Perfect Love

The mock crown of thorns forced deep into Jesus’s scalp, signifies the most reprehensible reference to plants in holy writ. And, whomever fashioned those razor-sharp branches would certainly have experienced his own share of bloody encounters. Thick gloves would not have provided sufficient protection. Yet there was no vengeance in our Lord. Nephi said “They scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, and they spit upon him, and he suffereth it” (1 Nephi 19:9). Why did the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob yield himself into the hands of wicked men, and then turn around and pray for his tormentors? Nephi said, “because of his loving kindness” (9).  John taught, “God so loved the world, that he gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). His love was perfect.  

God so loved the world...

Happy New Year Fireworks!

Pansies are not mentioned in scriptures. But, these bright little blossoms remind me of fireworks exploding on a starry night!

Remembering Jerusalem

As Christmas approaches, my thoughts return to Jerusalem. Israel and the Jewish nation will always be in my heart! Hoorah for Israel!!!

Flax is linen

Flax is the blue-flowered crop plant from which linen and oil is produced. Many scriptures refer to linen and fine-twined linen. John, the revelator said the Lord's church would be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints," suggesting images of saints in God's holy house.





Apple: Malus

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold" (Proverbs 25:11).     

     Translations and identification of the word apple in the bible evoke a number of questions. The Hebrew word is tappuah.  Some botanists insist that the actual fruit is an apricot, owing to the fact that apples are not native to the Holy Land, and apricot fits the criteria. For this reason, they also believe apple is not the forbiden fruit of Genesis. On the other hand, other scholars maintain that the references are, indeed the common apple. 

     In the bible, apples are the subject of love, the name of places, and of course, a fruit. Additionally, apples inspired the biblical expression, "apple of my eye," which has nothing to do with the fruit; it refers to the pupil of an eye. And, according to one author, apple trees thrive quite nicely in region.  

     Regardless of controversy, apples are commonly found in the Holy Land today. And, they remain a popular candidate for the forbidden fruit.

 

 

 

 

Sunflowers & Saints: Helianthus annuus

    

     In his April 2015 talk titled, “The Lord Is My Light,” elder Quentin L. Cook observed that lovely sunflowers often thrive in spite of very harsh circumstances. He also noted that the heads of young sunflowers track the sun throughout the day, a plant process known as heliotropism. As a play on words, he reminds saints that blessings come for those who follow The Son,  meaning The Son of God.  He said, “Like the young sunflower, when we follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, we flourish and become glorious despite the many terrrible circumstances that surround us.” Difficulties can strengthen us and even become vehicles for blessings. Elder Cook said, “we can thrive and bloom if we are rooted in our love of the Savior and humbly follow His teachings” and we should “follow the Son of God as the young sunflower follows the sunshine,” keeping Jesus as our main focus (Conference talk by Quentin L. Cook, April 2015).

 

The Field is White already to Harvest

Wheat: Triticum aestivum L.
The symbolism of a ripe wheat field as it glistens in the summer sun, is likened to the world's readiness to recieve the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord promises to every saint who "thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul" (D&C 4:4).

Photo taken July 2015