Repentance Means Change for the Better

My readings in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants have inspired me to use this blog to repeat and repeat the charge to all that we must repent. I woke today thinking that it might be useful to help people understand what I interpret repentance to actually is and, perhaps more importantly, what it looks like.

Repentance is a change of heart and behavior that better aligns us with Christ and his commandments.

It is a short statement, but there is plenty packed into it.

First, it is important to gain a personal understanding of God, his Christ, and what they command us to do. Jesus did what his Father (and our Heavenly Father) told him to do, even the difficult things. Much of what we know of God comes to us from the example and teachings of Christ and his prophets throughout time. Jesus went about doing good and we should do the same. I know it would have been very useful for Jesus to have rallied his followers into an army, taken control of local government, and forced the people of Judea to behave better, but that isn't the right way to effect a change of heart. Christ lived the life more like an itinerant preacher, moving from place to place, teaching and healing and serving as an individual man and encouraging his followers to do likewise. A lasting change of behavior only comes with a authentic change of heart, not just some display or pretense.  It cannot be forced externally but cultivated internally.

Second, Christ is perfectly aligned with God - Jesus commits himself fully what is commanded of him and he follows through on that commitment, even when it is difficult.  The act of taking on himself all the sins of the repentant and dying on a cross as a young man was a tremendous sacrifice that God required of him.  God has other work for us to do to show our devotion to him, certainly less dramatic.  Primarily, he asks us to put aside desires and devotion toward wealth and fame and instead "impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally.” (Mosiah 4:26) In doing these things, we align our lives with Christ's and do the good works God commanded us to do.

Again, repentance is a change of heart and behavior. As we read of the doings and teachings of Christ and the words of God's prophets, we let them affect our hearts and begin to feel more charity and love toward others. We desire to help those in need, both physically and spiritually.  I think it is useful to begin helping others even if we don't yet feel much love toward them - our service will soon bring on such feelings. As we do this, we will begin to feel toward others as Jesus does and behave more like him. Worldly concerns will fade in comparison to the service we can do. God will bless our efforts with resources and further opportunities to continue to serve others in meaningful ways that bless rather than coerce. We will feel greater joy in life, no matter what troubles we may personally face.

Our mortals lives are like a schooling opportunity: as we come to understand God and Christ and obey them, we learn how to become our best selves and qualify for the greater opportunities that they enjoy and desire to share with us. It all starts with changing our hearts and actions, which is repentance.

The Fifth Commandment

Consider an alternate interpretation of the Fifth Commandment:

Exodus 20:12

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

I often add a word to answer those who take the common step toward hating their parents: Bring honor to your father and mother. 

I was concerned that common interpretation of this commandment puts the child over their parent in being the judge of the honorable-ness of parents.

Our behavior reflects on how we are raised - if we don't honor our parents, have we not been taught to not render them honor?  It is far more important to have the Lord praise you than to worry much about the praise of our parents, though they can often be complementary.

My various family members have been religiously critical of me over time and if I spent a lot of time trying to "honor" their wishes, I would likely have walked away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the concepts of a physical God and shared exaltation with him through Christ.  I am grateful for the faith embraced by my parents, often at variance with our earlier ancestors.

I want God to say "well done, my good and faithful servant" in reference to me among my progenitors. I don't know how they will feel about it, but that is strong praise and recommendation in spite of what my ancestors desired. I would rather have the praise of God beyond the praise of my parents.

My "Teaching" Style - Learning by Doing It Yourself

For the last few years, I have been given the lofty title of "professor" at Eastern New Mexico University and led a college-level course in Information Technology Management. You might find my choice of wording strange, but it more accurately reflects how I tend to approach the learning process and what it is meant to accomplish.

Some guiding principles in teaching and learning that I find universally applicable:

Being Productive rather than Consumptive

When you see a need (market opportunity), your tendency should be to create a new solution to address that need, rather than only complaining and waiting for someone else to address it for you.  This applies to curriculum creation, learning opportunities, entrepreneurship, parenting - basically any facet of life.

I encourage those taking my courses to produce work that is worthy of publication in a professional journal or blog.  There is little sense in spending time writing a paper that only one person will ever read - publish it!

Learning rather than Being Taught

This puts the focus of action on the seeker of learning (student) rather than a teacher. Too often, students get frustrated that I am not up in front of the class (metaphorically - I lead a web-based course) and doing the heavy-lifting of education for them. I end up simply facilitating and evaluating their efforts to gain their own learning through a textbook and explorations from a variety of sources.  I rarely present myself as an authority in the course subject - I hope to behave more like a fellow seeker of learning who has gone further in the journey and can share the wisdom gained from a greater experience and a longer study.  This is where I get the term "leader" rather than teacher.

Learners Prioritize the Things that are Important to Them in a Larger World

The "student" is in control of priorities in their lives. Although I supervise a course, the learner determines how much effort they put into it, which reflects in their grade, and when/whether to take a course. Too often, students expect me, as the course-runner, to alter the conditions of course for them so as to work around family or health needs, essentially requiring me to change requirements to suit them and their circumstances and desires. I rarely comply with this sort of request - one cannot change the sea, only the way one approaches it. It does a student no good to have every course "requirement" shift about at their pleasure when reality, to which education is meant to be a preparation, is rarely so accommodating.

Too often, expectations are that a teacher is responsible for the grades of students, as seen by making adjustments for poor student progress, rounding up scores, or trying to ascertain a student's optimal learning modality (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.) and using a variety of techniques that "reach" each learner where they are. As I teach those who should be adults, I prefer to put the responsibility on the student to rise to the stated course standard, to seek out sources and modalities that they best comprehend, and to approach competence under their own power.  Responsibility for learning must be placed on the learner, especially in the expanding marketplace of knowledge and experience, of which "college" is a increasingly small player.

Do rather than Watch; Stand rather than Sit

I come from the world of home economics, which is built on the concept of the skilled demonstration. A student watches with the understanding that they will then practice and ultimately demonstrate themselves, first to a "teacher" to certify proficiency, and then to others as a demonstrator in their own right. I am a firm believer in the value of demonstrated competence beyond book-work.  One learns best by doing, first under tutelage in controlled circumstances, later with fewer restraints.

Portfolios of work already done, showing a progression in complexity or refinement, are excellent indicators to ourselves and others that we can accomplish what we propose to do.  Be it a collection of art or a resume of positions held and projects completed, we show our demonstrated competence that should grow over time. Though we may list the names of people we originally studied under, few can successfully just ride coattails - we will ultimately have to show our independent worth beyond our degrees and mentors.

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I will readily admit that having a teacher take responsibility for the "success" of their students is more profitable to the institution and less stressful to consumers in the short term of a college "career". Sadly, if that is all a learner puts into their own development, being steered about by employed servants and getting a certification to which instructors put the bulk of effort, college does society and each student a great disservice. Better for a professor to point out resources, provide initial demonstration, stand back to let students take the lead, and certify the show of learning and the student's successful products. Ultimately, it is through products that we create that will define our worth to ourselves, those who employ us, the family to which we contribute, and to society. The bulk of college coursework should reflect the need for everyone so certified to meet these demands.

The Spoil of the Poor

Here is another "judgment" situation, essentially testing what we will do with the stewardship that God gives us in life. We are certainly tasked with caring for the poor and using the resources that we are blessed with to improve their lot. 

Isaiah 3:14-15

14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.

Perhaps this is about conspicuous opulence, taking the richness of the land and leaving nothing for others to glean. The things meant for the poor are found in the houses (and bank accounts) of the rich.

Although I am not a fan of persecuting billionaires for not enriching their employees like so many do, I can say that those who "have" will be blessed for helping those who "have not".

The Third Commandment

I see massive utility in exploring what different groups have to say about certain scriptures. I am reading the "Rational Bible" commentary written by Dennis Prager, a very public Jew. 

 Dennis Prager's The Rational Bible: Deuteronomy

I find my understanding of the Ten Commandments expanded far beyond the kiddie church treatment given it by much of Christendom. The version that I provide here is from the accusation of the prophet Abinadi before the wicked priests of King Noah:

Mosiah 13 :15

15 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

When I was a child and was taught about the Ten Commandments, "take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" was translated into swearing and shouting "Jesus Christ" if you hit your hand with a hammer. It was among my first lessons in self-control, sometimes seemingly barely learned.

I don't ever remember being taught about that last statement "the Lord will not hold him guiltless". Either talking in vain is a lot worse sin than what I was ever taught, or the Lord has a really sore spot for saying his name. 

I am thinking that there is a whole different meaning that my upbringing totally missed.

Prager's take on this commandment turns my thoughts to the idea of vanity of those who profess what they are not and seek honors un-bestowed. In this commandment, I see the Lord seeking to protect his reputation as a God and to regulate those who are authorized to speak in his name. This is a warning to those who soil God's trust or presume to take on themselves his name without the Lord's leave to do so. Doing such things against God would most certainly justify the Lord's wrath in not holding perpetrators guiltless, far more just than a lack of forgiveness for cursing.

And who are these perpetrators, these pretenders to God's permission?

I have met many preachers who hate The Book of Mormon and use all the rhetoric and social pressure available to them to make sure that book is not touched, much less read. If the Book of Mormon really is the writings of God's prophets (and I am convinced that this is true), such preachers are raging against Christ himself, using their association as "Christian" leaders to steer people AWAY from the authentic Jesus. When you read the third commandment in that light, some charismatic pastors may have put themselves and many of their disciples outside of Christ's forgiveness, establishing themselves as a false Christ.

If you are a person who purports to represent God, I strongly advise you to avoid preaching things that you are not absolutely positive about what you are saying.  Using a profession of divine mandate is potentially dangerous to your own soul and magnified by the number of people you influence away from the truth. God himself says there is no forgiveness for evoking God to support your ignorant and well-compensated claims. 

You cannot be forgiven for being a destroyer of faith wearing "Jesus" clothing.

Ruling Children, Babes, and Women

Have you been noticing more interesting people standing for public office? Isaiah saw it and made some predictions. 

Isaiah 3:4-5

4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

I think we have seen a lot of oppression generated by "do-gooders", which I studied in college and my first several jobs employed me to doing. I had female colleagues and bosses, often of the "social justice" variety. Very nice people until you cross them, which I was smart enough to avoid doing as a younger man.  

Isaiah 3:12

12 ¶ As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

I have seen more and more people (mostly men) be totally destroyed in the name of protecting women and children, forgetting the reality that such people generate the actual value in life, upon which college-trained and salaried life managers will happily project state-sponsored oppression. I'm glad to be out of the business.  

 

Walking away from pride parades where "they hide it not"

There are a growing group of people who flaunt their perverse sins.

Isaiah 3:9

9 ¶ The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. 

In doing this, they "reward evil unto themselves".  Perverse actions sound magnified when they are celebrated openly.

What is notable beyond the actions that God forbids ("sin as Sodom") is the trumpeting of their sins ("declaring", "they hide it not"), which is described as reward[ing] evil unto themselves. God doesn't need to immediately punish this behavior, the person doing it convicts themselves, like pleading "guilty as charged" to a judge.

Repentance is available to these people as with anyone else, though change for the better is still required alongside a denunciation of their flaunted perversions. There is a way back to righteousness!