Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Mary's Christmas Experience

Christmas time tends to enhance and intensify emotional states. Those who are happy, in love, hopeful, content, etc., have those feelings amplified around the holiday season. But negative emotional states also get magnified, distorted, and blown out of proportion. When life is good, hopeful, full of dreams and friends and family, good health, wealth, and leisure, Christmas time is good. But for those who lack family or friends, romance, money, hopes and dreams or other blessings in life, the season can be intensely painful and disappointing. The months of icy darkness can become a metaphor for the weather inside the heart. Short hazy days, long cold nights, mountains of confections, hours of late-night idleness, and weeks of unproductive vacation from work are not a recipe for joy in someone who already feels down.

There is some evidence in the Bible that the first Christmas may have included those kinds of feelings, as well as the joy and peace we focus on and sing about.

Scriptures are often written esoterically—the authors of the Bible assumed their audience would be familiar with certain facts. The New Testament was originally handwritten on expensive animal skins, parchment. To save space, one could assume that audience members understood various implications, or were aware of certain facts (see Matt. 24:15; Rev. 13:18). If you heard that a group traveled from Phoenix to Denver in one day, you would assume they used modern conventions, that they flew on a jet, or drove in a car. But no one alive at the time of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John would make those assumptions. Our modern ways would be foreign to them. Similarly, many of their old ways are unfamiliar to us. They skipped detailed descriptions of things they assumed were common knowledge. Learning some of those things helps modern readers better understand, appreciate, and visualize what they wrote. Reading between the lines for those forgotten conventions they took for granted can improve our modern conceptualization of the Christmas story. A few resulting tweaks of our mental picture can go a long way.

We often treat Mary the way we treat her figurine in the classical Nativity creche. We take her out once a year, selectively focus on the easy, sweet, and good surrounding her experience, feel nostalgia and warmth, and then store her memory in a small box the rest of the year. But if we peer around the curtain of our own preconceptions and warm feelings, we can catch a glimpse of what she, and those closest to her, might have actually experienced.

The name "Mary" comes from the Aramaic Maryam, which comes from the Hebrew Miriam. There is some confusion about the literal meaning. "Sea of bitterness," "wished-for child," or even "their rebelliousness" are possible translations. All those meanings can have dire, somber implications. "Bitterness" accords with Simeon's prophecy to her at the Temple: "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also..." (Luke 2:35). A "wished-for child" might mean Jesus, but less obvious is the empty cry of so many childless women throughout the scriptures—"Give me children, or else I die" (Gen. 30:1). Other possible meanings of her name are "excellence," and (in Egyptian) "beloved."

When Gabriel talked with her in Luke 2, Mary was not just agreeing to be a single mother (a concern she voiced). She was agreeing to risk her reputation, and possibly her life. To be pregnant without a husband in Judea at that time was punishable by death (remember the woman taken in adultery and brought before Jesus; His intervention saved her from stoning). Mary accepted the responsibility and the risk.

No wonder Zacharias was stricken for his disbelief. The angel told him he and his wife would have a child with no risk to their reputation. They would receive the acclaim of following Father Abraham and Sarah in having a miraculous old-age birth. Mary would be "overshadowed" by the Spirit, and give birth with no husband. There was a possibility of her death, ostracism by friends and parents, or being cut off by Joseph, her fiance, at least. On top of facing the physical stress and discomfort associated with any pregnancy, she also exhibited faith and courage to buck strict social rules and obey God instead.

Mary learned of her relative Elizabeth's blessing; the community knew she and Zacharias had been blessed with a miracle pregnancy in their old age. He had been rendered unable to speak, and then was miraculously healed at John's birth. Elizabeth knew, apparently by revelation from God, that Mary was chosen to give birth to the Messiah. But what sign could Mary present to everyone else to verify the righteous nature of her pregnancy? Joseph was told in a dream, and married her, but what could he say? By all outward appearances, he had merely absorbed the potential scandal and hushed things up for Mary's sake.

Along with intense social pressure, there we physical hardships for Mary. The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about eighty miles; for a woman in the late stages of pregnancy to ride that distance on any animal would have been daunting and difficult.

We tend to romanticize, sanitize, and idealize the events surrounding the Nativity. Giving birth to any child (let alone the Messiah foretold by angels) near livestock would be a discomfort and an indignity. Genuine poor people might better conceive of the sorrow that may have afflicted Mary and Joseph at Jesus' birth. The lyrics of an anonymous English carol, "Jesu, Son Most Sweet and Dear," probably come closer to Mary's state of mind at the time:

Jesu, Son most sweet and dear,
Mean the bed you lie on here,
And that afflicts me sore,
For your cradle's like a bier,
Ox and ass are with you here,
And I must weep therefore.

Jesu, sweet one, show no wrath.
I have not the poorest cloth
To wrap you in its fold.
Not a rag in which to wrap,
Hold you safe upon my lap,
And shield you from the cold.

Jesus' swaddling clothes may have been strips of fabric with a family emblem or pattern, like a family flag. But the surroundings of His birth might also have seemed to detract from such attempts at dignity.

Jesus was born near animals, but it was likely not in a barn. We moderns imagine Joseph and Mary travelling with no one else, but travelers in ancient Palestine usually moved in large groups, caravans, for protection. This provided security against bands of marauders who prowled the wastelands between cities; the man in the parable of the Good Samaritan was a victim of such an attack. Perhaps Joseph slowed whatever beast Mary was riding to prevent dangerous jostling. Perhaps Mary was already going into labor as they neared their destination. (She may well have ridden a donkey; camels sway like ships at sea when they walk.) This means that they would have arrived behind everyone else in their caravan.

The phrase, "no room in the inn" might be better translated, "inns." The Greek word here suggests their intended resting place for the night was a caravansary. A caravansary is a place for travelers to stop for the night. It consists of a walled courtyard surrounded by alcoves (the "inns") in the walls. When the gate was shut, the animals would be corralled in the central courtyard for the night. Travelers would tie up and feed their animals in the open-air courtyard, and then bed down in the alcoves. The opening to each sleeping place faced into the courtyard. To check on their camels, horses, and other livestock, they merely had to roll over in bed and pull back a curtain.

The night sky would have been completely visible from the center of such a courtyard.

If Joseph slowed the animal Mary was riding as they approached the caravansary, all the alcoves, the inns, would have been occupied when they arrived. The other dusty, weary travelers would have already spread out their bedding, and been settled in for the night. Joseph would have left Mary standing in the middle of the courtyard with the animals, and gone running frantically from door to door on the periphery, begging everyone to let his wife give birth with some comfort and privacy. Everyone refused. She could not give birth in a sanitary, private, dignified place. By the time Joseph had troubled everyone else in the building to share their alcove, Mary was immobilized by labor pains anyway—she was going to have her baby right where she had dismounted, surrounded by livestock at the center of the courtyard. Instead of our depiction of farm animals like sheep, goats, and cows surrounding the Nativity scene, they were more likely animals used for transport, such as camels, horses, and asses. Thanks to Joseph's inquiry at every alcove, people who were too tired to make room might still have been curious enough to stay awake and watch.

The closest modern equivalent today for the setting of the Nativity would not be inside a barn. Instead, imagine a young married woman on a road trip giving birth in the middle of a motel parking lot, surrounded by RVs and SUVs. After the people in the motel refuse to share their rooms with the young woman, they all gather at their windows to watch her give birth on the pavement of the parking lot.

Jesus' first crib was a feedbox. We see this through the rosy haze of romantic hindsight; Mary lived it, and initially it was probably not something she was happy about.

Perhaps Mary wondered if she had failed, or if God was angry with her and Joseph. Maybe they even began to doubt their personal revelations. Perhaps she wondered if Gabriel might appear and request to have her child back because of their poor showing. "If you can't do better than this, we'll find someone more capable." Her excuse might have been the callous rejection of their entire caravan. Maybe they knew some gossip about Mary and Joseph, saw her pregnancy as unlawful, and were giving the couple the cold shoulder. These people may have even been Joseph's distant relatives returning to their ancestral home with him to be part of the imperial census. ("He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11).) Even if that were not the case, Mary and Joseph would have felt particularly lonely at that moment.

The arrival of the shepherds, with their story of angels heralding the birth of the Messiah, and sending them to look for Jesus, would have dispelled any sense of failure they may have felt. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds each had something in common—angelic ministrations. When the shepherds told them angels had sent them, Mary was probably excited because she had also seen an angel. We moderns tend to turn the message of the angelic choir to the shepherds into a chorus of universal celebration. But it would have carried a profound personal note for poor Mary and beleaguered Joseph. God knew where they were, and knew the details of their circumstances, right down to the bizarre choice of a cradle for their special child. This would have been a customized tender mercy for Mary. It confirmed the Lord's watchful concern for her, her child, and her husband. It would also vindicate Mary, and dispel any doubt that her claims about her Child's divine origins were true. Those who refused to share with Mary and Joseph would have felt less comfortable in their beds. In any case, they would have viewed Mary's little family with respect and awe from then on.

Their message not only conveyed God's concern for them and confirmed Mary's assertions. It also conveyed God's approval for what may have seemed to that point like poor performance.

We usually translate the angelic message to mean that everyone should be happy, which is partly correct; "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." But there is something extra for a specific group of people. Here is a literal rendering of the angelic message to the shepherds: "Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace among men, with whom he is well pleased" (Luke 2:14, emphasis added). That is the modified Christmas message hiding between the lines—peace to those who are trying, because with them, God is pleased. Mary "kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). (This might have been Mary's great I-told-you-so moment, public vindication, but she did not rub it in or publicize anything.)

However we characterize the good news to all the world, it seems she took it personally. Joseph may have, too. God was pleased with them and their efforts in the given circumstances, and He let them know. This was private validation and approval, as well as a mighty call for the world to celebrate.

One last perhaps that sheds some light on the Christmas narrative:

Why the shepherds? Angels could have sent anyone to see the newborn Savior. Were they simply showing good manners by inviting the only people who were not asleep that night? There is a much more profound possibility. Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus, and it is very close to Jerusalem—to the Temple. It is possible that these shepherds were tending the flock of sheep used for sacrifices at the Temple of Herod. If so, their duties would have included checking newborn sheep to ensure that they met all the qualifications for sacrificial offerings (healthy, free from blemishes, no broken bones, etc.). It is possible the angels were sending them to perform their duty, only this time, the Lamb was not symbolic. It was the actually Lamb of God that all the other sacrifices prefigured. They were engaged in symbolic foreshadowing of the last sacrifice; the angels sent them to inspect the real thing.

In any case, the sleepy travelers at the caravansary were awakened twice—once by Joseph begging for admittance, and again by frantic shepherds asking where the new Messiah was located. Mary would have stopped worrying about Jesus' crib at that point, and it has been a badge of distinction for her ever since. Their visit impacted her. Their message is rightly shared with everyone, but especially those who are in less than ideal circumstances.

To all who are haunted by hardship at Christmas time, it should be noted that there is nothing ironic about that combination, however undesirable; there is a precedent for it, and an antidote.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Why Believe Joseph Smith Was a Prophet?

A protestant preacher asked a question online, directed at Latter-day Saints. The essence of his question was, Why do you people seem to believe what Joseph Smith says? Why not just believe everything I say as well? What's the difference?

Indeed, as one surveys the buffet of belief options available under the auspices of the First Ammendment, and provided so generously by professors of innumerable philosophies and belief systems, why would anyone choose just one religious tradition, let alone Joseph Smith's? (Some people wish to be conciliatory and diplomatic, and try to claim that all religions are true and equal. Pondering this leaves one feeling as if he had recently eaten toothpaste, chocolate, lemons, and ketchup all at once. Contradictory systems of belief cannot all be true, however appealing when presented on their own terms. The ideas, even the aesthetics, become goofy and incongruent when they are presented side by side.)

There are many systems of belief. All have strengths and virtues; all contain bits and fragments, nuggets, of truth. Almost all encourage piety and benevolence. But an idea expressed by the early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has informed my opinion of all religions, faiths, and mystical experiences: Religion without direct revelation from God is a farce. If a belief system does not offer direct communication with God to its adherents, no one should follow it.

Every teaching of Joseph Smith presumes that his audience is not only capable of receiving the same revelation that he has, but insists that they go and obtain it before proceeding further. I wonder if anyone, any religious teacher in the history of the world, has ever demonstrated such immense faith in God, or in his audience members.

Joseph Smith taught, "The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask from books, but to go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching" (History of the Church, 4:425). "God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them..." (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 150-151). The Book of Mormon also invites the world to examine it, and go to God in prayer to ask for a spiritual confirmation of its truthfulness. Joseph took the same tack with all his teaching. He encouraged everyone to examine what he said, and pray to learn whether it was true or not. If there were no confirmation, you could discard it and go on your way; if there was a confirmation, the person was accountable to God conform their behavior to that new revelation.

Many early members of the Church received such confirmation in miraculous ways. Visions, angelic visitations, miracles of healing, and all the rest of the New Testament style spiritual manifestations and gifts were exhibited before their eyes. But many who had these experiences also fell away, and many became embittered and violent enemies of Joseph and those who believed him. Such people eventually rallied a mob that murdered Joseph Smith. That kind of hostility and persecution followed Joseph from the moment he told people he had seen a vision to the very end of his life.

My short answer to the question posed in all sincerity by the minister cited above is that I have prayed and learned for myself through personal revelation that Joseph is a true prophet, and that the scriptures he introduced to the world come from God. I have experimented as Jesus directs in John 7:17: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." I have followed directions, and reaped the consequences, and the fruit is good. It is more than general good feelings and excitement, though they are part of my experience. There is also direct personal revelation. The more exactly I follow the spiritual path laid out in the teachings and revelations given by Joseph Smith, the greater the happiness and personal revelations. Day to day directions and specific promptings come to me. I still have plenty of mountain to climb, but at least I am certain I am climbing the right mountain.

The Lord explains to Moses the characteristics of a true prophet: "If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream...With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold..." (Num. 12:5-8). Joseph claimed that he met God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ face to face. Moses gave us a test for a true prophet: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him" (Deut. 18:22). The ability to foretell the future is a gift of a true prophet.

Joseph made many prophecies, publicly and to individuals. Some have been fulfilled; others have yet to be. The following prophecy was made by Joseph Smith on Christmas day, 1832: "Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls; And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place. For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations. And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war. And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation. And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn..." (D&C 87:1-6).

This prophecy was fulfilled three decades later, in every detail. South Carolina rebelled first by firing on Fort Sumter, leading to the outbreak of the war between the Southern and Northern States. Over six hundred thousand soldiers died in that war; it is still the bloodiest conflict in this nation's history. It was also the beginning of modern warfare. The Civil War saw the advent of the machine gun and trench warfare. It saw the beginning of an Air Force, since balloons were used for surveillance of enemy troop movements. It saw the advent of metal-plated warships, precursors to our modern sea vessels. (The duel between the Monitor and the Merrimac was the first modern battle between such ships.) It was the first war that employed railway transportation and the wire telegraph for instant communication over huge distances. Soon afterward, other wealthy nations incorporated these technological advances into their militaries; conflicts that followed this war bore the stamp of its innovations, and the horrors associated with increased killing power. Millions died in trenches when war engulfed the world in World War I. Aside from the atom bomb, almost all military technological advances until the end of World War II were just improvements of what was first used during the Civil War. War has been poured out upon all nations, just as Joseph prophesied.

The areas in Missouri evacuated by the Latter-day Saints because of intense persecution there were scourged by various mobs and renegades during the Civil War. It was undecided territory, some siding with the North, others with the South. Any semblance of civilization or dignity was abandoned in the destructive terror and scorched-earth tactics employed there. Perhaps this is what was meant by "angry" inhabitants vexing the Gentiles. Slaves were enlisted for the first time by the North as soldiers during the Civil War. The South called on Great Britain for aid, too. (The last Southern military force to surrender was a ship that circled the world flying the Southern flag. Calls for support were spread far and wide to find backing from other nations.)

On April 2, 1843, Joseph reaffirmed what he had prophesied in 1832: "I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God, that the commencement of the difficulties which will cause much bloodshed previous to the coming of the Son of Man will be in South Carolina. It may probably arise through the slave question. This a voice whispered to me, while I was praying earnestly on the subject, December 25, 1832" (D&C 130:12-13). Note that he reports what "a voice whispered to" him.

Joseph Smith made many other prophecies; this is one of the most notable examples. In all my years, even as a missionary in the South, I never heard anyone critical of my faith address this glaring and amazing prediction of his. This prophecy was published and carried by my ancestors in wagons to what was then called "Northern Mexico," now Utah, thirteen years before the Civil War broke out. Some newspaper writers in the States who were aware of this prophecy, and saw its fulfillment, wondered aloud if America had actually killed a true prophet. I am convinced the mobbers had.

Another prophecy made by Joseph Smith, often overlooked even by members of the Church, is found in D&C 121: "God shall give unto you knowledge...that has not been revealed since the world was until now...in the last times (our day)...A time to come in which nothing shall be withheld...if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times (our day)...According to that which was ordained...of the Eternal God...before this word was..." (vs. 26-32).

This prophecy about scientific advances in the field of astronomy was made by Joseph Smith and recorded in a letter written from the bowels of a stinking, freezing pit-prison in frontier Missouri on March 20, 1839. Today anyone with access to the internet can look up the masses of the earth, Moon, and Sun, their rates of rotation, and the other cycles they go through. The same information is also available for the planets in our solar system, many stars in the sky, as well as planets being newly discovered as I write this. The rotation rate and general direction of our galaxy's movement, is also available for anyone who cares to dig up the info.

What is the point of predicting amazing leaps in the science of astronomy in advance of their arrival? Such a miracle is not meant to be a substitute for faith, but evidence to bolster the faith of those who already believe. If we need a steady diet of miracles to keep us loyal, we will fall short. The link between emperical evidence and behavior is not that strong. Donuts and tobacco products are proof that people can know something, but not change their behavior. The restored gospel is a program in which knowledge through direct revelation, and the power to live up to that knowledge, arrive simultaneously. One receives a mighty change of heart and a increased faith, through the Holy Spirit, at the same time (see Mosiah 5:2).

One could conjecture many possible reasons for a prophecy about improved understanding of astronomy, but one is certain: Calendars are important to God. The name of His Church today is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name itself is a prophecy, a warning that the whole earth is on the cusp of a massive revolution, the last days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ Himself, and all the great and terrible turmoil associated with it. If one prophecy comes true, it is good cause to believe another; Joseph predicted other things accurately, therefore it is logical to assume that we really are living in the latter days.

What shall we do about it? Repent, believe in Jesus Christ, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Then we will be cleansed in our hearts, and receive directions (through the same kind of whisperings that taught Joseph Smith) of how we can prepare individually and help others prepare for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.

Beyond amazing predictions, or confidence in his audience that they could receive communications from God, Joseph Smith is also a guide through the jungle of personal spiritual development. He knew and taught the formulae for spiritual growth.

He told John Taylor, "...you have been baptized, you have had hands laid upon your head for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and you have been ordained to the holy priesthood. Now, if you will continue to follow the leadings of that spirit, it will always lead you right. Sometimes it might be contrary to your judgment; never mind that, follow its dictates; and if you be true to its whisperings it will in time become in you a principle of revelation so that you will know all things" (Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, 15 Jan. 1878, 1).

I am a witness that this is also a correct principle (not that I know all things, but that by following those counter-intuitive whisperings, a principle of revelation grows in us). Revelation, and the ability to receive it, are not static. It is a dynamic principle in any individual, and the more you learn to detect it and follow such promptings, the more promptings you receive. This becomes a cycle of receiving and obeying, becoming more in tune, receiving, obeying, tuning, receiving, etc. It works just as Joseph taught (and lived it himself).

Outcomes of following such promptings abound in my own life. I have become so accustomed to Joseph Smith's teachings, prophecies, and scripture revealed to him being validated by personal revelation and other people's scientific probing that I take his calling as a prophet for granted.

In sharp contrast, I have not heard any modern preacher or teacher of another faith suggest that his adherents ask God for confirmation of his teachings, or his calling. To me, this bespeaks a lack of faith in God, or a lack of confidence in one's audience. Nor do they produce new scripture like ancient prophets, or make predictions about the future that extend beyond interpretations of preexisting prophecies in the Bible.

Joseph never claimed to be more than a man, but he also never claimed to be less than a true messenger sent from God. His teachings are consistent with the whole New Testament, not just a pamphlet's worth of instructions to confess Jesus and leave it at that. Modern preachers seem unable to reconcile statements about salvation by grace and the innumerable invitations to ensure salvation by altering behavior (repent) in the scriptures. This indicates that their teachings are not consistent with the faith described in the New Testament. Joseph Smith was able to explain why grace saves us while works enumerated in the scriptures are still imperative to our eternal salvation. He made the scriptures more comprehensible and internally consistent for his audiences, in contrast to the river of contradictions and loose ends so common then and today.

Spiritual rebirth, being born again, is a true doctrine, but the extension of that idea is that after one is born, one is an infant in need of maturation and growth. Paul hints at this by comparing simple ideas to milk, and more complex doctrines to meat. One does not feed a baby fillet mignon. Much of what passes for Christian teaching today is unwilling to grow up and face "hard sayings." This defect is absent with Joseph Smith; he could take the most learned men as far as they were ready, willing, and able to go. And contrary to modern pop-Christianity, this growth and maturation is not cosmetic; it is mandatory. Joseph Smith's powers were not the result of his imagination; he was informed directly by the Holy Ghost. His detractors and Jesus' enemies explained their abilities the same way: "thou...hast a devil" (John 8:48).

Both were persecuted and eventually murdered for doing what God told them and for teaching God's word, for doing the right thing. Both are misrepresented posthumously. The parallels between their ministries and lives are striking (though Joseph was the servant of Jesus, not His peer). Joseph Smith was a humble, powerful witness for Jesus Christ; he always pointed people to Him. The Book of Mormon and other scriptures revealed through him confirm this great truth—that Jesus Christ is the Savior.

This could go on much longer, but let this be a short answer to a big and important question: Was Joseph Smith a true prophet? Yes—the evidence in his favor becomes overwhelming if one will just look for it. And God confirms the truth of His message (including what was delivered by Joseph Smith) when we ask in humble prayer, with a willingness to change our lives accordingly.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

More "Be"s

President Hinckley offered the youth of the Church six "Be" statements. Instead of emphasizing a list of thing we ought to do, then forget about, he told the youth what we ought to be, or become:

1. Be grateful.
2. Be smart.
3. Be clean.
4. Be true.
5. Be humble.
6. Be prayerful.

Those were President Hinckley's "Be" statements, and he elaborated on the why and how of each. I have found a few "be" commandments from the Lord in the scriptures. The Lord gives reasons accompanying each instruction. 

Be Still

"And they that have been scattered shall be gathered. And all they who have mourned shall be comforted. And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned. Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God" (D&C 101:14-16).

C. S. Lewis described our frantic, panicked behavior as the thrashing of a drowning person that keeps rescuers from helping him. If he calms down, it is then easier for a rescuer to pull him to safety.
Notice that when the Lord is telling us to "be still," He is also giving the reasons we have to do so; He describes what He is doing, and what His powers are, and what He will yet do. Enoch also feared, and the Lord comforted him: "And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good. Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you. Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me." (Moses 6:32-34). The Lord does not just tell us to quit whining; He gives us good reasons to have hope and confidence, emphasizing His guiding hand in all life, including ours. Enoch became frightening himself, offending hearers and scaring everyone else.

"...behold the works of the Lord...He maketh wars to cease...Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:8-10). "…stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord..." (Ex. 14:13). This is not a direction to be idle, but observant, to watch God work on our behalf.

Be Thou Humble

Lehi taught that the ends of the law could only be answered to those with broken hearts and contrite spirits, "and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered" (2Ne. 2:7). Other virtues tend to get top billing; humility gets far less emphasis than it deserves in Sunday schools and sacrament meetings. It is usually associated with repentance for sin, cast as something to be discarded after we have obtained forgiveness. But a closer look at the scriptures reveals that setting aside humility is never advisable.

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers" (D&C 112:10). Guidance comes through the Spirit; the portion of the Spirit we have is proportional to our humility (and other prerequisite virtues and obedience). Revelation and guidance are therefore proportional to our humility. Why would the Lord give more guidance to us if we are not humble, not willing to follow it? Humility is for beginners, intermediates, and experts. It increases as we grow, not decreases. Perhaps it changes from the time of initiation to our more mature stages, but it grows deeper if anything.

Be Not Afraid

Yesterday I was assaulted by a large dog. I prayed for protection as it charged. I turned against the animal, and chased it off. I was grateful it retreated. I reflected on the surge of adrenaline that accompanied the random assault by this dog. It occurred to me that most of the stress I experienced yesterday originated from unseen things, worries about the future and the past. The real attack was sudden and brief, and I emerged without an injury even to my clothes. Worries are often many times worse than the actual thing itself. As F. D. Roosevelt phrased it, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Dwelling on fear leads to paralysis and ulcers; an actual attack allowed me to act, defend myself, and (through God’s mercy) come away unscathed.

Perhaps "be not afraid" is the most frequently violated instruction in all scripture. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Elder Scott has said that God must be hurt by our unwillingness to keep this commandment, to trust Him enough not to be disturbed or fearful.

Jesus walked across stormy seas to reach His disciples in boat. "And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matt. 14:25-27). It is strange how we tend to fear the thing that will save us more than the things that will destroy us. (Be not afraid...of Him! The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but apparently it must eventually mature into something else.)

Peter wanted to walk on the water: "And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matt. 14:28-31). This rebuke echoes down to us in our day. It describes the cause of our great fears—doubt, weak faith. Our feelings are the result of what we truly believe, not necessarily what is actually happening around us.

The commandments to "be not afraid" comes with another:

Be of Good Cheer

Why do we gravitate towards negativity, pessimism, and worry? We often rush to marinate in it like a hot tub. A professor said that editors considering manuscripts of novels for publication have one main request—"Make me feel something." This is their cry to all would-be authors. It does not matter whether the emotion evoked by the story is fear, joy, lust, anxiety, discomfort, sorrow, depression, or pessimism. The main concern is that the story generates any feelings so long as they are intense. Perhaps some gravitate toward negativity because they want to avoid the embarrassment of having their faith and optimism disproved. They try to beat tragedy (which they view as inevitable) to the punch by putting up a barrier of stoic cynicism. Better to be right and miserable than to hope and be embarrassed. In any case, the Lord wants us to be more discriminating about our emotional and mental diet.

Why on earth should we be of good cheer with all the bad that goes on? "Gospel" literally means "good news." Just before the Savior’s darkest hour, and the great distress it would cause His twelve apostles, He told them: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). This is strange—the Lord seems to assume that our feelings can be detached from our circumstances. You WILL have tribulation, but be happy anyway. Why can we be happy when things are going poorly? "I have overcome the world."

How does His victory right out problems without necessarily making them vanish? We rely "alone upon the merits of Christ," (Moroni 6:4). "Merit" means what is earned or deserved. We deserve death and problems; Christ has earned heaven, and is willing to share it with us. We will have problems as long as we are alive, but anticipation of heaven, along with the confirmation of that faith that comes through personal revelation, enable us to be happy despite our problems. Eventual and ultimate joy will attend us in the end if we are faithful, and that is something to be happy about here and now.