Why did God [curse] is the ground for [our] sake?

Under the Father and Christ's direction, the human family participated in creation. This includes the nobel and great ones and maybe the not-so-nobel.  However, all things serve a purpose. God did need to create an oasis of the Garden for Adam and Eve amongst a violent world filled with briars, thorns, and predatory animals.  Adam amd Eve were tasked with "keeping" and preserving the garden which served as a protection.

Abraham 3:24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

However, with the fall, Adam and Eve were cast out. The garden was not preserved, and they were then exposed/subjected to the thorns, briars, weeds, random violence and unfeeling cruelty of the universe-- for their good.  The purpose of life is a test to be subjected to adversity/suffering and see if we will still choose to be patient, obedient. loyal, valiant and devoted to God.  So the creations/works of the nobel and the less-nobel all serve Gods greater purposes and human-kinds greater good.

Covenants and Contracts

 

My wife Ruth is a realtor and spends every day writing contracts associated with the sale of residential real estate. She made a excellent point about the difference between worldly contracts vs heavenly covenants. Contracts are long and filled with fine print because they based on mistrust and the consequence of what will happen if one or the other side does not meet with their obligations.  Gods covenants on the other hand are clear and concise because they are based on love, our best interest, and God always will do exactly what he has said he will do.  

Spring LDS General Conference 2017

 

A few thoughts and quotes from "General Conference":

Elder Erying- gathering all things in one both in heaven and earth = family history


Covenants paramount, obedience exact


Elder Renland- Christ ate with sinners, offers hope.  Will save from sin but not in sin.


Perfect brightness of hope = watching a taped football game already knowing the outcome. In life, we already know the outcome so we don't need to get stressed about a bad penalty call, etc.


Preserve gospel language at home.  Keep language pure, don't mix with outside influences.  The gospel is our true native language.

Pres. Monson- charitable = being kind, be kind. We do not honor priesthood if we are not kind.  Study Book of Mormon daily.

Elder Bednar-  Mission Call = Called to serve,  assigned to labor in a place. Not called to a place but to "the work".  Focus your young men on Priesthood, Temple, and Mission.

Pres. Uchtdorf- chiefest of all is servant of all. People will tell you your great, dont inhale it.

Elder Rasband- respond to first promptings.  Be a first responder.

Pres. Utchdorf- don't dwell on the evils of the world.  Fear not and be of good cheer.  Serve God and our fellow man.

Elder Christiansen-  warning voice is civil and joyful.  Successful must preach what you practice.  Stop feigning neutrality. 

Elder Cook-  Malcolm Gladwell says 10,000 hours of "deliberate practice" are needed to become world-class in any [skilled] field. This applies to gospel learning. Financial success does not = blessed.  Expected to endure adversity well. 

Family Discovery Day

RootsTec 2017 was held in Salt Lake City Utah and recently concluded. RootsTec is a convention dedicated to family history and genealogy.  RootsTec is akin to other conventions such ad ComicCon or CES.  2017 Celebrity attendees included LaVar Burton, HGTV Property Brothers and Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss).

https://youtu.be/wzgX9IDA3-A

President Russell M. Nelson was the keynote speaker at a special LDS session of the conference. Elder Nelson shared an account of his grandfather AC Nelson who was visited by his recently deceased father and told of the importance of family history and temple work. Missionary work continues in the spirit world after death but those that accept the gospel cannot receive all the blessings without having their ordinances performed in holy temples by the living. The account begins at 15:00.

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/family-discovery-day-roots-tech/2017/02?lang=eng&vid=5320007523001

President Nelson invited each of us to make a commitment and sacrifice to do more family history and temple work this year. 

Oaths and Covenants

Kindergarteners, Boy Scouts, police officers, doctors, lawyers and politicials do it.  Why do we make oaths and enter into covenants? Life will eventually give you many reasons and excuses to break your promises.  Oaths and covenants give you a divine reason not to break your promises even when life circumstances may seemingly justify it.

The selfishness, disobedience, obstinance, disloyalty and rebellion of mankind would give God every reason to allow mankind to destroy ourselves. But because of the covenant He has made with His prophets, and a few faithful of His people, He will keep His promises and preserve a remnant and eventually save and redeem mankind upon the Earth.

Here are a few oaths I made in my life:

Pledge of Allegiance: 

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Scout Oath, Boy Scouts of America:

 

On my honor, I will do my best;

To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Hippocratic Oath (Declaration of Geneva)

University of Utah SOM:

I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity.

I will practice medicine with conscience and dignity.

The health and life of my patient will be my first consideration.

I will hold in confidence all that my patients confide to me.

I will maintain the honor and noble traditions of the medical profession.

I will give respect and gratitude to my deserving teachers.

My colleagues will be as my family

I will not permit personal considerations to interfere with my duty to my patients

I will maintain the upmost respect for human life.

Even under threat I will not use my knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity

These promises I make freely and upon my honor.