last night i had an interesting experience. i was over at daniela's. we were playing bookopoly and someone knocked on the door. someone has been doing the 12 days of christmas for her family so i thought it would be them. i waited a little bit to open the door and when i opened the door there were two people standing there. they were from another church handing out fliers for their church. other members from this church had come by our house and we politely had a conversation - they asked me if i knew for sure that i was going to heaven. i can't remember what i said then but we talked a little and they went on their way.
well this time they asked me the same question and i said i hoped so. because my definition of "heaven" is going to the celestial kingdom - and not the heaven or hell that other denominations refer to. the guy asked me why i said i hoped so. i told them that i was working on doing everything that i needed to help qualify myself to go into "heaven". i told him i believed that our Savior died for us, atoned for our sins, and was resurrected so that all of us can be resurrected, but that we also had to follow his commandments and do our best to be able to return to live with him again someday. he agreed about christ dying for us, atoning for our sins, and being resurrected, but he disagreed the part where we have to keep the commandments in order to qualify to go into heaven. he believed that because christ did all those things for us that automatically qualifies us to enter into heaven - no matter what we do in this life here on earth. we went back a few times about this. i didn't really want to get into the whole there are three kingdoms and all that. anyway...it was an interesting conversation. it reminded me of my days from my mission when we had "bible bashing" sessions with people (not that we started them). the guy had quoted from several scriptures and we had differing opinions on his interpretation of what the scripturs say.
i had asked this gentleman why the lord had given us commandments if we weren't expected to keep them. he said that we were given commandments and if we broke them that we would get illness, have financial troubles, have trials, etc.
i so just wanted to spell out the entire plan of salvation but i knew he wouldn't be receptive to hearing it so i finally had to say we had to end the conversation and basically agree to disagree.
the whole conversation just made me so grateful to have the gospel in my life and for my testimony. i am thankful our heavenly father gave us free agency so that we can choose for ourself if we want to follow the lord or not. i am thankful that he has given us his savior to make it possible for us to return to live with him again someday if we remain worthy and follow his commandments to the best of our abilities. i am thankful that we have living prophets on the earth and for the scriptures to help lead and guide us and help us to distinguish truth from error.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Transforming Power of Faith and Charactter
My next Relief Society lesson is from Elder Richard G. Scott's talk, "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character". I wanted to share a couple of quotes that I thought were enlightening.
"A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that can be permanently resistant to the eroding influence of sin and transgression."
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."
"A consistent, righteous life produces an inner power and strength that can be permanently resistant to the eroding influence of sin and transgression."
"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Prophets
I'm sure you all have a "favorite" prophet. One who you could really relate to. One who made you want to change your life. That prophet for me was President Hinckley. He helped me to make the decision to stop drinking caffeinated sodas, and to take out my second earring. He helped influence my life. I've read his biography many times.
So when I got the news that he passed away in January 2008 my heart sunk. And to be honest it's take me awhile to stop thinking of him when one talks of our prophet today...It's hard to explain...hopefully some understand.
I remember Sunday morning address in General Conference in April 2008 - his first as sustained Prophet of the Church - that as he spoke I received the testimony that he is the Prophet.
But even after this it was still hard for me to adjust. I won't get into all of my thoughts. But as I've been listening to several General Conferences my testimony continues to grow of his station here on earth.
I had heard that his biography would be coming out. A couple of weeks ago I saw it at Walmart and I bought it. And as I have been reading it my testimony has grown so much of his prophetic mission and who he is. Right now in my reading it was mentioned about one particular General Conference address he gave. I looked it up and wanted to share it. It was originally given in October 1967.
Thomas S. Monson, “Meeting Your Goliath,” Ensign, Jan 1987, 2
Of all the battles that have been fought over many centuries in the area of the world known as the Holy Land, no single battle is better remembered than the one which occurred in the Valley of Elah during the year 1063 b.c. Along the mountains on one side, the feared armies of the Philistines were marshaled to march directly to the heart of Judah and the Jordan Valley. On the other side of the valley, King Saul had drawn up his armies in opposition.
Historians tell us that the opposing forces were about evenly matched in number and in skill. However, the Philistines had managed to keep secret their valued knowledge of smelting and fashioning iron into formidable weapons of war. The sound of hammers pounding upon anvils and the sight of smoke rising skyward from many bellows as the smiths went about the task of sharpening weapons and fashioning new ones must have struck fear into the hearts of Saul’s warriors, for even the most novice of soldiers would know the superiority of iron weapons to those of brass.
As often happened when armies faced each other, individual champions challenged others from the opposing forces to single combat. There was considerable precedent for this sort of fighting; and on more than one occasion, notably during the tenure of Samson as judge, battles had been decided by individual combat.
Now, however, the situation was reversed as far as Israel was concerned, and it was a Philistine who dared to challenge all others—a veritable giant of a man called Goliath of Gath. He wore heavy brass armor and a coat of mail. And the staff of his spear would stagger a strong man merely to lift, let alone hurl. His shield was the longest ever seen or heard of, and his sword a fearsome blade.
This champion from the Philistine camp stood and cried unto the armies of Israel: “Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.” (1 Sam. 17:8.)
His challenge was that if he were overpowered by an Israelite warrior, then all the Philistines would become servants to the Israelites. On the other hand, if he were victorious, the Israelites would become their slaves. Goliath roared: “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” (1 Sam. 17:10.)
For forty days came the challenge, met only by fear and trembling. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man Goliath, “fled from him, and were sore afraid.” (1 Sam. 17:24.)
There was one, however, who did not quake with fear nor run in alarm. Rather, he stiffened the spine of Israel’s soldiers by his piercing question of rebuke toward them: “Is there not a cause? … Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Sam. 17:19, 32.) David, the shepherd boy, had spoken. But he did not speak just as a shepherd boy. For the hands of the prophet Samuel had rested upon his head and anointed him; and the Spirit of the Lord had come upon him.
Saul said to David: “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Sam. 17:33.) But David persevered; and bedecked with the armour of Saul, he prepared to meet the giant. Realizing his helplessness so garbed, David discarded the armor, took instead his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag; and with his sling in hand, he drew near to the Philistine.
All of us remember the shocked exclamation of Goliath: “Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? … Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.” (1 Sam. 17:43–44.)
Then David said: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
“This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.
“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
“And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it and smote the Philistine in the forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him.” (1 Sam. 17:45–50.)
The battle had been fought. The victory had been won. David emerged a national hero, his destiny before him.
Some of us remember David as a shepherd boy divinely commissioned by the Lord through the prophet Samuel. Others of us know him as a mighty warrior, for doesn’t the record show the chant of the adoring women following his many victorious battles, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”? (1 Sam. 18:7.) Or perhaps we look upon him as the inspired poet or as one of Israel’s greatest kings. Still others recall that he violated the laws of God and took Bathsheba, she who belonged to another. He even arranged the death of her husband Uriah. I like to think of David as the righteous lad who had the courage and the faith to face insurmountable odds when all others hesitated, and to redeem the name of Israel by facing that giant in his life—Goliath of Gath.
Well might we look carefully into our own lives and judge our courage, our faith. Is there a Goliath in your life? Is there one in mine? Does he stand squarely between you and your desired happiness? Your Goliath may not carry a sword or hurl a verbal challenge of insult that all may hear and force you to decision. He may not be ten feet tall, but he likely will appear equally as formidable, and his silent challenge may shame and embarrass.
One man’s Goliath may be the stranglehold of a cigarette or perhaps an unquenchable thirst for alcohol. To another, her Goliath may be an unruly tongue or a selfish streak which causes her to spurn the poor and the downtrodden. Envy, greed, fear, laziness, doubt, vice, pride, lust, selfishness, discouragement—all spell Goliath.
The giant you face will not diminish in size nor in power or strength by your vain hoping, wishing, or waiting for him to do so. Rather, he increases in power as his hold upon you tightens.
The poet truly describes this truth:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mein, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace. (Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Man,” l. 217.)
The battle for our souls is no less important that the battle fought by David. The enemy is no less formidable, the help of Almighty God no farther away. What will our action be? Like David of old, “our cause is just.” We have been placed upon earth not to fail or fall victim to temptation’s snare, but rather to succeed. Our giant, our Goliath, a.d. must be conquered.
David went to the brook and carefully selected five smooth stones with which he might meet his enemy. He was deliberate in his selection, for there could be no turning back, no second chance—this battle was to be decisive.
Just as David went to the brook, well might we go to our source of supply—the Lord. What polished stones will you select to defeat the Goliath that is robbing you of your happiness by smothering your opportunities? May I offer suggestions.
The stone of COURAGE will be essential to your victory. As we survey the challenges of life, that which is easy is rarely right. In fact, the course that we should properly follow appears at times impossible, impenetrable, hopeless.
Such did the way appear to Laman and Lemuel. When they looked upon their assignment to go unto the house of Laban and seek the records according to God’s command, they murmured, saying it was a hard thing that was required of them. Thus, a lack of courage took from them their opportunity, and it was given to courageous Nephi, who responded, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Ne. 3:7.) The stone of courage is needed.
Next, I select the stone of EFFORT—mental effort and physical effort.
The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Ladder of St. Augustine.”)
The decision to overcome a fault or correct a weakness is an actual step in the process of doing so. “Thrust in thy sickle with thy might” was not spoken of missionary work alone.
Then there must be in our selection the stone of HUMILITY, for haven’t we been told through divine revelation that when we are humble, the Lord, our God, will lead us by the hand and give us answer to our prayers?
And who would go forth to battle his Goliath without the stone of PRAYER, remembering that the recognition of a power higher than oneself is in no way debasing; rather, it exalts.
Finally, let us choose the stone of LOVE OF DUTY. Duty is not merely to do the thing we ought to do, but to do it when we should, whether we like it or not.
Armed with this selection of five polished stones to be propelled by the mighty sling of faith, we need then but take the staff of virtue to steady us, and we are ready to meet the giant Goliath, wherever, and whenever, and however we find him.
For the stone of COURAGE will melt the Goliath of fear. The stone of EFFORT will bring down the Goliath of indecision and procrastination. And the Goliaths of pride, of envy, of lack of self-respect will not stand before the power of the stones of HUMILITY, PRAYER, and DUTY.
Above all else, may we ever remember that we do not go forth alone to battle the Goliaths of our lives. As David declared to Israel, so might we echo the knowledge, “The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give [Goliath] into our hands.” (1 Sam. 17:47.)
But the battle must be fought. Victory cannot come by default. So it is in the battles of life. Life will never spread itself in an unobstructed view before us. We must anticipate the approaching forks and turnings in the road. We cannot hope to reach our desired journey’s end if we think aimlessly about whether to go east or west. We must make our decisions purposefully. Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty.
The vast, uncharted expanse of the Atlantic Ocean stood as a Goliath between Christopher Columbus and the New World. The hearts of his comrades became faint, their courage dimmed, hopelessness engulfed them; but Columbus prevailed with his watchword, “Westward, ever Westward, sail on, sail on.” (See Joaquin Miller, “Columbus,” in Ralph Henry and Lucile Pannell, comps., My American Heritage, New York: Rand McNally and Company, 1949, pp. 153–154.)
Carthage Jail, an angry mob with painted faces, and certain death faced the Prophet Joseph Smith. But from the wellsprings of his abundant faith he calmly met the Goliath of death. “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter,” he had said over a month earlier, “but I am calm as a summer’s morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men.” (History of the Church, 6:555.)
Gethsemane, Golgotha, intense pain and suffering beyond the comprehension of mortal man stood between Jesus the Master and victory over the grave. Yet he lovingly assured us, “I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2–3.)
And what is the significance of these accounts? Had there been no ocean, there would have been no Columbus. No jail, no Joseph. No mob, no martyr. No cross, no Christ!
Should there be a Goliath in our lives, or a giant called by any other name, we need not “flee” or be “sore afraid” as we go up to battle against him. Rather we can find assurance and receive divine help from Him of whom David wrote in his inspired psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. … Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” (Ps. 23:1, 4.)
Victory will be ours.
So when I got the news that he passed away in January 2008 my heart sunk. And to be honest it's take me awhile to stop thinking of him when one talks of our prophet today...It's hard to explain...hopefully some understand.
I remember Sunday morning address in General Conference in April 2008 - his first as sustained Prophet of the Church - that as he spoke I received the testimony that he is the Prophet.
But even after this it was still hard for me to adjust. I won't get into all of my thoughts. But as I've been listening to several General Conferences my testimony continues to grow of his station here on earth.
I had heard that his biography would be coming out. A couple of weeks ago I saw it at Walmart and I bought it. And as I have been reading it my testimony has grown so much of his prophetic mission and who he is. Right now in my reading it was mentioned about one particular General Conference address he gave. I looked it up and wanted to share it. It was originally given in October 1967.
Thomas S. Monson, “Meeting Your Goliath,” Ensign, Jan 1987, 2
Of all the battles that have been fought over many centuries in the area of the world known as the Holy Land, no single battle is better remembered than the one which occurred in the Valley of Elah during the year 1063 b.c. Along the mountains on one side, the feared armies of the Philistines were marshaled to march directly to the heart of Judah and the Jordan Valley. On the other side of the valley, King Saul had drawn up his armies in opposition.
Historians tell us that the opposing forces were about evenly matched in number and in skill. However, the Philistines had managed to keep secret their valued knowledge of smelting and fashioning iron into formidable weapons of war. The sound of hammers pounding upon anvils and the sight of smoke rising skyward from many bellows as the smiths went about the task of sharpening weapons and fashioning new ones must have struck fear into the hearts of Saul’s warriors, for even the most novice of soldiers would know the superiority of iron weapons to those of brass.
As often happened when armies faced each other, individual champions challenged others from the opposing forces to single combat. There was considerable precedent for this sort of fighting; and on more than one occasion, notably during the tenure of Samson as judge, battles had been decided by individual combat.
Now, however, the situation was reversed as far as Israel was concerned, and it was a Philistine who dared to challenge all others—a veritable giant of a man called Goliath of Gath. He wore heavy brass armor and a coat of mail. And the staff of his spear would stagger a strong man merely to lift, let alone hurl. His shield was the longest ever seen or heard of, and his sword a fearsome blade.
This champion from the Philistine camp stood and cried unto the armies of Israel: “Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.” (1 Sam. 17:8.)
His challenge was that if he were overpowered by an Israelite warrior, then all the Philistines would become servants to the Israelites. On the other hand, if he were victorious, the Israelites would become their slaves. Goliath roared: “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” (1 Sam. 17:10.)
For forty days came the challenge, met only by fear and trembling. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man Goliath, “fled from him, and were sore afraid.” (1 Sam. 17:24.)
There was one, however, who did not quake with fear nor run in alarm. Rather, he stiffened the spine of Israel’s soldiers by his piercing question of rebuke toward them: “Is there not a cause? … Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Sam. 17:19, 32.) David, the shepherd boy, had spoken. But he did not speak just as a shepherd boy. For the hands of the prophet Samuel had rested upon his head and anointed him; and the Spirit of the Lord had come upon him.
Saul said to David: “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Sam. 17:33.) But David persevered; and bedecked with the armour of Saul, he prepared to meet the giant. Realizing his helplessness so garbed, David discarded the armor, took instead his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag; and with his sling in hand, he drew near to the Philistine.
All of us remember the shocked exclamation of Goliath: “Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? … Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.” (1 Sam. 17:43–44.)
Then David said: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
“This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.
“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
“And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it and smote the Philistine in the forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him.” (1 Sam. 17:45–50.)
The battle had been fought. The victory had been won. David emerged a national hero, his destiny before him.
Some of us remember David as a shepherd boy divinely commissioned by the Lord through the prophet Samuel. Others of us know him as a mighty warrior, for doesn’t the record show the chant of the adoring women following his many victorious battles, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”? (1 Sam. 18:7.) Or perhaps we look upon him as the inspired poet or as one of Israel’s greatest kings. Still others recall that he violated the laws of God and took Bathsheba, she who belonged to another. He even arranged the death of her husband Uriah. I like to think of David as the righteous lad who had the courage and the faith to face insurmountable odds when all others hesitated, and to redeem the name of Israel by facing that giant in his life—Goliath of Gath.
Well might we look carefully into our own lives and judge our courage, our faith. Is there a Goliath in your life? Is there one in mine? Does he stand squarely between you and your desired happiness? Your Goliath may not carry a sword or hurl a verbal challenge of insult that all may hear and force you to decision. He may not be ten feet tall, but he likely will appear equally as formidable, and his silent challenge may shame and embarrass.
One man’s Goliath may be the stranglehold of a cigarette or perhaps an unquenchable thirst for alcohol. To another, her Goliath may be an unruly tongue or a selfish streak which causes her to spurn the poor and the downtrodden. Envy, greed, fear, laziness, doubt, vice, pride, lust, selfishness, discouragement—all spell Goliath.
The giant you face will not diminish in size nor in power or strength by your vain hoping, wishing, or waiting for him to do so. Rather, he increases in power as his hold upon you tightens.
The poet truly describes this truth:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mein, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace. (Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Man,” l. 217.)
The battle for our souls is no less important that the battle fought by David. The enemy is no less formidable, the help of Almighty God no farther away. What will our action be? Like David of old, “our cause is just.” We have been placed upon earth not to fail or fall victim to temptation’s snare, but rather to succeed. Our giant, our Goliath, a.d. must be conquered.
David went to the brook and carefully selected five smooth stones with which he might meet his enemy. He was deliberate in his selection, for there could be no turning back, no second chance—this battle was to be decisive.
Just as David went to the brook, well might we go to our source of supply—the Lord. What polished stones will you select to defeat the Goliath that is robbing you of your happiness by smothering your opportunities? May I offer suggestions.
The stone of COURAGE will be essential to your victory. As we survey the challenges of life, that which is easy is rarely right. In fact, the course that we should properly follow appears at times impossible, impenetrable, hopeless.
Such did the way appear to Laman and Lemuel. When they looked upon their assignment to go unto the house of Laban and seek the records according to God’s command, they murmured, saying it was a hard thing that was required of them. Thus, a lack of courage took from them their opportunity, and it was given to courageous Nephi, who responded, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Ne. 3:7.) The stone of courage is needed.
Next, I select the stone of EFFORT—mental effort and physical effort.
The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Ladder of St. Augustine.”)
The decision to overcome a fault or correct a weakness is an actual step in the process of doing so. “Thrust in thy sickle with thy might” was not spoken of missionary work alone.
Then there must be in our selection the stone of HUMILITY, for haven’t we been told through divine revelation that when we are humble, the Lord, our God, will lead us by the hand and give us answer to our prayers?
And who would go forth to battle his Goliath without the stone of PRAYER, remembering that the recognition of a power higher than oneself is in no way debasing; rather, it exalts.
Finally, let us choose the stone of LOVE OF DUTY. Duty is not merely to do the thing we ought to do, but to do it when we should, whether we like it or not.
Armed with this selection of five polished stones to be propelled by the mighty sling of faith, we need then but take the staff of virtue to steady us, and we are ready to meet the giant Goliath, wherever, and whenever, and however we find him.
For the stone of COURAGE will melt the Goliath of fear. The stone of EFFORT will bring down the Goliath of indecision and procrastination. And the Goliaths of pride, of envy, of lack of self-respect will not stand before the power of the stones of HUMILITY, PRAYER, and DUTY.
Above all else, may we ever remember that we do not go forth alone to battle the Goliaths of our lives. As David declared to Israel, so might we echo the knowledge, “The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give [Goliath] into our hands.” (1 Sam. 17:47.)
But the battle must be fought. Victory cannot come by default. So it is in the battles of life. Life will never spread itself in an unobstructed view before us. We must anticipate the approaching forks and turnings in the road. We cannot hope to reach our desired journey’s end if we think aimlessly about whether to go east or west. We must make our decisions purposefully. Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty.
The vast, uncharted expanse of the Atlantic Ocean stood as a Goliath between Christopher Columbus and the New World. The hearts of his comrades became faint, their courage dimmed, hopelessness engulfed them; but Columbus prevailed with his watchword, “Westward, ever Westward, sail on, sail on.” (See Joaquin Miller, “Columbus,” in Ralph Henry and Lucile Pannell, comps., My American Heritage, New York: Rand McNally and Company, 1949, pp. 153–154.)
Carthage Jail, an angry mob with painted faces, and certain death faced the Prophet Joseph Smith. But from the wellsprings of his abundant faith he calmly met the Goliath of death. “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter,” he had said over a month earlier, “but I am calm as a summer’s morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men.” (History of the Church, 6:555.)
Gethsemane, Golgotha, intense pain and suffering beyond the comprehension of mortal man stood between Jesus the Master and victory over the grave. Yet he lovingly assured us, “I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2–3.)
And what is the significance of these accounts? Had there been no ocean, there would have been no Columbus. No jail, no Joseph. No mob, no martyr. No cross, no Christ!
Should there be a Goliath in our lives, or a giant called by any other name, we need not “flee” or be “sore afraid” as we go up to battle against him. Rather we can find assurance and receive divine help from Him of whom David wrote in his inspired psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. … Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” (Ps. 23:1, 4.)
Victory will be ours.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Today during lunch I was reading from my scriptures and I came across this scripture.
And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen. (3 Ne 5:26)
And while I was reading it a General Conference talk came particularly in mind - almost word for word. So I looked it up. I printed off a particular quote from it and put it in my scriptures for that chapter.
But the point that I'm trying to make is that just by reading one verse I was able to recall one particular General Conference talk and was able to match that with what I was reading in the scriptures. It's been a year since I've been listening to nothing but General Conference in my car and I'm finding that it has really changed my life.
Before I went on my mission a friend of mine mentioned to me that I knew the scriptures really good...that if we had a conversation and a particular scripture came up that I would know exactly where that scripture was. And I went on my mission and learned much more about the scriptures. And then I came home and for awhile I slipped with reading my scriptures and soon I lost that ability to recall various scriptures. I felt very disconnected and frustrated with myself.
And for this last year or so I've really wanted to get back to where I was before and while I was on my mission with my knowledge of the scriptures. I can now say that I'm doing better. It was really gratifying for myself this week to come up at the place in The Book of Mormon that I started reading from when I first bought this particular set of scriptures in March. So since March I've read the entire Book of Mormon cover to cover...I'm not trying to sound boastful....but for me...especially with where I've been spiritually lately thatis a huge thing for me. I've definately worked on my scripture reading and to get back to where I would like to be spiritually.
One big thing for me that I've had to come to terms with...I would get so down on myself if I hadn't read the scriptures in awhile. I found myself telling myself that "Yes....you listened to General Conference in your car...that's good...but you didn't read from your scriptures." But then I also know that General Conference is our modern scriptures. So... I guess I don't know what I'm trying to say other than the fact that...
From reading this simple verse in the Book of Mormon I was able to recall verbatim this General Conference talk from October 2006 (Russell M. Nelson). It shows to me, myself, that my spirituality is getting better. It shows to me that I'm putting into action what our modern prophets are telling us.
The Gospel does not change. It does not conform to what is going on in the world. The Gospel does not pick and choose. The Gospel was true back when Abraham was on the earth, it was true when Christ walked on the earth, it was true when Joseph Smith restored the Church, and it is still true today. From the scriptures we learn the words of God during that time period. Today we have General Conference as our modern scriptures. And if we really study them and ponder them they will have the same effect on our lives than the scriptures do.
Alright...I guess that's enough for right now. The Gospel is true!!!!
And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen. (3 Ne 5:26)
And while I was reading it a General Conference talk came particularly in mind - almost word for word. So I looked it up. I printed off a particular quote from it and put it in my scriptures for that chapter.
But the point that I'm trying to make is that just by reading one verse I was able to recall one particular General Conference talk and was able to match that with what I was reading in the scriptures. It's been a year since I've been listening to nothing but General Conference in my car and I'm finding that it has really changed my life.
Before I went on my mission a friend of mine mentioned to me that I knew the scriptures really good...that if we had a conversation and a particular scripture came up that I would know exactly where that scripture was. And I went on my mission and learned much more about the scriptures. And then I came home and for awhile I slipped with reading my scriptures and soon I lost that ability to recall various scriptures. I felt very disconnected and frustrated with myself.
And for this last year or so I've really wanted to get back to where I was before and while I was on my mission with my knowledge of the scriptures. I can now say that I'm doing better. It was really gratifying for myself this week to come up at the place in The Book of Mormon that I started reading from when I first bought this particular set of scriptures in March. So since March I've read the entire Book of Mormon cover to cover...I'm not trying to sound boastful....but for me...especially with where I've been spiritually lately thatis a huge thing for me. I've definately worked on my scripture reading and to get back to where I would like to be spiritually.
One big thing for me that I've had to come to terms with...I would get so down on myself if I hadn't read the scriptures in awhile. I found myself telling myself that "Yes....you listened to General Conference in your car...that's good...but you didn't read from your scriptures." But then I also know that General Conference is our modern scriptures. So... I guess I don't know what I'm trying to say other than the fact that...
From reading this simple verse in the Book of Mormon I was able to recall verbatim this General Conference talk from October 2006 (Russell M. Nelson). It shows to me, myself, that my spirituality is getting better. It shows to me that I'm putting into action what our modern prophets are telling us.
The Gospel does not change. It does not conform to what is going on in the world. The Gospel does not pick and choose. The Gospel was true back when Abraham was on the earth, it was true when Christ walked on the earth, it was true when Joseph Smith restored the Church, and it is still true today. From the scriptures we learn the words of God during that time period. Today we have General Conference as our modern scriptures. And if we really study them and ponder them they will have the same effect on our lives than the scriptures do.
Alright...I guess that's enough for right now. The Gospel is true!!!!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
That Promised Day
Right after the Sunday morning session of General Conference last weekend they aired a documentary called "That Promised Day" about how our LDS edition of the Holy Bible was put together. What an amazing project that was and how lucky we are to have this edition of the Bible in our lives. If you weren't able to watch it go to this link to watch it online: http://www.byutv.org/show/2039
Before conference I had started to get lazy about reading the scriptures. I had done so good for so long but I let life get in the way. But as I watched this documentary the fire came back and I once again felt the desire to read the scriptures on a regular basis again. And as a result I had some really good scripture sessions this week where I really felt the Spirit and learned a lot.
But watching this documentary and seeing all the hard work that went into it made me very thankful that the leaders of the Church felt prompted and put into action their plan to make a LDS edition of the Holy Bible.
Before conference I had started to get lazy about reading the scriptures. I had done so good for so long but I let life get in the way. But as I watched this documentary the fire came back and I once again felt the desire to read the scriptures on a regular basis again. And as a result I had some really good scripture sessions this week where I really felt the Spirit and learned a lot.
But watching this documentary and seeing all the hard work that went into it made me very thankful that the leaders of the Church felt prompted and put into action their plan to make a LDS edition of the Holy Bible.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
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