scripture study

i had a reminder about scripture study today in our sunday school lesson.
one that applies to me right now in this busy life of mine.

...behold, i will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost...

~Doctrine and Covenants 8:2

the teacher told us that we absolutely have to have both our mind and our heart fully in scripture study or else we will not get anything out of it. meaning we can't just read the words on the page and be upset about something going on in our lives. or have our hearts in it but be thinking about our to-do lists. they have to both be in it. the teacher made it sound more eloquent than that but it made me stop and think about how often than not i will just read to read. instead of taking the time to focus and learn from my scripture study.

our prophet

my brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which i shall speak unto you this day; for i have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which i shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.

mosiah 2:9

i read this and immediately thought of general conference as well as the monthly prophet's message in the ensign magazine. how blessed we are to have a prophet of the Lord to direct the gospel on the earth. i enjoyed this reminder to not trifle with the words of any prophet of God, especially our living prophet.

charity

my thanks to all of you wonderful members of the church--and legions of good people not of our faith--for proving every day of your life that the pure love of Christ "never faileth." no one of you is insignificant, in part because you make the gospel what it is--a living reminder of His grace and mercy, a private but powerful manifestation in small villages and large cities of the good He did and the life He gave bringing peace and salvation to other people.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
october 2010

guilt

the last few days i've been griping to paul about a certain someone that has gotten on my nerves.
i know it's wrong but sometimes i just give in and do it.

today in sunday school we spoke extensively about the temple and our relationship with God and our sunday school teacher reminded us that if we are cruel or even slightly rude to one of God's children then we can't have a good relationship with God. it just doesn't make any logical or spiritual sense. oh, how this brought my issues to heart. and made me look at this person in a new light. one that i've only considered once before. a very humbling lesson that i need to remember always. especially if i want my relationship with God to always be on good terms.

my renewed goal is to cut out any form of negative thoughts about this person and remember who they are.

vice

any virtue, taken to the extreme, can become a vice.

prayer

enfold me in thy quiet hour
and gently guide my mind
to seek thy will, to know thy ways
and thy sweet spirit find.

boldness

i have truly felt refreshed being able to attend sunday school and relief society.
especially sunday school. we have a new teacher that is a powerhouse in his lessons.

yesterday we spoke about jeremiah and his call.

specifically these verses:

~
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.


7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.


8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.


9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

~
he finished the lesson by relating the story of the brother of jared. {all of chapter 3 is amazing but these verses stand out.}

~

8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.



9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?


10 And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.


11 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?


12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.


13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

~

he encouraged us to be more bold and confident in our testimonies, our convictions and our faith. just like the brother of jared. he asked with complete faith and God showed himself to him. this made me think about my life and how i am. do i ask God for things i want or am i so humble to the point of self degredation, convincing myself that i'm not worthy of his blessings?

it reminded me of this beautiful quote.
of how i want to be.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
-- Marianne Williamson