At the beginning of this year (2013) while attending Church we were told of an elderly woman who was hurt coming into the building by some youth skateboarding in the parking lot. We were notified to run them off and call the police when we saw any of these kids. Shortly afterwards I went to the building and found them skateboarding. Doing the letter of the law I ran them off. After I had done it the Spirit hit me and said, “That wasn't very Christ-like!” As I pondered what and how I could have done better, it wasn't long before I ran across this Scripture.
And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. D&C 50:23
After reading this Scripture, the incident back at the Church ran through my mind. “Now what am I supposed to do?” I thought. How am I to handle these kids the next time I see them? What am I to say or do that would be “edifying” and protect the elderly? I couldn't think of an answer. I then looked up every reference with the word “edify” in it, to see if that would help solve my problem. There are 20 references in the New Testament and 11 references in the Doctrine and Covenants with the word edify or one of its forms.
It wasn't long before I ran into the same problem at the building. This time the chastising words of the Spirit and the “edifying” Scriptures ringing in my mind, I was determined to have a different outcome. I had no idea what I was going to say, other than to do my best to “edify.” When I got to the group of youth I said, “I’m very sorry to do this but I have to run you off the property. We had an old women get hurt by a skateboarder and we've been told to run you off and call the police, that’s why we have the ‘No Skateboarding’ signs.” One of the youth said, “Who was it? We want to know!” I said, “I was never told who it was.” In a vastly different change of attitude, the youth complied and went away policing themselves.
While I’m not fooled into believing this will stop our neighborhood youth from skateboarding at the building, I did learn a valuable lesson on the purpose of edification.
Below are some of my, now favorite, “edifying” Scriptures. The last one brought home the real meaning of edification when the word “charity” was used. Do I have “the pure love of Christ” as my motive?
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 14:26) KJV
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(New Testament | Ephesians 4:12) KJV
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (New Testament | Ephesians 4:29) KJV
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
(New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:11) KJV
And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 43:8)
He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 52:16)
And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:106)
Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:110)
Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:122)
Cease drunkenness; and let your words tend to edifying one another.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 136:24)
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 8:1) KJV
And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. D&C 50:23
After reading this Scripture, the incident back at the Church ran through my mind. “Now what am I supposed to do?” I thought. How am I to handle these kids the next time I see them? What am I to say or do that would be “edifying” and protect the elderly? I couldn't think of an answer. I then looked up every reference with the word “edify” in it, to see if that would help solve my problem. There are 20 references in the New Testament and 11 references in the Doctrine and Covenants with the word edify or one of its forms.
It wasn't long before I ran into the same problem at the building. This time the chastising words of the Spirit and the “edifying” Scriptures ringing in my mind, I was determined to have a different outcome. I had no idea what I was going to say, other than to do my best to “edify.” When I got to the group of youth I said, “I’m very sorry to do this but I have to run you off the property. We had an old women get hurt by a skateboarder and we've been told to run you off and call the police, that’s why we have the ‘No Skateboarding’ signs.” One of the youth said, “Who was it? We want to know!” I said, “I was never told who it was.” In a vastly different change of attitude, the youth complied and went away policing themselves.
While I’m not fooled into believing this will stop our neighborhood youth from skateboarding at the building, I did learn a valuable lesson on the purpose of edification.
Below are some of my, now favorite, “edifying” Scriptures. The last one brought home the real meaning of edification when the word “charity” was used. Do I have “the pure love of Christ” as my motive?
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 14:26) KJV
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(New Testament | Ephesians 4:12) KJV
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (New Testament | Ephesians 4:29) KJV
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
(New Testament | 1 Thessalonians 5:11) KJV
And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 43:8)
He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 52:16)
And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:106)
Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:110)
Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:122)
Cease drunkenness; and let your words tend to edifying one another.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 136:24)
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 8:1) KJV
RSS Feed