This is my outline for lesson #25. I have it starting out with my list of scriptures as quotes as there are many of them and it was easier for me to set it up this way, rather than at the end. So you will need to scroll down a bit to get to the lesson discussion. (more…)
Here is my basic outline for my lesson coming up this Sunday. I am reading two things not in the lesson that I think will help, they are not important to the general lesson. (more…)
Wilford Woodruff, the fourth President of the Church, said: “The Lord told Joseph that He would prove him, whether he would abide in His covenant or not, even unto death. He did prove him; and although [Joseph] had the whole world to contend against and the treachery of false friends to withstand, although his whole life was a scene of trouble and anxiety and care, yet, in all his afflictions, his imprisonments, the mobbings and ill treatment he passed through, he was ever true to his God.”
This is the basic outline of the lesson I taught in RS this past Sunday. It would make a good FHE lesson. I focused on the topic of Sacrifice and how can we make our sacrifices worthy, and sacred.
As the Prophet of the Restoration, one of Joseph Smith’s most important roles was to testify of Jesus Christ. He was blessed to enjoy a personal knowledge of the divinity of Jesus Christ and to understand His role as the Redeemer of the world. This knowledge began with the First Vision, in which young Joseph saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and heard the Father declare, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17). In this sacred experience, Joseph was privileged to receive instruction from the Savior of the world.
Joseph Smith saw the Savior on April 3, 1836. The Prophet and Oliver Cowdery had retired to the west pulpit in the Kirtland Temple. They bowed themselves in solemn prayer, after which the Savior appeared before them (more…)
Note- this is a copy of a review I have done on Tigersue’s Bookshelf. I thought it was appropriate to also post it here, and fitting for the guidelines of the blog.
Sheep’s Clothing is a chilling tale by Josi S. Kilpack. For a novel published by Deseret Book in LDS bookstores it is one that someone of any religion, and belief could pick up read and completely be engulfed in the weaving of the mystery and knowledge of what is about to unfold in its pages. I am not sure what I expected when I started the book, but I did not expect to be so completely involved that I finished in a few hours. I started it late yesterday, and finished it this morning before breakfast. (more…)
I have been pondering the occurrence of personal apostasy for sometime. Over the summer, I learned of an acquaintance that made the decision to leave the church. Not just the inactivity of not attending meetings but asked for her name to be removed from the records of the church. This was neither the first nor the last such story I have heard over the years, but I think the shock and dismay over this situation touched me to the core. I never for a million years would have expected this woman to leave the church, leave her husband and wish to raise her youngest children outside of the principles of the gospel.
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A friend emailed me and asked “Just wondering where you get your strength from?” I have been pondering how to answer him for a few days now …
The term “my strength” is ineresting to me. Indeed, I feel strengthened, but it isn’t my strength at all. When I consider doing this alone, or truly in my own strength, I know I couldn’t be making the good choices and finding the peace in that. Strength from the Lord is really interesting that way. It’s for us, but it’s not ours.
My first response to where my strength comes from is obedience. But it’s not just obedience, because I know many who obey but are miserable and stay that way for years. I think it’s obedience coupled with the proper attitude, prayer, and seeking the spirit.
By obedience with proper attitude, I mean obedience because it’s the right thing to do, as opposed to obedience to gain reward. I think there is always an aspect of being obedient to feel the spirit, to feel joy in righteousness, but obedience to please others, for example, is misplaced. Sometimes when obedience can’t be just because it’s right, praying for that motivation until it’s in place is key.
Prayer itself is key. Praying to understanding, praying to have our heart changed, praying to feel the spirit … Non-stop if need be. Pray to understand until we understand. Pray to have our heart changed until it’s changed. Pray to feel the spirit until we are feeling it. Pray to want to pray.
Seeking the spirit has been a joy for me in my struggles and has given me great strength. There’s a young man in the ward who was preparing to go on a mission and the bishop asked him if he had any spiritual experiences he could recount. When he said he did not, the bishop told him he’d be ready to serve a mission when he had some. He was told to start looking for spiritual experiences. The young man reported a few weeks ago that he has spiritual experiences all the time now, and they were always there. He just didn’t notice them before. Through this change in perception, and choice to notice, he became spiritually minded, and thus ready to serve. Becoming spiritually minded is a strength to me.
After these last few days of pondering this, I think it comes down to a few things, but at the same time, so much more. To start, though, strength for me comes from obedience, humble attitude, fervent constant prayer, seeking and feeling the spirit many times during my day, and thus becoming spiritually minded.
And always acknowledging that the strength is the Lord’s.
- Kim
This is a copy of my guest post for Jettboy in support of his Book of Mormon Symposium. I wanted to post it here. I hope you take the chance to go to his site and read the other fine articles that are there.
Tanya
Wisdom’s Voice
I have always believed that it is better to learn from others mistakes so that I can avoid repeating those errors. I figure I make enough mistakes on my own that if I can stay away from those pit falls that others have lived maybe I can circumventsome of the sorrow and pain of poor choices and lack of foresight. I cannot say that I am perfect at this goal, that would be an understatement, but I think my life has been easier because of this way of learning.
For years, I have been one of those individuals that would be stuck reading the Book of Alma. Now as a parent, I find the teaching and pleading so Alma and Alma the Younger to touch my soul. I have wondered how much of their experiencesinfluenced not only the mistakes their children made, but how they taught the gospel to those in their ministry.
While he listened to the words of Abinadi Alma’s heart softens, and converts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is only a young man at the time, around 25 years old. He had the integrity to leave and not follow in the wickednessof King Noah even at the threat of his own life. There is no information on his family. Was he married? Did he have children? How did this change affect them? It would seem that to be part of King Noahs priests there must have been some degree of affluence and prosperity. To leave everything, as did Lehi of old must have been very difficult and if he had children, they might have some residual memory of comforts.
Many years later, we meet a son, Alma the Younger. Alma is an old man, according to the dates in the Book of Mormon, he is somewhere between 70-82 years old. Alma the Younger’s description in Mosiah 27:8
is as a very wicked and idolatrous man. He was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.
He had the ability to influence the population to the point of drawing many from the church of God and lead many away from the commandments and the laws of the kingdom. He was rebelling against God. Taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, heknew what was right and wrong and was willfully defying Gods commands.
His Father in sorrow prayed for his son to be brought back to the fold of God. I imagine the tears, the heartache that all his teaching, all his warnings, and perhaps even his testimony of mistakes he may have made as a priest of King Noah weighed heavily on Almas mind. Surely, he would have taught his son these things, and let him know the difference in the heart. Alma the Younger choosesnot to listen to the experiences of his father, but rather had to learn for himself.
Many years later, this cycle is repeated as Alma the Younger, writes his letters to his sons. One in particular has grieved his heart, and I once again wonder at the age of the children involved. Is it possible that at the time of Alma the Youngers rebellion that he could have been married, and had children. Could these children remember the actions of a rebellious father? As I read his letters,I see a man pleading with them to remember what he learned, the hard way, that they will not make the same errors and suffer the torment he suffered. All through Alma, Chapters 36-42, we read statements that declare personal understanding of doctrine.
Alma 36: 20 …Soul was filled with joy as exceedingly as was my pain!…
Alma 37: 35 …Learn wisdom in thy Youth…
Alma 38: 9….I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me….
Alma 39:8 …Ye cannot hide your crimes from God…
Alma 39:19 ….Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his Angel….?
Alma 41: 10 …Wickedness never was happiness….
Alma 42:1 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen.
There are many other statements throughout these wonderful letters to Alma the Youngers sons that testify of his experiences and what he learned from them. As a parent,I want my children to learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others. I want them to be able to grasp the iron rod and have faith in God. I want them to be able to learn that it is possible to repent of mistakes and sins. Yes,I want them to have an easy life, what parent does not, but they must learn to accept the consequences of their choices and actions so they can also teach their children to learn from their mistakes. I have learned to love Alma and Alma the Younger as I imagine what their life had been like and what they learned as they accepted the will of God in directing their path. I hope that I can garner such strength and faith. I hope that as you read the book of Alma that you might see this teaching of his sons can also apply to us today.
I was watching the news last night and there were two stories that touched my heart deeply.
The first was of interest to me because of Michael’s job at the prison. It was about inmates that are helping to build low income housing with a reach program at the prison. The inmates are able to learn a trade and help society while they are at it. Many of them are able to even work through their apprenticeship while still in prison so when they are released they are able to find jobs right away. What a great program to help others work and make a living so they are prepared when they are back among society!
The second was about a woman that has terminal cancer that lost her dog. This dog is considered a service dog and helps her with her treatments. She has no children and no family just this little dog. The night before last there was a story about her coming home and finding the dog gone with just the collar in the yard. No one around had seen the little animal. Last night they ran the story that someone had found the dog and she was returned to her owner. Talk about a joyous reunion. That dog was so happy to be home! This sweet woman cried and cried. She has been fighting her cancer for so long, and had felt that this dog was the only reason for her to continue to fight as long as she can. As someone that loves dogs I found it to be such a touching a beautiful story of affection and hope.
So what good news have you seen lately that has warmed your heart to the good in the world?
By Tigersue
By Tanya
For the past week or so I have been pondering the question of Grace and Works. Not that I doubt how I feel about the two subjects but how do I explain to someone the importance of both.
The Grace of God, and the Saviour are undoubtably the most important and most significant things in our life, without them we are nothing and would be nothing. Without them the resurrection would not be possible and we would live eternity in a spiritual and physical death. There is nothing we have done our could do to avoid the effects of the ressurection. It is given to all that live and die in this estate we call mortal life. (more…)
Joseph Smith sent a letter to John Wentworth explaining the history and Faith of the Latter-day Saints. It included what has become The Articles Faith. This blog is about number 13; We Believe in Being, Honest, True, Chaste, Benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say we follow the admonition of Paul- We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. This will be a place to inspire, edify, strengthen and encourage us to seek for the Good things, in the scriptures, in our surroundings, and how we apply this in improving our Daily lives. Let us all Seek after These Things!
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