly Father,
I would really like to have a pony. I promise that I will feed him every day and take him on walks. I know that thou always hears and answers my prayers and I know that thou can make it possible for me to have a pony.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Will God grant my desire?

As I have studied, pondered, and prayed in my life, I have come to know that there is more to it than just saying Jesus Christ's name at the end of your prayer.

The bible dictionary entry for prayer says "Christians are taught to pray in Christ's name. We pray in Christ's name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ--when His words abide in us. We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ's name at all; they in no way represent His mind but spring out of the selfishness of man's heart."

The Bible says, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7)

The word "abide" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary means to "dwell, remain, last".

Elder Jeffery R. Holland taught about the word abide. He said, "I gained even more appreciation for this admonition from the Lord when I was introduced to the translation of this passage in another language, in Spanish that familiar phrase is rendered "permaneced en mi." Like the English verb "abide," permanecer means "to remain, to stay," but even gringos like me can hear the root cognate there of "permanence." The sense of this then is "stay--but stay forever." ("Abide in Me")

So in order for our prayers to be in Christ's name, His words must dwell in us forever. Like the bible dictionary says, we must be asking God for things that it is possible for Him to grant. We must become like Jesus Christ and know what God's will is for us. Then we will desire the same things that the Savior desires. Then when we ask for those things, our prayers will be in Jesus Christ's name.

According to John and the bible dictionary, my prayer for a pony is probably not in the name of Christ. Right now, as a missionary it is completely illogical for me to have a pony. I don't need a pony in order to do missionary work. In fact, a pony will take me away from what is important most as a missionary. I have been called by God to serve Him and represent Jesus Christ. Even if I promise that I will take care of the pony, God is not going to grant that desire if it is not His will.

I know that becoming like Jesus Christ and causing His words to dwell in us forever and our prayers will be His mind and His will. And they will be answered. James E. Faust said, "What a glorious day it will be for each of us when we pray with confidence that 'if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.'(1 John 5:14)"(The Lifeline of Prayer)

support.

"And now... behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." (Alma 36:3)

I know from some very real personal experiences that God usually does NOT take away our trials, troubles, and afflictions. But I also know that he has never made me struggle alone. During those times, He was always there supporting me.

Merriam-Webster defines the word support as: to hold up or serve as a foundation for, uphold, advocate, champion, protect.

The index to the Triple Combination says "see also Help; Maintain, Preserve, Uphold".

God is there for us when we need Him. He is there to be our foundation. He is there to uphold us, protect us, and help us. He is our advocate. He wants us to master our weaknesses, defeat our enimies, and triumph over our trials. There are some days that He is there just to hold us up.

And what does He ask of us? He asks us to put our trust in Him. We must trust Him. We must trust that He will take care of us and support us in our trials. We must trust Him that if we keep His commandments, he will bless us. We must trust Him that He will answer our prayers. We must trust Him. If we do, He will support us in our trials and we will "be lifted up at the last day".

Elder Robert D. Hales, an apostle of the Lord said, "On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn't be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord's time and in the Lord's own way...I learned that I would not be left alone to meet these trials and tribulations..."

Whether the support of the Lord comes through other people, sacred experiences, or the Holy Ghost, they do come. Trust in Him and you will always have the support you need. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.