Esther: Sacrificing for the Good of Others

    

Queen Esther (lds.org)

While I was talking to my husband about the story in Esther I couldn't help but think about Vashti and how she is always over looked. She was rebuffed by the king because her humility and lack of vanity, not wanting to parade in front of the King and his guests (Esther 1:11-12). She must have known that King Ahasuerus wouldn't take her refusal well and yet, she stuck to her morals and was strip of her title and material possessions. Mordecai was another great example. In Esther 3:2 he refused to bow to Haman because Mordecai knew that that kind of reverence should been reserved for the Lord. Haman was in a high position and could have probably killed Mordecai quickly had it not been for Esther, yet, he knew that he needed to be true to the commandments of the Lord and would not turn from them. Esther is of course the star of the show. Once Haman had sent out a decree to rid the country of Jews, Mordecai pleaded with Esther to talk to the king and get him to rescind the decree. She new that going before the king without being asked could mean the end of her life. So, what did she do? Esther turned to the Lord and fasted for his guidance and assistance in order to save her life and the lives of her people.

     A few attributes that we can learn from these two women, Vashti and Esther, and Mordecai are humility, selfless service, and obedience to the commandments of the Lord no matter the consequence. I think one of the best ways to develop all of these attributes is to study the lives of our prophets, ancient, deceased, and living. If we look to their example and the example of the Lord we can know how to develop these talents and apply them in our lives. Think of President Monson and his willingness to serve the widows in his ward, his willingness as a young man to serve his uncle who could not walk. President Monson is just one example of selfless service. I need to be able to put others before myself in order to create humility, selflessness, and obedience.

Trust the Prophet

      In 2 Kings 6 the King of Syria tries to take the life of Elisha but he is protected by the Lord and his hosts. Syria at this time has surrounded Samaria and was trying to take the city by starving them. The King of Israel, Jehoram, would not except the blame of the troubles upon his people so he decided to blame the prophet Elisha. When a servant was sent to capture Elisha the servant said, "Behold, this evil is of the Lord; what should I wait for the Lord any longer?"

      Elisha was the one that was able to help the inhabitants with the help of the Lord but instead Jehoram blamed the prophet for his people's hardships. As a teacher I think this could certainly happen to me. I've been talking with colleagues and at times they've had parents come in and say "What are you doing with my son? You are supposed to be teaching him, why is he failing?" In most instances when this happens the teacher is trying their best to teach the student but the student may not be participating. It's difficult to help those who don't want it. But, if we pray daily for guidance and assistance from the Lord we can receive inspiration on how to help those students. Is Doctrine and Covenants 109:22 it says, "And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;" We can teach with the spirit if we are continually asking for it. We don't have to be teaching a student, we can be trying to teach those around us, people we meet day to day. The Lord will bless us in our righteous desires.

      In 2 Kings 7 Elisha testifies of freedom from the famine and the Syrians then two lepers discover that the Syrians had fled their tents in haste. They fled because , "The Lord had made the host of Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host [...]" (2 Kings 6:6). This chapter is showing us how the Lord will fight our battles and help his people. He uses the prophet Elisha to testify of things that are to come. We need to trust the prophet to lead us on a righteous path. In D&C 98:37 it says,"And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation." I would use this verse to emphasize that the Lord will help us through generations as long as they are upholding their faith in the Lord. He says in the next verse, 38, that the battle is a testimony to their enemies. 

      In Alma 36:3 it reads, "And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." When we trust in the prophet we are also trusting in the Lord. The prophet is a mouth piece of the Lord and reveals the Lord's plan to us. If we but listen to their counsel we can be lifted out of our trials, supported through them. We have been counseled so much in the last 20 years to build food storage, to build our savings. There is going to be a day when we are gathered and we will need those things. What the Lord prophesies will come to pass. We may not know when but we know it will happen. 

      I would close with this verse, Luke 13:33, the Lord said, "Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." The Lord has promised us that we will continue to have a prophet on the earth when the church was restored. We will have the guidance of the Lord for the rest of our lives we just need to take advantage of that guidance. God loves us and knows what we need in order to make it back to Him. If we use the resources and blessings that He's given us we can have eternal life. 

“A Still Small Voice”

1 Kings 19:1–18. “A Still Small Voice”

     In 1 Kings 18 Elijah slays the prophets of Baal. When Jezebel is told of these happenings by Ahab, Jezebel seeks to slay Elijah. IN order to escape Jezebel's wrath Elijah flees into the wilderness around Beer-sheba. While he is in hiding the Lord sends a messenger to provide him with food. The Lord comes to him multiple times asking him "What doest thou here, Elijah?"  Elijah answers the Lord and laments on his rash behavior when he killed the prophets of Baal. Shortly after, Elijah experiences an earthquake, strong winds, and fire. In all of these things Elijah was unable to hear the Lord, Elijah could not find Him. Until, finally he heard a still, small voice. Revelation isn't going to be a huge, flowery moment. It is going to be something personal that we can only realize when we are still and focused on the Lord. 

      In Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 it says, "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost." Then, in Luke 24: 31 it asks, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Finally, in Acts 2:37 it reads, "They were pricked in their heart." The Lord sends us revelation through the Holy Ghost. With that spirit we are able to feel the change touch our hearts and then we are able to open our minds to that revelation. Revelation is something that is personal to us. We have to be ready to listen in order to have that feeling of peace and confirmation from the Lord. It is very unlikely that we will have an angel of the Lord come to us in a dream or otherwise and tell us what we are to do. The Lord has confirmed us after baptism to receive the Holy Ghost for the purpose of individual revelation and guidance.