My thoughts on Elder Christofferson's talk "Come to Zion"
I have loved the concept of Zion and can't wait to life in a world full of Zion people.
"Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes and faithfulness of her citizen."
"If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary 91) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to car for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen--Zion will come only as they happen.
If we want to live in Zion we better be a Zion people. We need to be one of heart!
What comes first the Zion or the people of Zion---we know the answer to this one. W will live in Zion when Zion is in all of us.
Elder Christofferson asks:
Are we free from strife and contention?
The Nephites were able to live for 200 plus years in peace after Christ came to visit them because there was no contention among them. This is my daily goal in my life. I just want an hour to go by without contention--an hour in the daylight ~smile~.
Are we forgiving all?
I admit I'm not the most forgiving person. In fact I hold grudges tightly. My bad, my wrong and my sin to repent of. I'm working on it desperately.
"We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives and follow those He has commissioned to lead us."
Who is the center of your life?
"Most of the work to be done in establishing Zion consists in our individual efforts to become "the pure in heart". … which include our constant remembrance of the Savior and our pledge of obedience, sacrifice, consecration and fidelity."
As much as there is unity, no poor there is also no sin or unholiness in Zion.
I guess I have lots to work on.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Way
My thoughts on Elder Corbridge's talk "The Way"
How come my teens don't get this? "There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment"
"He offers a well of living water. Either we drink and never thirst more, or we don't and foolishly remain thirsty still."
"He is the Bread of Life. Either we eat and hunger no more, or we don't and foolishly remain weak and hungry still."
"Either we learn of Him and have life more abundantly, or we don't and foolishly remain dead still."
But then a teens eyes don't see beyond themselves and what happens to them. They only see five to ten minutes ahead of now. They just don't see it.
They see those that break the commandments, standards and Word of Wisdom rake in millions, having a good time, responsible for nothing and they see us who are the opposite of that, have callings, have responsibilities and struggle to make ends meet.
It is very frustrating!
"Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives."
My ultimate goal is to keep the Holy Ghost each day in my life and hopefully it will seep out into my home and my children.
"The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel."I think I'm going to make that into a poster and put that into each child's room!
"Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light strength, knowledge, confidence, love and joy, or we can go some other way, whatever other way, and go it alone--without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?"
YEP that is a poster!
I want my life to be as easy as possible but life is hard and I only complicated it when I don’t invite the Spirit into my life.
How come my teens don't get this? "There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment"
"He offers a well of living water. Either we drink and never thirst more, or we don't and foolishly remain thirsty still."
"He is the Bread of Life. Either we eat and hunger no more, or we don't and foolishly remain weak and hungry still."
"Either we learn of Him and have life more abundantly, or we don't and foolishly remain dead still."
But then a teens eyes don't see beyond themselves and what happens to them. They only see five to ten minutes ahead of now. They just don't see it.
They see those that break the commandments, standards and Word of Wisdom rake in millions, having a good time, responsible for nothing and they see us who are the opposite of that, have callings, have responsibilities and struggle to make ends meet.
It is very frustrating!
"Every good thing depends on getting and keeping the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives."
My ultimate goal is to keep the Holy Ghost each day in my life and hopefully it will seep out into my home and my children.
"The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel."I think I'm going to make that into a poster and put that into each child's room!
"Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light strength, knowledge, confidence, love and joy, or we can go some other way, whatever other way, and go it alone--without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?"
YEP that is a poster!
I want my life to be as easy as possible but life is hard and I only complicated it when I don’t invite the Spirit into my life.
Even a Child Can Understand
My thoughts on Elder Causse's talk "Even a Child Can Understand"
The difference between my religion and most everyone else's is that I do search for more knowledge through studying and praying about the doctrine I'm taught.
Why do we as LDS search for knowledge?
Is it because we believe that one day we will be gods?
Is it because we have been commanded?
Is it because we have a curiosity?
I don't know the answer and I think each of us studies for different reasons.
The church puts great emphasis on knowledge, and yet the gospel is so simple even a child can understand. In fact I believe that sometime they know more because they don't let all those "things" interfere with their faith.
"Little children have a marvelous disposition to learn. They have total trust in their teacher, a pure spirit, and great humility--in other words, the same qualities which open the door to the Holy Spirit."
Did not the Lord command us to be like little children?
Is this why?
The difference between my religion and most everyone else's is that I do search for more knowledge through studying and praying about the doctrine I'm taught.
Why do we as LDS search for knowledge?
Is it because we believe that one day we will be gods?
Is it because we have been commanded?
Is it because we have a curiosity?
I don't know the answer and I think each of us studies for different reasons.
The church puts great emphasis on knowledge, and yet the gospel is so simple even a child can understand. In fact I believe that sometime they know more because they don't let all those "things" interfere with their faith.
"Little children have a marvelous disposition to learn. They have total trust in their teacher, a pure spirit, and great humility--in other words, the same qualities which open the door to the Holy Spirit."
Did not the Lord command us to be like little children?
Is this why?
My thoughts on Elder Holland's talk "The Ministry of Angels"
"God has used angels is His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children."
"Usually such being are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near."
"…most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention guidance in difficult times."
"I testify that angels are still sent to help us."
"Not all angels are from the other side of the veil."
Who are your angels?
What have they done for you?
I have had angels both heavenly and earthly touch my life. The most glaring example was in my auto accident six years ago. I should have not made it out of the car alive. My mother said that six little guardian angels were there to protect me, but my husband disagrees. (I have six children.) My husband said it was one big guardian angels. Both of them may have their tongues in their cheeks when they said this, but I have done the research about being broadsided by a car doing over 45 (the other car was doing 60+). The occupant on the side of impact has her insides all mixed up. The spleen separates and the lungs are usually punctured by a broken rib. I was home within five hours of being transported to the hospital. Yes, it helped that I was in a very well built car and had the latest safety technology, but there was still someone watching out for me. I truly believe it was from Heaven.
The angels then turned earthly as the ward rallied around my family. Because of a head injury I will never know who they all were, but I know Heaven recorded their acts of service.
I have felt other angels in my life. In those quiet hours when you are so distraught and don't know how to even pick yourself up off the floor, somehow you have the strength to continue. I wish I could share all of them instead they are forever stored in my heart.
"Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mine."
"God has used angels is His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children."
"Usually such being are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near."
"…most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention guidance in difficult times."
"I testify that angels are still sent to help us."
"Not all angels are from the other side of the veil."
Who are your angels?
What have they done for you?
I have had angels both heavenly and earthly touch my life. The most glaring example was in my auto accident six years ago. I should have not made it out of the car alive. My mother said that six little guardian angels were there to protect me, but my husband disagrees. (I have six children.) My husband said it was one big guardian angels. Both of them may have their tongues in their cheeks when they said this, but I have done the research about being broadsided by a car doing over 45 (the other car was doing 60+). The occupant on the side of impact has her insides all mixed up. The spleen separates and the lungs are usually punctured by a broken rib. I was home within five hours of being transported to the hospital. Yes, it helped that I was in a very well built car and had the latest safety technology, but there was still someone watching out for me. I truly believe it was from Heaven.
The angels then turned earthly as the ward rallied around my family. Because of a head injury I will never know who they all were, but I know Heaven recorded their acts of service.
I have felt other angels in my life. In those quiet hours when you are so distraught and don't know how to even pick yourself up off the floor, somehow you have the strength to continue. I wish I could share all of them instead they are forever stored in my heart.
"Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mine."
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