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One of the most precious blessings we have is
to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Because of our membership we can learn to build our house of
faith; we can learn how to build it on sure and firm foundation.
The apostle Paul taught us that as we
become members of the Lord's Church we are, like the Church (see
6th Article of Faith), "… built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
cornerstone; (Ephesians 2:19-20)
To build a house, you need a plan or
blueprints. We have the perfect plan to build our house upon. It
is the Lord's plan called the Plan of Salvation or the Plan of
Happiness. Its author is God our Heavenly Father. Its proposer
and executor is our Savior Jesus Christ (Abraham 3:22-28).
Central and key to the Plan is His mission, Atonement and
Resurrection.
Helaman taught this to his sons, Nephi,
and Lehi, who were to: "…remember, remember that it is
upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God,
that ye must build your foundation;….a foundation whereon if
men build they cannot fall." (see Helaman 5:12)
It is revealing that the Savior chose
'rock' as the sure foundation, since the earth's three
categories of rock is a result of earth material being subject
to pressure, time, and heat. Sedimentary rock is the result of
layers and layers of eroded earth being pressed down over a long
period of time, slowly turning into rock. Igneous rocks or fire
rocks are formed when magma (melted rock) cool after being
trapped in small pockets underground or when magma rising above
the earth's surface cools. Metamorphic rocks, once sedimentary
or igneous rocks, subjected to tons of pressure causing heat to
build up, 'morphed' or changed.
As these rocks changed through being
subjected to pressure, and intense heat over time, so we also
need to be changed through the "furnace of affliction"
to qualify as the Lord's chosen (Isaiah 48:10; 1 Nephi 20:10).
We need to undergo trials of our faith and tests and
tribulations in life so that our faith and testimony may become
rock solid, firm and sure. Though painful and daunting at times,
yet this process comes with the hope of revealed knowledge that
we will never be tempted beyond that which we can bear; and that
we will, as we endure to the end, become refined and purified as
gold: precious and a delight to the Lord.
When building the Salt Lake Temple,
'President Young… said he wanted to see the temple built so
strong that "it will endure through the Millennium".
Workmen laying the foundation used several layers of large
sandstone blocks. The foundation was over eight feet deep, and
men worked on it for five years.
In May 1858 work on the temple was stopped
because of problems with the government ,and the foundation
covered with dirt to look like an ordinary field. After the
problems were resolved, President Young ordered the foundation
uncovered but some of the mortar and small rocks used between
the large foundation blocks had cracked and shifted, causing
some large blocks to crack and become unstable and would not
support the temple properly. They removed the small rocks and
mortar and all of the sandstone blocks down to the first layer,
replacing them with hard granite blocks. Fourteen years after
construction on the temple had started, replacement of the
foundation was complete and workmen started to build the walls
of the temple'(adapted from Primary lesson manual). The prophet
was ensuring the temple would be 'built on a rock'.
To build on the 'Rock' we are to "..
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him
unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: …. and it
fell not: for it was founded upon a rock (Matt 7:24-25)(emphasis
added).
Elder Maxwell and Elder Dallin H Oaks
taught that by 'doing' (applying the Lord's teachings), we can
then 'become' (His true disciples).
Therefore we need to: 1) Study ('hear')
and ponder the teachings of God our Heavenly Father and His Son,
Jesus Christ found in the scriptures and the words of the living
prophets. 2) Live our religion ('do them') by keeping the
commandments, learning obedience, loving and serving one
another, and doing our duty with "a smile on our face and a
song in our heart" (Pres. Gordon B Hinckley). 3) Endure to
the end by continuing to do what we should day by day, staying
committed to the gospel cause.
As we do so we will have "..laid up
for (us) a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, .. shall give
(us) at that day.." (2 Tim 4:8) and shall inherit a place
in one of the 'many mansions' described by the Savior in John
14:2,3 (D&C 98:18): "In my Father's house are many
mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you… that where I am, there ye may be
also."
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