Moroni saw me daily
Often, the people God place in our lives provide us with the impetus to move from one piece of joy to the next. it is not always about trials and fear. Life is about more than enduring to the end. it is also about living in the moment. Patrick M., the son of Patricia M. mentioned in an earlier blog entry, is another spiritual giant in my life who fellowshipped me encouraging me, Rodric Anthony, to want to be a missionary and live the life, the Christian life I was there when Patrick left and returned from serving a mission for Christ representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. When he returned from that glorious service, he brought with him some of the most severe stories about his missionary experience, effectively mortifying me of missionary service for myself. I know, I said that this was not about trials, so to speak. Just keep reading. I do not believe Patrick told those scary stories on purpose, but I hung on every word of his, becoming the annoying little brother type. His services as a missionary definitely put him on my mental hero status board, a pedestal. One story he told me about a companion of his with mental concerns. Patrick saying that he knew that the Lord wanted him to be the one to deal with that companion and all of his issues, revealing that he had several companions with psychological concerns. This was on of the issues that brought fear with it into my hearted about serving a mission, the psychologically challenged companions. The only reason one of his companions went on mission was to fulfill his rite of passage in Mormondom. We don't go by Mormon's name anymore, but what this former missionary that Patrick told me about was nothing but a cultural manifestation without any religious substaince, so Mormon. This companion did not want to be there. In fact, this one companion of Patrick’s could not go home! The family told the mission president that if that elder went home early, he would have no home. They would disown him! Harsh, I know! It made no sense to me then. And, it makes no sense now that I have a son who is old enough to serve as a missionary. I cannot imagine disowning my son forever just because he did not serve a two-year mission. I don’t want to imagine it either. Patrick could not believe what he had experienced on mission! He told the stories because they were incredible to him and to us--his family and me. He knew I wanted to go on a mission so he told me that I should be prepared when I went to Utah, admitting that the people can be racist and there is hazing in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. With tell of thoses stories, I became more anxious, not knowing that I had to go through such things just to preach the gospel! Patrick’s mission sounded horrible! In fact, I remember nothing good that he told me about the mission save the Lord confirmed to him that his chief reason to serve a mission was to minister to his companions. The spiritual changes in him showed evident in his walk, as when he returned from his service, he was more like his Mom, Patricia M., a spiritual giant. Now, for that change to come upon me, was I willing to risk going to the MTC! Yes. I would risk it. Moroni Perspective "And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance," Moroni inscribed in reference to people like missionaries and others called to minister in the Church. "To fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men." (Moroni 7:31) Patrick said that he had a feeling that God put him in the places he needed him on mission to help his companions. During Patrick's missionary service, it was before the Spiritual Bar was raised. This was during a time where missionaries went into the mission filed to gain their testimonies as the shared the Restored Gospel rather than share with the world the testimonies they had of Jesus Christ as a function of the Restored Gospel. Patrick realized as a minister of Christ that he had, as Moroni records, "to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they, [not only the people he taught outside of the church with his missionary companions, but the ones whom he served with as ministers] may bear testimony of him." (Moroni 7:31) In his episodes with his companions whom he had to monitor, he did so with the understanding that he was to serve as their connection to Christ until they could foster their own connections, if ever. It was not a curse, as I would find out later on my mission. Patrick was not at fault that I did not hear his entire story, but only the part that was unsavory. Ministering as a witness of Christ was not only to those who stood outside the Church, but to those who stand in it, as well. "By so doing," Moroni instructs, "the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof." That service that Patrick performed would lead to someone's testimony in Jesus, even if it led only to the solidifying of Patrick's testimony alone! It also led to my testimony and willingness to serve as a representative of Christ as a missionary even if too, I had to be what Patrick was to his companions. A minister is a minister to all whom Christ's service put in his or her way, because "after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men." (Moroni 7:32) What has Moroni seen in you? As my greatest cheerleader, Mother told me my entire life that I was special and lifted me up. I owe to her my confidence. Mother was so thorough at teaching me that I could do all things that I did not know that all things bit came with a caveat until I grew up and had kids of my own. I thought all things were possible because Mother would not allow me to feel any other way, overcompensating for something lacking in her own life from her childhood.The only thing that Mother left out of my training was to know that all things ARE possible through Jesus Christ, the Lord. Again, caveat, though. Now, I am no fool. Believing that all things are possible through Jesus comes with a responsibility to be a reasonable person. God is no genie in a bottle who comes out because we rub His Bottle and make a wish. No. God is a glorified man who knows what is best for His children to learn to become like He is and guides them, us, in the direction that best accomplishes that. If a miracle is needed to help, it will occur. If suffering through loss and pain will help, He will lead us down that path. With our limited understanding, we can sometimes mistake the horrible things we experience in life as divine disfavor or proof that God is not there. Neither are the truth. If punishment comes in this life as divine disfavor, then Jesus must have been very evil to be forced to pay for all of the sins, hurts, shames, and sorrows of humanity. Since Jesus is not evil, bad things happen because life is about experiencing the good and the bad. Some of us experience what seems to be more bad that others, which can seem unfair. Moroni Perspective God knows the entire picture of eternity and can see the good that will come of enduring the evil hour well, without loosing faith, that is. "O then despise not," etched Moroni in what is now the ninth chapter of the Book of Mormon in the large library called The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. (Mormon 9:27-28)
Back to Moroni... "Despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord," Moroni counsels. "Ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need." Moron give the universal sign for self-service directing us to ask what we need of the Father. That, however is not the end of what he means because we at time may not know what we need. But he tells us to ask any way with some stipulations to follow. "Doubt not," he instructs, "but be believing." What are we to believe? All things are possible through Jesus Christ, just like my mother sort of taught me. Moroni fills in where she left off by adding "and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart," which to me, means all the desire, the feelings and devotion of the heart do we go before the Lord. "Work out your own salvation," Moroni inscribe as a vital component to getting help from God. "With fear and trembling before him," i.e. do it with respect. How do we work out our salvations? We do the things that we know will get the results. There is this saying: Pray like everything depends on God, but work like everything depends on you! We work out our salvation by doing the things we know brings results. If studying brings results of good grades, we pray for good grades as we STUDY. If being healthy brings good physical health, we actually EAT HEALTHY and pray to God to be healthy. James said it best, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." No, not your cousin or uncle James, but the apostle James in the New Testament in the book which bears James' name. (James 2:17) "Be wise," Moroni continues. "Strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume [your life] on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God." We learn from Moroni what to ask for during our petitions to God for help in our lives. We ask to serve God and not yield to the temptation to serve our distractions away from serving God. What does it mean to serve God? King Benjamin in the Book of Mosiah answered it best when he taught, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) My Moroni Take-away God is not a genie in a bottle, but a Father in Heaven who helps all of us who seeks Him become better people despite what we experience in life. Mother filled my head with so much conviction that I marveled when I failed a test and thought I had embarrassed her. She always lifted me up to a fault! I had a long journey down from the mountain of arrogance I built upon her encouragement. She gave it freely and often. I am so glad that she did. Growing up without a father of my own to depend on made her belief in my ability all the more important! As another prophet from the Book of Mormon describes a group of young men called the Stripling Warrior, who grew up without fathers, Helman recorded, They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." (Alma 56:47-48) Echoing them, I did not doubt Mother knew it. What has Moroni seen of you?
I do not know how I had time for seminary, school, and football. I did it though. I adored Sister Patricia M. She was my seminary teacher when I joined the church. She, along with a host of other members fellowshipped me into my ward. I did not start attending seminary until my sophomore year of high school. I lived right down the street from where Sister M. conducted the lessons. She did so from the office where she worked. Every morning for my first year of seminary, Sister M. called my home at 5:30 am for me to rise for seminary. It seemed that way anyway. We stopped answering the phone, and my mom would yell in consternation from her interrupted slumber, “Rodric, get up and go to seminary!” We knew from whom the phone call came. We knew there was no avoiding it and I loved her for it. Sister M. was a busy woman with a penetrating spirit. The scriptures came alive when she taught, me hanging every utterance from he lips. God put spiritual giants like my seminary teacher in place to lift and inspire. Sister Patricia M. lifted my heart! Moroni Perspective The church did meet together oft "After they had been received unto baptism," etched the intrepid Moroni on the golden plates that became the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, "They were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God," (Moroni 6:4). The level of involvement the Church exacts of its members, all of our own volition of course, provides a psychological benefit that creates stability in the lives of millions. Why is that important? Moroni answered in his etchings, "that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way," (Moroni 6:4). The benefit that Moroni saw in the Saints in his day he could see being of the same value in our day, which is why he included it in the record. One of the many meetings where Saints get to check on each other was seminary for teenagers. There is also for adults, institute ( religious classed catering to college-aged people and beyond), ministering brothers and sisters, family councils and interviews, and the list goes on. Why all of these things, distractions as they are. Reader, have you paid attention to what is going on with the moral fabric of society? Yeah, we need some distraction from the continual slope towards debauchery. This busy work helps "to keep them continually watchful unto prayer," Moroni inscribed. It helps people like me to keep, "relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith" (Moroni 6:4). Seminary became one of those oft meetings of which Moroni spake. Family Home Evening Meet together Oft The M. family was to me a good example of a Southern Saint family. They taught me that my misconception about the White Southern family needed updating to the twentieth century from what it was that I gathered of it depiction from Gone with the Wind! No, they did have slaves! I was ignorant to some degree. From them, I learned about Family Home Evening family-led, church supported program where families set aside one night a week, usually a Monday, for family gospel instruction and fun above all other things. Because of their family, my family has family home evening 95% of the time—most weeks! I recall sitting in their kitchen listening to them talk about different subjects and then playing games in their living room. Not understanding how White people could just invite me in and treat me so well when we were not supposed to be associating according to my third-grade teacher (that story is detailed in the book) escaped me. Barriers came down because of that association. The adversary, the Devil, used that one event in my life in third grade to help color all of my experiences in the Church and without the Church with White people. I loved my White Saints so much that I almost considered them normal people, almost. It still took time to bury the incorrect teaching I received at age eight. I clung to the M. family, borderlining obsession. Moroni knew that meeting together often in our homes and in other settings, doing service to others in the process, would help us look beyond our differences so that we could become more like Jesus Christ. What has Moroni Seen of You? Moroni declares in his last message "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and 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; and by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ," [Moroni 10:32] That is why Jesus is the Answer. Chapter 33 of 2 Nephi prompted me to think about my people, the people I come from, my Black people--African Americans. I felt like Nephi as he testified during over 500 years before the birth of Christ that He would bring salvation to all who believe on His name and act on those beliefs. A Message to My PeopleLike Nephi and Moroni before me, I speak the words given to my heart by God to my people, whom I love. The message is: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's restored Church in the last days before His second coming. The teachings of that Church can lift you, my people, out of oppression and darkness and bring pure joy. My Black people, I invite you to explore the truths taught in this Church, search the teachings, and ask God if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is where His full truth is. I Invite you to General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints each April and October to hear the words of prophets of God who speak for modern Israel, which many of you are. Explore Modern Prophets I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ is not just some random organization of Christians. It has within it the blessing of God to unite the world one person at a time to Christ in ways that millions can testify. Yes, going to church does matter. God commands us to meet together in faith. We are Saints of the last days before the coming of Christ. Don't let the distractions of life let you miss that truth. Knowing Where the Truth is Makes It Easier to Focus on What the Holy Spirit is Trying to Tell Us.Why is that important? Satan is coming after us with strange doctrines and lifestyles. He is pitting us against each other and deceiving us into thinking that he does not exist. He wants us to focus on every hurt and offense committed against our people so that he can keep us distracted from the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Praising God is only a fraction of knowing the truth about Jesus and His power to save. The truth about that power is best found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I plead with you, my Black brothers and sisters, and all my brothers and sisters to take the good you have and come and see how God will add to it in His Church. Nephi teaches to liken the scriptures to us. The Words of Nephi Likened to My People Adapted from 2 Nephi 33:2-15 There are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it has no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught. But I, Rodric, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and my eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that He will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written above in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuades them to do good; it speaks of Jesus, and persuades them to believe in Him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal. And it speaks harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man or woman will be angry at the words which I have written save he or she shall be of the spirit of the devil. I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for He hath redeemed my soul from hell. I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at His judgment-seat. I have charity for the Black people—I say Black people, because I mean them from whence I came. I also have charity for all people. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation. And now, my beloved brethren, and also my Black people, and all ye ends of the earth, hear intently these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and He hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are His words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before His bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of Him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in His kingdom at that great and last day. And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak to you as the voice of one crying from the internet. And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Saints, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, these words shall condemn you at the last day. I adapted the worlds of Nephi into my own with a knowledge that it is my faith and hope in Christ alone that will redeem me each day. I invite you to seek further than what you know. Black people, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is for us. Come to it. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Reading 2 Nephi 31-33, I could not help but rejoice in the knowledge that through the sacrifice, the suffering, of Jesus Christ we are washed clean of our weakness through repentance. Each day as we work on changing a little, God strengthens our efforts. For those sins that take longer to overcome, His grace is enough for our efforts to change. Uncle Johnny was my idol growing up because he was a dad. All my cousins had a dad, and I wanted a dad also. My father was alive and well, at the time and to my knowledge, he did not attempt to include himself in my life. Since my cousins referred to Uncle as Dad, I picked up the practice of referring to him as such—at least in my mind! The title “Uncle,” equaled in stature to the title of “Dad.” I imagined Uncle loving me the way he loved his children. It sometimes worked too. He took all the boys fishing often, something I did not find interesting. Going with him though, made me feel included. Far be it from me to ever make it known that I did not like fishing because that dislike paled in comparison at the thought of spending time with Uncle. A bunch of us kids accompanied Uncle to a fishing spot of his in Clearwater, Florida. Every time we went fishing with him, he caught something delicious for us to cook and eat--fresh crab or fried fish. It was great! I wanted to be just like Uncle in bringing something delicious to the house, but I had no fishing pole. My cousin Edward allowed me to borrow his fishing pole and some bait, and Uncle Johnny showed me how to cast off. I hooked a fish my first try and pulled it in! Nervous, I did not know what to do and felt awkward about the situation. I saw the pleased look on Uncle Johnny's face and beamed with pride. Edward determined since I used his pole to pull in the catch that he had jurisdiction over my fish. I did not protest. The fact that I made Uncle Johnny proud provided all the satisfaction I needed. Edward mutilated my fish. He said he did it to make more bait for other fishing. It made sense to my young mind, but Uncle Johnny chastised him for it. Again, I was overjoyed that I merited Uncle Johnny's concern. I was in heaven! I did not know it at the time, but I starved for a father figure. I am glad that Uncle Johnny was there to fill that role for me when he had eight of his own about whom to worry. Sweet time for bitter shameThe trial that I experienced with my uncle occurred when I absentmindedly retrieved the sugar scooper from the dirty floor where I carelessly dropped it as we stood in the kitchen together. Looking back on that experience and what happened afterward, I believe there was something else on Uncle Johnny's mind than my mistake because of the intensity of his response. He yelled at me once he saw what I had done, took the scooper out of the sugar container, dumped some of the sugar out of the container and slapped me. He did not try to hurt me, I know because he would have taken my head off had he really put any power behind the slap! The reason I remember it so distinctly rests upon my great reverence and love I for him. Up to that juncture, never had he really yelled at me that I could remember and he had always been the “cool” parent—he did help raise me. To hear the disappointment in his voice and the anger to strike me caused so much shame I wished to disappear. I remember his hand crossing my face after asking me why I had not cleaned the scooper off before putting it back into the canister. I responded with some typical silly kid response that Bill Cosby would poke fun at had he heard. I remember his hand raked my left eye just a little. I covered my face with both hands and stood there embarrassed. I could not cry because I thought it would diminish me in his sight, and I could not move because I would cry. I do not recall how long I stood there after that, but my other cousin and friend, Stephanie, comforted me afterward. She did not comfort me because I felt abused or physically hurt. I thought I had made Uncle into an enemy. She comforted me because I thought I disappointed the only man that I knew as a father by being careless. To some, the incident was insignificant, but to my kid-self, my world had its foundation shaken. I have never really recovered from the disappointment I felt I caused my uncle, which amazingly still affects me presently. I regret I allowed years to pass without mentioning ever to Uncle Johnny how much I love him and how important his opinion of me mattered.
“Wherefore,” Moroni informs, “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” I could get that love if I prayed for it because it is a gift God gives to all of the true Christians! I love my uncle even though the family dynamics have changed over the years. No one can take away my good experiences with him or the lesson I learned when I dropped the sugar scooper. sugar SCOOP LESSONSThe first lesson is:
Sometimes even the best relationships have problems, but those problems are fixable if both parties are willing to forgive. I did forgive him. Moroni knew that I would have many situations like this, so he put in Chapter Seven in The Book of Moroni in the Book of Mormon. Like Paul in The Holy Bible, Moroni instructed us to have charity, which suffers long and is kind. It does not seek its own desires but the good desire of others. It is good to forgive. The second lesson I learned from that episode with Uncle Johnny is: To be careful of my actions because I might not enjoy the consequences. I gave no thought to my action when I removed the sugar scoop from the floor and put in into the container. Though it was a simple thing, do not great things occur because of simple actions? Also, I learned as a father that I must be careful of how I conduct myself. Never do I want to react or overreact to a situation that merited a less intense response. Uncle Johnny's actions did not take away my love for him in any measure, but my action toward my kids (or others) might not fare so well. The teaching may not come directly from Moroni, but he still saw my day, my life and supported the book with his life that would eventually teach me. What has Moroni seen of you? |
Rodric AnthonyWriter of the Book Moroni Saw Me and Father of Seven. Archives
November 2021
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