Thoughts on Jonah (Old Testament Lesson 33)

Some personal thoughts and ramblings on the story of Jonah. 

credit: lds.org

I know the story of Jonah is usually shared as a way of teaching responsibility, but I saw it from a different perspective.

I was thinking that the story of Jonah may not be relatable to some because they say Jonah was a prophet and didn’t do what the Lord asked. However, yesterday I read (pg 70) that in the Old Testament when they say someone is a prophet, it means that they were called to prophesy or teach. It doesn’t always mean that they were the president of the church. So Jonah could have been an ordinary member like any of us.

Also, I see the story of Jonah as a story of agency - that we are agents to act and not be acted upon. Jonah chose to not listen to the Lord and doesn’t go to teach the people of Nineveh. He actually goes the complete opposite way. Seeing that he has endangered others, Jonah chose to be thrown overboard. Jonah chose to repent while in “hell” / inside the whale. Jonah then chose to do as the Lord commanded. Jonah chose to be irritated that the people repented and were not destroyed. Then the Lord teaches him about God’s love for all. 

Jonah chose to be thrown overboard.  In my view, this is an act of giving up control. Acknowledging that his use of agency has led to consequences he didn't intend. Now in the water, being tossed in the waves, Jonah's agency is limited; he's in bondage to his choice, and he is swallowed by a whale.

The whale that swallows Jonah is an act of divine love.  A trial or struggle provided by a loving parent to a wandering child.  It wasn't a punishment.  Of course, Jonah doesn’t view the whale as an act of love at that moment. He identifies himself in “the belly of hell.” However, the whale is likely the only reason Jonah doesn’t drown in the waves. It's intercession. This "tender mercy" is an opportunity to reflect, change and apply the atonement.

In life, I can choose to do things my way, or I can choose to try and follow God‘s will. If I choose to use my agency unwisely, I limit myself.  As I choose contrary to God‘s will, I will always find myself in “hell” - or in other words, I am choosing to separate myself from God and His love. However, our Heavenly Parents and our Savior, Jesus Christ, will always reach out to us when we turn our hearts back to them. - "...his hand is stretched out still."  When I choose to repent and re-align myself with God through the power of the atonement, I am teachable and learn of His love for me.

Nebo Half Marathon 2018

While marathon training, Sha and I decided to sign up for the Nebo Half Marathon. It perfectly coincided with one of our long training runs, we'd just need to add a few miles to it.

We arrived at the start line early and decided to run 3 miles around Payson Lake prior to the race start.

Sha and I at the start line!

We took it easy on the run.  We really focused on pacing ourselves to finish the race feeling strong.

Sha and I at the finish line.  We both set a course PR.

My chip time:

 
 

Jared's Birthday

Jared celebrated a birthday!

He and I went shopping to get him a birthday present.  I can't believe how tall he is getting!

Nathan picked out a lovely flower cake for our young man. Ha!

I sure do love this young man.  He's a lot like me which causes fireworks at times, but he's responsible, hard-working and an all-around good person.

A short walk down memory lane...

Parowan Half Marathon - Yankee Meadow Run

On Saturday, August 4, 2018, I ran the Parowan Half Marathon with my running buddies.

L to R: Jaci, me, Sha and Anna at Yankee Meadow Reservoir (the starting line)

Sha and I after the race.  We both set a PR and were very excited.  The course was beautiful!

 L to R: me, Anna, Sha, and Jaci post race

THE ONLY TIME I'VE FINISHED BEFORE SHA!

Results!

Pictures from the course taken by Anna.

Isaac's Youth Talk on, The Holy Ghost is Our Guide

The talk Isaac gave in sacrament meeting on July 8, 2018.

This past April in General Conference, Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy talked about what an incomparable gift comes to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. That gift is the Holy Ghost. I want to share a story from Elder Wilson’s talk, it says.

During the Korean War, Ensign Frank Blair served on a troop transport ship stationed in Japan. The ship wasn’t large enough to have a formal chaplain, so the captain asked Brother Blair to be the ship’s informal chaplain, having observed that the young man was a person of faith and principle, highly respected by the whole crew.

Ensign Blair wrote: “Our ship was caught in a huge typhoon. The waves were about 45 feet [14 m] high. I was on watch … during which time one of our three engines stopped working and a crack in the centerline of the ship was reported. We had two remaining engines, one of which was only functioning at half power. We were in serious trouble.”

Ensign Blair finished his watch and was getting into bed when the captain knocked on his door. He asked, “Would you please pray for this ship?” Of course, Ensign Blair agreed to do so.

At that point, Ensign Blair could have simply prayed, “Heavenly Father, please bless our ship and keep us safe,” and then gone to bed. Instead, he prayed to know if there was something he could do to help ensure the safety of the ship. In response to Brother Blair’s prayer, the Holy Ghost prompted him to go to the bridge, speak with the captain, and learn more. He found that the captain was trying to determine how fast to run the ship’s remaining engines. Ensign Blair returned to his cabin to pray again.

He prayed, “What can I do to help address the problem with the engines?” 

In response, the Holy Ghost whispered that he needed to walk around the ship and observe to gather more information. He again returned to the captain and asked for permission to walk around the deck. Then, with a lifeline tied around his waist, he went out into the storm. 

Standing on the stern, he observed the giant propellers as they came out of the water when the ship crested a wave. Only one was working fully, and it was spinning very fast. After these observations, Ensign Blair once again prayed. The clear answer he received was that the remaining good engine was under too much strain and needed to be slowed down. So he returned to the captain and made that recommendation. The captain was surprised, telling him that the ship’s engineer had just suggested the opposite—that they increase the speed of the good engine in order to outrun the storm. Nevertheless, the captain chose to follow Ensign Blair’s suggestion and slowed the engine down. By dawn the ship was safely in calm waters. 

Only two hours later, the good engine stopped working altogether. With half power in the remaining engine, the ship was able to limp into port.

The captain said to Ensign Blair, “If we had not slowed that engine when we did, we would have lost it in the middle of the storm.” 

Without that engine, there would have been no way to steer. The ship would have overturned and been sunk. The captain thanked the young LDS officer and said he believed that following Ensign Blair’s spiritual impressions had saved the ship and its crew.

I have a story of my own that I would like to share

Last year, when I was on trek, we were doing a hike by Dan Jones Cove.  While we were walking, I decided to go to the back where my dad was, and two other youth and one of the missionaries were. I was walking with them for a while when one of the youth had to go to the bathroom. Me, my dad, the missionary and the two other youth stopped and waited for one of the youth to go to the bathroom off in the bushes. When he got done we started walking again to catch up with the rest of the group, we didn’t make it that far when the youth that needed to go to the bathroom realized he didn’t have his wallet. We turned around went back to where we stopped before and started looking.

My dad and I decided to walk back farther to see if he had dropped his wallet farther back. While we were walking my dad had the idea that we should pray. So we prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help us find the wallet. When we finished the prayer we kept walking, we finally arrived back at Dan Jones Cove. I told my dad that I remembered seeing the person that lost his wallet sitting near a rock wall. My dad started looking around and then pulled himself up to a ledge where someone could sit, and he looked at the ledge, and there was a big crack in the rock. My dad looked down inside of the crack and saw the youth’s wallet sitting at the bottom. We got the wallet out and said a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for helping us find the wallet. We walked back to where the rest of the group was and met up with the two youth and missionary on our way there and returned the wallet.

In both of these stories, God helped by sending the Holy Ghost to guide us to fix the problem.

To receive revelation from the Holy Ghost, we have to be worthy. Elder Wilson said that we must be making an effort to align our lives with God’s commandments to be directed by Him.

In the first story Ensign Blair didn’t ask God to fix the problem, but instead, he asked God to know what to do to be part of the solution. So instead of asking God to fix all of our problems we should ask how we can fix the problem with his help.

In the second story when we prayed, we asked what God to help us find the wallet instead of asking to have the wallet turn up. We had to keep looking, and when we got back to the cove, the Holy Ghost helped me remember where the youth was sitting so we could find it.

In First Nephi chapter 15 verse 24 it says, "And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."

This means that we need to listen and do the things that the Holy Ghost is telling us to do and that we need to not get distracted while doing it. If we do these things, then we will never perish, and it is harder for the adversary to tempt us.

Heber Half Run for Autism 2018

On Saturday, June 30, I ran the first annual Heber Half Run for Autism.  It was a beautiful and fast-paced course. I met up with my friend, Anna and her sister Emily, at the bus pickup.  We hung out at the start line until it was time to go.

The race was delayed 30 minutes due to a few buses arriving very late.

Me, Emily and Anna at the start-line

More start-line pictures

Getting ready to start.  I made a quick trip to the porta-potty after the race officially started.

One of the beautiful views from the run.

Done!

Anna and I both set new PRs on the course.

 

I finished at 1:47:40!

Lehi Roundup Concert & Picnic in the Park 2018

Sad to say, but this year the only Roundup festivity we participated in was the concert and picnic in the park.  We had a good time listening to Ned Ledoux.

Jared and Friends Play the Guitar

Jared and two friends, Hunter and Tyrel, played Behold the Great Redeemer Die for a musical number for Sacrament meeting yesterday.  It was fun to have the boys in my home practicing.  I wish I had recorded them practicing, but I only got one of Jared playing his part.

2018 School Dance Festival

Amelia's 6th grade dance

Clara's 1st grade dance

Amelia's 6th Grade Graduation

On May 24, 2018 (20 years to the day after my high school graduation - yikes!) my Amelia graduated from 6th grade.

Such a beauty!

Amelia and her teacher, Mrs. Kanenwisher

Amelia and the school principal, Mr. Becker

A Perspective on Modesty - My Study Notes and Thoughts

This past September I was asked to teach a combined Young Women lesson on modesty.  I was nervous but excited for the opportunity, since it has been almost four years that I was released from the young women's organization.

To begin the discussion, I showed this picture and asked the following questions:

• What do you notice about the exterior of this building?
• Answers included: it was once a really cool house, old, dirty, run-down, unclean, etc...
• Based on the exterior of this building, what do you assume you might find inside?
• Answers included: dirt, dead bodies, spiders, mold, homeless people, etc...
• How might you feel spending time in this building? Why?
• Answers included: dirty, scared, unsafe, etc...
• In its current state, is this building as valuable as it could be?
• What changes would need to take place for this building to be restored to its original beauty?

Then I showed this picture and asked the following questions:

• What do you notice about the exterior of this building?
• Answers included: it's bright, lots of lights, it's a casino, flashy, gets your attention, etc...
• Based on the exterior of this building, what do you assume you might find inside?
• Answers included: gambling, money, alcohol, slot machines, lots of people, etc...
• I added that they may also find people laughing and having a good time, dance clubs, a bar, and potentially a strip club.
• How might you feel spending time inside this building? Why?
• Answers included: some girls said they would be scared to be kicked out and overwhelmed.  Others said they would be fine.

I made sure to point out to the girls that I found the bright lights to be very fun and inviting.  I wanted to set the stage for them to know that being honest about how they perceive things is okay.  It's okay to say that you find a casino inviting, it's designed to be that way.  I also included the talk of alcohol and strip clubs on purpose.  Again, I wanted them to feel it was acceptable to discuss things we usually don't talk about.

Next, I showed this picture and asked the following questions:

• What do you notice about the exterior of this building?
• Answers included: it's pretty, it's the temple, etc...
• Based on the exterior of this building, what do you assume you might find inside?
• Answers included: people dressed in white, Celestial room, font, the Spirit, beauty, ordinances, and covenants, etc...
• How might you feel spending time inside this building? Why?
• Answers included: love, peace, joy, hope, etc...

Finally, I showed this side-by-side comparison:

I asked the girls to look at these two buildings.  I asked the following questions:

• What lasting value is found within these two buildings?
• Which of these buildings is more beautiful?  Why do you feel that way?
• Which do you believe will provide you with lasting happiness?

As much as we would like to think it isn't so, we make assumptions based on the appearance and behavior of people and things.  We've just done that with these three buildings.

Then I told them I was there to talk about modesty.

I'm not going to post verbatim the rest of the lesson.  I'm just going to share my study notes and what I used to help guide the discussion that followed.

What is modesty to you?

Ask the girls for a brief overview of modesty standards:

• Dress – too small, too short, too low cut
• Behavior – keep legs crossed or together, no boob shots on social media
• Language – keep it clean, even through text and on social media
• Thought – if you wouldn’t say it or do it, chase the thought away

A Man's Perspective

In an effort for full disclosure and to show the girls I was serious, I told them I had talked to my husband, my two sons, and the bishop about what they would have me tell the girls.

• My husband, who serves in the bishopric, said that he can't count the times he has seen underwear during his Sunday visits to the YW.
• The girls were very shocked and embarrassed by this revelation.
• I told them to keep their legs closed. Crossed legs don't help the situation and in most cases, make the problem worse.
• My two sons said that for the most part, they felt the girls in our ward dressed modestly at church, but that they didn't at school.
• My oldest son said that he wished the girls understood that he tries not to think about them inappropriately, but that he wishes they understood that when they dress for attention it doesn't make him "like" them or make him interested in getting to know them more, he just lusts after a body. He views them as objects.
• I really hope the girls understood this part. I tried to help them understand that lust and love are not the same things. Dressing for attention is not going to get you love and acceptance.
• Bishop's thoughts are toward the end.

Modesty is

“Modesty is a God-given principle that can help us learn to use our bodies appropriately here in mortality.

The definition of modesty in True to the Faith is “An attitude of humility and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior.” Modesty is not vain or boastful. Modest people do not use their bodies or their behavior to seek approval from the world or to draw attention to their own real or supposed accomplishments or desirable attributes.” [Carol F. McConkie]

“…the way we dress accurately reflects who we really are and what we are about.” [Jan Pinborough]

• Modesty shows we know who we are.  We recognize our identity as a daughter of God.
• “…the choices we make to appear and behave modestly send a powerful message that we understand our identity as sons and daughters of God and that we have chosen to stand in holy places.” [Carol F McConkie]
• Our clothing is more than just covering for our bodies; it reflects who we are and what we want to be, both here in mortality and in the eternities that will follow. [Elder Robert D. Hales]
• Modesty is an outward expression of our testimony of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
• “When we choose to wear modest clothing and behave with a modest demeanor, we wear and we live our testimony of God the Eternal Father and of His Son, Jesus Christ. We witness by our physical appearance that we are Disciples of Christ and that we live His gospel.” [Carol F McConkie]
• For Latter-day Saints, the way we dress demonstrates our understanding of and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In a world that constantly tries to undermine our sense of who we are and what we can become, observing the principle of modesty can improve our confidence. [Silvia H. Allred]
• Immodesty is rebellion, self-centered, and a denial of our identity.
• Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “To those who know and understand the plan of salvation, defiling the body is an act of rebellion [see Mosiah 2:36–37] and a denial of our true identity as sons and daughters of God.” We choose to care for and protect our bodies so that we may be instruments in the hands of God to bring about His glorious purposes (see Alma 26:3). [Carol F McConkie]
• We don’t break God’s commandments, we break ourselves against them.
• Modesty shows we understand and keep our covenants.
• Modesty in dress, appearance, thought, and behavior is evidence that we understand the covenants we have made that bless us, protect us, and empower us in our preparation to return to His presence. When we were baptized, we stepped out of the world and into the kingdom of God. Everything must be different for us. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “By choosing to be in His kingdom, we separate—not isolate—ourselves from the world. Our dress will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean.”  [Carol F McConkie]
• Ultimately, how we dress will greatly influence our obedience to commandments and devotion to covenants. Dressing modestly will guide our attitudes and behavior as we conduct our daily lives. In time our dress may even determine who our friends and associates may be, thus influencing whether we live worthy of enjoying the blessings of happiness in this world and for eternity. [Elder Robert D. Hales]
• Modesty invites the Spirit to be our companion.
• Modesty is a defense against evil influences.
• Modesty is a defense against such evil influences and a protection of chastity and virtue. Listen to these words in For the Strength of Youth: “Before marriage … do not do anything … that arouses sexual feelings.” Immodest appearance and behavior will often arouse sexual feelings and will break down barriers and invite increased temptation to break the law of chastity. [Carol F McConkie]
• Modesty is a requirement for a disciple of Christ.
• Modesty enables us to “stand as witnesses of God at all times” (Mosiah 18:9). Each of us reflects the Light of Christ when we are modest and pure and keep the commandments. Modesty is a witness of our testimony of the Savior and of the gospel of Jesus Christ. [Carol F McConkie]
• Modesty is where purity and chastity are rooted.
• Modesty is at the center of being pure and chaste, both in thought and deed. Thus, because it guides and influences our thoughts, behavior, and decisions, modesty is at the core of our character. Our clothing is more than just covering for our bodies; it reflects who we are and what we want to be, both here in mortality and in the eternities that will follow. [Elder Robert D. Hales]
• Modesty means you guard the virtue within yourself and within others, especially those who hold the priesthood.
• Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress but also in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media. Being a guardian of virtue means you will never text words or images to young men that may cause them to lose the Spirit, lose their priesthood power, or lose their virtue. It means that you understand the importance of chastity because you also understand that your body is a temple and that the sacred powers of procreation are not to be tampered with before marriage. You understand that you possess a sacred power that involves the holy responsibility of bringing other spirits to earth to receive a body in which to house their eternal spirit. This power involves another sacred soul. You are a guardian of something “more precious than rubies.” Be faithful. Be obedient. Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples. [Elaine S. Dalton]

Satan’s lies about modesty and our bodies

• You need the attention of someone else to feel good about yourself or to be special.
• Physical attention or intimacy will make you feel good, special and worthy of love.
• Your body – how it looks and how others view it – is what defines your worth.
• Your behavior, dress, attitude, and language only affect you.

Teachings against these lies:

Elder D. Todd Christopherson

• “…revealing dress …not only debases women but reinforces the lie that a woman’s sexuality is what defines her worth.”

Elder Robert D. Hales

• Our bodies are the temples of our spirits. Additionally, our bodies are the means by which we can bring souls from the presence of God to their mortal state. When we recognize our bodies as the gifts they are and when we understand the missions they help us fulfill, we protect and honor them by how we act and dress.

I spoke with our bishop while preparing for this lesson to understand what he would want the girls to know about modesty.  These were points that I wanted to make sure the girls understood

Bishop wanted to girls to know – church should be a safe place for everyone.  That includes individuals – young men, men, young women and women who struggle with pornography.

• When we attend a Church meeting, our purpose is to worship our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our clothing should show our reverence for Them. We do not dress to attract attention to ourselves, thus distracting others and causing the Spirit to depart. [Elder Robert D. Hales]
• If we dress or act with the intention to distract others at church, that is wrong.
• When we dress for attention, we are not inviting the Spirit to be with us. We act differently when we are dressed for the world’s attention. Moreover, what we wear will influence the behavior of others toward us. How we dress affects how people react to us. It also demonstrates where our heart and spirit really desire to be. [Elder Robert D. Hales]
• How we feel on the inside shows on the outside. We show love and respect for ourselves and others by our attitude, speech, and dress. We show love and respect for Church leaders and ward or branch members by speaking, dressing, and behaving in a manner that does not bring inappropriate attention to ourselves. We show love and respect for friends and associates when our language, dress, and behavior are not provocative or unduly casual. And we show love and respect to the Lord through humble dress and behavior. [Elder Robert D. Hales]

Who we need to be

Margaret D. Nadauld, “The world has enough of women who are tough; we need women who are tender.  There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.  There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.  We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need women of faith.  We have enough greed; we need more goodness.  We have enough vanity; we need more virtue.  We have enough popularity; we need more purity.”

Back to the pictures from the beginning of the lesson:

• When I look at the casino, I am reminded of the word, “vanity”.  When I look at the temple, I think of the word, “virtue”.
• Vanity means excessive pride in or admiration for one’s own appearance or achievements; the quality of being worthless or futile; old English = empty
• Virtue means high moral standards; virginity and chastity; a pattern of thought and behavior, power
• Vanity is empty.  It is nothing.  Virtue is power, chastity and a requirement for a Disciple of Christ.  
• Immodesty is the casino.  There is nothing of lasting value inside or out. It is vain, or in another word, empty.
• However, if we treat our bodies as they really are, a temple, we will have virtue – strength, hope, peace, confidence.
• So what if you find yourself in the mindset of the casino or the old run-down house?  Is it too late for you?
• It's never too late to make a change.
• It's never too late to use the atonement of Jesus Christ.
• You came to this earth with an individual worth that is unchanging. No matter what you do or say here, your worth does not change.
• You are a daughter of God. He loves you and his love doesn't change.

FYI - these notes in no way cover this topic completely.  I prayerfully considered and studies this topic to present the discussion from a place of love and concern.