Saturday afternoon session, 6 October 2018
Hymn recommendations:
81 Press Forward, Saints
97 Lead, Kindly Light
One-sentence Synopsis:
Focus on the "campfire" of your faith until the "dawn" of faith comes or returns.
Favorite quote:
When righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings join, time and eternity come together. Spiritual light and life come when regular religious observance draws us closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we love the spirit and letter of the law, the things of eternity can distill upon our souls like the dews from heaven. With daily obedience and refreshing living water, we find answers, faith, and strength to meet everyday challenges and opportunities with gospel patience, perspective, and joy.Something to put on the board:
As we face the light and warmth of a campfire, we leave the darkness and uncertainty behind us.Talk and Discussion:
(Emphasis in original except where text size is changed.)
I am glad I took the opportunity to analyze this conference talk. When I first listened to it, I didn't quite understand why the "campfires of faith" were "encouraging us" to various things. I did not really follow the analogy, or felt I missed something, although there were good messages interspersed. On a closer examination, I found the key to unlocking the talk, so I'm going to go ahead and put that first, then get into the talk in order.
There is the key. The campfire of faith is what we can choose to focus on, to put darkness and uncertainty behind us - it is our hope and assurance as we patiently await the "dawn." Once I understood this, Elder Gong's talk became more powerful and even artistic. He will mention 5 ways our campfire of faith can encourage us, and each of these ways seems to build on the previous - which reminded me of Doctrine & Covenants 50:24 "24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." I think this "perfect day" is the same as the "dawn of faith" Elder Gong will urge us to seek.As we painted, we talked about faith—how as we face the light and warmth of a campfire, we leave the darkness and uncertainty behind us—how on sometimes long, lonely nights, our campfire of faith can give hope and assurance. And the dawn does come. Our campfire of faith—our memories, experiences, and heritage of faith in God’s goodness and tender mercies in our life—has strengthened us through the night.
One other thought before we dive in, and that is - not long after this talk, there was a literal "Camp Fire" - the name given to a wildfire that started near the Camp River in California, which devastated the city of Paradise, California. I had to wonder at least for a moment if Elder Gong was being prophetic. The painting, with its oranges and yellows, even almost looks like some of the pictures of the event. I will probably watch his future talks a little, to see if a pattern emerges. I just wanted to point it out here, because it's my blog. ;) Now, let us begin.
Dear brothers and sisters, isn’t it marvelous to receive continuing revelation from heaven through President Russell M. Nelson and our Church leaders that invites us to live in new and holier ways,1 at home and at church, with all our heart, mind, and strength?Many speakers in Oct 2018 quoted from Russell M. Nelson from the previous conference. Elder Gong is pointing out in particular the invitation to live in new and holier ways, which goes right along with the campfire of faith encouraging us "brighter and brighter." What other invitations have we been given to live in new and holier ways? You might think of Come Follow Me the new home study curriculum, or the new 2-hour Sunday block of church to encourage, the emphasis to make an appointment at the temple with the Lord, or invitations to abstain from social media, or read the Book of Mormon daily. Missionaries can now text or phone home every P-day. There are new types of missions where missionaries serve without leaving home. President Nelson has even hinted that there will be more changes and invitations in the future. Who else is excited for conference in April?!
Have you ever had opportunity to do something for which you felt unprepared or inadequate but that you were blessed for trying?He will come back to this, so consider it now. What comes to your mind? This may be how growth works at its finest.
I have. Here’s one example.
Some years ago, Elder Richard G. Scott, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, kindly invited, “Gerrit, would you like to watercolor with me?”
Elder Scott said painting helped him observe and create. He has written: “Attempt to be creative, even if the results are modest. … Creativity can engender a spirit of gratitude for life and for what the Lord has woven into your being. … If you choose wisely, it doesn’t have to absorb a lot of time.”2I like this idea of observing and creating. What helps you observe and create? I love to play the piano, and in a sense, create consonant sound waves where there was none. I love to create these blog posts. They organize my thoughts on general conference and other scripture insights. That is creation. I strengthen family relationships through loving, nurturing, and serving my family - that creates tighter family bonds. In our "consumer" culture, we often have to be creative looking for creative outlets, where we are creating instead of consuming. God's way is of creation - out of matter unorganized, order. The adversary destroys and breaks apart into disorder or chaos. We have a divine ability and desire to create. We can be inspired by observing, and in creating, we can honor the Lord's creations. The next few paragraphs are some quotes on artistic creation.
President Henry B. Eyring describes his artistic meditations as motivated by “a feeling of love,” including “the love of a Creator who expects His children to become like Him—to create and to build.”3 President Eyring’s creative works provide a “unique, spiritual perspective on testimony and faith.”4
President Boyd K. Packer’s artwork illustrates a fundamental gospel message: “God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all things that are in them, that all nature bears testimony of that divinely directed creation, and that there is [a] complete harmony between nature, science, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.”5
Alma testifies, “All things denote there is a God.”6 Our Primary children sing, “Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue, blue sky, … I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heav’nly Father created for me.”7 Author Victor Hugo celebrates the “miraculous relationships between beings and things; in this inexhaustible whole, from sun to aphid. … All the birds that fly hold the thread of eternity in their claws. … A nebula is an anthill of stars.”8
And that brings us back to Elder Scott’s invitation.
“Elder Scott,” I replied, “I would like to become more observant and creative. I thrill to imagine Heavenly Father paints with billowing clouds and every hue of sky and water. But”—here was a long pause—“Elder Scott,” I said, “I have no skill to watercolor. I worry it may frustrate you to try and teach me.”
Elder Scott smiled and arranged for us to meet. On the appointed day, he prepared the paper, paints, and brushes. He sketched some outlines and helped wet the paper for me.
We used as a model his beautiful watercolor titled Campfire at Sunset. As we painted, we talked about faith—how as we face the light and warmth of a campfire, we leave the darkness and uncertainty behind us—how on sometimes long, lonely nights, our campfire of faith can give hope and assurance. And the dawn does come. Our campfire of faith—our memories, experiences, and heritage of faith in God’s goodness and tender mercies in our life—has strengthened us through the night.When he mentioned "hope and assurance," I immediately thought of two well-known scriptures on faith (and I'm sure this was a tacit reference to them). Hope from Alma 32:21 and Assurance from JST Hebrews 11:1
In a classroom setting, I might write down a list of some of the attributes of faith as we reach them. Here I would add to my FAITH list:
- Leaves darkness and uncertainty behind
- Gives hope and assurance
My testimony is—for those who seek, allow, and live for it—the dawn of faith, sometimes gradually, will come or can return. The light will come when we desire and seek it, when we are patient and obedient to God’s commandments, when we are open to God’s grace, healing, and covenants.What does Elder Gong mean by "the dawn of faith?" I mentioned some of my thoughts on this earlier, that this may be the same as "the perfect day" from Doctrine & Covenants 50:24. The dawn of faith could also be the mighty change of heart (baptism of fire) the Book of Mormon teaches about. The dawn of faith could also be the Second Comforter, having Jesus Christ manifested to you (for some this happens in life, and for some this happens after they die).
As we began painting, Elder Scott encouraged, “Gerrit, even with one lesson you will paint something you will want to keep and remember.” Elder Scott was right. I treasure the watercolor of our campfire of faith Elder Scott helped me paint. My artistic ability was and remains limited, but the remembrance of our campfire of faith can encourage us in five ways.In a classroom setting, I might write down the 5 ways as we discuss them. The only problem with writing his five ways is that they are LONG. Maybe it would be better to pre-print them and hang them up! Here's NUMBER 1:
First, our campfire of faith can encourage us to find joy in wholesome creativity.I really like how Elder Gong brought in creativity to his talk. It was a new way to think about faith for me. We do not often think of creativity as an attribute or result of faith, but truly, as we seek to act in faith, we create something with the Spirit, even if it is just within ourselves. This can also be artistic creation like painting or making music, or it can be something like strengthening a friendship. It is creation. It is godly. It is good.
How does creativity help you leave darkness and uncertainty behind? Remember these campfires of faith are what bring us through the darkness before the dawn. Gardening, journaling, coloring with children or the elderly, family history/indexing, all these things are creative (as opposed to destructive) and give us a purpose and allow us to leave some of our struggles behind for a moment, as we focus on the creation of something instead of on despair or disease. In my Relief Society class today, someone mentioned that one of their elderly relatives in a nursing home enjoys adult coloring books, because it gives her some purpose - something she CAN do, instead of focusing on what she CANNOT. Creation helps us focus on what we CAN do. That is huge.
There is joy in imagining, learning, doing worthwhile new things. This is especially true as we deepen faith and trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot love ourselves enough to save ourselves. But Heavenly Father loves us more and knows us better than we love or know ourselves. We can trust the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding.9We know we need to be going about doing good, acting on our good thoughts, ideas, and promptings. I just never really thought about this being creation before! Lovely. This next bit confused me at first, until I realized he is trying to demonstrate this point
Have you ever been the only one not invited to someone’s birthday party?
Have you ever been chosen last, or not chosen, when teams were selected?
Have you prepared for a school test, a job interview, an opportunity you really wanted—and you felt you failed?
Have you prayed for a relationship that, for whatever reason, has not worked out?
Have you faced chronic illness, been abandoned by a spouse, agonized for family?
Our Savior knows our circumstances. As we exercise God-given agency and engage all our faculties in humility and faith, our Savior, Jesus Christ, can help us meet life’s challenges and joys. Faith includes a desire and choice to believe. Faith also comes from obeying God’s commandments, given to bless us, as we follow His covenant path.Here we will add to our FAITH list:
- Leaves darkness and uncertainty behind
- Gives hope and assurance
- Includes a desire and choice to believe
- Comes from obeying God's commandments
- Leads us along His covenant path
When we have felt, or feel, uncertain, alone, frustrated, angry, let down, disappointed, or estranged from God and His restored Church, it may take an extra measure of effort and faith to enter again on His covenant path. But it is worth it! Please come, or come again, unto the Lord Jesus Christ! God’s love is stronger than the cords of death—temporal or spiritual.10 Our Savior’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Each of us strays and falls short. We may, for a time, lose our way. God lovingly assures us, no matter where we are or what we have done, there is no point of no return. He waits ready to embrace us.11Pausing in my analysis somewhat to point out that here and in the next above quote, Elder Gong references the "covenant path," so beloved by our prophet. I was almost shocked at how often the "covenant path" was mentioned in Oct 2018 conference, whereas before 2018, it was more rare. President Oaks gave me a clue that President Nelson often likes to reference the covenant path. So I almost feel like everyone is picking it up from him, and disseminating it to us. What a great reminder that we are a covenant people, and there is still path to go.
Now for way NUMBER 2:
Second, our campfire of faith can encourage us to minister in new, higher, and holier Spirit-filled ways.How does new ministering help us leave darkness and uncertainty behind? Building on the last campfire encouragement... How does observing and creating help us in MINISTERING? We no longer have to wonder if we are bugging people, or wait for an assignment. If we have a prompting, we may act on it without worry of stepping on toes, or thinking someone's home teachers will take care of something, or whatever doubt may creep in.
Such ministering brings miracles and the blessings of covenant belonging—where we feel God’s love and seek to minister to others in that spirit.
Not long ago, Sister Gong and I became acquainted with a father and family blessed by a faithful priesthood brother who came to their bishop and asked if he (the priesthood brother) could be a home teaching companion with the father. The father was not active and not interested in home teaching. But as the father’s heart changed, he and this loving priesthood brother began visiting “their” families. After one such visit, his wife—herself not then attending church—asked her husband how things had gone. The father admitted, “I may have felt something”—then he went to the kitchen to get a beer.12
But one thing followed another: tender experiences, ministering service, changing hearts, temple preparation class, coming to church, being sealed as a family in the holy temple. Imagine how grateful the children and grandchildren are to their father and mother and to the ministering brother who came as a friend and companion with their father to minister to and love others.I love the example Elder Gong shares above. In part, I love this, because this was his ministering companion - not his ministering assignment. There are no limits to our righteous influences. The brother was observant that this fellow was inactive. He was creative in asking to be paired with him as a companion. He may have been more creative in getting him to actually go ministering with him. Whatever the details, he acted on promptings, and generations are now blessed.
NUMBER 3:
A third campfire of faith encouragement: creative gospel joy and blessings come when we seek to love the Lord and others with all our hearts and souls.This one even more naturally builds on the last one. How does higher and holier ministering lead us to greater love for God and others? How does greater love for the Lord and others help us to leave darkness and uncertainty behind? When we focus on others, and serve others, our own problems become smaller. Sometimes they even seem to resolve themselves. When we focus on love for our Savior, there is nothing we cannot endure. He will even carry the burden for us.
Someone mentioned in class today was that as our light, or campfire, grows bigger, others are attracted to it, and we are able to nourish others, and encourage others, much as we are nourished and encouraged.
The scriptures invite us to place all we are and are becoming on the altar of love and service. In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy enjoins us to “love the Lord thy God” with all our heart, soul, and might.13 Joshua exhorts, “Love the Lord your God, … walk in all his ways, … keep his commandments, … cleave unto him, and … serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”14
In the New Testament, our Savior states the two great commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, … and thy neighbour as thyself.”15
In the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, King Benjamin labored “with all the might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul” and established peace in the land.16 In the Doctrine and Covenants, as every missionary knows, the Lord asks us to serve Him with all our “heart, might, mind and strength.”17 When the Saints entered Jackson County, the Lord commanded them to keep the Sabbath holy by loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.”18Interesting that Elder Gong makes a point to share scriptures from various dispensations and quarters of the earth to demonstrate this point.
We rejoice in the invitation to devote our whole souls to seeking higher and holier ways to love God and those around us and to strengthen our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our hearts and in our homes and at church.Do you rejoice in the new invitations the Lord has extended to us through His prophet? How? What has changed for you?
Way NUMBER 4:
Fourth, our campfire of faith encourages us to establish regular patterns of righteous living that deepen faith and spirituality.Wow. Building from the last point, How does greater love for God and others help us establish regular patterns of righteous living? I think when we start seeing the good we can do, when we experience being an instrument in the hands of God, we will desire more of it. We will desire to dedicate our lives more wholly to His cause, to be worthy of His Spirit at all times, etc. I also think that the world will lose its hold on us more and more. For example, a tv show that maybe we used to enjoy will start to make us cringe. We may start to recognize more the negative influences that we can root out of our lives, such as toxic relationships, or negative social media friends that drag others down. I think we will spend more time with the Lord, taking time to be holy with Him every morning and(/or?) evening.
How do regular patterns of righteous living help us leave darkness and uncertainty behind?
These holy habits, righteous routines, or prayerful patterns may include prayer; scripture study; fasting; remembering our Savior and covenants through the ordinance of the sacrament; sharing gospel blessings through missionary, temple and family history, and other service; keeping a thoughtful personal journal; and so on.
When righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings join, time and eternity come together. Spiritual light and life come when regular religious observance draws us closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we love the spirit and letter of the law, the things of eternity can distill upon our souls like the dews from heaven.19 With daily obedience and refreshing living water, we find answers, faith, and strength to meet everyday challenges and opportunities with gospel patience, perspective, and joy.Righteous patterns and spiritual yearnings - this reminds me of greater obedience (also known as observance) and greater creativity.
How can we love the spirit and letter of the law? What does that even mean? It is choosing the right for the right reasons. It is joyfully obeying and trusting the Lord.
Now for point NUMBER 5. You can see Elder Gong tying several together here:
Fifth, as we keep the best of familiar patterns while seeking new and holier ways to love God and help us and others prepare to meet Him, our campfire of faith can encourage us to remember perfection is in Christ, not in ourselves or in the perfectionism of the world.How can regular patterns of righteous living help us remember that perfection is in Christ? These patterns should help us focus on Him. Everything that is good persuadeth to believe in Christ, right? (Moroni 7:16).
How can remembering that perfection is in Christ help us leave darkness and uncertainty behind? Add your comments below. I love the idea that we are not alone. He will help us as much as He can (which is often as much as we will let Him - He respects our agency highly). Not only are we not alone, we cannot make it alone. We are a fallen people, and need a Savior. He is the best Savior we could ask for. He is a good Savior. He is kind. He is praiseworthy. He is Love.
God’s invitations are full of love and possibility because Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life.”20 To those who feel burdened, He invites, “Come unto me,” and to those who come to Him, He promises, “I will give you rest.”21 “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, … love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.”22
In this assurance “by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” is also the comfort, peace, and promise that we can continue forward with faith and confidence in the Lord even when things do not go as we hope, expect, or perhaps deserve, through no fault of our own, even after we have done our best.Now we're coming back to Elder Gong's initial question:
In various times and ways, we all feel inadequate, uncertain, perhaps unworthy. Yet in our faithful efforts to love God and to minister to our neighbor, we may feel God’s love and needed inspiration for their and our lives in new and holier ways.
With compassion, our Savior encourages and promises we can “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.”23 The doctrine of Christ, our Savior’s Atonement, and our whole-souled following of His covenant path can help us know His truths and make us free.24
I testify the fulness of His gospel and His plan of happiness are restored and taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in holy scripture, and by prophets from the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Russell M. Nelson today. I testify His covenant path leads to the greatest gift our loving Heavenly Father promises: “Ye shall have eternal life.”25
May His blessings and enduring joy be ours as we warm our hearts and hopes and commitment at our campfire of faith, I pray in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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