On the Refiner's Fire

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On the Refiner's Fire A Lesson for The Ward Council Sterling Park Ward Ashburn, VA Stake Bishop D. Calvin Andrus 25 January 2008 Version 1.1 Released under the Creative Common 3.

1 On the Refiner's Fire A Lesson for The Ward Council Sterling Park Ward Ashburn, VA Stake Bishop D. Calvin Andrus 25 January 2008 Version 1.1 Released under the Creative Common 3.0 License The background image is a derivative work of a photo entitled "Roar of Flames" (c) Tomo.Yun (yun2@akx.jp), It is used with permission. This lesson is released under the Creative Commons 3.0 license. You are free: * to Share to copy, distribute, display, and perform this talk/lesson * to Remix to adapt or make derivative works of this talk/lesson Under the following conditions: * Attribution. You must attribute this talk to me by my name, by talk/lesson title, by source (wiki.acadac.net), by date, and by version number (if available). * Please send me an and tell me how you used this talk/lesson. * For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. The best way to do this is with a link to the following web page. * Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder (me). * Apart from the remix rights granted under this license, nothing in this license impairs or restricts the author's moral rights. 1

2 An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. 2

3 Both the banker and lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness, and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats. 3

4 Finally, the banker said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?" The old preacher mustered up his strength and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go." 4

5 On to the Lesson 5

6 Refiner's Fire Mal. 3: 2-3 D&C 128: 24 Scriptural references to the Refiner's Fire 6

7 Would someone please simply explain the metallurgical refining process? As understood at the time the scriptural references were penned 7

Refining Metal Prep Metal Heat Ore Slag Before heating the ore, it is prepared to make the heating more efficient. The ore is broken into smaller pieces.

8 Refining Metal Prep Metal Heat Ore Slag Before heating the ore, it is prepared to make the heating more efficient. The ore is broken into smaller pieces. It is often leached with acids, and then mixed with catalysts. This prepared mixture is then submitted to the heat. In heating the prepared rock, the metal separates from the non-metal. The slag (sometimes called dross) floats on top of the metal. Once the slag is drained off, one is left with (nearly) pure metal. 8

9 Blast Furnace Prep'd Iron Ore and Coal put in here Air blasted in here Slag drained from top of metal Pure metal drained from bottom Again, the ore must be prepared before it is heated in order to obtain pure metal. 9

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10 When the metal is pure and molten, it is cast into shape and worked. jpg It is cast into the shape the refiner decides, not the shape the metal decides. 10

11 The purpose of refining metal is to remove the impurities. Refining is an arduous process. 11

12 Spiritual / Personal Sense... Ore? Slag? Prep? Refiner? Heat? In our own personal, spiritual lives, we are the ore and the Lord is the refiner. What preparation do we go through before we start the refining process? In the refining process, what is the heat and what is the slag? What do we need to get rid of and how does that happen? Can someone give me some hypothetical examples of spiritual slag and the kind of spiritual heat that would get rid of it? For example, the slag might be selfishness and the heat would be having demanding children. 12

13 Thoughts / Notes Slag Prep Heat I want you to think about your own lives over the next few minutes as the lesson continues. As you think about some of the dross in your life, put it in a list on the paper you have, then take a guess at how you might be prepared to be refined, and what the heat might be to get that slag out of your life. 13

14 Two Examples wned_by_joseph_smith_iii.jpg 14

15 Abraham's Story, part 1 Gen 14:9-24 Gen 15:1-6 Gen 16:1-4,15 Gen 17:15-19 Gen 14: Lot is captured, Abram rescues him. Pays tithing to Melchizedek. Refuses the gift of the King of Sodom. Gen 15:1-6 - Abram asks the Lord for an heir. Request granted. Abram believes it is a righteous desire. Gen 16:1-4,15 - After 10 years, still no heir, so had a child by Hagar. Gen 17: Sarah to bear a son. 15

16 Abraham's Story, part 2 Gen 21:1-3 Gen 22:1, fn a Gen 22:2 Gen 22:3 Gen 21:1-3 - Sarah (finally) bears Isaac Gen 22:1 fn a - The Lord is going to test Abraham Gen 22:2 - Required to sacrifice Isaac Gen 22:3 - Abraham goes 16

17 Abraham's Thoughts? Did he understand right? Did this make sense? Did he tell his wife? Did he know the outcome? -- do you think Abraham questioned in his own mind if he had really been inspired or not -- probably did not tell his wife before hand -- must have been in turmoil for three days -- was Abraham going to trust in the Lord, or trust in his own self -- Abraham did not know the outcome, but obeyed anyway, -- Isaac had to carry the wood, like Christ had to carry his cross -- neither Abraham, nor Isaac, could have intellectually rationalized this in their minds, but still obeyed -- don't know what dross Abraham had to cast off, but he came out pure gold -- the refiner's fire is a trial of our faith 17

18 Abraham's Confusion? This commandment was contrary to his values, his righteous desires, his previous heavenly promises Abraham 1:5-12; 2:3 - human sacrifice was evil, and Abraham abhorred if from personal experience 18

19 Abraham's Obedience? So, why did Abraham obey? Faith, see Hebrews 11:17 19

20 Abraham's Dross? How was he prepared? What dross needed to be purged? And what was the outcome? He had been prepared for this ultimate test through his prior covenants and obedience (Tithing, circumcision, etc.) Even though Abraham's desire for posterity was a righteous desire, it was Abraham's desire, not the Lord's. The dross in Abraham's life was pursuing his own desires in preference to Heavenly Father's desires. He needed to put H.F. first, regardless of whatever righteous desires Abraham had for himself. I am sure this was a painful process for Abraham. It probably shook him to his core. It stripped all extraneous stuff and caused him to focus on the pure core of his relationship with his H.F. After this test of faith where Abraham did in fact put H.F.'s will first, he received the righteous desires of his heart. 20

21 Joseph's Story, part 1 JS-H 1:17-19 JS-H 1:30, 33, 34, 54 D&C 21:3 D&C 115:5-12 JS-H 1: (1820) Not to join any existing churches JSH 1:30, 33, 34, 54 - (1824) Learn about Bk of Morm and how kingdom to be conducted. D&C 21:3 - (1830) Organize the restored church. D&C 115: (1838) Commanded to build a temple in Far West 21

22 Joseph's Story, part 2 D&C 121:Intro D&C 121:1-3 D&C 122:5-7 D&C 123:Intro D&C 121: Intro - Joseph in Jail, not able to build temple, nor lead saints as they are expulsed from Missouri D&C 121: Joseph is frustrated that he cannot do what he has been commanded to do, and asks to be let go. D&C 122: Joseph is told, "no," you are not getting out of jail just yet D&C 123:Intro - Now that Joseph is not getting out of jail, gives instructions to Saints. 22

23 Joseph's Dross? If Liberty jail was the refiner's fire, what was the slag that needed to be removed from his life? Like Abraham, Joseph probably had his heart set on his own righteous desires--those that came to him from the commandments he had received. He needed to put H.F.'s will ahead of his own, which he did as evidenced in D&C 123. It wasn't Joseph's temple that was to be built in Far West. It wasn't Joseph's church that needed to be led. Te Lord could lead, and did in fact lead, the church out of Missouri without Joseph. That was a great lesson of Liberty Jail. Joseph was not in charge, but was a servant. 23

24 Joseph's Outcome? What happened in Joseph's life after Liberty Jail? Built Nauvoo city and temple, was mayor and general and presidential candidate 24

25 Abraham and Joseph What similarities are there between these two stories that are lessons for us? 1. Even if we are living the gospel to the fullest without sin, still we will be sorely tested. 2. We need to give up the righteous desires we create for ourselves, and put H.F.'s will first in our lives 3. Faith precedes the miracle 25

26 Would anyone like to share items from the list they have been making during this lesson? 26

27 Savior's Example Matt 6:10 John 5:19 John 5:30 John 6:38 John 8:28 Matt 26:39 What do these verses tell us about the Savior's desires. 27

28 Our Lives I will ask some questions, which you should evaluate in your own minds. Let's get down to brass tacks -- as they say. Did you marry the person you wanted to marry or the one that Heavenly Father wanted you to marry? Did you choose the college major you wanted, or the one that Heavenly Father wanted? Did you take the job you wanted, or the one that Heavenly Father wanted you to take? Did you move into the neighborhood and house you wanted, or the ones the Heavenly Father wanted? Did you have the number of children you wanted, or the number that Heavenly Father wanted you to have? Do you go on vacation when and where you wanted or when and where Heavenly Father wanted? Christ said he didn't do ANYTHING, except what his father wanted him to do. That means EVERYTHING. Even little things. 28

29 Righteous Desires Moroni 7:3-18 (Or if out of time Moroni 7: 8 & 16) This are Mormon's instructions to the faithful members of the church. The righteousness of the desire is not in the thing. We cannot tell if a desire is righteous or not by looking at the thing. Going on a mission is neither a good thing or a bad thing in and of itself. It only becomes a good thing when it is Heavenly Father's will for us. And how do we know? The Spirit will tell us what to do. When we desire to do what H.F. want us to do, that is a righteous desire. All other desires are unrighteous desires. They are unrighteous because they are not in accordance with H.F.'s will, whatever it is. 29

30 So What is the Point? Helaman 10:4-10 DC 121:36-37 DC 84:36-37 "thou... hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will... thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will... ye shall have power over this people." Nephi did not seek to promote, or advance, or protect, or glory in himself. Therefore the Lord could trust him not to abuse Godly power. "when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves" If given extraordinary power, would we abuse it? Nephi had the power to send the people to their rooms for fighting. He had the power to drop a mountain on them. He had the power to enslave them all and become their absolute king and master. He could have made the earth cough up gold and diamonds. He could have had buildings build themselves. But the Lord could trust him to do the Lord's will, because he did not seek his own will. If, while in Liberty Jail, Joseph had been given absolute power over the earth and all its inhabitants would he have stayed in jail? Probably not. Would he have let the Missourians kick the Saints out? Probably not. He would have used the power to pursue what he thought were righteous desires. If we had been in jail with Joseph and been given absolute power, would we have let our families spend the winter shelterless? Probably not. It becomes very clear that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways. He will not share His power with us until we can think and feel like He thinks and feels. That is why we must constantly do his will. Eventually we will get used to it. Over many years it will start to become second nature to us. Hopefully by the time judgment day comes it will be first nature to us. This is what it means to receive Christ into our lives. Heavenly Father just won't be able to trust us until we do. 30

31 Who knows how amateur silversmiths can tell when molten refined silver is pure? (they do not have sophisticated test or assaying equipment to help them) The molten silver becomes mirror-like, and the silversmith can see their own reflection in the silver. So how does H.F. know when we are pure? When we reflect the Savior in all we do, think, and say. 31

32 The End 32

A Fifth Sunday Lesson. D. Calvin Andrus, Bishop Sterling Park Ward 30 August 2009 Version 1.0

A Fifth Sunday Lesson. D. Calvin Andrus, Bishop Sterling Park Ward 30 August 2009 Version 1.0 A Fifth Sunday Lesson D. Calvin Andrus, Bishop Sterling Park Ward 30 August 2009 Version 1.0 This lesson is released under the Creative Commons 3.0 license. You are free: to Share to copy, distribute,