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

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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
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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.