Let’s think about how we progress through the virtues.

A virtue set is static.  Here are virtues and vices that relate to each other.

Its true that real men and women tend to experience a mix of most virtues and vices to greater and lesser degrees all at the same time.   That mix changes over time.  We can become more or less virtuous.  Our existing virtues become stronger.  Our branches grow.  The real experience of virtue is growth, repentance, and change.  A virtue set is a terrain.  We move around on it.

There is a lot of precedent in the scriptures.

For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

-thus 2 Nephi 28:30.

That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day

-thus D&C 50:24.

We have the Plan of Salvation which moves us from stage to stage.  In mortality we have dispensations and the Law of Moses giving way or being fulfilled in the higher law of Christ.  We have the concept often preached in the Church and elsewhere that we need to move on from negative virtues (thou shalt nots, direct commands) to positive virtues (thou shalts, open-ended principles).  It is a wicked and slothful servant who must be commanded in all things.

What if for fun we rearrange the virtue set as a virtue chain?

(more…)

Section 59

God keeps promising material rewards in this section.  Much more than we would like to think when we think of ourselves as spiritual and above that sort of thing.  Almost prosperity gospel level here.

Vv. 2-4.  Inheriting the earth, literally not metaphorically.  Also the good things of the earth.   Also strength.  Along with spiritual blessings like revelation.

Vv. 16-19.  The fulness of the earth, animals, fowls, herds, orchards, flocks, produce, barns, gardens, vineyards.  Everything to delight and please and strengthen.

The gospel is intensely physical and materialistic.  It is not only those things, and many of those things you have to be willing to give them up to have them.  But it is those things.

Which brings us to loud laughter, or in this verse, much laughter.  V. 15 —  “And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance.”  I don’t know what to make of this passage.  I have definitely experienced fake laughter, mocking laughter, or even laughter that was in a way addictive and you were *stuck* trying to keep up the humor with your pals when you should just be going to bed.  But neither the loudness nor the muchness of the laughter has seemed to be the difference.  I don’t know how I would describe the difference, so maybe loud laughter or much laughter is good enough.

I recently read an interesting exchange about having servants.

To Hire or not to Hire

Who Needs Hired Help

Why Parents Need to Be Able to Hire Help for their Kids

My sympathies are with the no-servants side.  Most decent people cannot count on being able to afford it.  I certainly don’t see it as an evil for people who can do it to do it, but our society already sets up way too many expectations for running a household that price most people out.  The key is to reject the expectations.  Also the desire of upper middle class people for cheap help is a real problem for our society.

That said, I recently took my wife on a work trip.  Nice hotel, nice area, all that.  She took dresses and for a few days blossomed into real chic elegance.  She is usually classy, but being away from burdens made a real difference to her.

Section 50

V. 2-3.  False spirits and Satan listed as separate groups.  Interesting.  Is his kingdom uncontrolled?

V. 12.  No universal logic? Logic, like math, has always seemed to me to be at the very heart of things.  Here God seems to say that our logic is play logic.

V.31.  If God does not help you know the spirit, it is not of God.  Sounds simple, but what that actually means in practice is worth some thought.

V. 43.  Compare with v. 22.  Seems to be saying that the sort of mutual understanding we achieve when teaching under the influence of the spirit is the oneness that the Godhead has which they invite us to join.

V. 33.  Also compare with v.22.  Rejoicing is essentially a communal emotion that opens you up?

Section 51

v. 17. Act as if you were going to live here many years.