Sabbathought: He Who Chops His Own Wood Is Twice Warmed, so he won't end up stupid and cold

In the 1960s Elder Harold B. Lee spoke to a group of priesthood leaders in Salt Lake City. He told of a Bishop on his way home from a meeting who got a flat tire (tyre for readers in Britain!)). As he took off the wheel to replace the flat with the spare, he accidentally kicked the hub cap where he had put the four lug nuts and they were lost in the snow at the side of the road. A man happened along who suggested he simply use one lug nut from each of the other three wheels and attach the spare that way. "That is a brilliant idea," said the bishop to the stranger, "thank you."

The stranger replied, "You're welcome. . . . By the way, my name is Ben, and I live in the insane asylum down the road. . . . But I want you to know that I'm there because I'm insane, not because I'm stupid." (Chuckles from the priesthood audience.)

Brother Lee then said to the assembled gathering, "Brethren, I want you to know we called you to this special meeting, not because you're insane. . . !" (More chuckles from the audience; they got the point!)

Have you wondered why we are studying basic Gospel Principles this year, from a manual that used to be for investigators and new members? President Monson has often said, "A frequent return to basics is essential to perpetuity [progress]." That is clearly one reason. Another reason may be that we are not insane. . . !

The Brethren have tried for many years to get the Saints to understand the deep things of God, by revelation and from the Bible and the scriptures of the Restoration, but still it is apparent today that this is not a doctrinal era in the Church, and that good gospel doctrine is the best-kept secret in the Church. And yet it is the source of truth and light and power for the struggles we each experience here in mortality.

Why would the Lord send a "telegram answer" to our urgent prayers if we have neglected or ignored the letters He has sent to us while we are away from Home? It is wise to think of prayer as our means of speaking with Father. It is equally wise to think of the scriptures as the source when we want to hear Him speaking to us.

The theme on the cover of the Gospel Principles manual is from 1 Nephi 15:14 and reinforces all we are saying here. There is an urgent need to "come to the knowledge of [our] Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that [we] may know how to come unto him. . . ."

Another six or seven passages in the revelations of the Restoration speak of "points of doctrine" and their import. (The phrase is not found in the Bible.) . . . What is a "very point" of doctrine? . . . Will approximate doctrine be enough?

Robert J. Matthews taught: "The dictionary defines a 'point' as: a penetrating detail, a precise concept; a prominent or important item; the 'telling part' of an argument or discussion; the salient feature; the precise thing; the 'turning point'" (17 February 1989).

When we see that the word "repent" in scripture (Hebrew or Greek or English) means "turn" or "change" (see, for example, Matthew 3:2, footnote a), as in "turn your heart to God", it becomes clear that there is a depth of understanding about the wonderful doctrine of repentance that likely eludes us unless and until we go deep to the "very point" and purpose of repentance. Most of us see repentance as a negative word, to be avoided, instead of as the wonderful gift that has been made available to us in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Indeed, as Paul wrote, there is a repentance that is "not to be repented of", which has its origin in "godly sorrow" not in the "sorrow of the world" (see 2 Corinthians 7:9--10).

That is a perfect example of a very point of His doctrine, "as contrasted to a teaching that is vague, undefined, ambiguous, uncertain, fuzzy, foggy, obscure, and unfocused" (Brother Matthews). Surely the Lord expects us to learn the very points of His doctrine, and, as Brother Matthews points out, "the Book of Mormon is the principal means that he has provided to accomplish it." With a firm and sound understanding from the Book of Mormon (Sunday School course of study for 2008 and 2012), it will be possible for us to see the very points of His doctrine in the Old Testament (the Sunday School course of study for this year, 2010, and for 2014), as we use the Book of Mormon as a lens---or as a Urim and Thummim---through which to see the doctrine in the Old Testament more clearly.  And that the doctrine of the Old Testament is the doctrine of Christ.

We seem a bit suspicious of the word "doctrine". My son-in-law, Barry, some years ago said to me, "Steve, when you speak of doctrine the Saints think you are speaking of some obscure passage back in Leviticus!" But the word "doctrine" is the right word. It evokes "the doctrine of Christ" as we see in the Book of Mormon, a book of plainness, and is the means of our learning of Him and coming unto Him. . . . There is no other way, for the Lord "doth not walk in crooked paths" and "it must needs be done in mine own way", for, He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life". Why do you suppose it is called "the doctrine of Christ"?

If an engineer planned and built a bridge on the assumption that pi is 3.0, instead of 3.14159265, the bridge would not hold. The illustration holds true for the doctrines of the kingdom of God. It is a very point of true engineering to get the construction plan right. It is a very point of true doctrine to do the same with the gospel plan. . . . The word "sin" in Greek (New Testament)---hamartano---literally means "to miss the mark". . . . To miss the point, when it is given unto us, in scripture, in plainness, even as plain as word can be. But it has to be dug out, for it is deep, and the word "read" is in the same family as the word "riddle".

There is much to say to illustrate this important point. For now, it is worth considering that the truths of the scriptures are not easily available, that a price has to be paid, even by prophets, to get the truths of the gospel---the doctrines of the kingdom---so deep into our souls that they come out in our character, and in our countenances, and in our teaching. It is all a part of working out our salvation (see Philippians 2:12; also Alma 34:37), while relying wholly on the merits of Him who is mighty to save.

We have to pay the price to study and learn these things; none of them come to us automatically.  For he who chops his own wood is twice warmed.  And we don't want to end up stupid and cold, deprived of the fire of His Spirit.

More on this later.