Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Sacred Grove
I went to Katanyoo's wedding in Palmyra last weekend. I stopped by the Sacred Grove afterward. Eloise was asleep in the car, and the other people with me (Debbie, Nad, and Phim) stayed with her in there. So I got to just go inside the Sacred Grove all by myself. It was a sacred place, and I felt reverent. It was so quiet and beautiful, and I really felt the Spirit. As I walked along the path into the grove, I was just thinking and praying. I have questions (see previous post). I had kind of prayed to receive some answers, or just some understanding. I need a little more than just peace. But I want that too.
While I was walking, though, it just seemed so clear. The purpose of the gospel, of the restoration. The world was finally ready. Joseph Smith was an imperfect person and had to work through a lot of kinks and mistakes, some of which we are still ironing out and all that (and that were added to by Brigham Young for sure), but the core of it is here (the priesthood, temple, ordinances, Book of Mormon). And why? Why is it all here? To make us happy. To prepare the world for Jesus. To allow us to overcome faults and weaknesses. What's the result? Goodness. And good.
It was like Heavenly Father was saying to me, "I know it was and is imperfect. You all are human! How could it be perfect! I had to work with what I had. But look at the results, despite the human imperfections that brought them about! Look at the happiness and joy you experience and others have experienced. That's what it's all about."
While I was walking, though, it just seemed so clear. The purpose of the gospel, of the restoration. The world was finally ready. Joseph Smith was an imperfect person and had to work through a lot of kinks and mistakes, some of which we are still ironing out and all that (and that were added to by Brigham Young for sure), but the core of it is here (the priesthood, temple, ordinances, Book of Mormon). And why? Why is it all here? To make us happy. To prepare the world for Jesus. To allow us to overcome faults and weaknesses. What's the result? Goodness. And good.
It was like Heavenly Father was saying to me, "I know it was and is imperfect. You all are human! How could it be perfect! I had to work with what I had. But look at the results, despite the human imperfections that brought them about! Look at the happiness and joy you experience and others have experienced. That's what it's all about."
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Questions I need revelation about
Why is the prophet, the last say, a man? Does God value a man's opinion more than a woman's?
Is President Nelson God's mouthpiece? Did God lead him to choose his two counselors?
Are garments really what Heavenly Father wants me to wear? Or are they just a cultural thing that someone in the church came up with?
Why doesn't the church apologize about withholding the priesthood and temple blessings from Black people?
Are the temple ordinances from God?
Do we need to hold people who don't know or understand the gospel to the same standard (with commandments, and then laws) as those who do?
Lorenzo Snow said this: "This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint...that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives." Wow! Is this true? If so, what revelation did I receive yesterday? The day before? Maybe I should ask myself this. What revelation did I receive today. I guess a manifestation of the Spirit, might be different from revelation. To me, a manifestation of the Spirit could just be feeling the Spirit, knowing something, feeling a confirmation of something, feeling love from Heavenly Father, etc. While revelation seems to be more of a thing. Here's what TTTF says about revelation: "Revelation is communication from God to His children."
Heavenly Father wants me to be a revelation-receiving daughter. I need to take a more active role in this.
Is President Nelson God's mouthpiece? Did God lead him to choose his two counselors?
Are garments really what Heavenly Father wants me to wear? Or are they just a cultural thing that someone in the church came up with?
Why doesn't the church apologize about withholding the priesthood and temple blessings from Black people?
Are the temple ordinances from God?
Do we need to hold people who don't know or understand the gospel to the same standard (with commandments, and then laws) as those who do?
Lorenzo Snow said this: "This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint...that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives." Wow! Is this true? If so, what revelation did I receive yesterday? The day before? Maybe I should ask myself this. What revelation did I receive today. I guess a manifestation of the Spirit, might be different from revelation. To me, a manifestation of the Spirit could just be feeling the Spirit, knowing something, feeling a confirmation of something, feeling love from Heavenly Father, etc. While revelation seems to be more of a thing. Here's what TTTF says about revelation: "Revelation is communication from God to His children."
Heavenly Father wants me to be a revelation-receiving daughter. I need to take a more active role in this.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Nelson's stuff about revelation
President Nelson gave an amazing, bursting talk (bursting with good stuff) in April 2018 about revelation. The things that have touched me so far, that I think I'm supposed to apply:
write revelation down
find a quiet space
pray and search the scriptures
God WANTS to reveal things to me. Am I asking Him? Trusting He will tell me? Specific things?
A pure life will help me prepare to receive revelation. Things like temple attendance, scripture study, keeping the commandments, pray, and family history help me prepare to receive it.
I want to write down my questions and pray about them every day.
write revelation down
find a quiet space
pray and search the scriptures
God WANTS to reveal things to me. Am I asking Him? Trusting He will tell me? Specific things?
A pure life will help me prepare to receive revelation. Things like temple attendance, scripture study, keeping the commandments, pray, and family history help me prepare to receive it.
I want to write down my questions and pray about them every day.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Discernment/sending spies
Moroni was actively looking for threats to his army, and also their plans, so he could sufficiently strategize. I should be looking for threats to my family or testimony. I can pray and ask what these threats might be, and I can plan ways to combat them so I can keep my family and myself safe.
One is: taking a non-spiritual perspective toward things. News. People's actions. Books. Movies.
Danger of anger
Anger is dangerous. In Alma 43:29, Moroni knew (maybe through the power of discernment) that Zerahemnah just wanted to destroy and captivate the Nephites. The footnotes for this scrioture lead to three different examples of captains getting their peoole ready to fight and captivate by stirring them up to anger.
Sometimes I get caught up in anger. There's not a good result to this. And I should recognize other peoole or things trying to do that to me too (even the news).
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Prophet Joseph, priesthood, motherhood
Today I felt the Spirit so stron gin the YW lesson. Especially when Melissa PEtty (13) shared what she learned from the lesson. She said that it just made so much sense to her that Joseph Smith was insprired by God. She said, "It would be impossible to do everything he did without God behind him. God has a purpose for him and was behind it." She usually says funny things during that last few minutes when we share what we learned, but today she was really reverent and I could tell she was sincere. I also just liked the lesson overall. The girls had a lot to share about the resotration and Joseph Smith. They seemed like they learned something. And I just felt a burning in my bossom that confimred to me that Joseph Sith was a prophet and that he was so inspired with most of the things that he did. I'm grateful for him and to him.
Also, during the preisthood discussion (How can we use the priesthood?), We talked about operating under delegated priesthood authority. And it made me think we were ready really soon to watch the interview with the general YW presidency about how the YW responsibilities as class presidencies are equal to the aaronic priesthood holders' responsibilities with the Sacrament and whatnot. this information is a blessing to me, especially as a leader for the girls. And during that same discussion, one of the sister missionaries pointed out in Alma 13:2 that it says priests get the priesthood, but in verse 3 it says that the reason is so that "the people" (not just the priests thmesleves, or men in general or whatever)might know about God through th power of the preisthood. So men holding the preisthood hold it so that we can ALL benefit and know God.
From an Ensign article this month: "I know that my daily efforts to magnify my calling as a mother bring me closer to Jesus Christ," The lady said that her phrase was "itn's not about you," that we are doing these things as mothers, for our children, but moreso, for God and for our relationship with Him. And instead of worrying about what people think about me, I should worry only about waht the Lord thinks of me.
She mentions Nicole Johnson's video about how she felt invisiable as a mother. Then a friend gave her a book of amazing cathedrals, and she noticed taht in most of them, the builder/architect was "unknown." Those builders built amazing, incredible, strong works of art not to be seen of men, but for God. he saw, and He knew.
Anyway. Being a mom is so important. And I do so many good and important things every day.
Also, during the preisthood discussion (How can we use the priesthood?), We talked about operating under delegated priesthood authority. And it made me think we were ready really soon to watch the interview with the general YW presidency about how the YW responsibilities as class presidencies are equal to the aaronic priesthood holders' responsibilities with the Sacrament and whatnot. this information is a blessing to me, especially as a leader for the girls. And during that same discussion, one of the sister missionaries pointed out in Alma 13:2 that it says priests get the priesthood, but in verse 3 it says that the reason is so that "the people" (not just the priests thmesleves, or men in general or whatever)might know about God through th power of the preisthood. So men holding the preisthood hold it so that we can ALL benefit and know God.
From an Ensign article this month: "I know that my daily efforts to magnify my calling as a mother bring me closer to Jesus Christ," The lady said that her phrase was "itn's not about you," that we are doing these things as mothers, for our children, but moreso, for God and for our relationship with Him. And instead of worrying about what people think about me, I should worry only about waht the Lord thinks of me.
She mentions Nicole Johnson's video about how she felt invisiable as a mother. Then a friend gave her a book of amazing cathedrals, and she noticed taht in most of them, the builder/architect was "unknown." Those builders built amazing, incredible, strong works of art not to be seen of men, but for God. he saw, and He knew.
Anyway. Being a mom is so important. And I do so many good and important things every day.
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