Welcoming and affirming congregations – Community Circle Europe

God’s Nudge

Verse: ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it’, (Isaiah 30:21).

It can be hard to know how to live our lives at times. Sometimes the lines between what is right and wrong can become blurred and significantly less defined than we initially thought when outside of the situation. It can be easy to view the world as black and white, or right and wrong, when we are not experiencing what others are. I think this is something that all of us have experienced at some time or another and it is no different than when navigating our faith. This is why it can be seen as essential that we have some sort of grasp of our faith, whatever that may be, for these exact situations. I personally take pleasure in reading and studying the Bible and the Book of Mormon (among other scriptures from religious traditions such as the Quran and Guru Granth Sahib). In doing so I am able to learn and apply teachings of morality, philosophy, and ethics into my daily life and into any situations that may arise. Although abundant in wisdom and theology, the scriptures sometimes may not have the solutions we need in our daily challenges, especially in this modern and constantly evolving world. However, the scriptures do contain a host of wisdom when it comes to seeking advise from God.

In this regard one way the above Bible verse can be interpreted is that God is with us in scripture and our religious education to guide us when we may walk off the right path and become lost. It can be comforting to recall this verse when we are unsure of which direction to take, which decision we should select, or what action we should select. It is very common among my Latter Day Saint brethren to pray for guidance when the need to make a decision arises. Simply praying and asking for guidance and then waiting for a tug or push from the Holy Spirit can feel a bit ridiculous, especially if your faith is lacking, but is often the best way of breaking an impasse. To be nudged by God. I think it’s really important that we view God as Father. Yes, God is far greater than we can possibly imagine, but he also cares a great deal about us and seeks a personal connection with each and every soul. If I am stuck on something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, I know that God cares about me and if it’s something that troubles me, then it will trouble God too. He wants us to be happy. It is so important to know that we can come before God with our troubles and allow him to help us along with the Holy Spirit.

Keeping a Prayer Journal

Verse: ‘I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer’, (Psalm 17:6).

There is an almost unlimited number of ways to pray, some of my favourite methods have been covered before on this blog, one of these methods is something that was completely new to me. It was something that I thought I would at first struggle with but, in fact, thoroughly enjoyed. I am talking about the spiritual practice of keeping a prayer journal. There are a variety of different methods with which to conduct a prayer journal. The way that I found was best was to keep it in a similar way to a gratitude journal or diary. There is something so beautiful in thanking God for our blessings, even on the most testing and tiring of days.

I try to find things to thank Him for and then reflect on things I need to work on or perhaps vices which I have noticed myself falling into, asking God for help and faith in correcting these failings in the future. At the end of each day, either in the evening or early night, I sit for a few minutes and do a miniature version of the prayer of the Daily Examen. I then pick one blessing and one vice or error made that day and write them down in the form of a simple prayer. It may be helpful to add a date or use a diary so you can look back and see how you have progressed or grown in your faith and as a human being. I think that this is an important distinction between keeping a journal and other prayer practices which are similar such as impermeant methods of writing and burning for example. It is important to keep it and reflect on it as you go along.

Using a prayer diary or journal as a practical form of prayer can also be greatly beneficial for some practitioners. I have found it useful in the past to simply write prayers down on the pages of my journal and then once I have reread them sit in quiet contemplation waiting for the Spirit to reveal something to me. Once I have an answer – not necessarily the one I want – I can then move onto another prayer and so on and so on. I find this method effective as all too often we can stumble over the right words or get caught up in our thoughts when we try and say a prayer. It is much easier to simply write whatever prayer or request or concern comes to mind and then read it after it is written. I think this method is also useful as it allows us to sit and do something whilst we pray, praying can seem tedious if we simple try and sit still for long periods of time, this method allows you to engage multiple parts of your brain and also keeps you active as you are moving while you write.

Nephi’s Psalm

Verse: ‘Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continuously upon the things which I have seen and heard’, (2 Nephi 4:16).

When we think of the psalms, we most likely, understandably enough, immediately picture the Book of Psalms, also known as the Psalter, found in the Hebrew Bible. The Bible is certainly rich in its various works of poetry, but many may not know that it is not only the Hebrew Bible that contains these things. The Book of Mormon too has a beautiful psalm hidden away inside of it. The Psalm of Nephi, or otherwise known simply as Nephi’s Psalm, is found in 2 Nephi 4:16-35. This is called a psalm as the text shares many similarities with psalms found in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Psalms. This psalm is important as it shares the five common elements found in psalms. These are the recognition of sins, pleading for forgiveness, dedication to the Lord’s commandments, petitioning, and finally rejoicing in the forgiveness that God has given in His all-merciful nature. The Psalm of Nephi shares all five of these elements and is one of my favourite psalms found within scripture.

In Nephi’s Psalm Nephi lays out his hopes, joys, sorrows, and problems in his life, following the footsteps of the psalmist. When analysing or prayerfully reading this psalm it is crucial to understand the situation in which it is created. Nephi has just lost his father, Lehi, and these emotions of loss, which are familiar to many of us, are clear to see in this moving passage. These doubts and fears he brings up may be due to the fact that, as we know from the Book of Mormon, he is due to take over and lead not just his family but his people as their leader. Whilst we know how successful and great a leader he was, we must remember that at that time he must have been feeling all the anxieties and fears that we as humans feel also. These words of fear and sorrow are quickly replaced by praise for God and reminders of all that He has done for Nephi. We too can use these proclamations in our own prayer life as inspiration and worship.

I personally find it useful to prayerfully read and meditate this psalm in the evening before I sleep, alongside other psalms from the Hebrew Bible. It is indeed a beautiful reminder of how we should approach God, and our faith. Nephi encourages himself, as we can do ourselves if we pray his psalm as ours, to ‘no longer droop in sin’ but to ‘rejoice … and give place no more for the enemy of my soul’ (2 Nephi 4:28). He also promises that he will ‘praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation’ (2 Nephi 4:30). Let us too meditate on the words of this psalm and use it to remind ourselves how we should approach and thank God, as well as reinforce and re-establish our covenant with him as disciples.

Book of Ether

Verse: ‘And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters’, (Ether 6:7).

As mentioned in a post from a while ago now, the Book of Ether is one of my favourite books within the Book of Mormon; quite possibly my most favourite. I think that this relatively small book deserves a chapter of its own for two reasons. The first being that is can often be ignored by readers, especially those starting out with the Book of Mormon, as it may at first glance not seem to be particularly relevant to the main story line of the wider works. The second is that it is a perfect, and tiny, encapsulation of the important teaching that can be found within the Book of Mormon and is therefore vital to understanding the importance of key doctrines within the Latter-day Saint tradition. The story itself appears to be a miniature version of the story contained in the wider Book of Mormon. In the Book of Ether, the Jaredites leave a sinful community and go to a promised land, in the same manner that the Nephites did. One of my favourite parts of this text is their journey across the ocean.

This story is interesting as, like the Book of Mormon, the fate of the inhabitants of this promised land is reliant on their following of God’s commandments and laws revealed to them. This is a resounding theme within the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon. Like the wider Book of Mormon wickedness does ultimately come forth and spread and the nation of the Jaredites is indeed destroyed. The story of the Jaredites travelling over the oceans in their boats always intrigued me, and was a fantastic example of faith prevailing over worldly fears – in this case the vast fathoms of ocean and colossal waves. This seemingly impossible journey can be translated into the issues we find in our own lives and the ultimate success of the Jaredites in reaching the shore safely can fill us with hope too that our own fears may be eased and we too may reach these shores of safety.

The Book of Ether is small, and while there are many lessons contained within its pages, I think that it is best to conclude that the best thing about it is that it is a short summary of the basic teachings of the Book of Mormon. For me, when I first started reading the Book of Mormon, I found the Book of Ether to be a nice segue into the wider story line and a simple book to begin my explorations. It is a mirror copy, albeit far less detailed, to such an extent that it is placed as being set before the Nephites even set foot in the Americas, so in this regard can be seen as a failed nation already having had a go at what the Nephites are setting out to achieve, and now what we are setting out to do in the name of Zion.

Eternal Rest

Verse: ‘…the Lord will be your everlasting light’, (Isaiah 60:19).

A prayer that I have rapidly become familiar with due to working in a Roman Catholic school is the Eternal Rest. After Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s death there was a heavy focus on her life and praying for her peaceful rest, in class as well as in Mass. It is a wonderfully simple prayer, yet one that contains much symbolism and meaning. Easy to remember, and easy to pray, for many reciting it brings both comfort and peace. During October, and more commonly November, countless Christians and members of other religious traditions will be praying in earnest for the dearly departed souls of our dead.

Whether one believes in any specific theological assumptions about the afterlife, or instead lives in hope that perhaps one may well exist, praying for our loved ones – and strangers too as many religions advocate doing – can be a cathartic experience and can help us feel like we are helping them somehow. This can help lessen grief and help us to manage, to varying degrees, the pain that we are in.

The words of the prayer in its common form are as follows:

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord,

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

In this prayer are two very important theological concepts. The first is the concept of eternal rest in the Lord and the second is the perpetual light of the Lord. It is fairly common to pray for the peaceful rest of those who are departed and the concept of rest is frequent in the Bible; in the Book of Psalms there are even a collection known as Psalms of Rest. Within the psalms are also references to the Lord being our everlasting light, or, in the light of this prayer, our perpetual light. In Isaiah 60:19, the full verse of the shortened one at the start of the post, the importance of God’s light over any other source is emphasised, ‘The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory’.

Memento Mori

Verse: ‘…continually reminding them of death, and the duration of eternity, and the judgements and the power of God, and all these things – stirring them up continually to keep them in the fear of the Lord’, (Enos 1:23).

For many of us, believers or not, it can be hard to live in the shadow of death. In the Western world especially, we seem to have fostered a culture where it is better to live in ignorance of death and ignore the looming certainty of our fates. At university we had the good luck to study the rising trend of death cafes, during which the discussion of approaches to death between Western and Eastern religious communities was brought up. In communities where circular notions of life are the norm there has been found a much more logical and understanding approach to death. Where rebirth or reincarnation are believed, or at least taught/understood, death is seen more as a natural stage of life; one that is certain and should not be feared for what it represents. In communities with more linear understandings of life and death, or indeed no belief, death simply represents the end point on our journeys, a grim and dark final destination.

It is perfectly understandable, then, that people in this environment view talking about death as morbid or in bad taste, something to be hushed and silenced instead of engaged in good naturedly. For me this is something that shows a sad state of affairs where I reside. Studies have described the correlation between ignoring death and then heightened anxiety when a grave illness, sudden death, or terminal diagnosis are given. In live is it not always better to be prepared? Thinking about death does not have to lead to a depressive nature. There are many wonderful resources that paint it in a light that is far from fearful such as the classic text The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying that emerged from Tibetan Buddhism. In the Book of Enos the benefits of thinking about our death are laid out, in a similar way for centuries people from all faiths and none have engaged in a practice known as memento mori – the remembrance of death.

It can be helpful, and in fact calming, to meditate on the certainty of death. It can bring comfort and also help to put issues within our lives in a greater sense of perspective. Memento mori paired with carpe diem can indeed do wonders for our own self development. For those who are visual meditators there are many beautiful works of art that depict the Dance of Death (a beautiful rendition is the 15^th Century fresco in the National Gallery of Slovenia which can be found online) which may be beneficial to study. Phillippe de Champaigne’s Vanitas would also be a perfect example of memento mori artwork. When I meditate on death I give myself time to prayer near the end, to ask for strength for any fears that came up, to ask for guidance in living each day to the best of my ability, and to thank God for the blessings I have in life – which are framed in piercing clarity after such a meditation.

What Happens Next?

Verse: ‘Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body’, (Alma 11:44).

I think one of the most important questions adherents of almost any religious tradition can ask themselves is the age-old question of what happens next. What happens to my body? My soul? Do I go anywhere after death? Do I still know what is going on? For me this question isn’t one necessarily rooted in fear, but more curiosity of the unknown, and due to my religious faith and understanding I find it helpful to turn to the Book of Mormon for answers. Within the Book of Mormon there are several passages which go into varying levels of detail as to what happens and where one goes after death.

First of all, we know that the soul, the unique thing that makes us who we are, leaves the body after the death process and the soul is taken back to God (Alma 40:11). This is then followed by an intermediate state of being, it is not a permanent or final place of rest, but one in which we stay until the eventual Last Judgement (Alma 40:14). This intermediate state is one in which the righteous spirits reside in a state of constant happiness, which is referred to as paradise. It is a peaceful state of rest without trouble or sorrow (Alma 40:12). However, for some, those who committed deliberate acts of sin and wrongful deeds, their state of rest is known as outer darkness. The Book of Mormon describes it as a state of ‘weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth’ due to the sinner’s own iniquity (Alma 40:13).

It is important to remember that this is not a permanent state of existence and at some point in the future there will be the Last Judgement in which those who are in this temporal death will be raised from death (Alma 11:42). At this moment ‘death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies’ before the bodies and spirits of all are restored together (2 Nephi 9:12). Those in paradise must also come for judgement and so ‘the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous’ also (2 Nephi 9:13). In the physical resurrection all parts of the body are restored and the spirit is reunited to it. The knowledge of good and even will be in us all so we come before God knowing and recalling our guilt. We shall then all be judged for our deeds before God.

This may bring fear to those who sin, but those who live well can hope and look forward to the day we shall all be brought forth again, to exist with our loved ones and with God.

Jesus’ Journey After Death

Verse: ‘For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit’, (1 Peter 4:6).

During this time of the year, one of my favourite months in our calendars, I – like countless others all around the globe – find it especially useful to bring my mind back to mortality and my dearly departed loved ones. This time of year can be especially hard for those who grieve hard and for whom memories of loved ones bring back pain and for them, as always, I will pray and hope that one day that pain will fade and the loving-kindness of cherished recollections will flourish instead. I find it interesting to begin my meditations with scripture, the contested verse that describes Christ’s reason for journeying to the underworld is especially titillating as there are various notions which have been derived from it over the years. Seemingly minor verses such as these can often be overlooked in favour of reading with a focus on the Gospel or other juicier sections of the Bible, but it is snippets such as these that are fundamentally crucial when it comes to forming our own theology. In my opinion, the most interesting is that held by those who believe it is evidence that He went down into the underworld to preach the word of God to those who had already passed away without hearing the message of salvation. This verse is 1 Peter 4:6.

For myself the imagery alone in that idea is something that I find truly uplifting. A question as old as Christianity must be what happens to those who did not hear the preaching, the sermons, the lectures … The Good News that is Gospel? In this verse we can read and understand that all people throughout creation have the opportunity to be saved, not just the fortunate few who have heard the message in their lifetimes. This was especially important during the rise of Christianity as if the message of salvation could only be understood and accepted by those currently alive, then countless millions were destined to an unfortunate fate simply because of ill-timing and scheduling of life on Earth. With Christ there is hope, and while we as Christians know a certain amount about His life on Earth; his mission, his ministry, his healing, we do not know much at all about exactly what he did during those three days in the underworld. For me personally, this is a fascinating thing to muse upon during my reflections in the late evenings of October. Let us find comfort in the knowledge that God cares and deeply loves everyone, either living or departed, and that we too can feel cared for no matter what our future holds for us, as can those we love, and those we miss.

Book of Mormon Reading Plan

Verse: ‘For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them …’, (1 Nephi 10:19).

I recently began reading through the Book of Mormon again. I must admit it has been a while since I last read it cover to cover and I felt a sense of longing to explore its pages once more. Of course, like many, I began in the depths of 3 Nephi examining the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ and his disciples. As I began to read other passages too, I wondered how one could easily traverse the Book of Mormon in a quick and easy manner. Especially perhaps newcomers who don’t have the time or commitment to read all. I’ve sat down over the last week or so and put together thirty individual chapters that take no time at all to read so that someone can read through the Book of Mormon using one chapter a day. For obvious reasons this list is highly personalised and is my own opinion only, but it has been useful for myself and may therefore be useful as a ready-made list for others.

In the process I had to be fairly cutthroat and readers may notice that sections that they themselves may have chosen are missing. For example, the Book of Alma which takes up almost a third of the Book of Mormon has been cut from the list, as has the Book of Ether which is a personal favourite of mine and in an upcoming post I will be discussing why I love it so much. The aim of this list is to provide a general introduction to the Book of Mormon story, as well as including key parts such as King Benjamin’s Speech or the coming of Jesus to the Nephites. Although these chapters can be understood when read alone it is my hope that during the course of reading these chapters people will desire to delve deeper and so read around each one for further context should they feel drawn to do so. In this manner to perhaps the Holy Spirit can assist in reading through connected chapters.

Daily Reading List –

Day 1: 1 Nephi 1

Day 2: 1 Nephi 2

Day 3: 1 Nephi 17

Day 4: 1 Nephi 18

Day 5: 2 Nephi 5

Day 6: Jarom

Day 7: Words of Mormon

Day 8: Mosiah 2

Day 9: Mosiah 3

Day 10: Mosiah 4

Day 11: Mosiah 5

Day 12: 3 Nephi 6

Day 13: 3 Nephi 8

Day 14: 3 Nephi 9

Day 15: 3 Nephi 11

Day 16: 3 Nephi 12

Day 17: 3 Nephi 13

Day 18: 3 Nephi 14

Day 19: 3 Nephi 15

Day 20: 3 Nephi 16

Day 21: 3 Nephi 17

Day 22: 3 Nephi 18

Day 23: 3 Nephi 28

Day 24: 4 Nephi

Day 25: Mormon 1

Day 26: Mormon 6

Day 27: Mormon 8

Day 28: Moroni 7

Day 29: Moroni 8

Day 30: Moroni 10

Queen Elizabeth II and Christian Faith

Verse: ‘Christ not only revealed to us the truth in his teachings. He lived by what he believed and gave us the strength to try to do the same – and, finally, on the cross, he showed the supreme example of physical and moral courage’, (Queen Elizabeth II).

Given the nature and timing of Her Majesty The Queen’s passing I thought it fitting to rearrange my planned upload for this week and instead focus on reflections around two of her main qualities in life; faith and service. Her understanding of Christianity was widely respected, with even those in high-ranking positions within the Church intimidated by her knowledge. As the Queen of the United Kingdom, she automatically held the title of Defender of the Faith. This, however, wasn’t a simple title and nothing more, she was incredibly passionate about her faith, both in private and in public, and regularly discussed theological topics. For her, as should be for us all, the perfect role model was none other than Jesus Christ, who died for our sins on the cross. She regularly mentioned his teachings and life in her Christmas addresses and in various discourses throughout her long reign as Queen.

Her Christian faith deeply reflected itself in her life and character, her forgiving nature was perhaps no more obvious than when she shook hands with Martin McGuinness, the former IRA commander, in 2012. No matter where your allegiance lies in this highly contested issue, the fact remains that it was a moment that had the potential to change the course of history in this part of the world for the better. As the newspapers said in amazement, it was even more impressive considering that Prince Philip’s uncle had been assassinated by the IRA during the Troubles. The Queen has also been quoted as saying in one of her Christmas addresses, that Jesus Christ is ‘a role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance, and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none’.

The Queen, during her life, was indeed a living example of how a good Christian should live out their days in service and kindness for the betterment of all people. She did not use her strong Christian faith to oppress or diminish others, but instead used it as a foundation on which to love those who were different and to protect those who needed her assistance. Christianity, for her, was not simply being morally or ethically right and holding the spiritual truth as a beacon for others loudly proclaiming the Lord. No, it was following in Jesus’ footsteps as best she could, helping those who needed her help, visiting the oppressed or fearful, and ministering to her people all around the world. The kind and warm love she had for her people was mirrored in the way that they loved her, and now sadly mourn her passing. Let us seek to live up to her standard as we too are called to be Christians.