Enoch beheld Noah's day in vision. He knew that the earth would be destroyed by flood. He also received a promise that his seed would continue on the earth through Noah, his descendent. (See Moses 7:41-52) When the City of Enoch was taken up, Enoch's son Methusaleh was left behind as one who was a covenant son with God. Noah came through Enoch's and Methusaleh's line.
The world was in a state of wicked chaos during Noah's day. Today the world is in a similar situation, although there is more light, and truth, and goodness in the world than there has ever been before. So it is still up to us to use our agency to choose what is right, and by so doing, we are blessed.
Noah was faithful to the commandments of the Lord. He spent his days crying repentance unto the people. He warned them of the impending floods. They did not hearken to the counsel of the prophet. It is interested that President Gordon B. Hinckley's, the most recently departed prophet, greatest concern was that he would be the prophet that no one listened to. Even though the wickedness of the world is similar today to what it was in Noah's day, we do not need to make the same mistakes as those who were lost in the flood. Although there is a flood of iniquity about us, we have modern day prophets that can lead us to higher ground. If we listen to them and follow their counsels we will be safe. There are also messengers of the Lord throughout many countries of the world proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. As always, it is up to us who have been warned and who have a knowledge of the truth to stand up for the things that we believe in and to warn our neighbors.
We may all need to "build an ark" wrought in faith. The arks we build because of obedience to the words of the prophet may be just as vital to our families' preservation as Noah's ark was to his family's. Noah demonstrated faith, obedience and hard work when he built the ark. We cannot demonstrate our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ if we are not obedient to Him and if we are not willing to work hard.
'President Ezra Taft Benson said, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 61; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 49).'
'Elder W. Don Ladd taught: “When it starts raining, it is too late to begin building the ark. … We … need to listen to the Lord’s spokesmen. We need to calmly continue to move ahead and prepare for what will surely come. We need not panic or fear, for if we are prepared, spiritually and temporally, we and our families will survive any flood. Our arks will float on a sea of faith if our works have been steadily and surely preparing for the future” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 37; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 29).'
'President Spencer W. Kimball explained that when Noah built the ark, “there was no evidence of rain and flood. … His warnings were considered irrational. … How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out. The ark was finished. The floods came. The disobedient and rebellious were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 5–6).'
There are many unforeseen dangers ahead. Our food storage is a safety net in times of unemployment, in times of want, in times of natural disaster or war. If there were no trucks to bring new groceries to our food stores, the shelves would be emptied in a matter of two or three days. There is no need for us to place ourselves in a state of panic if we are preparing now.
When Noah's family left the ark after the waters had receded, the very first thing that Noah did was to build an ark, offer sacrifice and give thanks to God. How many times has God helped us through our own personal trials? Do we remember to stop and give thanks and offer our hearts to Him who is our salvation?
God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant to Noah that never again would the whole earth be destroyed by flood.
After Noah's posterity again became large, there were those who thought that they could build a tower sufficiently high to reach the heavens, the Tower of Babel. Because they again forsook the gospel of Jesus Christ and did not acknowledge that it is only through Him that we can approach our Heavenly Father, the language of the people was confounded and the people were scattered all over the world.
Elder L. Tom Perry taught:
“Just as it is important to prepare ourselves spiritually, we must also prepare ourselves for our temporal needs. … We have been instructed for years to follow at least four requirements in preparing for that which is to come.
“First, gain an adequate education. Learn a trade or a profession to enable you to obtain steady employment that will provide remuneration sufficient to care for yourself and your family. …
“Second, live strictly within your income and save something for a rainy day. Incorporate in your lives the discipline of budgeting that which the Lord has blessed you with. As regularly as you pay your tithing, set aside an amount needed for future family requirements. …
“Third, avoid excessive debt. Necessary debt should be incurred only after careful, thoughtful prayer and after obtaining the best possible advice. We need the discipline to stay well within our ability to pay. …
“Fourth, acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life [if local laws permit such storage]. Obtain clothing and build a savings account on a sensible, well-planned basis that can serve well in times of emergency. As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 46–47; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 36).
I believe that Noah built the ark. I do not believe that this story is just a myth. I cannot explain it, but I have faith that there are lessons for us to learn by studying the story of Noah. The earth needed to be baptized by water, and one day it will be baptized by fire, just as each one of us is commanded to by baptized with water and then be baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost. During Noah's day, the wickedness became so great that the earth needed to be cleansed and have a fresh start. Only Noah, his wife, his three sons and there wives were saved from the flood. Even though we know that the earth will be cleansed by fire, we can be prepared and be among those who are ready to meet the Lord when He comes again. We can be caught up in the air to meet Him when He comes because we have been faithful and built our own personal arks. When the earth is cleansed by fire, we can be safe because we have listened to the words of the prophets.
My Food Storage May Be My Personal Ark in the Preservation of My Family’s Lives.
Checklist:
o We have a three day supply of food and drinking water in our home. _______
o We have a three day supply of food and drinking water and a change of clothing in travel packs. ______
o We have a two week supply of food and drinking water and other necessities in our home, including sanitary supplies and medication. ______
o We have a three month supply of food storage. ______
o We have a three month supply of drinking water (or that much water saved with a process of purifying the water). ______
o We have a six month supply of food. __
o We have a six month supply of water.__
o We have a year supply of food. ____
o We have a year supply of water.____
o We have a two year supply of food. ___
o We have a two year supply of water.___
Y = Yes; N = Not yet; W = Working on.
Noah was a prophet called to preach the word,
Tried to cry repentance, but nobody heard.
They were busy sinning—Noah preached in vain.
They wished they had listened when they saw the rain.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=a03fc106dac20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD
Keep the commandments; keep the commandments!
In this there is safety; in this there is peace.
He will send blessings;
He will send blessings.
Words of a prophet:
Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.
We are His children; we are His children,
and we must be tested to show we are true.
Hold to His promises;
Hold to His promises,
Heeding the prophets:
Keep the commandments.
In this there is safety and peace.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=637e1b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=77582ddde9c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=true
Lesson 6 is found at this URL:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7904c106dac20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=5158f4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD
No comments:
Post a Comment