Lessons Learned From Lot's Wife

Genesis 19:26 is the account of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt. I read the verse along with the Old Testament Student Manual (section 6-8) and it provided a lot more insights to that verse.

Here is some of what it says:

The account of Lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt has puzzled many commentators. Was this event  a literal thing, or was it figurative? There are two indications in the scriptures that the phrase "looked back" was an idiomatic way of saying "she turned back" or "returned to Sodom." When warning the disciples of the destruction which was going to come upon Jerusalem, the Savior warned them to flee without delay, not even going into the house to get their possessions. Jesus said, "And he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:31-32). He then admonished them that he who seeks to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life will find it.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie paraphrased those verses in these words:
"Look not back to Sodom and the wealth and luxury you are leaving. Stay not in the burning house, in the hope of salvaging your treasures, lest the flame destroy you; but flee, flee to the mountains.
"Seek temporal things and lose eternal life; sacrifice the things of this life and gain eternal life."

The implication is that Lot's wife started back to Sodom, perhaps to save some possessions, and was caught in the destruction.

In the Doctrine and Covenants is a scripture that uses the same terminology as Genesis 19:26. After warning the Saints to flee spiritual Babylon, which is wickedness, the Lord says, "He that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him" (D&C 133:15). Again, the implication is that of a return to wickedness.

 Questions to Ponder

When we try to find 'home' in our earthly possessions, we will never be happy and we will become lost. We will lose our lives. If, however, we lose ourselves in the service God asks us to do - whatever it may be - and not care for possessions we may have while here on earth, we will find our lives.

Here are some questions I have asked myself after learning more about this story, and invite you to ask yourself the same and have the Spirit guide you to whatever other questions you may need to ask.

If I were called to leave everything I owned behind and travel somewhere the Lord asked me to, would I?

If I did leave everything behind, would it be in faith or fear? (Nephi vs. Laman and Lemuel)

Would I miss the 'worldy' things?

Would I murmur?

How truly dedicated am I to the Gospel?

These have been good things for me to ponder and I hope for you as well!

The Gospel is so good! My favorite part in studying this section was the quote by Elder McConkie, "seek temporal things and lose eternal life; sacrifice the things of this life and gain eternal life."

Everything we own is truly God's. He is letting us borrow everything on this Earth to see how we will use it. Once we recognize this, I feel it would be easier to give it all back when God asks us to. /as a matter of fact He has asked for it all back. He has asked us to give him everything we have (which is so little) and He will give us everything He has (which is more than we can comprehend).

What a kind, loving, generous, perfect Heavenly Father we have - to which I am so grateful.

Blueberry Syrup

Super easy, yummy blueberry syrup recipe. I don't know why I didn't think to make my own syrup before!

Not too sweet, but still so good!

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 cup water
2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave nectar (I usually use agave)
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (I used Cornstarch)

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour liquid into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until little bubbles form, reduce heat just slightly and continue to cook while whisking until thickened and clear. It only takes about 3 to 5 minutes total cooking time! Just remember to keep whisking.

So far I have put this syrup on crepes and muffins - and I'm sure many more things to come. 

Blueberry Omm Nomm Nomm Muffins

Omm nomm nomm is about all I can say about these blueberry muffins I made. I haven't had a blueberry muffin - or a muffin at all in that matter - in a year or two.

I'm trying to expand my horizions in the food area, and boy these muffins sure did expand them!

I hope if you are gluten-free or cutting down on wheat you will enjoy these as much as my family and I have. I made 24 mini ones and 6 big ones and all but 6 were left in less than the hour I made them - you can tell my family liked them. :)

RECIPE:

Agave Sweetened Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients

• Ingredients
• 1¾ c apple sauce
• ⅓ c oil (I use olive)
• ½ c agave nectar
• 1¾ c gluten free flour (I use Bob's Redmill All Purpose GF Flour)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• About 1 cup fresh blueberries (or frozen)

Instructions

1. Instructions
2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
3. In a large bowl, mix together apple sauce, oil and agave.
4. In a small bowl, sift together flour, soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Mix dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and stir until well-combined.
6. *Prepare a muffin tin. Pour ⅓ of desired amount of batter into each muffin section, then add a layer of 5-6 blackberries, then add one more layer of batter, and one more layer of blackberries, and, finally, cover the second blackberry layer with the remainder of batter. Your muffins should have two layers of blackberries in them when they are finished.
7.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown, then carefully cover the tin top with foil and bake for additional 5-7 minutes to make sure that the insides of the muffins are done. These muffins turn out soft and slightly moist. For thicker consistency, reduce the amount of apple sauce by ¼ cup.

*As I said, I made 24 mini-muffins. So I did 1/3 batter then 1 blueberry, more batter and a blueberry on top. I had left over batter so made 6 big muffins with about 10 blueberries per muffin. The mini muffins only needed about 12 minutes in the oven and the big muffins 17-20.

Instead of butter, I made a blueberry syrup to go on top of the muffins to make them even better!

The Refiners Fire - To Become Like God

I have wondered (as I think most people have wondered before) why I have gone through trials. Why do I have the specific trials I have? Why do I continue to go through trials? Will they ever end?

Being raised in the LDS church I have been blessed with the understanding of the 'why' we go through trials and what purpose they play in our lives.

I read this story in a book today and it touched my heart. It was another witness that the things I have learned why we go through trials are true. It lead me to thinking more about the trials in my life and in every one's lives that are there to help us become more faithful, charitable and ultimately more like God.

The Refiners Fire of Life:

There was once a group of women studying the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. This verse puzzled the women, and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. 

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watch the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities. 

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. 

The man answered "Yes", and explained that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was on the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be damaged.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" 

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy. When I see my image in it." 

If today you are feeling the heat of this world's fire, just remember that God has his eyes on you.

-Unknown

As we go through trials we are invited to (it's our choice to decide how we will be shaped from our trials) give up our pride, our natural man, our hearts, and our lives. If we give up all we have and care about on this Earth - which is nothing, God will give us all he has - which is everything.

 

Understanding the Reasons for Refining

Elder Faust gave a beautiful talk on this very subject. I invite you all to read this talk and see how it applies to your personal life. 

 

"Here then is a great truth. In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner’s fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. In this way the divine image can be mirrored from the soul. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd.

Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process." (James E. Faust The Refiners Fire)

Here is a story of how a woman's challenges in her life helped her be more compassionate and  empathetic.

Our trials help us develop empathy. Empathy is a beautiful gift to help bless the lives of others, and I believe us sharing our trials (when prompted by the Spirit to) helps people more than us giving people advice. There is something so special about Empathy!

Christ is the Master of Empathy. He went through everything that everyone has been through. He truly knows how we feel. 

A Challenge: To Be Grateful 

 When I complain about my trials and challenges my life becomes miserable and I'm grumpy. In the scriptures I've been beginning to see how important it is to be thankful in all things - especially our trials. 

My favorite part Elder Faust said, "For some, the refiners fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process."

 When I am grateful for my trials (and I'm just beginning to truly try to be more grateful) I feel so much happier. As I am trying to understand that my trials are to help me become more like God it gives a greater perspective and is a lot easier for me to endure those challenges. 

We will come to an understanding that our trials will one day end. If we endure well and accept Heavenly Fathers plan, Jesus Christ has promised us that, "all that my Father hath shall be given unto him." D&C 84:38

Let us "submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." Mosiah 24:15

There are exciting and challenging times up a ahead, but I am confident that if we are grateful we will have that eternal perspective and stay on the road that leads home to our Heavenly Father.