Bev Psalm 70: Joseph O Joseph

Joseph of old sold into Egypt, the youngest son

   yet he saved his brethren from famine.

Lehi descended from Joseph and named his

   youngest son born in the wilderness, Joseph.

This Joseph was promised that his seed

   should never perish.

We know that his descendants are Native

   Americans, one was even named Chief Joseph.

They were here to welcome the pilgrims.

They fought on both sides of the Revolutionary War.

Joseph Smith, Jr. who was named after his father,

   Joseph Smith, bridges these generations of Joseph.

He was chosen by God and Jesus Christ as the

   prophet to head this last dispensation;

   to restore Christ’s church founded in former days.

Now over 18 million people worldwide belong to the

   Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By their works, ye shall know them.

The missionaries found me.

My father’s name was Joseph.

My mother descended from an early Cherokee

   lineage, unproven and torn, a part of the

   Trail of Tears.

If I had had a son, would I have named him Joseph?

Joseph and Ruthe, my parents

Bev Psalm 69: Agency is Key

The Savior Jesus Christ’s atonement is both

   intimate and infinite.

He died for me; He died for you.

We are God’s children.

The world was created for us to learn and to be

   tested to see if we will obey.

Agency to choose is key to God’s plan for us.

As it was in the pre-existence, we were taught

   Through eons with God as our Master teacher.

But there we learned only theory.

Then we had a choice.

If we have a body in our second estate, we chose

   the right: to follow Jesus.

Now we, with two thirds of God’s spirit children,

   live in our mortal laboratory.

Here there is an opposition in all things;

   bitter or sweet; liberty or captivity.

Here we may act or be acted upon.

These are the days of our probation.

God is omniscient, He knows all things,

   therefore, He must see all things at once.

As a loving parent, He knows us intimately.

Yet He lets us choose.

Even if we choose wrongly, He still loves us

   and continually places before us numerous

   opportunities to get back on the covenant path.

Ponder, if you will, what future duties we will be

   given in the worlds to come by an omniscient

   God in order to show us proof of our ability to

   “get it right,” let us know we’ve earned esteem.

He and His Son saw our day and the trials and

   tribulations we are passing through.

Their promise to us is that it will be but for a small moment.

The eternal perspective reminds us that

   this is God’s purpose:

To bring to pass the eternal life of man.

Men are that they might have joy.

Key Chains of Truth