Marriage is the nucleus

Great class today on the importance of good marital health. One thing I learned is that it's more important to spend quality time with your spouse and less time with the children than it is to focus just on children and meeting their needs.

When our relationship is healthy, our family's will be too. 

Spiritual gifts

Tonight was the temple worker appreciation fireside. I learned a few things I want to record.

•There is a spiritual gift for every weakness. 

•I need to pray to enhance my gift of discernment, for the Holy Ghost to help me enhance it. 

•One way I can use the gift of discernment is by discerning other peoples' strengths and by showing them those strengths, or helping them see them and strengthen them. 

Bednar's missionary work tips

• 
  https://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood?lang=eng
• We live in a glorious time. ALL the priesthood keys and ordinances have been restored. We have all of them! that is because this is the time of the gathering of Israel.
• Also, he quoted Brigham Young about how there are so many innovations (even in that day!) that are directed toward sharing the gospel. David O. McKay said something similar. And Kimball said that the Lord wanted to put into our hands innovations that will allow for rapid communication. And then Hinckley taught that the Lord would inspire men to develop great things, especially about communication. Then Perry talked about specific things that missionaries are now allowed to use: the Internet, Facebook...
• Technology has accelerated family history work. How has it accelerated missionary work.
• Bednar says to use social media to bear our testimonies through social media!
• Outline for 11/30/14 – How to Practically Share the Gospel
  30 minutes
  
  
  1.      Does the Lord trust me?
  a.      Share the account of the Terenure Ward in Dublin, Ireland.
  b.      Principle: When the Lord trusts us, this work will accelerate. As we openly welcome new people in our ward, and as we pray for opportunities to extend a hand of fellowship, the Lord will bless our ward with growth. He will entrust His children into our care.
  c.      Invitation: Find someone you don’t know at church each week and get to know them.
  d.      Discussion: What are some obstacles that we face that prevent us from fellowshipping new people at church? (It might feel unnatural, or we might not know if they are new or not – we have a big ward!). How can we overcome those obstacles?
  
  
  2.      Finding people for the missionaries to teach
  a.      The Power of Everyday Missionaries teaches very practical principles of member missionary work through sharing experiences. It helps dispel many of the concerns that we have about inviting others to learn about the gospel. Please prayerfully consider ways to incorporate some of the principles taught.
  b.      Discussion: One of the principles mentioned is the use of the Internet. In what ways have you seen the Internet either help or hinder missionary work?
  
  
  3.      Using technology to find those who are ready to hear the gospel
  a.      In 1966 President David O. McKay prophesied scientific discoveries that “stagger the imagination” would make possible the preaching of the gospel to every kindred, tongue, and people. "Discoveries latent with such potent power, either for the blessing or the destruction of human beings, as to make man’s responsibility in controlling them the most gigantic ever placed in human hands. … This age is fraught with limitless perils, as well as untold possibilities” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, 4). 
                                            i.     Discussion: What technologies exist today that have “stagger[ed] the imagination” and have made possible the preaching of the gospel?
  1.      Internet, satellite broadcast, social media, etc
  b.      In 1862 Brigham Young said: "Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind has been given by direct revelation from God, though but few acknowledge it. It has been given with a view to prepare the way for the ultimate triumph of truth, and the redemption of the earth from the power of sin and Satan. We should take advantage of all these great discoveries, the accumulated wisdom of ages, and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 18–19). 
                                            i.     Discussion: What technology was available in 1862 when Brigham Young gave this discourse?
  1.      First working full-size railway steam locomotive, electrical lighting, bicycles, telegrams
                                          ii.     Discussion: How do you think technology, or these “direct revelation[s] from God,” have helped to “efficiently do [our] part in the great work”?
  1.      Number of people in the world: 7.125 billion. Number of full-time missionaries: 88,000. Number of individuals in the world to full-time missionaries: about 81,000 people per missionary
  2.      In 1999, President Hinckley said that the missionaries “succeed best when members become the source from which new investigators are found.” What would happen if we became full-time finders (instead of the elders and sisters in our ward)? Number of people in the world: 7.125 billion. Number of “full-time finders” (i.e. members): 15,082,028. Number of individuals in the world to “full-time finders” (members): about 500 people per member of the church. Average number of “Facebook Friends” per youth (12-17): 521
  c.      In Moses 7:62, the Lord says that in the last days: “…righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood” (see Moses 7:59–62; italics added).
                                            i.     Discussion: Elder Bednar urges us to “not simply participate in a flash flood that rises swiftly and then recedes just as rapidly.” How, then, are we to “sweep the earth as with a flood”?
  1.      Elder Bednar also said, “Imagine the impact we can have as hundreds of thousands and millions of members of the Lord’s restored Church contribute in seemingly small ways to the rising floodwaters. May our many small, individual efforts produce a steady rainfall of righteousness and truth that gradually swells a multitude of streams and rivers—and ultimately becomes a flood that sweeps the earth. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).
                                          ii.     Discussion: How does sharing the Gospel via social media relate to ministering in the Savior’s way, one-by-one?
                                         iii.     Social Media Guidelines:
  1.      Be authentic and consistent
  2.      Edify and uplift
  3.      Respect intellectual property
  4.      Be wise and vigilant
  
  
  4.      Other ways to extend an invitation
  a.      Principles covered in The Power of Everyday Missionaries:
                                            i.     We cannot predict and should not judge (we can invite everyone, not just friends!)
                                          ii.     We succeed when we invite (how many people can we find who say “no”?)
                                         iii.     Use “Mormon words” in everyday conversation.
                                         iv.     Find what people are interested in (not what we think they should be interested in)
                                           v.     Invitations without conditions (to maintain friendships, be more sincere, etc)
                                         vi.     Discover people’s questions
                                       vii.     Ask for help when winds of prosperity blow (people want to serve!)
                                      viii.     Share at work/school confidently (use Gospel to answer questions, ex: hometeaching to develop employee development program)
                                         ix.     Share the Gospel online (social media, blogs, etc)
                                           x.     Set goals and deadlines (the Lord will help us, “Principle of Desperation”)
                                         xi.     Teach toward conversion (prayer, scripture study, Sabbath Day)
                                       xii.     Building God’s kingdom (search out those who didn’t come, show God we can be trusted, showing forth God’s love)
  b.      Discussion: Role play common scenarios, and demonstrate principles taught in The Power of Everyday Missionaries and Preach My Gospel. Ex: Do we need to be close friends before inviting friends to hear more about our church? (See section “We cannot predict and should not judge”)
  
  
  5.      Testimony of Member Missionary Work
  a.      Discussion: What blessings have you seen come into your life when you share the Gospel? What promises does the Lord make when we strive to build His kingdom?

Lehi's awesome sermon on agency

I read 2 Nephi 2 in the temple and got so much out of it. Wow it is such a dense chapter. I read it twice, and the second time I looked for Lehi's purpose and why he addressed his audience the way he did. Honestly, I think he was just talking to Jacob and since Jacob had a witness of Christ and could handle serious doctrine, and since Lehi knew that this message about agency needed to be given to man and recorded for our day, and since Lehi was a prophet and Heavenly Father needed him to give us this message, he just plopped it into a message to Jacob. lucky son! And lucky us!

Lehi teaches so much about agency. From his sermon, the main thing I learned is that we are given what we need to know good from evil! We are! W eall are, even if we don't grow up in the church. And for those who are numb or callous to guilt or to the Spirit of Chirst, which they were born with, that is because they have come a long way from where they started. And where they started was a more pure spirit that knew right from wrong. Interesting.

I also learned more about the atonement. And how relieving it must have been for Lehi and his family. They were learning about Christ before He even came to earth, but yet they believed in Him and had faith in Him and put their trust in Him.

Also, I liked how Lehi says that it's really important that we "make these things known unto the inhabitants of the world," these things meaning that men can only return to Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, through His Atonement. It's important to tell people this! THey need to know that Christ is the answer to their problems and being lost-ness or guilt ....

This time I understood the stair-step scripture: that if there weren't opposition in all things, there would be no law and no sin. And if there was no sin there would be no righteousness. And if there were no righteousness there would be no happiness. And if there were no righteousness and happiness, there would be no misery or punishment. And no God. It made so much sense this time. Everything that makes people happy comes from something good that they or someone else has done. And people can experience this, goodness, even without the fullness of the gospel. Because Heavenly Father loves and remembers all of His children!

Serving the poor and the needy

Lots of thoughts lately on how much and how to serve the poor and the needy. Christene Gutierrez is a recent convert in our ward. I have had trouble with her situation because I didn't think she was ready to be baptized. She still gets mad at us or at the church if we can't help her with something...like pick her up from the emergency room or get her groceries or whatever. She isn't self-reliant.

But I know I should serve others, especially the poor and the needy. And like Mosiah 4 says, I shouldn't condemn someone and say, "They brought it upon themselves." But I also feel wrong about helping her all the time with everything she needs. Kiley and I have been struggling with it. And so I've been studying about it, and now I need to start praying about it so that Heavenly Father can teach me about true, Christlike service. A few (scattered) thoughts:

• When we see how much in need we are, it's easier to help others. "Are we not all beggars?" I need Christ and Heavenly Father so much. So realizing this should help me be more eager to help others as well.
• When we retain in remembrance how merciful the Savior has been to us, we "will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peacably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due" (Mosiah 4:13). I don't want to injure Christine, I want to live peacably with her, and I want to give her what is her due. How do I know what is her due?
• Vs. 16 through 19 says that I can't judge another and say they have brought it upon themselves. But what if it is true? Well, I don't know if it is true. There are probably lots of details that I am unaware of. Only Heavenly Father knows all things and has the right to judge each situation, including Christine's. And my not judging her doesn't mean I will do everything she asks or give her everything she needs. Why? Because I can't afford that. And because it could enable her. And because Heavenly Father doesn't expect that of me.
• In condemning another, I am bringing condemnation unto myself. Don't I sin? Don't I rely on Heavenly Father and the Savior for forgiveness? They could withhold forgiveness from me if They wanted to.
• But I must use righteous judgment. 
• He who says the following is guiltless: "I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give" (v. 24). Am I like that? If I had more I would give more? I think so, but I also don't know if that is an excuse. 
• By serving others, I retain a remission of my sins. 
• V. 28 says that if we borrow anything, we should return the thing we borrowed. Otherwise we are sinning. So this principle shows accountability. We need to pay back what we use and borrow.
• On another similar note, D&C 58:26-32 talk about how we shouldn't be compelled in all things. And also that we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of our own free will. That we are AGENTS unto ourselves, and that we will surely be rewarded for the good things we do. Hasn't Heavenly Father proven Himself? And shown us that He keeps His promises? Yes! So we should try to do all we can on our own, relying on God. And other people should be doing this as well, including Christine.

So what I am learning from all this is that I need to give what I can give. I need to not judge others for the situation they are in. I need to continuously repent so that I can stay humble and remember how much I rely on the Lord. I need to use the Spirit and righteous judgment to know how much and when and to whom I can give.

• Psalms 25:9 says, "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." So, I need to be humble. Maybe I don't understand things. Maybe I don't need to know or be an expert on how to treat the poor and needy. But I do need to be meek and humble and acknowledge that I just don't know, and that Heavenly Father does and that He will teach me. 

Who art thou?

Yesterday I was a follower in a session in the temple. I especially loved yesterday how Eve asks Satan, "Who art thou? My brother? And persuade me to sin against Father?"

What Eve said made me want to question all the things that tempt me or weaken me. Who are thou? That persuade me to sin against Heavenly Father? Who do you think you are? I love my Father and He loves me. Why would I sin against Him? Why would you think you can convince me to do so.

This goes along with what I've been thinking about lately of standing as a witness. Oftentimes I shy away from doing so because I get nervous and I don't want to offend people. I want them to feel loved and accepted. But sometimes my loyalty to Heavenly Father takes second on my priority list, when I value others' feelings over what Heavenly Father wants. I was talking to Denay the other day and she was saying how the universe may have given her the opportunity to have children through artificial insemination. I just kept feeling like I should say, "No, the ability to bear children is straight from God. He has a plan for each of us and a huge part of that plan is coming to earth in families." But I didn't. And I think that is one of the times that I was too nervous and I should have been thinking, "Who are thou, Satan? Why do you think you can persuade me to not say these feelings in my heart? I am loyal to Heavenly Father first and foremost and if He wants me to say something, I will say it." It is taking me some time to develop this kind of strength. And faith. And I have a lot of work to do on it!

Member missionary

I'm studying pmg and here are a few thoughts. 

•"Strengthening their understanding of the doctrine of Christ will do more to increase their trust in you and to build their excitement to do missionary work than anything else you can do."

•Focus on going about doing good. 

•"Offering the restored gospel will flow more naturally out of relationships where they are seeking to love and serve their family members and friends."

•I love that! I need to pray, follow the spirit, give service. Then opps to share the gospel will come more naturally.