I love the scriptures!!! I always find good stuff when I study and just want to share it with everyone! But, we all learn in our own time and at our own pace, so what I get out of something is not necessarily the same as what the next guy will. Nevertheless, I have to share my recent thoughts.
I've been reading in the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, about Alma's mission to the churches throughout the land. He preaches repentance to the people everywhere he goes, and establishes or corrects the church there. He calls out the wicked and their practices, in "plain words," so they cannot misunderstand. As I read about the wickedness, I keep noticing that he's all but describing our world today! I keep thinking that America, like those cities of old, is so wicked and nearing destruction, that it's scary! The end is definitely coming, and he jests not when he says the time for repentance is NOW!!!: "And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken into my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance." (Alma 13:27) Amulek (Alma's missionary companion) said: "why hath Satan got such great hold on your hearts? Why will ye yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you?"(Alma 10:25) Sheesh! It would be very guilt-provoking to have someone say that to you! No wonder the people got so angry; they didn't want people to know how wicked they really were!
Now, despite the general wickedness, there were people who listened and believed the missionaries' words, just as there are today. Alma spoke of them: "many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures." (Alma 14:1) These peoples' hearts were pricked; they felt the truthfulness of the words of Christ's gospel, and wanted to know more, so they went to the scriptures to verify the words and find more answers. That's what needs to happen now! We've got to get searching, with sincere hearts, for answers in the scriptures. We need to live our lives by the scriptures- we've got to get back to relying on God and searching the words of the prophets for strength.
Alma expounded on receiving knowledge: "It is given to many to know the mysteries of God...according to the heed and diligence which they give unto Him...he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full." (Alma 12:9-10) How awesome is that! And empowering! It's not just prophets or pastors who get to understand God's word- everyone is given the opportunity and privilege to find answers and understand and gain knowledge from God! Just as Joseph Smith realized when he was a teenager, after he read James 1:5: God will give us knowledge and truth if we but ask sincerely; and he will not upbraid, or criticize us, for asking! In other words, it's not just the privilege of the elect to know the word of God! We can all know God and His word, but we have to ask and search and be righteous and ready for the answers and knowledge that will surely come!
Ok, so those of us who do believe and search the scriptures and ask God in sincere prayer for repentance and peace and knowledge, Alma records that we "shall have claim on mercy through (God's) only Begotten Son..." (Alma 12:34). So, we have to work for that mercy by repenting, and then we have to keep our claim on it by remaining righteous! We can't just get saved and that's it. We have to remain worthy of that saving redemption! Alma tells us that those who repent and are baptized are "sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God," and enter into "the rest of the Lord their God." One other thing that I love: Alma says that these people who are sanctified and righteous "could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence." (Alma 13:12) I want to be like that! I want to get to the point where I hate the thought of sin, and don't fall to even my "favorites" anymore!
I'll end with what Alma wants for us: "may the Lord grant unto you repentance." (Alma 13:30) I want that repentance and forgivenes, because I know that no matter how hard I try to "be good," I'm still gonna mess up some times and make bad choices. That's becasue I'm not perfect! But I know that if I keep repenting and trying to be the best that I can be, my Savior and brother, Jesus Christ, will make up the difference, because He loves me! And if I can endure to the end and follow Alma's words, I will make it back home to heaven, to be with my family and my loving and proud Heavenly Father again, forever!
"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on His holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall reveive eternal lefe; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into His rest." (Alma 13:28-29)
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, September 29, 2011
"O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!"
I know that I'm a good person. However, no matter how hard I try to do what is right, I feel that I still fall short all the time! It's super frustrating! I've been trying to decide what I want to focus on during conference this weekend, and haven't really come up with any big issues that I'm struggling with. I decided to just make a list of things I'd like learn how to become better at (i.e. How can I gain the gift of charity? How can I gain more spiritual gifts? How can I love more and judge less?). As I was reading scriptures this morning, I read about someone else who had the same problem!
"16 Behold, my asoul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my bheart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
"16 Behold, my asoul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my bheart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great agoodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O bwretched man that I am! Yea, my heart csorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
Nephi felt the same way!!!! (2 Nephi ch. 4) And we all know how awesome he was! He then expounded:
20 My God hath been my asupport; he hath led me through mine bafflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
And I echo the statements! If the Lord has blessed me so much, and I have a testimony, why do I still stumble? Why do I have constant need of the atonement? (the answer is next)
"26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath avisited men in so much bmercy, cwhy should my dheart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27 And why should I ayield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to btemptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my cpeace and afflict my soul? Why am I dangry because of mine enemy?"
Because I'm human! I'm not perfect! But I can keep trying to be better every day! (like Nephi)
"28 Awake, my soul! No longer adroop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the benemy of my soul.
29 Do not aanger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
30 Rejoice, O my aheart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the brock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou aredeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of bsin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my aheart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may bwalk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy arighteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine benemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy."
All of us have stumbling blocks... it's part of life. But the Lord will give me a way to get over them, and it will be easier and easier with time and diligence in keeping the commandments! All I have to do is ask for help, and trust that He'll give me what I need.
"34 O Lord, I have atrusted in thee, and I will btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ctrust in the arm of flesh;...
35 Yea, I know that God will give aliberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I bask cnot amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the drock of my erighteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."
Amen!!! I'm so grateful for the scriptures! My testimony has been strengthened again in the affirmation that I can find answers to any of my problems within the scriptures! I'm not alone in my struggles! Others have been through the same, and I can learn from their experiences and gain the strength and support I need from my Heavenly Father!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Getting to know God...
When Joseph Smith was searching for truth, he read in the bible James' admonision to ask God. (James 1:5) Joseph went on to say: "I had found the testimony of James to be true-that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided." I had to look up the word upbraid, because I didn't understand why he was so caught up on it. Upbraid means to severely critize or scold. So, it's finally clicked in my mind! There are so many people who think of our God as a vengeful God. One who controls us, but they're not sure what the relationship is. Then there are others who believe in a Heavenly Father, but not really a personal relationship one. Joseph may have been nervous to supplicate God, because he didn't know that that was ok for him to do!
I am so very grateful that Joseph Smith had the courage and faith to follow that counsel to ask of God. As he stated, he found out for himself that not only could he find answers if he asked God, but that this God, his literal Heavenly Father, loved him and wanted a personal relationship with him, and would not scold him for asking questions and wanting to know more!
"It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God."
I read this statement in "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice" by Lloyd Newell. He cites these words by Joseph Smith from "Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith." Newell states that: "We cannot understand our destiny if we don't understand our origin." We are God's children, and He loves us, and wants us to come to Him and have a relationship with Him! But we have to make the effort before the relationship can become strong! Joseph went on to explain this concept: "When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to him, he begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to him, he is ready to come to us."
I know I say this a lot, but I LOVE IT!! Thanks to Joseph Smith for being the example of faith that so many needed! Thanks to him for helping us understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father a little better, so we feel comfortable "coming unto him!" I am so grateful for the understanding I have of my Heavenly Father, and I testify that we can have a very personal and loving relationship with our Father! He wants us to seek Him, so that we may know Him and feel of His love and guiding support!
I am so very grateful that Joseph Smith had the courage and faith to follow that counsel to ask of God. As he stated, he found out for himself that not only could he find answers if he asked God, but that this God, his literal Heavenly Father, loved him and wanted a personal relationship with him, and would not scold him for asking questions and wanting to know more!
"It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God."
I read this statement in "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice" by Lloyd Newell. He cites these words by Joseph Smith from "Teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith." Newell states that: "We cannot understand our destiny if we don't understand our origin." We are God's children, and He loves us, and wants us to come to Him and have a relationship with Him! But we have to make the effort before the relationship can become strong! Joseph went on to explain this concept: "When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to him, he begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to him, he is ready to come to us."
I know I say this a lot, but I LOVE IT!! Thanks to Joseph Smith for being the example of faith that so many needed! Thanks to him for helping us understand our relationship with our Heavenly Father a little better, so we feel comfortable "coming unto him!" I am so grateful for the understanding I have of my Heavenly Father, and I testify that we can have a very personal and loving relationship with our Father! He wants us to seek Him, so that we may know Him and feel of His love and guiding support!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
An "ah-hah" moment...
Nephi described the children of Israel thus: "...the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness...or the easiness of (the way), there were many who perished." 1 Ne 17:41
The quote for the day in one of my thought books was from John Taylor:
"Never do an act that you would be ashamed of man knowing, for God sees us always, both day and night, and if we expect to live and reign with him in eternity, we ought to do nothing that will disgrace us in time."
In other words, be COMPLETELY honest and fair at ALL times.
The author then went on to explain:
"Developing integrity of heart is not simply a matter of personal determination and willpower. It is accomlished only through the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ."
And the "ah-hah" comes now:
We are human, with carnal desires! Selfishness is something that we must constantly fight against. In order to have a pure and perfect heart, we must get help, because we can't do it on our own; we're all too imperfect! We (I) must learn to go to my Savior for help, and then let Him do it! I need to let go of some of my pride that makes me want to say "I can do it by myself!" The hard part is letting Christ's atonement help me... but it's really a very simple principle.
So, is it really hard, or do I just make it that way? I guess there's a reason that FAITH is the first principle of the gospel: it's the most foundational one, and sometimes the hardest one!! It's the one that I need before I can gain any others; it's one that I constantly need to get better and better at; it's the one that connects us all to heaven!
The quote for the day in one of my thought books was from John Taylor:
"Never do an act that you would be ashamed of man knowing, for God sees us always, both day and night, and if we expect to live and reign with him in eternity, we ought to do nothing that will disgrace us in time."
In other words, be COMPLETELY honest and fair at ALL times.
The author then went on to explain:
"Developing integrity of heart is not simply a matter of personal determination and willpower. It is accomlished only through the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ."
And the "ah-hah" comes now:
We are human, with carnal desires! Selfishness is something that we must constantly fight against. In order to have a pure and perfect heart, we must get help, because we can't do it on our own; we're all too imperfect! We (I) must learn to go to my Savior for help, and then let Him do it! I need to let go of some of my pride that makes me want to say "I can do it by myself!" The hard part is letting Christ's atonement help me... but it's really a very simple principle.
So, is it really hard, or do I just make it that way? I guess there's a reason that FAITH is the first principle of the gospel: it's the most foundational one, and sometimes the hardest one!! It's the one that I need before I can gain any others; it's one that I constantly need to get better and better at; it's the one that connects us all to heaven!
Lexi's blog
(I started this post a while ago, and forgot to publish it!)
I found this blog through another friend's blog, and decided that she is my inspiration for the day!
What a faithFUL lady! She realizes the blessings that she's been given, and that inspires me!
Check out her baby's story:
I found this blog through another friend's blog, and decided that she is my inspiration for the day!
What a faithFUL lady! She realizes the blessings that she's been given, and that inspires me!
Check out her baby's story:
The Riddle
Here's a riddle for you; find the answer:
There's a reason for the world...
YOU AND I!!
I LOVE it!!! This song is inspired!
I read in the scriptures, and found a complementary scripture:
"Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it."
Lyrics to The Riddle :
There was a man back in '95
Whose heart ran out of summers
But before he died, I asked him
Wait, what's the sense in life
Come over me, Come over me
He said,
Son why you got to sing that tune
Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
Let an angel swing and make you swoon
Then you will see... You will see
Then he said,
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...
Picked up my kid from school today
Did you learn anything cause in the world today
You can't live in a castle far away
Now talk to me, come talk to me
He said,
Dad I'm big but we're smaller than small
In the scheme of things, well we're nothing at all
Still every mother's child sings a lonely song
So play with me, come play with me
And Hey Dad
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...
I said,
Son for all I've told you
When you get right down to the
Reason for the world...
Who am I?
There are secrets that we still have left to find
There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
There are answers we're not wise enough to see
He said... You looking for a clue I Love You free...
The batter swings and the summer flies
As I look into my angel's eyes
A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me
Something comes over me
I guess we're big and I guess we're small
If you think about it man you know we got it all
Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball
And I love you free
I love you freely
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...
There's a reason for the world...
YOU AND I!!
I LOVE it!!! This song is inspired!
I read in the scriptures, and found a complementary scripture:
"Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it."
1 Nephi 17:36
Lyrics to The Riddle :
There was a man back in '95
Whose heart ran out of summers
But before he died, I asked him
Wait, what's the sense in life
Come over me, Come over me
He said,
Son why you got to sing that tune
Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
Let an angel swing and make you swoon
Then you will see... You will see
Then he said,
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...
Picked up my kid from school today
Did you learn anything cause in the world today
You can't live in a castle far away
Now talk to me, come talk to me
He said,
Dad I'm big but we're smaller than small
In the scheme of things, well we're nothing at all
Still every mother's child sings a lonely song
So play with me, come play with me
And Hey Dad
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...
I said,
Son for all I've told you
When you get right down to the
Reason for the world...
Who am I?
There are secrets that we still have left to find
There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
There are answers we're not wise enough to see
He said... You looking for a clue I Love You free...
The batter swings and the summer flies
As I look into my angel's eyes
A song plays on while the moon is hiding over me
Something comes over me
I guess we're big and I guess we're small
If you think about it man you know we got it all
Cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball
And I love you free
I love you freely
Here's a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There's a reason for the world
You and I...
Thursday, June 9, 2011
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