Ether 12:27 - What does it mean to you?

[Connie]

Originally Posted by HoosierGuy

I asked about this verse because my view of it are similar to Tomk's view
of it and wanted to make sure I was not way off base with my view of it. I'm thinking of my weaknesses and sinful temptations/mistakes and how to overcome them. Reading that verse gives me hope, knowing that Father gave me these weaknesses to actually make me a better person by overcoming them with His and His Son's (our Savior's) help. That's the way I view it anyway. If it's the wrong view then I'm sorry.

If we understand the word "give" a little differently, that's nothing to apologize for. I actually agree with you, i simply think it's also important to emphasize that choice was involved. As it continues to be involved. We can choose to act on our weaknesses or turn to Lord and be strengthened.

[tomk]

In any event, Christ is the One ordained to help our weaknesses become strengths.

It's not a matter of thinking if we "need His help". We do need it.


Setting aside Him helping our weaknesses become strengths for a moment -- let's just contemplate the RELATIONSHIP part. How can we think to live with a Jesus (and Heavenly Father) that we don't know???

That is the real rub. Do we WANT to live with Them and DO what they DO?


Mosiah 5: 13
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?


Even if you don't feel you don't have weaknesses, the covenant relationship is still required so that we can be taught by Him and be One with Him.

[norgaards]

I'll try to explain what i believe as good as i can as English isn't my mothertongue.

I think that it is the weaknesses of the flesh which we experience in this mortal life. It is also bad habits (which is called chains in the scriptures) which we struggle to overcome. What may be weakness for one person isn't necessarily weakness for another person. The Lord nows what opposition a person needs personally to make what may be weak in him strong (2.Ne. 2:11).

As already cited we become more conscious about our own weaknesses when we come unto Christ and see our weaknesses in his light (Mosiah 4:5). At the same time , however, we become partakers in the mercy or power made available through the Atonement, which will make our weaknesses strong.

This blessing doesn't come to us if we are standing with a leg in each camp. To get it we must follow Christ's example:

The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him, (John 8:29)

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1.John 3:22)

My own experience is that we need to move forward in obedience to the Lords commandments, and leave our weaknesses behind our back to get the blessing or the power through which our weaknesses can be made strong. When we do that we will be counted among those who 'overcometh' (Revelation 3:21) and the Lord will help us overcome our weaknesses.

I have a testimony about this verse in Isaiah - which is interestingly also given in D&C 89:18-21:

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that await upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)

We will only be partakers of that blessing, not being weary or faint as regards to our testimony, if we move forward in obedience and faith.

Thanks
John

[tomk]

I have enjoyed the commentary so far.

Inasmuch as we lack understanding of the source and nature of our weaknesses, Christ will teach us personally what their exact nature is as we come unto Him. The importance lies not in the semantics of what "giving" us our weaknesses means ... what is important is TO WHOM we go in order to become stronger. I believe the Lord is the only Source for making us strong.

For me, believing that the Lord GAVE me my weaknesses -- and that in some pre-mortal realm I AGREED TO ACCEPT THOSE WEAKNESSES -- this reality changes everything for me. I can approach the throne of Grace with CONFIDENCE not shame ... for when I counsel with the Lord I am partnering with Him. I am continuing the partnership that began in the pre-existence. Togther, the Lord and I are taking my weaknesses and using them to teach me, humble me, and ultimately make me stronger. Without my weaknesses, such growth would not be possible, and I would feel no real need to cry unto my Savior, or make use of the great gift He has given me in the form of His Atonement! Strangely, I am grateful for my weaknesses!

[Elgama]

I remember a blessing when I was feeling miserable that said I was to pray very hard before improving any of my faults because Heavenly Father had given them to me to help me get through the difficult times in my life lol

-Charley

[Misshalfway]

I don't know if God literally said "alright Miss, I am giving you some serious pride. And to TomK, I am giving this incredibly desire for power. " I think that he gave us the condition of human weakness and from there I am not sure how specific it gets.

I know we progressed in the pre-earth life and developed talents there. Sometimes I look at my weakness and how Satan plays on it and wonder if he didn't know my weaknesses in that realm or if he just knows human nature so well that he plays that way with everyone.

I do know that our weaknesses are some of our best friends. They keep us humble and striving and needing help from the Lord. I think there is great power in the process of this Ether scripture because thru the conquering of weakness with the Lord's help, we become strong. I like this process in my life. I won't say love, cause my weaknesses just bite, but I do love how it feels to climb the little mount Everest's of my life.

I suppose the trick is getting humble enough to allow Father to show us our weakness. That isn't always fun, but if we can get past the threatening parts of that, it can be really really good for the soul.

[tomk]

That Satan knows us and takes advantage of our weakness is scriptural:

2 Ne. 2: 8, 27, 29
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

• • •
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

• • •
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.




But equally scriptural (and this is where I would focus) is the Lord's power to free us from that which binds us:


27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator [CHRIST] of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.