Well this is from yesterday. So maybe I'll just be a day behind.
I've added in reading talks from conference with my daily scripture reading. It's been amazing to see how the Lord is even in tune enough with me to lead me to the talk I need most that day. I do not read in any order. Instead when I'm praying before my study, I tell the Lord what I will be reading in the scriptures, and then I say "Then I'll read a conference talk from..." And then the first session that comes to mind is the one I choose. I then look through the talks and one usually stands out. I've done this in the past and a specific name has come to mind. So I read that. Every time there is an important lesson for me to learn. I'm humbled by the countless things I need to work on. But thankful that the Lord is patient with me and I know he will teach me little by little.
So yesterday I read Elder Scott D. Whiting's talk "Temple Standard". He spoke of the time he was the coordinator for the Laie Hawaii temple re-dedication open house.(I've been to that temple. Happy 23rd birthday to me!) He gave stories of two instances where the inspector of the building finding grit on the walls and a small 2 inch piece of glass out of place. Then when going through the temple again to only see that wall paper covered the wall and a plant stood in front of the glass window.
I then thought about me as a temple. As we're told we are. 1 Cor 3:16-17,19. I thought of all the grit and two inch piece of glass that exist within me. How the smallest things are important to the temple of the Lord. So the smallest things that need adjusting in my life are too of great importance to the Lord.
I continued to reflect and thought of how careful I must be to not allow grit on my walls, and two inch piece of glass to be out of place. And not in the sense that I have to be perfect, but how often I invite grit onto my walls, and glass to be out of place. How often I justify it being okay to be there. How easy it is to bring it in and allow it to stay. But how much easier it would be to just not let it in at all. To refrain from creating these circumstances in the first place.
There are so many different forms of grit. The older I get the more I learn about the ones I have on my walls to get rid of. I was faced today with a slap in the face, (I shall write about tomorrow). I'm uncertain as to how I am to fully get this grit removed from my walls. It's so much a part of the decoration of my temple that it almost seems improbable that it can be removed. But I have faith that with God all things are possible. I have faith that Christ can help change me. Bring about the power of repentance and build me into the temple he knows I can be. Even if I doubt at times that it can be done, I must have faith in him. Not me. Not someone else. But him. My Savior. And him alone. He will not fail me.
I recently renewed my temple recommend. I love this process. I wish it could happen more than every two years. I find strength and power come unto me when I am able to answer those important questions. I feel it's almost a process for me as well as the judge in Israel to know of my worthiness. Then being able to be in my Fathers house, close to him... that's were I hope to always be. Close to him. So though I may have grit on my walls, or a scratch on my floors, and I anticipate it will take much work to remove them, I also know that these are not things that keep me from the love of my Father. Nothing can keep me from that. Except myself. His love is unconditional. Meaning, even with grit, or scratches, or mud, or breaks, or missing pieces, he does and will love me. And when I'm ready to fix those blemishes He is more than willing to help me and teach me the process. This I know to be true.
Showing posts with label Daily Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily Study. Show all posts
Monday, November 19, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Daily Study Thoughts
I hope you don't mind me sharing my daily scripture study thoughts. I don't do this out of boasting to show off what I learn, I do it more with a feeling of gratitude for the things I come to understand better.
I read Mosiah 27 today. I love this chapter. It shows how truly remarkable the power of the Atonement can be.
I had a thought today about these sons of Mosiah and the son of Alma. We know that they had "become numbered among the unbelievers", "wicked", "idolatrous", "leading people away from the truth", "stealing away the hearts of the people, giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over" others. (Mosiah 27:8-9) Then through the "power and authority of God" an angel comes to answer the prayers of Gods servants according to their faith.(Mosiah 27:14) As the chapter continues we read about the conversion of Alma the younger. Later in the Book of Mormon we are able to know better about his conversion. But my thought today came near the end of the chapter. In verse 32.
It recalls how Alma(the younger) now begins to go about and teach the people about the redeeming power of the Atonement. "Traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they(sons of Mosiah and himself) had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God..." Now here comes the important part, "Preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them."
Now, continuing through the story we learn that these 5 men become instrumental in building Gods kingdom at this time. I thought to myself, how difficult that would have been to remain firm in their testimonies.
They went from one extreme to the other. Before the angel came they had many friends I'm sure. Many that believed them and followed after them. Listening to their every word. I'm sure they were very well liked by this group of people. And then following their conversion to then go and tell all these people, their friends most likely, about what was real and true. That they were wrong. Then to only be received with "much tribulation", "persecution", and "being smitten by many." How easy would you find it to continue to be true to the gospel and what you know is right? Which would be the easier thing to do?
How would I do in this situation? How many times do I find myself repentant and ready to change, only to go right back to what I once did because it's easier? Easier to live in my sin than to be diligent and continue forward facing much tribulation, persecution, and being smitten.
How did they do it? How do I do this?
Elder W.F. Gonzalez, spoke in Oct 2012 conference about "Learning with our Hearts." He speaks about the fact that we cannot have complete understanding without the applying our hearts to understanding.(Mosiah 12:27) It's only through this understanding with our hearts that I believe we can maintain conversion. Not just enjoy it briefly but maintain it, and live it. He continues and says....
"We access this celestial source when we do things such as reading the scriptures, hearkening to the living prophet, and praying. It is also important to take to be still and feel and follow the celestial promptings. When we do this, we will feel and see things that cannot be learned with modern technology. Once we have some experience in navigating this celestial web, we will discern the truth, even when reading secular history or other topics. The honest seekers of truth will know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost."
He emphasizes that this is an important way to come to know Christ to feel these things. "By coming unto Christ, every soul can see, feel, and know of a surety that Christ suffered and atoned for our sins that we may have eternal life... Thanks to Him, wounded souls may be healed and broken hearts may be mended... He will not fail you... Verily our conversion unto Him is rewarded with our healing."
I'm so grateful for the scriptures and words of modern apostles that can lead us to know how to overcome ourselves and become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know there is no other way to find and experience peace in this life. I pray that each time I am once again thrown back into "tribulations", "persecutions" or being "smitten",(physically, mentally, or spiritually) that I will be able to be like Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah and continue to live in righteousness feeling and knowing in my heart that Jesus is the Christ.
I read Mosiah 27 today. I love this chapter. It shows how truly remarkable the power of the Atonement can be.
I had a thought today about these sons of Mosiah and the son of Alma. We know that they had "become numbered among the unbelievers", "wicked", "idolatrous", "leading people away from the truth", "stealing away the hearts of the people, giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over" others. (Mosiah 27:8-9) Then through the "power and authority of God" an angel comes to answer the prayers of Gods servants according to their faith.(Mosiah 27:14) As the chapter continues we read about the conversion of Alma the younger. Later in the Book of Mormon we are able to know better about his conversion. But my thought today came near the end of the chapter. In verse 32.
It recalls how Alma(the younger) now begins to go about and teach the people about the redeeming power of the Atonement. "Traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they(sons of Mosiah and himself) had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God..." Now here comes the important part, "Preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them."
Now, continuing through the story we learn that these 5 men become instrumental in building Gods kingdom at this time. I thought to myself, how difficult that would have been to remain firm in their testimonies.
They went from one extreme to the other. Before the angel came they had many friends I'm sure. Many that believed them and followed after them. Listening to their every word. I'm sure they were very well liked by this group of people. And then following their conversion to then go and tell all these people, their friends most likely, about what was real and true. That they were wrong. Then to only be received with "much tribulation", "persecution", and "being smitten by many." How easy would you find it to continue to be true to the gospel and what you know is right? Which would be the easier thing to do?
How would I do in this situation? How many times do I find myself repentant and ready to change, only to go right back to what I once did because it's easier? Easier to live in my sin than to be diligent and continue forward facing much tribulation, persecution, and being smitten.
How did they do it? How do I do this?
Elder W.F. Gonzalez, spoke in Oct 2012 conference about "Learning with our Hearts." He speaks about the fact that we cannot have complete understanding without the applying our hearts to understanding.(Mosiah 12:27) It's only through this understanding with our hearts that I believe we can maintain conversion. Not just enjoy it briefly but maintain it, and live it. He continues and says....
"We access this celestial source when we do things such as reading the scriptures, hearkening to the living prophet, and praying. It is also important to take to be still and feel and follow the celestial promptings. When we do this, we will feel and see things that cannot be learned with modern technology. Once we have some experience in navigating this celestial web, we will discern the truth, even when reading secular history or other topics. The honest seekers of truth will know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost."
He emphasizes that this is an important way to come to know Christ to feel these things. "By coming unto Christ, every soul can see, feel, and know of a surety that Christ suffered and atoned for our sins that we may have eternal life... Thanks to Him, wounded souls may be healed and broken hearts may be mended... He will not fail you... Verily our conversion unto Him is rewarded with our healing."
I'm so grateful for the scriptures and words of modern apostles that can lead us to know how to overcome ourselves and become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know there is no other way to find and experience peace in this life. I pray that each time I am once again thrown back into "tribulations", "persecutions" or being "smitten",(physically, mentally, or spiritually) that I will be able to be like Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah and continue to live in righteousness feeling and knowing in my heart that Jesus is the Christ.
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