"There is a lesson in the Prophet Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision which virtually every Latter-day Saint has had occasion to experience, or one day soon will. It is the plain and very sobering truth that before great moments, certainly before great spiritual moments, there can come adversity, opposition, and darkness. Life has some of those moments for us, and occasionally they come just as we are approaching an important decision or a significant step in our lives. . . Beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted in it, it is right now."
“Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
How profound! I think it is all too easy to receive a thought or impression and later (even moments later) dismiss it. It is so important that we do whatever is necessary to act upon promptings and impressions from the Spirit. I have had a few very impressionable experiences with the Spirit throughout my life which have helped create a spirit of obedience. One that currently stands out in my memory happened while I was a missionary. My companion and I were preparing for the next day. We had prayed to know where we should be so that we might be where the Lord needed us, his servants. As we discussing the streets in our area, I had a distinct impression not to be in a certain area, at a certain time. The impression was quite strong but could have been easily dismissed as an unrealistic thought. I told my companion of the impression and that we couldn't not go to that area. The next evening we spoke with a friend who lived in the area I had felt impressed to not enter. At the exact time that the Spirit told me we shouldn't not be there, there was an attempted kidnapping at gunpoint of an adult woman. There was no doubt that the Lord had protected us and I knew that if I had dismissed the prompting as my own crazy thought that our lives would have been in jeopardy! I was so grateful that I had listened to the prompting from the Holy Ghost! I learned to seek the Lord's guidance more in my life and realized how easy it is to dismiss promptings of the Spirit! Heavenly Father knows what He is doing! He tries to guide us in all important decisions in our lives!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Just a Thought
I've been thinking a lot about choices. Adam and Eve provide a great example: they made no progress until they partook of the fruit of which they were disinclined to partake. They may have thought that they were happy, and may have been afraid of what they were getting themselves into, but they were stuck and could not progress. Until they partook, they could not move forward with their lives. They could not experience true joy and happiness without taking a leap of faith.
Here is also an awesome quote from Elder Marion G. Romney:
"While the Lord will magnify us in both subtle and dramatic ways, he can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet. Ultimately, our own actions determine our blessings - or lack of them."
Here is also an awesome quote from Elder Marion G. Romney:
"While the Lord will magnify us in both subtle and dramatic ways, he can only guide our footsteps when we move our feet. Ultimately, our own actions determine our blessings - or lack of them."
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Any Righteous Thing is Possible!
As I was preparing to teach Relief Society I was reminded of this quote:
You can change! You can be anything you want to be in righteousness. If there is one lament I cannot abide, it is the poor, pitiful, withered cry, “Well, that’s just the way I am.” If you want to talk about discouragement, that is one that discourages me. I’ve heard it from too many people who want to sin and call it psychology. And I use the word sin to cover a vast range of habits, some seemingly innocent enough, that nevertheless bring discouragement and doubt and despair. You can change anything you want to change, and you can do it very fast. Another satanic sucker punch is that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent. That’s just not true. It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say. “I’ll change”—and mean it. Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. You may well spend—indeed, you had better spend—the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. But change, growth, renewal, and repentance can come for you as instantaneously as they did for Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Even if you have serious amends to make, it is not likely that you would qualify for the term “the vilest of sinners,” which is the phrase Mormon used in describing these young men. Yet as Alma recounts his own experience, it appears to have been as instantaneous as it was stunning. (See Alma 36.) Do not misunderstand. Repentance is not easy or painless or convenient. It is a bitter cup from hell. But only Satan, who dwells there, would have you think that a necessary and required acknowledgment is more distasteful than permanent residence. Only he would say, “You can’t change. You won’t change. It’s too long and too hard to change. Give up. Give in. Don’t repent. You are just the way you are.” That is a lie born of desperation. Don’t fall for it. (Jeffrey R. Holland. However Long and Hard the Road [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1985], 6-7.)
I love it! Through Jesus Christ we can accomplish anything! We can become exactly who we want to be and who the Lord knows we can become!
You can change! You can be anything you want to be in righteousness. If there is one lament I cannot abide, it is the poor, pitiful, withered cry, “Well, that’s just the way I am.” If you want to talk about discouragement, that is one that discourages me. I’ve heard it from too many people who want to sin and call it psychology. And I use the word sin to cover a vast range of habits, some seemingly innocent enough, that nevertheless bring discouragement and doubt and despair. You can change anything you want to change, and you can do it very fast. Another satanic sucker punch is that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent. That’s just not true. It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say. “I’ll change”—and mean it. Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. You may well spend—indeed, you had better spend—the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. But change, growth, renewal, and repentance can come for you as instantaneously as they did for Alma and the sons of Mosiah. Even if you have serious amends to make, it is not likely that you would qualify for the term “the vilest of sinners,” which is the phrase Mormon used in describing these young men. Yet as Alma recounts his own experience, it appears to have been as instantaneous as it was stunning. (See Alma 36.) Do not misunderstand. Repentance is not easy or painless or convenient. It is a bitter cup from hell. But only Satan, who dwells there, would have you think that a necessary and required acknowledgment is more distasteful than permanent residence. Only he would say, “You can’t change. You won’t change. It’s too long and too hard to change. Give up. Give in. Don’t repent. You are just the way you are.” That is a lie born of desperation. Don’t fall for it. (Jeffrey R. Holland. However Long and Hard the Road [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1985], 6-7.)
I love it! Through Jesus Christ we can accomplish anything! We can become exactly who we want to be and who the Lord knows we can become!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Miracles Happen, As Weird As They May Be
Not that long ago I wrote about unspoken prayers. . . A few weeks ago I backed up into an air conditioning unit and scratched my bumper. I was really upset because I feel like my car is still brand new and it was my first scratch. I told a few people that I hoped I would be rear-ended (just gently) so I could get a new bumper without paying for it. Tonight, as I was driving home from the temple, a lady plowed into me while I was stopped at a red light. I'm still a little in shock! My immediate thought was that Heavenly Father was giving me exactly what I wanted. While my bumper isn't that big of a deal, it means something to me. I care about my car. And as trivial as it may be, I feel like Heavenly Father was telling me that he cares about me. We never know how are prayers will be answered but they will be. Heavenly Father loves us and wants to bless us in anyway that He can.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Despised and Rejected
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Isaiah 53:3-5
As I read these verses today I had a profound thought (actually I'm sure it wasn't mine). Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind, was not popular. He didn't minister in order to gain a following. His purpose and mission was fulfilled no matter who believed. So often we seek popularity through our actions. Why?! Jesus Christ, the best example we can follow, did not seek approval or change his mission in order to fit into a crowd. My mission is centered on Jesus Christ. I am his disciple.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Isaiah 53:3-5
As I read these verses today I had a profound thought (actually I'm sure it wasn't mine). Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind, was not popular. He didn't minister in order to gain a following. His purpose and mission was fulfilled no matter who believed. So often we seek popularity through our actions. Why?! Jesus Christ, the best example we can follow, did not seek approval or change his mission in order to fit into a crowd. My mission is centered on Jesus Christ. I am his disciple.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Prayer
Recently I've had a few unspoken prayers answered. It's been incredible to recognize the Lord's hand in my life. I frequently pray to follow the Lord's will and I pray for righteous desires. Sometimes I become frustrated when the things I desire most aren't happening. I wonder why, why can't I have righteous desires? But then things which mean something to me, but I hadn't asked for, are granted quite miraculously to me. Heavenly Father knows us and loves us! He knows what is most important and will guide us to it! I've always enjoyed the words to Garth Brooks "Unanswered Prayers." Here is the chorus:
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Moses
I've been thinking a lot about Moses. He was a prophet of God. As prophet, he saw God face to face. What a remarkable spiritual experience! In addition to seeing God, he saw this world and all those who have or will inhabit it. After this amazing experience the Adversary came temping Moses. Initially Moses was able to withstand the temptations because he remembered the vision and the power of God. But after Satan continues to tempt him, "Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell" (Moses 1:20). Only when Moses began to listen to the Adversary did he see the bitterness of hell.
Each of us experience miracles. Through these we are able to see the power of God in our own lives. We are strengthened and edified but just as Moses, the Adversary will try to tempt us. He wants us to fall and will do all in his power to make it happen. The Adversary doesn't want us to have eternal happiness. I like what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said in his talk entitled "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence." He said, "If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."
Each of us experience miracles. Through these we are able to see the power of God in our own lives. We are strengthened and edified but just as Moses, the Adversary will try to tempt us. He wants us to fall and will do all in his power to make it happen. The Adversary doesn't want us to have eternal happiness. I like what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said in his talk entitled "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence." He said, "If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."
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