Food for Thought

"The only way that we may overcome the world is by coming unto Christ. And coming unto Christ means walking away from the world."

--Sheri L. Dew, "We Are Women of God", Ensign, Nov. 1999, 97

Feeling the Love of the Lord

This morning as I prayed over my breakfast, I prayed for some specific things in mind. As I logged in my email to check it over eating breakfast I found that my MIL had just sent this to me not even a minute ago. Reading these words was like listening to a response to my prayer. So...thanks McMom for sending this to me. :-)
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Daily Gems: Ability to Feel the Lord's Love Depends on our Actions
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"As faithful [members] of The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints, we have been blessed with the Holy Ghost. As weinvite the Savior into our lives, the Holy Ghost will bear witness to usofthe love which the Father and His Son, our Savior, have for each of us.Butfeeling Their love is dependent not only on our desire but upon ouractions as well. And the actions we need to take are known to us: genuine prayerthat is specific and humble, followed by quiet listening for the Lord'sanswers; regular scripture study and time to ponder what we read; and,finally, a willingness to be introspective about ourselves and to trustinthe Lord's promise that He will 'make weak things become strongunto [us]' (Ether 12:27)."Topics: Holy Ghost, love,worthiness, prayer
(Kathleen H. Hughes, "Remembering the Lord's Love," Ensign, Nov. 2006,112)

A Letter from my Relief Society Presidency

Dear Sisters,
I love easy, don't you? I like easy jobs, easy dinner preparation, easy relationships, and so on....so a recent Ensign passage on "easy prayer" really appealed to me. The words came from a child..."Before you start to talk to Heavenly Father, think about the things you want to tell Him....once you've thought of it, tell it to Him! When you finish, wait and see if He has something to tell you." I have put these easy concepts of "think, tell, and wait" into practice for the last few days and the results have amazed me....especially the part about waiting to see what He might want to tell me! I have felt so inspired to be kinder to my family members and have felt the love that the Lord feels for me as His child. It has been profound and life-changing. I thank God for my membership in this great Church and for the never ending flow of instruction we receive from good leaders. Take care.
Love,
Sister L, First Counselor
Alexandria Stake Relief Society

Strenthen Home and Family

Sister Mary N. Cook:
*"The Lord is depending on you to bring the blessings of the gospel to your family."
*"As you personally study the scriptures, you will come to know the Savior and His teachings. From His example you will know how to love, serve, and forgive members of your family."
*"As you live worthily and renew this covenant weekly [baptism through taking of the Sacrament bread/water], you will qualify for the guidance of the Spirit. The Holy Ghost will guide you and will teach you what you should do to bless your family.
*4-point program to assure my happiness and bless my family, too.
1. Pray
2. Study scriptures
3. Pay your tithing
4. Attend your meetings
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I especially liked how she turned it around and asked...how could my prayer or my studying the scriptures, etc help any of my family members? So much food for thought!

Spiritual Earthquakes

"We don’t know when or how earthquakes will hit us. They likely won’t be literal shakings of the earth, as happened in Peru, but rather quakes of temptations, sin, or trials, such as unemployment or serious sickness. Today is the time to prepare for when that type of quake comes. Today is the time to prepare—not during the crisis. What are we doing today to engraven in our souls the gospel principles that will uphold us in times of adversity?"
--Elder Walter F. González, "Today is the Time", October 2007 General Priesthood Meeting

Enduring Together

Bishop Edgley: Enduring Together
What happens to one happens to all. Our church ward should be our family ward.
*Mosiah 18: 8-9 --> As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;...Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort."
*"Adversity can bring us closer to God with a renewed and enlightened appreciation for prayer and the Atonement which covers pain and suffering in all their manifestations."

It seems at times that we need a little nudge in the right direction. I can see when my life gets stuck in that pride cycle (humble, turn to the Lord, blessed with abundance, prideful, fall to humility, etc). I ask myself why I feel so distant from the Lord and then I see I stopped reading my scriptures, stopped doing Family Home Evening, or lost that motivation to do what I know I need to do. I had become complacent in the Gospel. I ask how I got to this point? What matters next is how am I going to get back to where I need to be. How? By studying, pondering, and finding out what the Lord is saying to me/us today in the General Conference talks, what is being written in the Ensign magazine, studying the Sunday School Lesson, making sure I have FHE with my family. After all, family is what is most important to me.

Integrity of Heart

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."

--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

*Hijacked from http://ablackmormongirl.blogspot.com/. Thanks Shabang!

Conference Thoughts

Elder Packard: The Weak and the Simple of the Church
I liked how he said that it doesn't matter where we serve but how. I've been in my calling for one year now, and I'm still trying to get into my calling...feel the direction of where I need to bring His young women and where I am supposed to grow.

Elder Wirthlin: The Great Commandment
Without the pure love of Christ, all of our other qualities, gifts or talents are nothing. We must have charity embeded into our actions if we are to be true examples of Jesus Christ. How heartwrenching to see Elder Wirthlin in such a weakened state, but as other friends have stated, what happened in his talk as Elder Nelson helped him steady himself to finish the talk was truly a perfect example of the pure love of Christ.




Audio/Video of conference talks:
http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,49-1-775,00.html

Re: General Conference

Hello Sisters, Oct. 11, 2007
I really enjoyed conference. My sister was at the first seeion on Saturday and said that when Pres. Hinckley told the newly called members of the first presidency and the 12 apostles to take their seats he pulled a prank on Pres. Eyring. When Pres. Hinckly finished speaking and walked back to his chair he tapped Pres. Eyring on the head with his cane! My sister said everyone was laughing. Isn't wonderful to know and love each other so much that we can enjoy our leaders' personalities!
I think the part of conference that moved me the most was Elder Wirthlin's talk on charity. I will never forget the topic of that address because it was so beautifully demonstrated to us during that talk by the actions of Elder Nelson. When Elder Wirthlin started to shake and become unsteady Elder Nelson quietly came and put his hand on Elder Wirthlin's back and arm. He patiently waited and allowed Elder Wirthlin to decide to finish his talk himself or accept assistance. When Elder Wirthlin finished speaking Elder Nelson gently helped him back to his seat. Moroni 7:47 says, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is possesed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." Certainly it will be well for Elder Nelson! How about us?
Stake R.S. Pres.

Happiness Now and Forever

"Salvation is an eternal goal we gain by a process of constant upward change. Doubt is spiritual poison that stunts eternal growth. We must first feel our way before we can see it with any clarity. We prove ourselves by making numerous correct decisions without being absolutely sure; then comes a greater knowledge and assurance, not before. Happiness is created. Love is its center. Its principal ingredients are sincere faith, true repentance, full obedience, and selfless service."

--Richard G. Scott, " Happiness Now and Forever", Ensign, Nov. 1979, 70

Be Not Dismayed

"We should not be discouraged or depressed by our shortcomings. No one is without weakness. As part of the divine plan, we are tested to see whether we master weakness or let weakness master us. Proper diagnosis is essential to proper treatment. The Lord gave us this remarkable assurance: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). But wishing for strength won’t make us strong. It takes faith and work to shore up a weakened cord of integrity."
--Russell M. Nelson, "Integrity of Heart", Ensign, Aug. 1995, 19

Eternal Choices

"Now we see coming into focus the responsibility to choose, that inevitable crisis at the crossroads of life. He who would lead you down waits patiently for a dark night, a wavering will, a confused conscience, a mixed-up mind. Are you prepared to make the decisions at the crossroads? I can’t stress too strongly that decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences."
--President Thomas S. Monson, "CES Fireside for Young Adults", November 6, 2005

Sunday Thoughts

Do we go through times of adversity or do we make those times go through us?

Adversity is like chewing on hard candy; the more you chew on it, the more you savor the sweetness and goodness of it.

A prophet once said that blessings come from our responses to our afflictions.

Godly Sorrow Vs. Worldy Sorrow: Godly sorrow hurts, gives peace, purges us, is not imposed externally, motivates us to change, may hold us back by judging ourselves instead of forgiving ourselves. Satan sows an unforgiving heart. We must forgive in order to progress. If we find it troubesome to forgive or feel we cannot, we must recognize we can't forgive them by ourselves, and pray for our enemies...pray for the help to forgive.

Sunday Will Come

"Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Sunday Will Come", Ensign, Nov. 2006, 28

Softly and Tenderly

This morning I was listening to some music on the WMP while studying my math. This song came on and I've been playing it on repeat since. It has stuck out to me especially with the events that transpired last night (see my family blog for today's post). We've been praying for the mother and her children. It was funny, bc my first choice of words in our morning prayer was "please bless the family we ran into last night." (I know! Bad choice of wording) Afterwards, Randy said it should more be us praying "to bless the family you sent to us last night." Well, it's not exactly the words themselves that make me think of last night, but the thought sequence and where my chain of thoughts have been going through. Here are the lyrics: (Sung by Josh Turner)

Softly and tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See,on the portals he's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me

Come home,come home
Ye who are weary,come home
Earnestly,tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling,O sinner,come home

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

Come home,come home
Ye who are weary,come home
Earnestly,tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling,O sinner,come home

O for the wonderful love he has promised
Promised for you and for me
Though we have sinned,he has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me

Come home,come home
Ye who are weary,come home
Earnestly,tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling,O sinner,come home

Calling,O sinner,come home

I couldnt find an actual video of Josh Turner singing it, but here is the song over someone's picture slideshow. Just listen to it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K3hOg61q7zg

Turn the Other Cheek

"Not only our eternal salvation depends upon our willingness and capacity to forgive wrongs committed against us. Our joy and satisfaction in this life, and our true freedom, depend upon our doing so. When Christ bade us turn the other cheek, walk the second mile, give our cloak to him who takes our coat, was it to be chiefly out of consideration for the bully, the brute, the thief? Or was it to relieve the one aggrieved of the destructive burden that resentment and anger lay upon us?"

--Marion D. Hanks, "Forgiveness: The Ultimate Form of Love", Ensign, Jan. 1974, 20

If I ask not amiss...

Another great letter from my Stake RS presidency on how and what to ask for in our prayers.
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Dear Sisters,

We are promised by God that when we ask, we shall
receive...
consider 3 Nephi 27: 28-29 ...

"whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name
shall be given you. Therefore, ask, and ye shall
receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for
he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh,
it shall be opened."

Now, we should ask ourselves...Do I really believe
that? Do I really believe that God will answer my
prayers every time I pray? I have to admit I was
thinking ....well...sometimes that is true and
sometimes I am just not so sure. So I prayed about
having more understanding.

This is what I learned:

1. When God says something, you can count on it. His
integrity is above reproach and He does everything He
says He will do.

2. I researched several scriptures that clarified my
meaning of asking...

James 4:3 - "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

2 Nephi 4:35 - "...God will give liberally to him that
asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not
amiss..."

Helaman 10:5 - "...all things shall be done unto thee
according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that
which is contrary to my will."


So...now I am beginning to understand. I thought
about my children. I have a great desire to give them
a good education, nutritious meals, good advice, all
of the love in my heart, and anything else I feel
would make them happy and successful. But, that does
not mean that I will give them everything they ask
for...what if they ask to skip school? eat pizza
every night? avoid brushing their teeth? watch TV
until midnight every night? That is what they would
LIKE to do...

Of course I would not grant those foolish requests.
Our loving and omnipotent Father in heaven will not
grant our often short-sighted requests either. He has
a plan for us...it involves getting out of our comfort
zone...experiencing pain, doubt, and discouragement
(just like our kids experience when we require them to
obey our rules and do what they feel are hard things).

So...the key to having every prayer of ours answered
is to ask for the right things. Here are a few things
I found that we should be asking for:
1. Wisdom (James 1:5)
2. Deliverance from enemies (Psalm 143:10)
3. Goodness to those who hate us and have "done us
wrong" (Matt 5:44)
4. Food for the day (Matt 6:11)
5. Forgiveness of our sins (Matt 6:12)
6. Protection from the Evil One; this includes His
evil promptings to
gossip, cheat, lie, steal, avoid praying, be
selfish, etc.(Matt 6:13)
7. A clean heart (Psalm 51:10)
8. A soft heart (1 Nephi 2: 16)
9. Understanding (1 Kings 4:29, Proverbs 2:2)

This list could go on forever! My son and I have
started writing down our request for the day in our
journal first thing in the morning. Then, we offer
our morning prayer and follow up on what happened in
the evening...recording how our prayer was answered
that day. VERY POWERFUL!

What will you ask for today? Father is waiting to
hear from each of us!

Love,
Sister L., First Counselor
Alexandria Stake Relief Society

Eye Single to the Glory of God

"Generally speaking, “an eye single to the glory of God” means sacrifice. It means that instead of endlessly doing what we want to do, we have to do what the Lord wants us to do, but we have to do it in his way when he wants us to do it."

--Hartman Rector Jr.,, "Sacrifice Still Brings Forth Blessings", Ensign, Dec. 1971, 64

A great letter from a great sister...

Hello Sisters, August 16, 2007
Recently I was thinking about trying to buy a home. I never had one of my own before and was kind of excited and yet really scared. I even went looking at houses and found one I really liked. Yet, no matter how I went over my finances I just couldn't manage to come up with all of the needed money right now. I was anxious and frustrated. This was not at all the "peacefull feeling from the Holy Ghost I expected to feel. After all, wasn't this a "good thing"? Didn't I do all of my "homework" and make a decision? So why wasn't I feeling that peace? Could it be I wasn't supposed to move yet? But that hardly seemed logical since the longer I wait the more difficult it will be to get a loan and move. I wanted that house. Still I felt unsure and anxious. But was that really the spirit or just the normal I'm going to owe on this for the rest of my life anxiety?
I was perplexed and asked for a blessing. In the blessing I was told that Heavenly Father knew of my desire for a home of my own but that he wanted me to wait for awhile. I seemed to feel some relieve but also disappointment that I would never attain this goal. Why am I telling you all of this? For two reasons 1) we all face every day delimmas in which we are sometimes uncertain if it is the spirit or our own feelings and anxieties. We all want to do what Heavenly Father wants us to do so we must really trust that when we have good calming feelings our answer is yes. The opposite is also true. We must trust that when we have strong anxiety and uncertaintly then we shouldn't do as we planned no matter how much we may think we want to. 2)As I was contemplating this very thing and wondering if some day I would have a home of my own and if so how, I came across a wonderful scripture that can help us all to increase our faith and patience Doctrine Covenants 5:34 "Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing I have commanded thee." There it is sisters, all we have to do is be obedient and He not us will provide a way for us to accompish what he commands us to do. This scripture has brought me much relief and hope in my everyday problems. I hope it does the same for you.
Sister H. M.
Stake R.S. pres.

Faith

Faith is not so much something we believe; faith is something we live.

Dead Duck

There once was a wealthy man who had a servant named John. This servant was very humble and tried to keepthe commandments and serve others. One day his master said to him, "John, why do you try so hard to be good, go to church and keep the commandments? It doesn't do you any good. You wife is ill, your children poorly clothed and you must work hard every day just to feed them. While I never go to church. I don't worry about others or try to keep the commandments. Yet I have a big fine house, lots of money and my family is healthy. Why does your god allow such things?" John shrugged his shoulders and said, "I can"t answer that right now but let me think about it."

A few days later John was hunting with his master. The master shot two ducks and sent JOhn to retrieve them. One duck was dead and the other wounded. John headed toward the dead duck. His master yelled to him, "No John, leave that one it is dead. It won't go anywhere. Get the one that is wounded before it gets away!" John retrieved both ducks and returned to his master. "I have an answer foryour question you asked the other day. Why is it I have so many trials while you seem to have none. Well sir, you're a dead duck! Satan has to worry about me getting away!"
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When it seems like so many things are happening to us or we can't seem to get a break just remember - don't be a DEAD DUCK! Make Satan fight to try and get you!

Trials

"Rather than simply passing through trials, we must allow trials to pass through us in ways that sanctify us."

--Elder Neil A Maxwell, "Enduring Well", April 1997 Ensign

7 Ways to Mind Your Mind

"If we can pattern our life after the Master, and take his teachings and example as the supreme pattern for our own, we will not find it difficult to be consistent and loyal in every walk of life, for we will be committed to a
single, sacred standard of conduct and belief."

--Howard W. Hunter, "Standing As Witnesses of God", Ensign, May 1990, 60


Choosing the right isn't always about choosing from right and wrong. Sometimes it can be about choosing the right way and choosing the easier way. Something that someone said in church yesterday has stuck in my head. They said you can really tell what kind of a person someone is by what kind of thinking they do when there is no need for thinking at all. When not engaged in learning, conversation, etc., what do you think about it? There's some food for thought.

One speaker at the youth conference held this past weekend gave a pretty amazing talk about 7 Ways to Mind Your Mind, because a member of our Bishopric that went spoke about it in Sacrament.

1. Guard your mind in what you see and think
2. Discipline your mind, aka: No dumping allowed!"
3. Help discipline your mind by memorization of spiritual thoughts (aka: scriptures, hymns)
4. Clear your mind of noise (you don't always have to be listening to music, watching tv, or have some type of background noise. Listen for the whisperings of the Spirit to talk to you)
5. Putting in additional light in your mind
6. Develop your minds (aka: education)
7. Don't do anything that would cast out the Spirit or drive the Spirit away.

Moral Agency

"As we yield our will to His, God will tutor us in the successful use of our moral agency. We will find freedom to be, to feel, and to do."

--Name Elder D Todd Christofferson, "Allegiance to God", Ensign, Jan. 2005, 8

Doctrine & Covenants 101:78 --That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

Helaman 14:30-31 -- And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

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Our lesson today in young women's was about agency. We learned about how every choice we make has a consequence, whether that be a positive or negative consequence. Funny that the things I studied today also discussed about agency. :-)

In sacrament the youth that attended the youth conference over this past weekend went to bear their testimonies about attending it. As I listened to them, it brought me back on memory lane remembering the burst of light and being high on life leaving those conferences with the strength, confidence, and the Spirit in me to take on the world and what it might have in store for me. Some of the youth talked about how they felt they (those that attended from our ward) drew closer to one another into a more tight knit circle of friends...bonded...while there. How awesome is that to have our youth draw strength from one another, buoy each other up and walk side by side through life?

And thus were they prepared

When the Lamanites were wanting to take the city Noah, they were surprised that they couldn't overthrow them. Why? Because the Nephites had obeyed the words of the Lord. They fortified themselves with the things the Lord gave them and hence had "all power over their enemies."

How many years have we been told to be prepared??? One year supply of food storage, keeping enough oil in our lamps, attend the temple often, nurture our family. It's not only to protect us physically, but spiritually as well. How much are we heeding to that counsel?

Scriptures are like a book of answers

Did you ever have one of those Sundays where you listened to the speakers or teachers and just soaked everything in? Today was one of those Sundays for me. It started off when I woke up early to study the Sunday school lesson...which actually is next week's lesson as I came to find out at church. (woops).

In Doctrine & Covenants 19:23 it says

Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you
shall have peace in me.

My question I want to throw out is this: What does it mean to "walk in the meekness of my spirit"? Learn of him is studying, reading, pondering, etc. about his Gospel. Listening to his words, speakers, teachers, etc at church, listening to the promptings of the Spirit. I get that. But how do you walk in the meekness of his Spirit???
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As we live our lives here on Earth we try to live by the Holy Ghost. Our actions and examples bear the fruit of our faith. Problems or situations will arise that we may not know the answer to. What is our first response to this? I'll admit that sometimes I want to vent out emotions or I'll run it through my head until my stress level has reached an all time high. :-o Yeah, I know...soooo not healthy!

Today I learned that if you don't know what to pray for, then pray to know what to pray for. We need to be asking specific questions in order to get specific answers. Funny thing is, sometimes Heavenly Father doesn't answer us with an answer, but with lessons that teach us. Now and then when we come to Him in sincere prayer asking in faith, he will test that faith.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you. (St.John 15:7)

Our discussion turned to how we can abide in Christ. What does it mean to abide in him? How does he abide with us? Keeping the commandments, loving thy neighbor, keeping the word of wisdom, living a life of righteousness that is in keeping with the Spirit, and most importantly, aligning your will with His. When we can do that, the promise given in the scripture above can come to pass.
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I heard this today and it stuck out to me.

If you have fear in your heart, get down on your knees.

"...if all men had been,a nd were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni..."

The Title of Liberty

Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them. (Alma 46:12)

Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men. (Alma 48:17)

When I read these scriptures, I could see the potential that my husband (and all other men) can have. He was not only physically strong, but spiritually strong in his understandings of the Spirit. He yearned for liberty and freedom instead of violence. He had a firm testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Alma 48:11-13)

When you read further in this chapter, you see that Helaman and his brethren went out to spread the gospel and their words humbled people insomuch that the Lord blessed them with peace. Because they went out, it helped the others draw closer to Heavenly Father. There are two types of people in this world: those that humble themselves and those that are compelled to be humble. Do we humble ourselves by studying His word or do we wait for someone to come to us and tell us about it in order to become humble?

Recently I changed my msn message to read "he really is my better half" because that is how I feel about him. There are times that I feel I make the right choices not only because I know it's the right thing or that I know the Lord would want me to make the right choice, but because I know Randy would also think it is the right choice. And that is one thing that I love about him...that he brings out the best in me when I need it. :-)

The Best 3 Hours of the Week

"Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking outward instead of inward. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such
as the Savior showed."

--Derek A. Cuthbert, "The Spirituality of Service", Ensign, May 1990, 12





We watched a really cool video at mutual last night for the Young Women. It was called The Best 3 Hours of the Week by John Bytheway. I would HIGHLY recommend watching it. I love his talks and this one is how we can help ourselves get the most out of Church.

• Deseret Bookstore (DVD): 19.95

http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=4961129

• Ebay (Audiotape): 7.95(buy it now!)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Audio-The-Best-Three-Hours-of-the-Week-John-Bytheway_W0QQitemZ130116210713QQihZ003QQcategoryZ29792QQcmdZViewItem

Wearing the Armour of God

I was reading about wars in the scriptures. In Alma 43 it talks about how Captain Moroni sought counsel from the prophet Alma to know what the will of the Lord was in this war against the Lamanites. Specifically, he asked Alma to inquire of the Lord where they should go in order to keep themselves and their people protected.

How can we know what to do to keep ourselves protected from today's evils? We can follow Captain Moroni's example and seek the counsel of the prophet to know the will of the Lord. We can do the things needed to wearing the armor of God.

1) What has the prophet spoken about recently? [Last general conference issue of the Ensign --http://www.lds.org/conference/apr2007/archive/0,20920,7545-1,00.html
or the current First Presidency message in this month's Ensign http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=02303bc909592110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=true

2) What are the things needed to do in order to wear the full armor of God? Last night in Family Home Evening (FHE), we discussed the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-17.
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Ephesians+6%3A11-17)

• Girdle of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Shoes helping us to walk in gospel truths
• Shielf of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit

As we continue to keep our lamps fill our lamps with drops of oil everyday, we are in the act of wearing the armor of God.
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"Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us develop the full potential Heavenly Father desires for us in becoming celestial beings worthy some day to live in His presence."

--James E. Faust, "Obedience: The Path to Freedom", May 1999 Ensign

I Love the Sabbath Day

Especially putting on church music on the computer so we can listen to it while we are getting ready for church. :-) I love this day of rest. I love being able to feel the Spirit as I go to church. I love being able to feel the Spirit when I'm there. I love hearing other peoples' testimonies. I love going to the classes and learning what the teachers have prepared for us.

There's something about going to church every Sunday. It's hard to explain. I come home feeling filled more than I was before. I feel a better person than before. I feel more happy than before. On Sundays like these I know I have filled my lamp with enough oil for the week. At least in that aspect of my life. It is what I am taught at Church that motivates me to do the things I need to. Like the "lamp oil" quiz below. I am so much closer to the Spirit as I have strived to work on the things I'm lacking on. It's the greatest feeling knowing that you have progessed spiritually than from last week...and that you are headed on the right path.

I think another blessing from following the council of the Lord is helping you see your strengths and faults...where you need to work on the most. I know that bc I've tried to keep close to the Spirit, my heart has been opened up to finding out these things about myself. And it's very liberating!! Knowing these things will have a positive ripple effect in life as I change my will over to the will of the Lord.

The True Nature of God

One of the things we discussed at Sunday school this last week is how we need to know the true nature of Heavenly Father. How can one pray to someone you don't even know? Getting to know Him and his ways can help us draw closer to Him. I was reading in the scriptures where it said,

And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness (Alma 41:11)

The part that stuck out to me was the nature of God. What is the nature of God? How do we get to know the true nature of God? We sometimes have a saying of "It isn't in his/her nature to do that", so when we are talking about the nature of God we are talking about the ways of his thinking, his actions, his reactions, and how he deals with life. One big things back in high school was wearing the WWJD wrist bands. Growing up in the bible belt of the USA there were a lot of kids at school wearing them. It's a good reminder, bc it makes you think of our Heavenly Father's nature and what he would do.

What boggles my mind is that Jesus was the one perfect being that has lived here on earth. Our human nature (or in other words, our natural man) is to not always do the right things. We can let pride take over us, let ourselves be offended, let the anger inside us boil over, decide to ignore the promptings of the Holy Ghost, choose the easier route instead of the right route.

So, I ask you again...why do we try to get to know the true nature of God? Bc it can help us overcome our natural man tendencies and strive to live righteously. And living righteously can bring the calming peace and happiness we all long for and seek everyday.

Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgement restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again. (Alma 41:14)

Will I have oil in my lamp?

A. Read Matthew 25:1-13 here

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/25/1-13#1

B. Take this questionnaire to see how much oil you really have in your lamp right now:

1. I read from my copy of the Book of Mormon: (please circle answer)
a. about once a month or less
b. about once a week
c. every few days
d. every day

2. I read from the other scriptures: (please cirlce answer)
a. about once a month or less
b. about once a week
c. every few days
d. every day

3. Do you take notes sometimes when you read the scriptures or any other material?
a.Yes
b. No

4. Generally speaking, do you read your Sunday School lesson before the teacher presents it on Sunday? (Please circle an answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

5. Generally Speaking, do you read RS or Priesthood lesson before the teacher presents it on Sunday? (Please circle an answer).
a. Almost
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

6. Do you do your Visiting Teaching or your Home Teaching regularly? (Please cirlce answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

7. Does your family get together daily for family scripture study? (Please cirlce answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

8. Does your family get together daily for family prayer? (Please cirlce answer).
a. Almost always
b. Often
c. Sometimes
d. Seldom
e. Never

9. Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?
a. Yes
b. No

10.Do you hold regular Family Home Evening?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Irregular

11. Are you "quick to obey" the counsel we are given from our leaders or do you choose not to be strict in keeping the counsel (TV viewing habits, clean music, pornography, etc.)?
a. Quick to obey
b. Like to rationalize my behavior as "not that bad"

12. Do you take your callings in your home and in the Church seriously and strive to be better?
a. Callings are a chore
b. Callings are a chance to improve myself

13.Do you have a current temple recommend?
a. Yes
b. No

14. When is the last time you wen to the temple?

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C. Write down a list of the areas you need to improve on, makes some goals to accomplish those improvements, and Implement them!!

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I was reading in Alma 38 this morning and some verses stuck out to me. Alma 38:2-5
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/search?search=Alma+38%3A2-5

In these verses I felt it expressed Heavenly Father's feelings for me as I've kept my oil filled with oil to be prepared or as I have strived to keep it filled with oil. There is definitely room for improvement!

Choose the better part

"If our hearts are right before God, adversity will school us, help us overcome our carnal nature, and nurture the divine spark within us. Were it not for adversity, we would not know to “choose the better part.” Adversity helps us see where we need to repent, to bring into subjection baser instincts, to embrace righteousness and enjoy peace of conscience."

--Keith B. McMullin, "Be Prepared … Be Ye Strong from Henceforth", Ensign, Nov. 2005, 10

---
Something that I was reading today that stuck out to me...

Alma 37:43-47

43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.
44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.
46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.

---
In the scripture above it gives us a promise if we but follow the word of Christ it will point us a straight course to eternal bliss. The quote above also tells us that there will be bumps along that course. Reflect upon your situation right now? What kind of attitude do you have about it? Are you like Nephi and Samuel that exercise their faith in Jesus Christ? Or are you murmuring like Laman and Lemuel? Are you doing everything to the best of your ability to have the Spirit be in your life to guide you? Are you accepting His will in all things? Are you encouraging the Spirit to be in your life by doing the things that would invite it and being the places that would invite it?

My Testimony is Growing

"We should be patient in developing and strengthening our testimonies. Rather than expecting immediate or spectacular manifestations, though they will come when needed, we should pray for a testimony, study the scriptures, follow the counsel of our prophet and other Church leaders, and live the principles of the gospel. Our testimonies then will grow and mature naturally, perhaps imperceptibly at times, until they become driving forces in our lives."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Patience, a Key to Happiness", Ensign, May 1987, 30

Only by actions can a testimony grow. I am reminded of the Escalator parable. Your testimony's growth is like being on an escalator; you are never standing still but either going up or going down. If we do not nurture it, it will diminish in strength. So, my question to you is...what are you doing to strengthen your testimony in our Lord Jesus Christ?

Ways of strengthening a testimony

• Study the scriptures daily
• Live righteously
• Repent
• Pray
• Listen to the testimonies of others
• Bear your testimony often
  
  
  
  
  
  

Finding Great Peace

[RS message] "As I go out and work in the world each day I have really started to notice just how much contention, frustration, anxiety and bitterness there is. I was wondering what the remedy for this ailment of our world could be. What could I personally do to not "buy into" this vicious cycle where everyone blames everyone else and mountains are made out of molehills. I was thinking about this when I decided to look up peace in the topical guide. I chose to look up peace because it was the very thing that seemed so lacking.
I found a wonderful and enlighting scripture in Psalms 119:165. It clearly spells out how to obtain peace. "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." If I want peace, and I do, I must first love God's law. How can I love what I don't know (Scripture study) or don't practice? The second thing I think is, at least to me, harder to do - let NOTHING offend us! Sisters, I think when we can do that we are exercising charity and we will surely be blessed with God's great peace no matter what the world chooses to do. We can choose to learn, love and practice God's law and choose not to be offended. The choice is clearly ours - do we want peace or not? What is the price we are willing to pay?"

Having peace in my life can bring happiness and not just the short-term happiness. I'm talking about long-lasting happiness. It's seems too simplistic...just studying His law, loving it, and living it...but the Gospel is supposed to be simple and not complex. More understanding comes from studying and I believe gives us what we need to NOT be offended. We can see a bigger perspective on the situation at hand.

Changing My Attitude

"Certainly one of our God-given privileges is the right to choose what our attitude will be in any given set of circumstances. We can let the events that surround us determine our actions—or we can personally take charge and rule our lives, using as guidelines the principles of pure religion. Pure religion is learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and then putting it into action. Nothing will ever be of real benefit to us until it is incorporated into our own lives."

--Marvin J. Ashton, "Pure Religion", Ensign, Nov. 1982, 63

This was definitely something that I needed to hear when I read it. Changing my attitude seemed so much easier to do when I was younger. It is very hard for me to change my attitude now once it has taken hold. That can be a good thing and a bad thing, depending on the circumstances. Changing it to a more positive, productive, and loving attitude is my goal here.

"Instead of dwelling on the wickedness and grief of those who have sinned, I rejoice to read how many have abandoned their sinful practices and are now on the road back to righteousness and happiness...let us...rejoice in the spirit of forgiveness, which is the comforting message of the Atonement."

--Theodore M. Burton, "To Forgive Is Divine", Ensign, May 1983, 70

Giving in and giving up

Somedays you feel so overwhelmed with all your troubles, stresses, and blah feelings that you tend to just want to run away and hide from it all...give in to them or give up fighting them. There are some few simple things we can do to help us not give in or give up fighting them. They are simple and basic seminary answers, but isn't that what the Gospel is all about? Keeping things simple and remembering the basics? This doesn't encompass all things you can do, but are some things I have done recently to help me:

• Remember to never stop praying -- pray for things you are grateful for and the specific things you are in need of
• Read and study your scriptures everyday!
• Attend all your church meetings

I think I've quoted this before, but here it is again.

If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want God to talk to you, read the
scriptures. (John Bytheway)

When we follow the commandments and do the things given to us to help us progress spiritually as a person, He will bless us for it!!! Yesterday was one of those "not so bad, but could be much worse" kind of days even with doing the things above. It was frustrating to me, bc I felt I was doing all I could to help uplift my somber mood. But things come in due time...well, actually the Lord's time. The answers or blessings we seek in earnest come when we least expect them. Mine came at the end of the day to make it a good and very worth while day. :-)

Refiner's Fire

Malachi 3:3 says:

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible Study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.

He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the

Fire where the flames were hottest to burn away all the impurities

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again

About the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the

Whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left

A moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. The she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy – when I see my image in it.”

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

"May we all be faithful in doing the day to day ordinary things that prove our worthiness, for they will lead us to and qualify us for great things."

--James E. Faust, "Some Great Thing", Ensign, Nov. 2001, 46

Superwoman Syndrome!

I went to a Deployed Spouses Retreat today in which they talked about:

Superwoman Syndrome: A range of physical, pyschological, and interpersonal stress symptoms experienced by a woman as she attempts perfectly such multiple and conflicting roles as worker or career volunteer, wife, mother, and homemaker.

• Delegate but don't expect it to be perfect...it's not going to be.
• The only person we have control over regarding a person's happiness is ourselves
• Stressors can be life changes, career changes, geographic changes, traumatic events, group of minor changes
• Set realistic expectations: superwoman and supermom are fictional characters
• Ask others to "share the load"
• Prioritize personal and professional responsibilities
• Learn the magic in the simple word NO (*MY FAVORITE*)

Listen to Your Inner Voice --How you react to your life circumstances is crucial. You must first acknowledge your role and ask yourself a few questions: "What can I do to change my situation?" It's important you are honest--if you find yourself saying that there is nothing you can do ("I'm too busy") and others can't or won't help, you may be having trouble relinquishing the Superwoman role.

Beat the Superwoman Syndrome -- First, determine the areas of your life you can streamline and where you can ask for help. Do not expect others to read your mind or just "know" what help you need. You can call a family meeting to discuss how everyone can pitch in to help make the household run more smoothly. Ensure you don't set your standards too high. Avoid excessive criticism of others. Potential helpers might get discouraged and avoid their tasks.

Take a hard look at what activities outside the home contribute to your pressured feelings. Even if you enjoy all of your activities, learn to practice saying no to new activities. Remember, you don't owe anyone an explanation. Simply say, "Thanks for thinking of me but I can't take that on right now."

Finally, in order to feel positive about others, you must feel good about yourself. Find something you enjoy, and carve out the time to do it regularly. Taking care of you physically and emotionally is crucial to being able to care for or about others. If you start telling yourself, "I don't have time," remember this is your Superwoman self speaking! Above all, know you aren't alone. You have the tools to tackle it. Use them!

A Particle of Faith

Does it ever seem that even though you are trying to do your best you are always coming up short? I see a need to work on "A", but then "B" falls by the wayside. I work on "B" and still on "A" but then "C" starts to weaken in me. Okay, to better explain: I am doing really well with keeping my house a house of order. I'm keeping the floors clean, keeping the rooms uncluttered, etc. I then am starting to really hunker down on my school studies bc I want to stay on schedule, but then a lot of Katie Jo's toys end up cluttering the living room where I'm studying. I try to only do school work during the day so that I can still focus on my house and my family. As I'm trying to balance these two sides of my life, I see that I forgot to prepare my lesson for Sunday and it's friday or saturday night. My alarm goes off at 6:30am every morning so that I can take care of my physical and spiritual body...I work out and then read my scriptures while Katie Jo is still in bed and Randy is off to PT. Katie Jo comes downstairs bc she just woke up and is hungry but I'm not done reading or working out. I have to stop one and do the other. :-p

Now, there are easy fixes on all of these...by switching around my schedule...planning better. I'm not saying these situations are what make me frustrated...no, no...these are way too simple. But you can imagine what I'm trying to convey in more complex situations.



That is when I start to bang my head against the wall. I get so frustrated bc I can't do it all.

Yeah, yeah...nobody is perfect, but they tell us try and that is no easy task to do!

"I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it"

"But behold, if ye will awake and around your faculties, even to an experiment
upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more
than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a
manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words" Alma 32:27

I like experimenting with new things. And it seems easy enough...just have a desire to believe. That desire is like a seed that I nourish into stronger faith and then to knowledge. I want to believe that I can master "A", "B", and "C" plus all those other things. Something that I learned recently is that you can't exercise faith while you have fear at the same time. They contradict each other. I just need to let loose of all those fears of failure and exercise that particle of faith that I can do this, that I can try and succeed. Little by little & eventually I can master it.

Humility in the word of the Lord

And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if he yave faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true

Alma 32:21
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Humble yourselves --> Repent --> Endure to the end --> Shall be blessed

Here's my question to you. If people who humble themselves bc of the word will be blessed more so than those that are compelled to be humble...then why not do it?? It seems like a no brainer to be blessed more. Yet people don't always humble themselves. It usually takes a situation or stumbling block for them to do that.

Just some food for thought.

Early hours of the morning

What I love about reading the scriptures is that sometimes you can be reading and the words will be uttering exactly how you are feeling...things that you were not otherwise able to put into words yourself.

I have found that the time I get the most out of reading my scriptures is in the early hours of the morning when I first wake up. At that time I'm still half dreaming/half thinking about my dreams, thinking about what lays before me for the day, and any problems or issues that I'm facing. It is at this time that thoughts that are not my own flow into my train of thought. When all is still quiet and calm in the house and you can actually hear the silence, that is my favorite time to read and ponder the scriptures.

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Want to know a funny thing? Well, it's not really funny, but interesting and almost ironic. Here I am this morning, all gloomy from the rain, woke up from not-so-good dreams and am just blah to begin my day. :-( I read my scriptures to try to clear my head and had my thoughts read back to me as I did so. I prayed for some understanding regarding a certain situation. Not until tonight did I realize that the answer to my prayer started before I even prayed for it! Everything clicked together like an epiphany, if you will, when I was talking with Randy on the phone. :-) The Lord is aware of me and He knows what I need...it's my needing to ask for things is how that door opens between us.

Are you willing to die AND willing to fully live for your beliefs?

"Some men are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it. Christ both lived and died for us. By walking in his steps and through his atonement we can gain the greatest gift of all--eternal life--which is that kind of life of the great Eternal One, our Father in heaven."

--Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ--Gifts and Expectations, Byu Devotional", 10 December 1974

Am I willing to die for my beliefs? Better yet, am I willing to fully live for them? If I'm not, then the question should be why not? Like I've said earlier in this blog, there is no room for complacency in living the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no room for being luke warm.

Turn to our Heavenly Father for strength and support...

"Sometime in the eternities to come, we will see that our trials were calculated to cause us to turn to our Heavenly Father for strength and support. Any affliction or suffering we are called upon to bear may be directed to give us experience, refinement, and perfection."

--Delbert L. Stapley, "The Blessings of Righteous Obedience", Ensign, Nov. 1977

When I read this, it basically sum'd up what and how I feel. It's one of those times where you read or see something, are moved by it bc it puts into words what you couldn't and a deeper understanding of yourself comes with it.

Finding Peace

[Quote]

Hello sisters,

This is a hectic and sometimes dangerous world we live in. It seems like we dash from one activity to another with no time to think or ponder. I also find that when I do have time to sit down and actually listen to the news all I hear is violence, hatred, anger and wickedness. As I was thinking about this during the week I was thumbing through Isaiah and came across a scripture that seems to be the perfect cure for the turmoil in which we live.

Isaiah 32:17, 18 says, And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever; And my people shall dwell in peacable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

Ahh, now that sounds even better than a nice, quiet, hot bath and more lasting! Let us strive to live righteous lives so we might have this peace and assurance that the wicked can never have.
Sister H M
[End Quote]
-----------------

I think we can all use a little bit more peace, don't you? If we are making ourselves too busy, then we aren't taking the time to slow down, "take a breather" to listen to the Spirit, or giving ourselves time to even enjoy a little peace! We need this time. You owe it to yourself.

My Life Ethics

In my reading right now I'm studying a story with an Anti-Christ in it where he is going around to people telling them that there is no Christ.

For no man can know of anything which is to come...How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ

He was also telling them it doesn't matter what you do (sin or live righteously) bc "that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof." But for me, it does still matter. Hypothetically, even if death was the end, that doesn't change the kind of person I am. I'm not going to start living life with no caution just bc of what this one man says or if this would become truth (it's NOT). If everyone lived that way, chaos would follow. My life ethics wouldn't change. I obey the law bc they protect me. I honor my marriage vows bc religion or no religion...they mean something and it is recognized by the law. I will still raise my daughter with love, compassion, and patience (as much as possible) bc I love her and she deserves it!

Light of the Atonement will illuminate the truth of all things

John 7:17

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

If we want to know if His teachings are true or not, the best way to prove them is by doing them. The way I see it, we have two choices here: rely on someone's testimony of it because they have found out for themselves OR we can act upon His teachings to know for ourselves. You can't gain a testimony of tithing unless you pay tithing and reap the blessings from paying it. As we gain a testimony, our faith turns into knowledge.

Later in John (John 8:12), it talks about how Christ is the Light of the world. Something that my Sunday school teacher said was really quite interesting if you read it in the right context:

The Light of the Atonement will illuminate the truth of all things

I've tried articulating what he meant by this quote, but it's not coming out right. I guess it is one of those things where you would've had to of been there. But if you want to discuss it, by all means...discuss. I'll try to explain it as best as possible.

Mourn with those that mourn

Alma 28:6

And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.

sol·emn(slm)
adj.
1. Deeply earnest, serious, and sober.
2. Somberly or gravely impressive. See Synonyms at serious.
3. Performed with full ceremony: a solemn High Mass.
4. Invoking the force of religion; sacred: a solemn vow.

In the footnotes, it goes to --> Matthew 5:4

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

When bad things or negative situations happen to people we often times don't really know how to succur to their needs or know what to say to them unless we've gone through the same situation. More often than not, we say how sorry we are for them or say..."look on the bright side...". Something that I've come to learn is that during these times, people don't necessarily need advice or are looking for you to fix the problem(s); they are looking for someone to validate what they are feeling, to vent the emotions that are flooding them, and to just to be able to lay their head on a shoulder of someone that loves them.

When we are not close enough to be there for them physically, the scripture in Alma tells us how we can be there for them. We can fast and pray for them.

Being Poor In Spirit: Simplicity in all things

I was reading in the scriptures about being poor in spirit. What exactly does it mean to be poor in spirit? I was reading in Alma 26 that led me through this scripture chain study from the Scripture Topical Guide. In Matthew 5:3 it says

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In the footnotes for poor it says:

IE poor in pride, humble in spirit

Reading in Alma 26:12 it states:

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therfore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

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A pattern that I've noticed of the people in the scriptures is

• Hit with trials
• Turn to the Lord & give thanks for their blessings
• Obey Covenants made
• Have faith in the Lord

Simple, but isn't all gospel principles made in simplicity? Over and over again the Lord tells us in the scriptures that as we repent, exercise our faith, bring forth good works, and pray continually w/o ceasing that it is given to them to know the mysteries of God.

A mystery of him that is wanted by all is his will for us. What is it that he wants me to do? We can't know unless we turn to him. It's like that John Bytheway quote --

If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want God to talk to you, read the scriptures.

It's so easy to get caught up in the every-day routines that you forget about why you are even doing all the things that are keeping you busy. What is the goal for such activities? Every once in a while you need to simplify your life. Look at it and evaluate the things you are doing to see if they are accomplishing or helping you reach your lifetime goals. Taking a breather can help clear the air, noise pollution, and other disturbances that might block the whisperings of the Spirit to you. We need to take a break sometimes to listen for an answer to our prayers. I know that I don't always do. That will be going on my to-do list.