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Bethany Tolley (i.e. The Doctrine Lady) is a blogger, writer, speaker, presenter, teacher, songwriter, and artist. She has a multitude of experiences and credentials. But, what she values most is the opportunity to share her testimony of truth through the talents and gifts God has blessed her with. To read more click here.
Art by Bethany Tolley
There are many of us who try very hard to serve the Lord come hell or high water. We may be on our death bed, but we go to church. We may be hardly able to stand, but we stand up and serve. These efforts are consecrated and I know the Lord loves the valiance of our hearts.
However, there are times when our illness, preoccupation with physical "issues", and other maladies can distract and repel others who are trying to serve the Lord or be taught in His holy houses. It's hard to concentrate on the sacrament when the person who just handed it to you coughed horrifically into their hand...and all you hear is snot and phlegm... Also, if I'm to be frank, there are certain menstrual and bowel issues that can make attending church, and especially temple service, very difficult for the individual. If there's a mess...it complicates the service of others and can cause real, long-term, damage to temple floors and surfaces.
God wants us to serve. And, I think that with the exception of some really ugly illnesses that He appreciates our sacrifices and efforts. But, we should be wary of the need to serve when it compromises our own health and can handicap the worship and service of others. Especially in temple service, we should stay home and rest, recuperate, and become healthy before we throw ourselves into God's work in His Holy House.
We should not "run faster than we have strength" or health. Our intent and the willingness of our hearts is sufficient an offering during these "issue" times. (Scripture reference by King Benjamin to back that up...watch the comments). #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #bible #bibleverse #biblequote #daily #dailyquotes #oldtestament #doctrine #Wednesday #inspirationalquotes #scripture #blogger #bethanytolley #writersofinstagram #ldsblogger #lds #mormon #ministry #wisdom #order #commonsense #worship #service #temples #issues #illness #rest
God's work and glory is us (Moses 1:39). His desire is that we become like Him. Thus, ALL He commands, even this incredibly detailed leprosy guidance, points to Him and His plan for us, and most specifically the atonement. Is there medical wisdom here? Certainly. But He is also symbolically teaching us the places where "sin" can fester in our lives and in our homes.
We can sin individually, and we all do.
We can sin (likely without realizing it at first) in our appearance, or the appearance we try to give off to others. The "image" we project can be full of sin, or even just literally our clothing (though I know sin to be much deeper than simply the clothing on our backs). We can also have sin in our homes. Sometimes it can be removed. Sometimes our homes need serious "reconstruction" and cleansing to be healed and saved.
In Leviticus, it was the priest's role to visit people with leprosy (or sin) and determine if they were prepared to be clean. Today, while our priesthood authorities can reach out to us, and they often do, it is our personal responsibility to confess and forsake our sins. Most sin we can absolve through prayer, change, and the partaking of the sacrament (our sin and trespass offering). Other forms of struggle and sin need priesthood help, guidance, instruction, power, and blessings to be cleansed, healed, and atoned for.
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Stunningly, if you read closely (and repeatedly) you see the pattern for seeking forgiveness of sin in this law of cleansing the leper. By my third read I was impressed, that couched so deeply, and yet so obviously, was the pattern and symbolism of repentance.
First the sin (leprosy) is forsaken. Then, the priest helps the sinner (leper) offer an initial offering to forsake the sin (leprosy) and to be temporarily clean, with some work yet to do. Then, after a while, the sinner (leper) returns, is re-evaluated, and finally pronounced clean, penitent, and is able once again to offer a sin offering and to be cleansed and touched by the "blood of Christ" (or to partake of the sacrament) (or as a leper to return to the privileges of society). Wow! It's all there. And, the priesthood authority is the key element in all of it.
Clothing and homes undergo the same process, though a bit shorter and more stark. But the process is the same. Sometimes a patch to the home was all that was needed. Sometimes just a good cleansing of the clothes. But often, the home or the clothes, had to be completely burned and deconstructed before they could be built anew and become clean.
I loved the initial offering for the sinner/leper. A bird had to be sacrificed, and another was allowed to live and was let fly. I don't understand exactly all of this initial offering. But, it wasn't a sin offering or a trespass offering. So, to me, it was an offering of hope and faith. Because the sinner/leper had brought the birds and was willing to be cleansed, there was a personal offering to begin the process of being pronounced clean.
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Once again we see medical wisdom alongside symbolism. Just as Levites were there to help the Israelites repent of sin, they were also there to monitor their physical health. God was their social leader and head of government. And, due to Israelite stubbornness, every part of their lives pointed them back to God, His plan, and the atonement of Jesus Christ (see post for Leviticus 12). As I read this chapter, I felt bad for those with leprosy. What a bane! Then, I wondered why God didn't set up a health care system. And, it came to me...ultimately, God is The Physician. God is The Healer. And, instead of setting up a separate healthcare system for physical ailments, His priesthood representatives (Levites) were also tasked with this duty. To remind the Israelites that God (and His appointed priesthood servants) were those that could help them spiritually (which is ultimately more important than our physical state). Often the idea of talking with the bishop (the pastor/minister) carries a stigma. We often don't go to the bishop until we are in over our heads, not only in sin, but in other poor decisions in our lives. Yet, it doesn't have to be that way. Bishops are there to aid us in improving in righteousness and in basic wisdom. We can go to them to find out what things we may need to do better. We don't only have to visit them to confess heinous sins.
Bishops are NOT perfect. Many make mistakes. But despite this, they do have power, and specifically authority, from God to identify issues and to forgive sin. Not all priesthood representatives have this same authority. It is unique, and we should take advantage of it as much as we can.
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There were many things I thought about with regard to Leviticus 12. But most apparent that stuck out to me was the fact that the mother needed an atonement for the "issue of blood" (touching it was a sin). But the child did not! The Joseph Smith Translation enlightens us on the purpose and significance of circumcision. It was a sign of the covenant and of the atonement and that "children are innocent until 8 years of age". We learn this again in the Book of Mormon. But, how neat to be reminded it of it here. It's not what's seen that is the doctrine, but that which is unseen. It's there. We simply have to ask. #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #bible #bibleverse #biblequote #daily #dailyquotes #oldtestament #doctrine #Sunday #inspirationalquotes #scripture #blogger #bethanytolley #writersofinstagram #ldsblogger #lds #mormon #ministry #Sabbath #circumcision #covenant #children #innocence #atonement #grace #unclean #clean
Many might think God was being unfair to women in requiring a sin offering for simply having a child. But there is so much more to it than that. Here we see "medical wisdom" as well as further knowledge that all things need to be minimally sanctified or cleansed by the atonement of Jesus Christ. All things. Even the good that we do must be made holy through the atonement.
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Nothing frustrates me more when people teach the word of wisdom at church and they spend 25 minutes talking about the blessings of health, maybe 3 minutes talking about how it probably helps with personal revelation, and then closing with their testimony of it's health benefits. This is sooooo frustrating.
People who keep the word of wisdom get sick, get cancer, die young, and various other things. Ya, so maybe LDS people live a few years longer (in general) than the rest of the world, but if that is the only reason to keep the commandment...what a waste.
I hope one day the doctrine behind the word of wisdom will finally become realized by the church membership as a whole. for, it is a far more powerful reason to keep the law than any perceived or real health benefits.
God's laws of eating ALWAYS have to do with setting His people apart from the rest of the world. They ALWAYS have far more to do with "marking the lintels" of our lives and our souls as God's! As Christ's! that the "spiritually destroying angel" may pass us by. That, is why I keep the Lord's law of eating. That's why He asked the Israelites to eat differently. It set them apart. Granted, in apostasy years they took the clean/unclean so far as to refuse to associate with gentiles (non-members) and such. But that was done away with Peter's revelation.
Don't keep the word of wisdom just to be healthy. You'll be extremely disappointed. DO KEEP IT to mark yourself as Christ's! DO KEEP IT to gain extra power against Satan! DO KEEP IT so others know who you are and where to go when they have questions about God.
If you have the same frustration about people teaching the word of wisdom in your ward, PLEASE SHARE THIS! and educate them about this critical doctrine. I invite you to do so. BT
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God has been clear throughout the ages that the state of our mind and body is important to serving Him, discerning between good and evil, receiving personal inspiration and revelation, and standing apart from the world as different and unique. Whether we eat too many twinkies, struggle with pornography, struggle with caffeinated drinks (of all kinds, not just coffee and tea...), spend too much time on social media, video games, or TV; whether we refuse to put forth any effort to strengthen our hearts, joints, and muscles through minimal exercises, whether we see "studying our scriptures and pondering" as something everyone else does, except us...everyone has their bane. And if I didn't mention yours, and you're sighing in relief, that means the Spirit has just told you what your bane is, and it is definitely what I'm talking about here.
Health? Ya, that's helpful. When our bodies are under malaise we simply can't function as well as we should. Mental clarity? Far more, and incredibly, important to all spiritual communication, pondering, reason, etc.
God doesn't want us to be fitness fanatics, dramatic eccentrics (about any mind or body-related health topic), or word of wisdom police, either. He doesn't want health and strength of body taken to extremes that it becomes an idol. But, He also expects us to keep our mind and body clean from sin and altering substances. If we have a medical problem, that's not what I'm talking about here. If we have prescribed anti-depressants and such, I'm not talking about that. God has provided many things to bless our lives "when we need them." Otherwise, He asks us to stay clean that we can tell the difference between good and evil. Also, we're not simply talking about "come to Jesus" moments, or urges to repent. God can't reveal His mysteries and the depths of His truths to us if our minds and bodies are not clean--and seeking.
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