From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Francis Harper Message for 7/27/2018
Dear Ones,
We need to beware of levity in our speaking to one another. Living our lives in the way Jesus taught us to live, is serious business. Jesus lived for others. He died for others. He calls us to a similar sacrificial life-style.
Lucy Mack Smith, mother of Joseph Smith, Jr., wrote: “I presume our family presented an aspect as singular as any that ever lived upon the face of the earth – all seated in a circle, father, mother, sons and daughters, giving the most profound attention to a boy, eighteen years of age – Joseph, Jr.”(They Were Good People, p 7).
Edmund Briggs wrote of his parental family: “Those evenings spent with the family, reading the precious words about the restoration gospel left a deep impression upon the mind of this young lad” (They Were Good People, p 106). Throughout his life, he remembered the teachings he received in his early youth.
The youthful Briggs noticed a change in the elders after the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Jr. “Their manner seemed light and frivolous . . . a great contrast to the humble, meek manner I had always observed in the ministers of the church before” (the death of the prophet) (They Were Good People, p 108).
I observed a similar change in the appointee elders shortly before we left the church in the mid 1980’s. Life for many families, even within the church, had become a matter of seeking for fun; fun, fun. How tragic! “yea, and there shall be many which shall say, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us” (2 Nephi 12:9).
We should not preach, teach, or converse to entertain. People like to be entertained. Paul counseled Timothy, Preach the word; be instant in season . . . reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
The people who have achieved a zionic condition have been described: “. . . there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders . . . and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God” (4 Nephi 1:17-19).
When the gospel of Jesus Christ is properly preached and practiced zionic conditions will come again on the earth. It has happened before and it will happen again. It has been prophesied: “. . . the angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). “And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness and the earth shall tremble with joy” (Genesis 9:22 IV).
My Love to All,
Francis Harper
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Watch Your Words
“ . . . if you do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts and your words, and your deeds, and observe to keep the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of the Lord, even to the end of your lives, ye must perish” (Mosiah 3:49).
The sum of men’s capabilities is limited to his thoughts, words and deeds. We sing “God send us men . . . to live out the laws of right in every thought and word and deed” (Hymns of the Restoration, 99).
We will be held accountable for our words as we will be for our deeds. “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:31 IV; 12:36 KJV). “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:32 IV; 12:37 KJV).
The Lord hears every word we speak and they are recorded! “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him . . .” (Malachi 3:16). We need to choose the words we speak carefully and wisely. Words can hurt. They can also help and heal. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold . . .” (Proverbs 25:11).
Paul understood the importance of that which we speak. He counseled Timothy to “shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness . . . foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men. . .” (2 Timothy 2:16, 23-24).
Paul was valiant in testimony wherever and whenever he was given an opportunity to speak. He eloquently shared his testimony with King Agrippa, “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? . . . And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus . . . rise, and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness . . . unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:13-19).
Paul affirmed: “I speak forth the words of truth and soberness” (Acts 26:25). We who have been blessed to receive a testimony of Jesus should avail ourselves at every opportunity, even as Paul, to speak forth the words of truth and soberness. We will be held accountable if we fail to do this! We should not be engaged in light and frivolous chatter when the immortal lives of men and women are being weighed in the balance of divine justice!
The path to eternal salvation must be clearly and simply explained in words that even a child can understand. Nephi said, “I glory in plainness; I glory in truth” (2 Nephi 15:7).
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