Jesus suffered to be perfected. We do too. (Hebrews 1-6)

1:3

What is Heavenly Father like? What is his nature? How can we better understand him as a person. The answer is to learn about Jesus Christ."Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Jesus is in the "express image" of his father. Jesus once said to Philip, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." We can know everything about our Heavenly Father if we can know Jesus Christ. When we learn about what Christ did and said, we are not only learning about Jesus Christ but also our Father.

Paul reminds us that Jesus "by himself purged our sins." The weight of all of humanity was on his shoulders. There was no other person who was sharing the load. He never brought in a stunt double. The responsibility he felt must have been overwhelming. It makes the small sliver of worldly stress that I bear seem laughable.

2:1, 3

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." What do you know about the gospel of Jesus Christ? How much do I know about the plan of salvation? What additional scripture do we have that most of the human race does not? What percentage of the population listens to living prophets every six months? We are very blessed and fortunate.

The question is, how much heed do we give to the things which we have heard? What does it mean to give heed? The best definition that I saw was "to be guided by." Taking heed is more than just listening or paying attention to. It is hearing and then applying the principles you're learning.

It's definitely possible to slip when we aren't keeping in mind the things that we have learned. It's possible to forget - or even place in the back of our minds. If we aren't consciously contemplating the gratitude we have for the Savior or the purpose of life, the ever-present mortal life in front of us will take over.

I've slipped many times. I've let my progression slip for years at a time. It can happen to you. If you don't think you can slip, you're not very familiar with life. Your hubris might get you into trouble someday.

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation." How can we escape the natural man if we are not diligently mindful of the plan of salvation? It feels like there are two tracks that we can be on to life on earth.

1. My worldly needs and desires and troubles are always in the forefront. My job is central because it provides financial requirements. My family is the center of my happiness. Religion is a part of my life.

2. The plan of salvation and the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ is at the forefront. I set aside time every day to learn more about the gospel and get to truly know Jesus Christ. I use that knowledge in my efforts to be a sincere disciple and Christlike example to everyone I meet. My job is a means to an end - compared to the eternal plan, it isn't very significant. My family is and will always be my main source of joy in this life and forever.

If we stay on track one throughout our lives, and most do, we can never fully escape the gravity and perspective of the natural man. We cannot neglect the source of our salvation by focusing almost entirely on work and recreation.

2:9, 14

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Jesus was a God before he was born. He was the creator of the universe. John wrote, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Yet, he was born a mortal baby. Why? Because he had to suffer and die. His suffering and death led to "glory and honour." The story of our mortal lives is not the story of our eternal lives. Jesus's mortal life ends horribly. If that was the end of his story, it would be the greatest tragedy every told.

What about your story? If all of our stories end at our death, it would also be a tragedy. The story of our mortal lives is not the story of our eternal lives. Those of us who live humbly and meekly and appear to not have any power and authority will also be crowned with glory and honour.

I am grateful that Jesus was willing to be "made a little lower than the angels." His suffering and death led to the infinite grace that he can show each one of us lowly sinners.

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Christ became flesh and blood to conquer death. Because of Jesus, death has no lasting power on any of us.

2:10, 17-18; 4:15

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Christ's sufferings made him perfect. He was already nearly perfect in the premortal world. He still had this one thing to do - to come to earth in a body and suffer. His suffering gave him perfect empathy. He could not succor anyone who suffers because he too suffered.

It is the same with us. No matter how far we had progressed in the premortal world, we still didn't know what it was like to truly suffer. We were limited in our ability to empathize because we hadn't experienced real suffering. The suffering we experience in this life will prepare us to have perfect empathy for others throughout the eternities.

"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." How could Jesus succor those who are being tempted if he was never tempted? Christ knows perfectly what it feels like to be tempted. In fact, he knows more about temptation than any of us in that he knows what it's like to never give into that temptation. Imagine going through you life never giving in to the many temptations that you experience! For me, it would be like a kettle ready to burst! Christ was able to carry that burden of perfect sinless-ness throughout his mortal life.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Jesus can feel what we feel because he's experienced it. He's felt the emotions that accompany infirmities. He's felt the temptations. There are some who say that Jesus was never tempted. This verse makes it clear that he was tempted in "all points." He was tempted in all ways and knows how to strengthen and succor us when we are facing temptation. It's a very comforting thought and brings me closer to Jesus.

2:11

"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Paul is saying that Jesus and the people he saves all have the same father. Seeing ourselves as children of God is key to keeping things in perspective - including how we view ourselves. If all of us could understand our own identities, it would change how every one of us lives our lives.

There would be less depression and discouragement. We would be able to handle the trials of mortal life better. We would all have greater self-esteem. We would be less likely to live beneath our station. Sin would appear less appealing. We would be less likely to give in to our natural-man instincts.

2:15

"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." How can fear of death lead to bondage? If we consider death the end of our existence, how does that skew what is important in this life? Fear of death can lead to the bondage of believing that life is about what this world has to offer. If we exist only between 0-80 years, we better live it up while we can. Our worldly perspective can hold us back from becoming the selfless, humble souls that we can be. Instead, our imminent death encourages us to be selfish. We can become trapped by caring only for what can benefit us.

3:3-4

"For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." This is a verse about the greatness of Jesus and our own humility. Every one of us is a creation of Jesus Christ. None of us, no matter how awesome we are, can compare to the greatness of the Creator. The house can never be greater than the builder of the house.

No matter how much we achieve in this life, we can never view ourselves as the creator of this greatness. We, like Moses, are greater and lesser servants in the house that Christ created. But we're still servants.

3:13

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Two things with this verse:

• We should be exhorting each other daily. We need the support of each other. Who should we exhort? Start with our spouse and go out from there. Obviously, our spouse and friends should receive most of our exhortations. Then it's extended family and friends...etc. The point is that we need to feel the responsibility of helping each other.

• Let us focus on today. Today is the only day in our entire lives that we can do anything. I cannot act on yesterday or tomorrow. The moment of creation is right now, today. Today is when I can make choices. All of the things that I will learn or do will always happen in the confines of today. I think many of us reminisce about the past and worry about the future. If we are to actively progress, we should focus on today.

Ministering to one another is a good way to prevent any of us to become "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." We should not assume that everyone in our circle is rock-steady in their spiritual strength. I think we could spend less time small-talking and discussing current events and more time talking about Jesus.

4:2

"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." The words of instruction that we receive from our leaders and the scriptures will not profit us unless it is "mixed with faith."

Acquiring knowledge only benefits us if faith is attached. Knowledge can make one smarter and even wiser. But, our progression as a good person can be completely stalled. It's possible to know a lot and still commit vile, daily sins. Faith adds action to the knowledge. We can learn about being Christlike but it requires faith to actually be Christlike. The faith is what drives us to action.

Words will only condemn us if we do not act in faith. For many, the judgment bar will not state, "you should have known better." The judgment will be, "you should have done better."

4:12

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." I've heard the first part of this many times that the word of god is powerful and sharper than a two edged sword. The word of God is not blurry and fluffy. It's not a truth that can be customized to everyone's preferences. I get that.

I hadn't really thought that the word of God could be a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." How is that so? I think it acts as a roadmap or guideposts or signs in our mind. Our mind can be a jumble of random and scattered thoughts and emotions. We can ponder something long enough, we can lose our bearings and become disconnected from reality. Our personal biases can taint all of our thinking.

The word of God can help us discern which thoughts and intents are correct and righteous and which are not. I've heard many people talk fervently about something that they believe that sounds logical but just isn't true. If they were intimately familiar with the word of God, their perspectives wouldn't be allowed to get so far off course.

5:2

Name the prophet that is perfect. Is it Adam or Noah? Melchizedek certainly right? Enoch must have been perfect or he wouldn't have been taken up right? Or Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob? Was it Joseph Smith? Is President Nelson perfect? The answer is that NONE of these men were perfect. Not one. Why is that? "Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."

Our church leaders are meant to have weakness and "infirmity." This is what gives them empathy and compassion. They can understand what it means to sin because they have.

This is one of the main purposes for combing to this earth in the first place. In heaven, we struggled to empathize because we hadn't struggled. Even Jesus Christ had to experience this. Also, he only experienced the effects of sin vicariously. He was the only one who was able to perfectly resist temptation. He was the only one who could not sin.

So, when adversaries of the church bring up the many times past prophets have made mistakes, my answer is "So what?" If their point is that prophets can't be prophets if they are imperfect, it's a stupid point. They say, "God wouldn't allow his prophet to make mistakes." My answer is "That's precisely what he does." Moses wandered in the desert for forty years on a trip that could have taken less than a month (250 miles). The critics then would have been wailing "How can this Moses claim to be a prophet of God when he allowed us to wander for forty years going mostly in the wrong direction!?"

The miracle of the church is that it continues to grow and build and encompass the whole earth in spite of the weakness and infirmity of its leaders! It's part of why I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. It continues no matter what. As Joseph Smith said, "The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done." Nothing any of us can do, including the mistakes of prophets, can stop this work from progressing.

5:5, 7-9

Did Jesus need official titles or worldly accomplishments and recognition? No he didn't. He simply needed to be known as God's son. "So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee." It gives us an example of what title should mean the most to us. What worldly recognition compares to the title of God's son?

"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." Imagine Jesus on his knees and praying to his Father with "strong crying and tears." This mission that Jesus had was not easy for him. I think he experienced great anxiety and fear over what he must do. He struggled. It sounds like he was pleading to the person who "was able to save him from death." Jesus was asking for another way. He did this even during his experience in Gesthemane.

I don't know about you, but seeing this very human emotion from Jesus endears him to me. I feel closer to him. He was not an all-powerful God who just breezed through his mortal life. He struggled. He was afraid. He was pleading to his Father. It's very human.

"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." What does it mean that Jesus "learned obedience?" I think Jesus was able to see the consequences of bad choices. He never sinned but he surely made mistakes - especially in his youth. In other words, he wasn't a perfect toddler. He progressed throughout his life. He wasn't perfected until he rose from the tomb. He experienced the consequences from mistakes. He was allowed to suffer to understand that everything had its opposite.

He is now perfected and is the "author of eternal salvation." But there was a time when he wasn't perfect but had to grow from "grace to grace" and "line upon line." Just like we do.

5:11

It's hard to convince a non-believing critic of anything spiritual. "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." Have you ever attempted to speak reason to someone who is antagonistic to the church? It's actually hard to speak clearly because you know you're not getting any "traction" in their brain. The person cannot move from point to point in a progression. Simple truths become "hard to be uttered" because the other person isn't really listening and is truly "dull of hearing."

6:1

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God." Paul was encouraging them to move on from learning the basic principles of the gospel. It was time to "go on unto perfection." At some point, our learning needs to be translated into action. We need to let our knowledge refine ourselves.

It's possible to compartmentalize our learning into a box that is kept in our brain. We can acquire great knowledge and understanding about the gospel of Jesus Christ and then be mean to everyone we meet that day.

I'm not that bad but I have a challenge with this. In the last four years, as I've seriously studied along with Come Follow Me, my knowledge of the gospel has grown a lot. How much of that learning has been translated into behavioral change? I think maybe a little. Marci will tell you that I'm consciously working to be more Christlike day to day to strangers - even those who are frustrating me...

Anyway, I think this is what Paul is talking about. He wants the saints to allow the principles of the gospel to affect who they are as people. The gospel can't just reside between our ears - it must extend to our mouths and hands.

6:7-8

"For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned." This is a metaphor for how we should take what we know about the gospel and produce fruits that match. If we are like soil that accepts an abundance of rain and then produce thorns and briars, we will be burned.

Instead, if we produce fruits and herbs that match the abundance of rain we've received, we will receive "blessings from God." Again, it's important that we act like good soil that has everything it needs to produce. We can't remain barren when we've received so much.

6:18-19

"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." God has made promises to us. We must believe that God isn't lying. He cannot lie.

Because he can't lie, we can trust the promises he makes. It allows us to have hope that a bright future awaits us no matter what happens to us in this life. That basic hope is an anchor or a foundation in which we can act in faith.

I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father that has done so much for me and has promised an eternity of joy. I can rely on that promise as I work daily to refine myself and act in faith as I make my feeble attempt at progression. I'm grateful that all of the good and bad that happens in my life is for a purpose. Jesus makes it all possible. Thank you Jesus.