Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Fear God, not man

7 For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words--
D&C 3:7
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/3?lang=eng 
 
13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Nehemiah 6:13
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/neh/6?lang=eng

What is someone is "hired" by Satan just to tempt me. Or allowed by God to test me to see whether or not I will fear God more than man and go with the persuasions of men. 

And John 12:42-43 tell about chief rulers who believed in Christ but were too afraid to stand up for on because of fear of the Pharisees...a powerful, rich, intimidating group. "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
 
I don't want to be that kind of person. 

Friday, October 17, 2014

Large and Spacious Field=Life and the World

I'm reading 1 Nephi 8 and it's never been so apparent to me how similar Lehi's dream really is to life. And it was also clear this time I read it that Heavenly Father intended for Lehi to see this vision, every part of it, even the heart-wrenching parts, like his sons leaving the tree to go to the great and spacious building. This point is clear in verse 9, when, "after [he] had prayed unto the Lord [he] beheld a large and spacious field." Beforehand he was just in darkness, confusion, and nothingness. But it was after he prayed and asked for help and for mercy that he saw this vision, again, a vision of the good and the bad. So, Heavenly Father wants us to see, through this chapter, that life is supposed to have opposition too, not just delicious fruit.

Here are a few other thoughts:

  • The rod of iron went along the river not because we should live our lives on the edge, but because it represents how temptation will always be something we face, no matter how tightly we cling. But if we cling, there is no possible way for us to enter the river.
  • A tree is a lot smaller than a great and spacious building. Heavenly Father knew that there would be few who would eat and stay; but the tree is still there, bright and white and delicious as ever.  

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Please God, not man

I was thinking about this concept yesterday after I listened to Lynn G. Robbins's talk about this topic. He says to not be afraid of what man thinks. But to seek to please God instead. Then I read in 1 Nephi 6, and Nephi talks about how he is only going to write that which is pleasing unto God, and not unto man. I want to be more like that. Say and do things that will be pleasing unto God. And conversely, NOT do things that would please man, but not God.

Nephi is such a good example of this throughout the whole book of 1 Nephi. He stood up for his father, for the gold plates, for Heavenly Father when his brothers had rods to beat him up! And when they had ropes to tie him up (chapter 7). He wasn't afraid to stand for what was right. And to remind them that Heavenly Father will help all those who put their faith and trust in Him. He said that to them, that anything can happen when we have faith, and then he acted on it: his brothers tied him up, and he prayed to God to release him from the ropes. And God did! So Nephi showed by his words AND actions how to believe and trust and rely on God. He stood as a witness.

 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.

And here are the scriptures on the footnotes of pleasing. I especially love the second one.


Gal. 1:10
10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

1 Thes. 2:4
4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Heb. 13:21
21  Make you perfect in every good work to do hiswill, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 Romans 1:16 For I am not aashamed of the bgospel of Christ: for it is thecpower of God unto dsalvation to every one that believeth.


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Faith on behalf of others

"Faith may be exercised with effect in behalf of others." Jesus the Christ, 395. Think of all the examples in the NT: Jairus's daughter, the centurion...

When His enabling power helped me

Sister Esplin's talk on the Sacrament inspired me to think about how the enabling power helped me throughout the past week instead of just what I need to repent of (as I ponder during the Sacrament). And so I am thinking of that right now and figure I should record it. 

1. I decided to offer a lonely mercantile store owner a Book of Mormon. He said he didn't believe in God and that the book wouldn't do him any good. So I said "Okay, have a good day" and left. And I didn't regret doing that even though he didn't accept it. So, that is probably the enabling power helping me feel that way.
2. Mom asked me to teach the YW on Sunday, and I wasn't sure what to teach. Then I prayed and studied for a minute and found something to share. It was great and I felt good and excited and inspired about it. It was about having real and lasting happiness, and I got a good feeling about sharing Alma 22 and about how Lamoni's father was willing to give up anything and everything to know God and have real joy. 
3. I guess I was able to me more gracious than usual when sweet Momma wanted to buy me maternity clothes. 

I guess this is just inspiring me to think to use the enabling power more often. 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Obedience like Nephi and Lehi

There is a lot of things in just the first few chapters of Nephi about obedience. No wonder the Book of Mormon starts with the story of Lehi's family: Heavenly Father knew that new learners of the Gospel and Church may struggle with obedience to the new commandments the missionaries teach them.

For example, 1 Nephi 2:2 has Lehi receiving the commandment to depart into the wilderness. Then in verse 3, it says simply that "he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore, he did as the Lord commanded him." Simple as that. So great! And in verse 4, we see the Lehi's actions matched his willingness, because "he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness." These verses show that no matter what, Lehi was willing to give up his possessions in order to obey the Lord, no matter what. It doesn't say anything about why the Lord commanded him to depart into the wilderness. Lehi probably didn't know the reason. But that didn't matter to him. He only knew what the Lord wanted, and he followed through with it.

Then Nephi's example later in that chapter shows that Nephi may have struggled with being obedient to the commandment Lehi had received from God. So Nephi prayed for a soft heart so that he could "believe all the words which had been spoken by [his] father" (verse 16). So, when we receive a commandment and we don't agree/understand it or want to obey it, we can pray for soft hearts and understanding so that we can obey that commandment. Nephi had faith and humility, and thus obedience was easier for him.

Then in chapter 3, Nephi is so determined to obey God and retrieve the plates that he didn't give up after two failures, at which his and his brothers' lives were in danger. Instead, he had faith and knew that (eventually) the Lord would provide a way. And He did. Nephi trusted to be led by the Spirit, "not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do" (1 Nephi 4:6) and that he was...led by the Spirit. He was obedient, yet again, to another difficult commandment, to kill Laban. And he did so, trusting in the Lord. This must have strengthened his faith because he promised Zoram after that that "surely the Lord had commanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord?" (verse 34).

Really good examples. I love the Book of Mormon. Really, there is no reason ever to be disobedient.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

General Conference, October 2014

General Conference, October 2014

First of all, I feel just so happy and grateful and excited. I also, for the first time, really tried to listen tot he prayer and involve myself in it. It helped. I feel more prepared to feel the Spirit. The sister prayed that we would have a greater resolve to serve others and keep the commandments. I want a greater resolve to:

  • love Heavenly Father
  • pray sincerely
  • share the gospel
  • stand for truth and righteousness
  • ask inspired questions (to members and non-members)
  • study my scriptures 
  • bless my family
  • serve Joseph selflessly
  • be a good mom

President Monson

  • 171 temples (once all are finished and dedicated)
  • 90th anniversary of radio broadcast

Boyd K. Packer

  • He met a man who didn't think he was Christian. So Packer used the topical guide to show how many scriptures there were about Jesus Christ. USE THE SCRIPTURES. 
  • The atonement gives not only gives us forgiveness and redemption, but promises peace if we choose to follow Christ.
  • The Savior's atonement can do so much more for us than we know, expect, think. 
  • He talked about how large the church is and gave statistics. He said it was evidence that the stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands continues to fill the earth. But no matter how large it is, the true strength of the gospel will be measured by each individual person's testimony.
  • We need each and every one of us in the gospel to influence the world. We may think, "I'm only one person. What can I do?" We are each parts of the body of Christ and are needed. 
  • There is no end to his power to help those who believe in Him. 

Lynn G. Robbins

  • Which way do you face? (A quote from Boyd K. Packer) He meant that a seventy is the face of the prophet to the people, not the people to the prophet.
  • Sometimes we worry about what others think of us. This makes us avoid conflict or standing up for what is right in the face of those who disagree with us. This kind of behavior is a snare. The fear of offending others is a snare. "I fear not what man can do" (Mormon). "I seek for freedom...not power" (Captain Moroni).
  • Others' scornful reaction or unkind words or even laughter is a manifestation of their guilt. Be loving and allow them time to think about it (see Korihor).
  • Lowering the Lord's standards to match those of the world is apostasy.  
  • This is coupled with not doing things to be seen of men.

Cheryl Esplin

  • During the Sacrament, think of more than just the things that I need to repent of. Instead, think about when His enabling power helped me.
  • Let the Savior's life and actions and teachings dictate everything I do. If I have questions, think about what He would do.  
  • The method to receive forgiveness: confess, seek restitution, Sacrament, be forgiven. Spiritual healing will come. 
  • The more we think about and prepare for the Sacrament, the more I will get out of it. Seek a holy communion, a renewal, a sacred experience. 

Chi Hong Wong

  • Look this over and study the story. It's about working as hard as possible to bring people unto Christ.
  • We are each needed in the church. Our combined faith WILL effect change in others. 
  • We should always be anxiously engaged in bringing people to Christ. 

D. Todd Christofferson

  • We have the principle decision-making role in our lives.
  • We are not puppets. If God were a puppeteer and want to control us, then everyone would believe! But it's hard and we have to make the decision to follow Him and deny ourselves.
  • The real manifestation of God's love are His commandments.
  • God is just. There are some things God cannot do. He cannot allow sin with any degree of allowance. Mercy is for those that use it, not for everyone just because He loves them. 
  • Christ died not to save indiscriminately, but to save based on repentance. 
  • THIS TALK ROCKS. So much doctrine on justice and mercy
  • A god who makes no demands, is a god that doesn't exist. With a god like this, moral relativism would reign.
  • We DO NOT decide individually what is right or wrong. There would be no reason for life. 
  • We must defend our personal accountability so that we never become dependent.  

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

  • Imagine trying to explain a jumbo jet or a microwave to someone a thousand years ago. They'd think I were crazy and wouldn't believe what I had to say.
  • That is what truth might seem like to some people. But believe it and share it and show that it brings joy. 
  • Tell them to start with a desire. 
  • "If you do your part, [your witness] will come."
  • Think about your testimony as a loyal friend. Something that supports you in hard times. Something you want to spend time with and strengthen. Something you love and that stays with you.

Saturday Afternoon

Dallin H. Oaks

  • Love my neighbor. Love all people and show concern. Disagree by don't be disagreeable. 
  • Avoid contention, even when standing for truth and righteousness. "Wise men turn away wrath." Don't argue. But don't surrender our positions or values. Don't compromise what I need to be true.
  • I am an enemy to the world. Embrace and accept it. And don't even approach middle ground. Be firm and do not waver. I may be called a bigot or a fanatic.

Neil L. Anderson

  • Christ was called glutenous; Joseph Smith was defamed, too. I probably will be. 
  • To sincere inquirers, encourage them to look at true sources, both sides. Then to ask God about it. 
  • I'm so grateful for my testimony. It is so precious to me. I know that I have a calling to represent the prophet, the Church, and the Savior.
  • To strengthen my testimony, find things you already know to be true, and bear testimony of those things. Then read more things, like the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Tad R. Callister

  • Parents. If we don't teach our children how to pray and what to pray for and how to act, who will?
  • I just can't wait to be a parent and to teach my children.
  • In the eternities, the only titles we will hold will be father, mother....

Jorg Klebington

  • What is my standing before the Lord? Would I talk to Him?
  • To be more spiritually confident, protect my temple. Exercise and eating. Be the master of my body and temple.
  • Become really really good at repenting completely. 

Jeffrey R. Holland

  • Christianity is not a statistical endeavor. 
  • My efforts are a drop in the ocean. But without them, there would be a whole drop less in the ocean!
  • Be like Mother Theresa and serve those within my reach, though they are few.
  • We attain remission of sins by repentance; we retain remission of sins by serving those in need. 
  • He talked about his conviction of industry and self-reliance. And he said he didn't know how each of us should fulfill our obligation to help those in need. But God knows. Pray for ways to keep the commandment to serve those in need (everybody). 
  • Live the law of the fast.
  • He openly said that he didn't know the reasons why birth and circumstance deal out hard circumstances. But he does know that he must give what he can.
  • President Monson, he bore testimony, has done all he could to bless the widowed and the fatherless, the poor in heart and spirit.

L. Tom Perry

  • Our homes must be holy places so that we can help our families prepare to face the unrighteousness in the world.
  • "[Women who make a house a home do more than lead armies]" (Gordon B. Hinckley). Hinckley said I have no responsibility greater than making my house a home, a holy place.
  • The father should help the family build spiritual traditions (FHE, scripture study, prayer) and even vacations and recreational activities.
  •  

Sunday Morning

Henry B. Eyring

  • He compared revelation to a mother to revelation to a patriarch before he gives a blessing. he will pray that his words will be the words of God through him. And so can mothers. He told of his own mother and how she'd ask him inspired questions when he would come home at night.
  • Our lives should be led by continuous revelation.
  • To receive this kind of revelation, see D&C 121. My bowels must be filled with charity. 

Russell M. Nelson

Carol McConkie

  • Heaven is higher than the earth; God knows what we and our families need at a time like this, a time of turbulence and danger and sadness and unrest. So the prophet receives guidance for the whole world to know what is right, true, and important.

President Monson

  • The purpose of our lives is to learn of Jesus. As we learn of Him, we will want to act like Him. Follow Him. His examples leads the way. 
  • Jesus experienced all the same things we experience in this life: disappointment (because of other's choices, for example), sorrow, happiness..
  • Jesus walked the path of service; so can we. Of prayer; so can we. 
  • He tells us to stand up bravely for our beliefs even when we are ridiculed, which we will be. He told us to let our lights shine. He taught us to be morally clean in thought and action. 
  • No other choices that we can make can make us like He can. 
  • What do His actions teach us? His parables?
  • Just do what He did! Be as He was. 

To do list

  • Don't be two-faced. Don't try to serve two masters. Study JS and MH story. Overcome the fear of man and what they think of me. Have courage. Courage is at every virtue at the starting/testing point (Robbins). Study Korihor and 4 Nephi.
  • Ask myself, "Which way do you face?" (Robbins)
  • Do good as anonymously as possible. Could I do something more anonymously?
  • Use the scriptures (Packer) in addressing others. Explain them to others. Study it in PMG.
  • During the Sacrament, think of more than just the things that I need to repent of. Instead, think about when His enabling power helped me.
  • Think of ways that I can better prepare to partake of the Sacrament. Study this.
  • Study standing for truth and righteousness.
  • When I share the truth with others, have this perspective: it may difficult to understand truth first, to believe that there is a God and Savior Who know and love us. It's like explaining electricity to somebody who lived a thousand years ago. They may find it impossible to believe. But tell them that I know these things to be true, and as we do our part to get to know God and Jesus Christ, we will have peace and joy and guidance and assurance in this life. And we will know for ourselves without a doubt (Uchtdorf).
  • Stop arguing (Oaks). Don't even revile against revilers.
  • Love my neighbor and don't be disagreeable. But defend what I believe.
  • Read the testimony of Joseph Smith often.
  • Serve others. Be the one drop in the ocean that I am. Serve those within my reach. And pray for opportunities to do so (Holland). Like in Alma 34, if prayer is the only option for helping some people, do that! Rich or poor, do what we can.
  • Study/memorize D&C 121 again.