We are taught in the scriptures that we are to become as little children. In some ways we are already like little children. Like little children, we often don't understand the Fathers plan for us. We don't understand the dangers that are before us if we disobey His commandments. I think of the child who wants to touch the stove when it is hot, or who wants to know what happens when we plug a lamp into the outlet and so reaches his little fingers in the small holes in spite of being warned. We are still very much like little children in this way. We don't see the big picture. We don't comprehend all the reasons that we given commandments.
Thankfully we have been promised that though we do not understand, if we stay with the Lord, he will lead us along, and the treasures and blessings of eternity will be ours.
All of us are like these children, to a degree. But children are also blessed with what seems to me to be a more holy spirit. They are, as King Benjamin says, submissive, meek, patient, humble, patient, full of love, and willing to submit to all things that the Lord sees fit to inflict on us.
Though the attributes of a child that were discussed in the first paragraph might seem to be negative at first glance, I believe that when they are combined with the rest of the characteristics of a child, as explained by King Benjamin we become exactly as the Lord needs us to be. We don't understand, but accept his word and trust that he will make good on his promises. We don't see the future, or the consequences of this action or that, but, like a child, we accept the simple answers that we receive, and move on. Perhaps this is how we are to become as little children.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scriptures!
Oct 19, 2012
Oct 13, 2012
Peter on the Water
1.
When the Disciples first saw Christ walking on the water, they were afraid. I imagine them almost in a frenzied state as they “cried out for fear.” It was, perhaps, a natural response. Perhaps any of us, if we were in their place, would have responded in the same manner. The appearance of a being walking on the water towards me would almost surely cause me worry, especially if I didn’t recognize or trust the person who was approaching. But also in their response to the appearance of the Savior to them is displayed a simple lack of understanding. Greater faith and trust in the power of Christ would have given them courage and peace through Christ. So too, we have no need to fear. Christ can and will overcome all things for us if we trust and follow him to the end.
2.
When Christ called to the disciples, it was Peter who was most readily believed. Calling to Christ he said in effect, “call and I will follow you.” Here, we have a glimpse of the qualities that Peter possessed that prepared him to be the chief disciple and apostle.
3.
At Jesus call, Peter leaps into the ocean, and heads to Christ. While his focus was on Christ, Peter was carried on faith in Christ and walked on water. When he allowed his focus to be redirected to the area around him, the challenges, obstacles, and interests surrounding him, he wavered. He saw the wind, and feared. His fear caused him to sink.
4.
When he began to sink, Peter called to Christ for help. In verse 31, Christ immediately reached out for his hand, and pulled him out of the water.
5.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 explains that when our eye is single to the glory of God, our body will be full of Light. This scripture might be easier understood in context of the Peters experience if we said that, if our eye is single to the Glory of God we will be filled with spirit and power of God. When Peter focused on Christ and following Him, he was sustained by the Light, or power of Christ. This same promise is extended to each and everyone of our Father in Heavens children. By the power of the atonement and the grace of Christ, all who come unto Him and waver not will be blessed to overcome any challenge that they are called to pass through as they walk the journey back to God.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
When the Disciples first saw Christ walking on the water, they were afraid. I imagine them almost in a frenzied state as they “cried out for fear.” It was, perhaps, a natural response. Perhaps any of us, if we were in their place, would have responded in the same manner. The appearance of a being walking on the water towards me would almost surely cause me worry, especially if I didn’t recognize or trust the person who was approaching. But also in their response to the appearance of the Savior to them is displayed a simple lack of understanding. Greater faith and trust in the power of Christ would have given them courage and peace through Christ. So too, we have no need to fear. Christ can and will overcome all things for us if we trust and follow him to the end.
2.
When Christ called to the disciples, it was Peter who was most readily believed. Calling to Christ he said in effect, “call and I will follow you.” Here, we have a glimpse of the qualities that Peter possessed that prepared him to be the chief disciple and apostle.
3.
At Jesus call, Peter leaps into the ocean, and heads to Christ. While his focus was on Christ, Peter was carried on faith in Christ and walked on water. When he allowed his focus to be redirected to the area around him, the challenges, obstacles, and interests surrounding him, he wavered. He saw the wind, and feared. His fear caused him to sink.
4.
When he began to sink, Peter called to Christ for help. In verse 31, Christ immediately reached out for his hand, and pulled him out of the water.
5.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 explains that when our eye is single to the glory of God, our body will be full of Light. This scripture might be easier understood in context of the Peters experience if we said that, if our eye is single to the Glory of God we will be filled with spirit and power of God. When Peter focused on Christ and following Him, he was sustained by the Light, or power of Christ. This same promise is extended to each and everyone of our Father in Heavens children. By the power of the atonement and the grace of Christ, all who come unto Him and waver not will be blessed to overcome any challenge that they are called to pass through as they walk the journey back to God.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
Oct 6, 2012
Parables
1.
A parable is a story, not unlike a fable. A fable is given as a story with a moral that the reader is intended to learn and apply. While a parable is a story with a moral or lesson, it is also more than that. Parables, especially those used by the Savior, are told in such a way that those who seek to understand the meaning and message intended by the Savior or other teacher, and have prepared themselves to learn, will be able to understand. He who has prepared himself well to receive the message will understand much. He who has not prepared to understand or has not interest in understanding will not understand anything beyond the story itself.
Some examples of the Saviors parables and some of their meanings are below:
2.
The Savior spoke to the people about the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he gave the parable of the gospel net in Matt 13:47-50. He spoke of fishermen bringing in the fish of the sea, of all kinds, both good and bad.
He spoke of the great missionary work that was going to take place when He told of the wheat and the tares sown together. Into that field the Lord would send he reapers to gather in the wheat and separate the tares. Matt 13:24-30
Teaching us about the remarkable growth that His church would experience from very small beginnings the Lord told us of mustard seeds, and of leaven. The very small seed grows to be a great tree. Matt 13:47-50
The Savior taught that there would be the need for some to sacrifice great worldly wealth and recognition to accept and receive the truths of the gospel when He spoke of the Pearl of Great Price, and the man was was willing to sell all to obtain it. Matt 13:44-46
We were also taught through the Lords parables that among those who are caught in the harvest will be those which will not remain, and have not brought the fruit of the gospel. From the gospel net are cast the bad fishes from the Harvest of the Lord; from the sheaves of the reapers who go into the field with the wheat and the tares, the tares are removed and burned.
3.
In pondering the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, the question that seems to come to view is "What sacrifice have you yet to make in order that you might retain your pearl of great price?" Greater than any other sacrifice that we can make, and the one that takes the most work to truly give, is our will. It is the only thing which we truly and fully own and control, and therefore the only thing that we can really give to God which he does not already have. I believe it is in the small, consistent things I chose to do, or not do, that I demonstrate my faith and desire to say to God and Christ, "Thy will, not mine, be done." Daily scriptures and prayers. Strict observance of moral principles in media, language, and behavior. Increased service on behalf of others. These are the things that I feel can be done.
Another thing that I think we all ought to do is be more active as we move the gospel net through the world. This net is woven by strands made of the lives and work of the missionaries and members of the church. We are to reach out, and bring into the safety all who will heed the call. The good fish who hear and come are placed into the vessels, and the bad are cast away. I believe that the vessels may represent the temples of God. The temples are the only place that we can go to be sealed to each other and obtain all we need to return to our Father. It is also the only place in the church that people are turned away from if they do not qualify. Our gathering is not only to baptism, but to the temples!
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
A parable is a story, not unlike a fable. A fable is given as a story with a moral that the reader is intended to learn and apply. While a parable is a story with a moral or lesson, it is also more than that. Parables, especially those used by the Savior, are told in such a way that those who seek to understand the meaning and message intended by the Savior or other teacher, and have prepared themselves to learn, will be able to understand. He who has prepared himself well to receive the message will understand much. He who has not prepared to understand or has not interest in understanding will not understand anything beyond the story itself.
Some examples of the Saviors parables and some of their meanings are below:
2.
The Savior spoke to the people about the growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he gave the parable of the gospel net in Matt 13:47-50. He spoke of fishermen bringing in the fish of the sea, of all kinds, both good and bad.
He spoke of the great missionary work that was going to take place when He told of the wheat and the tares sown together. Into that field the Lord would send he reapers to gather in the wheat and separate the tares. Matt 13:24-30
Teaching us about the remarkable growth that His church would experience from very small beginnings the Lord told us of mustard seeds, and of leaven. The very small seed grows to be a great tree. Matt 13:47-50
The Savior taught that there would be the need for some to sacrifice great worldly wealth and recognition to accept and receive the truths of the gospel when He spoke of the Pearl of Great Price, and the man was was willing to sell all to obtain it. Matt 13:44-46
We were also taught through the Lords parables that among those who are caught in the harvest will be those which will not remain, and have not brought the fruit of the gospel. From the gospel net are cast the bad fishes from the Harvest of the Lord; from the sheaves of the reapers who go into the field with the wheat and the tares, the tares are removed and burned.
3.
In pondering the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, the question that seems to come to view is "What sacrifice have you yet to make in order that you might retain your pearl of great price?" Greater than any other sacrifice that we can make, and the one that takes the most work to truly give, is our will. It is the only thing which we truly and fully own and control, and therefore the only thing that we can really give to God which he does not already have. I believe it is in the small, consistent things I chose to do, or not do, that I demonstrate my faith and desire to say to God and Christ, "Thy will, not mine, be done." Daily scriptures and prayers. Strict observance of moral principles in media, language, and behavior. Increased service on behalf of others. These are the things that I feel can be done.
Another thing that I think we all ought to do is be more active as we move the gospel net through the world. This net is woven by strands made of the lives and work of the missionaries and members of the church. We are to reach out, and bring into the safety all who will heed the call. The good fish who hear and come are placed into the vessels, and the bad are cast away. I believe that the vessels may represent the temples of God. The temples are the only place that we can go to be sealed to each other and obtain all we need to return to our Father. It is also the only place in the church that people are turned away from if they do not qualify. Our gathering is not only to baptism, but to the temples!
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
Sep 29, 2012
The Three Apostles
1. It is under the direction of Peter that Mark wrote his gospel, which shows the important flow of authority in the church and publishing official church documents.
Andrew was one of the earliest chosen to be a disciple of Christ.
Judas Iscariot was the only one of the twelve who was not a Galilean.
2. An apostle is one who is called and set apart to serve as a special witness of Jesus Christ. He is different from all the other general authorities in the church because of his authority and calling to witness of Christ.
3. The teaching of Christ prepared the apostles to serve in their callings by first helping them to understand that temporal things were not important. They didn't need "purse or script." He explains that they are going to be working in and among people who are going to seek their destruction. He taught them that they need to trust the Spirit that they would be given what to say. He then told them not to fear, but to love Him more than anything, they would be worthy of him.
4. It is admirable to me that when Christ told Simon, James, and John to cast their nets in again for fish Simon tells the Lord that he will, in spite of the fact that he had been working all night doing the very thing that Christ had asked him to do without any success. It would be easy to express doubt or even experience frustration at the situation, or at the request to repeat a task that has been both tiring and yielded no apparent results. But Simon doesn't express doubt, but simply trusts the instruction of the Lord, lowers the nets, and experiences a miracle. This confirmation of his faith was then immediately followed by another test of faith in the invitation to follow Christ, and catch men. Simon, James and John each again followed the instruction, and began the life time journey of miracles and blessings and work in the service of the Master.
The example of the faith of these pre-apostles is both encouraging and instructive. Their experience makes me feel like I can accomplish whatever the Lord wants me to if I but trust Him. It also makes clear the fact that it wont be an easy process or road to follow, but in the end, those who will trust and obey the voice of Christ will have the promised blessings.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
1. It is under the direction of Peter that Mark wrote his gospel, which shows the important flow of authority in the church and publishing official church documents.
Andrew was one of the earliest chosen to be a disciple of Christ.
Judas Iscariot was the only one of the twelve who was not a Galilean.
2. An apostle is one who is called and set apart to serve as a special witness of Jesus Christ. He is different from all the other general authorities in the church because of his authority and calling to witness of Christ.
3. The teaching of Christ prepared the apostles to serve in their callings by first helping them to understand that temporal things were not important. They didn't need "purse or script." He explains that they are going to be working in and among people who are going to seek their destruction. He taught them that they need to trust the Spirit that they would be given what to say. He then told them not to fear, but to love Him more than anything, they would be worthy of him.
4. It is admirable to me that when Christ told Simon, James, and John to cast their nets in again for fish Simon tells the Lord that he will, in spite of the fact that he had been working all night doing the very thing that Christ had asked him to do without any success. It would be easy to express doubt or even experience frustration at the situation, or at the request to repeat a task that has been both tiring and yielded no apparent results. But Simon doesn't express doubt, but simply trusts the instruction of the Lord, lowers the nets, and experiences a miracle. This confirmation of his faith was then immediately followed by another test of faith in the invitation to follow Christ, and catch men. Simon, James and John each again followed the instruction, and began the life time journey of miracles and blessings and work in the service of the Master.
The example of the faith of these pre-apostles is both encouraging and instructive. Their experience makes me feel like I can accomplish whatever the Lord wants me to if I but trust Him. It also makes clear the fact that it wont be an easy process or road to follow, but in the end, those who will trust and obey the voice of Christ will have the promised blessings.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
Sep 21, 2012
Baptism and Confirmation: Symbols and Purpose
What is the difference between “seeing” the kingdom of God and “entering” the kingdom of God?
Perhaps the difference in seeing the Kingdom of God and entering the Kingdom of God is that seeing the Kingdom refers to those who are of the Church of Jesus Christ, see the signs of the times, and are assisting to hasten the work forward. To see the Kingdom of God as it comes. To enter the Kingdom of God is, I suppose, just as it seams.
What did Jesus Christ teach Nicodemus that he must do to enter the kingdom of God?
Christ told Nicodemus that he must “be born again,” and then explained that this rebirth required both the ordinances of baptism and confirmation when He said “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
What does it mean to be “born of water?”
To be “born of water” signifies the ordinance of baptism by immersion by one who has priesthood authority.
Read Moses 6:59 and list ways that baptism is a symbol of rebirth. Read Romans 6:4 and list how baptism can be a symbol of death.
Moses 6:59 helps us understand that baptism and confirmation are symbols of a rebirth. Here, the Lord explains that we were born into the world by “water, and blood, and the spirit.” To be born again we would need to repeat the process, being born “by water,” or baptism, “and of the Spirit,” being the reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, “and be cleansed by blood,” the atonement of Christ. This passage in Moses also helps us understand that a new birth, or a rebirth, requires both the ordinances of baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost to be complete.
In stark contrast to the symbolism of the rebirth of a man or women who takes upon himself or herself the ordinances baptism and confirmation, baptism has also been used as a symbol of death. Paul explained in Romans 6:4 that “we are buried with him by baptism unto death.” The symbol of death has a two fold meaning. First, the submersion of the body in the ordinance of baptism represents the death and burial of our mortal bodies. And as we are raised from the water we are to remember the rising of Christ from the grave, and the resurrection that will pass upon all men by and through Him. Secondly, the burial of the body under the water also signifies the death of the natural man, or body of sin, and a commitment to leave behind our sinful nature, and become new creatures in Christ. Thus, by ordinance and covenant, our natural man dies, and we are reborn, becoming saints and disciples of Christ.
What does it mean to be “born of the Spirit?”
To be “born of the Spirit” means, at least initially, that one has received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and is striving to follow and develop a relationship with him. But in addition to the bestowal of this gift, and our seeking to follow it, being born of the Spirit also comes to mean that we receive the baptism of fire (2 Nephi 31:13). The baptism of fire is a process through which our “stony heart” is taken away and we receive a “heart of flesh,” (Ezk 11:19) through the application of the atonement of Christ. To reach this condition, we must be cleansed and sanctified by the Holy Ghost (Alma 5:54) leaving us with “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2) This process cannot take place before the covenant of Baptism is made and the Gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed.
What natural element does the Lord compare with the Spirit? Why is it an effective comparison?
The Lord compares the cleansing role of the Holy Ghost to fire. Malachi spoke of the “refiners fire” and the “fullers’ soap.” (Malachi 3:2) The role the fire in the process of refining gold and other metals, and the role of the Holy Ghost in the process of personal sanctification are very similar. As a fire burns, purges and removes all of the unwanted elements from the ore, the Holy Ghost can cleans our hearts, and change our very nature, leaving us refined and sanctified.
Our Father in Heaven loves us very much. He has provided for each of us a way to overcome the mistakes He knew we would make. He sacrificed His only begotten Son to provide a way for us to return to Him. He provided each of us with all we would need to live, makes choices, learn right from wrong.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
Perhaps the difference in seeing the Kingdom of God and entering the Kingdom of God is that seeing the Kingdom refers to those who are of the Church of Jesus Christ, see the signs of the times, and are assisting to hasten the work forward. To see the Kingdom of God as it comes. To enter the Kingdom of God is, I suppose, just as it seams.
What did Jesus Christ teach Nicodemus that he must do to enter the kingdom of God?
Christ told Nicodemus that he must “be born again,” and then explained that this rebirth required both the ordinances of baptism and confirmation when He said “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
What does it mean to be “born of water?”
To be “born of water” signifies the ordinance of baptism by immersion by one who has priesthood authority.
Read Moses 6:59 and list ways that baptism is a symbol of rebirth. Read Romans 6:4 and list how baptism can be a symbol of death.
Moses 6:59 helps us understand that baptism and confirmation are symbols of a rebirth. Here, the Lord explains that we were born into the world by “water, and blood, and the spirit.” To be born again we would need to repeat the process, being born “by water,” or baptism, “and of the Spirit,” being the reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, “and be cleansed by blood,” the atonement of Christ. This passage in Moses also helps us understand that a new birth, or a rebirth, requires both the ordinances of baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost to be complete.
In stark contrast to the symbolism of the rebirth of a man or women who takes upon himself or herself the ordinances baptism and confirmation, baptism has also been used as a symbol of death. Paul explained in Romans 6:4 that “we are buried with him by baptism unto death.” The symbol of death has a two fold meaning. First, the submersion of the body in the ordinance of baptism represents the death and burial of our mortal bodies. And as we are raised from the water we are to remember the rising of Christ from the grave, and the resurrection that will pass upon all men by and through Him. Secondly, the burial of the body under the water also signifies the death of the natural man, or body of sin, and a commitment to leave behind our sinful nature, and become new creatures in Christ. Thus, by ordinance and covenant, our natural man dies, and we are reborn, becoming saints and disciples of Christ.
What does it mean to be “born of the Spirit?”
To be “born of the Spirit” means, at least initially, that one has received the Gift of the Holy Ghost and is striving to follow and develop a relationship with him. But in addition to the bestowal of this gift, and our seeking to follow it, being born of the Spirit also comes to mean that we receive the baptism of fire (2 Nephi 31:13). The baptism of fire is a process through which our “stony heart” is taken away and we receive a “heart of flesh,” (Ezk 11:19) through the application of the atonement of Christ. To reach this condition, we must be cleansed and sanctified by the Holy Ghost (Alma 5:54) leaving us with “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2) This process cannot take place before the covenant of Baptism is made and the Gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed.
What natural element does the Lord compare with the Spirit? Why is it an effective comparison?
The Lord compares the cleansing role of the Holy Ghost to fire. Malachi spoke of the “refiners fire” and the “fullers’ soap.” (Malachi 3:2) The role the fire in the process of refining gold and other metals, and the role of the Holy Ghost in the process of personal sanctification are very similar. As a fire burns, purges and removes all of the unwanted elements from the ore, the Holy Ghost can cleans our hearts, and change our very nature, leaving us refined and sanctified.
Our Father in Heaven loves us very much. He has provided for each of us a way to overcome the mistakes He knew we would make. He sacrificed His only begotten Son to provide a way for us to return to Him. He provided each of us with all we would need to live, makes choices, learn right from wrong.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
Sep 15, 2012
John the Baptist
This post, and many like it that will follow, are written to fulfill an assignment for an institute class. The following study discusses John the Baptist: who he was and why his arrival brought joy and gladness.
The angel Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him that the Lord had now heard the long unanswered prayers of he and his wife, Elisabeth, for a child. Zacharias was told that his child would be a son. He was to name his son John, and that he (John) would be the source of much joy and gladness among many people. Why?
Many people rejoiced at the coming of John the Baptist because John was an Elias; a forerunner. John was one who was, according to prophecy, sent to prepare the way of the Lord; or in other words to prepare the minds of the people to receive the Messiah and His teachings when He should come. Perhaps the single greatest reason that men would rejoice at the coming of John the Baptist is because it heralded the coming of the Messiah into the world; for John was to baptize the Son of God. John was also given the privilege of being one who would bear witness of the Messiah when He should come. Among other reasons John helps men to rejoice, John turned the hearts of many to the Lord, and he taught the people the pure doctrines of the Kingdom by the power of the Holy Ghost. The witness of the Holy Ghost, and the application of the things taught and witnessed of, brings great joy to the hearts of men.
Luke 1
Bible Dictionary 'John the Baptist' (pg 714-15)
Matthew 11:10-14
Isaiah 40:3
Matthew 3:3
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
The angel Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him that the Lord had now heard the long unanswered prayers of he and his wife, Elisabeth, for a child. Zacharias was told that his child would be a son. He was to name his son John, and that he (John) would be the source of much joy and gladness among many people. Why?
Many people rejoiced at the coming of John the Baptist because John was an Elias; a forerunner. John was one who was, according to prophecy, sent to prepare the way of the Lord; or in other words to prepare the minds of the people to receive the Messiah and His teachings when He should come. Perhaps the single greatest reason that men would rejoice at the coming of John the Baptist is because it heralded the coming of the Messiah into the world; for John was to baptize the Son of God. John was also given the privilege of being one who would bear witness of the Messiah when He should come. Among other reasons John helps men to rejoice, John turned the hearts of many to the Lord, and he taught the people the pure doctrines of the Kingdom by the power of the Holy Ghost. The witness of the Holy Ghost, and the application of the things taught and witnessed of, brings great joy to the hearts of men.
Luke 1
Bible Dictionary 'John the Baptist' (pg 714-15)
Matthew 11:10-14
Isaiah 40:3
Matthew 3:3
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture!
Sep 13, 2012
Home
Having returned from my mission for twenty-two days, been on vacation, received a calling, reported to the ward, and enjoyed the brief but long awaited reunion with so many friends and family, I find myself in the midst of what was commonly called (though I believe incorrectly so) the 'real' world by many of my fellow Elders in the mission field. New challenges and unfamiliar cares settle squarely into view; not all together replacing the work and worries of the mission field, but so complete is the shift from one reality and work to another as to leave the first seeming as a dream. This I loath.
It is a strange feeling indeed to be so suddenly removed from the work into which all my time, work, love, effort and passion have been poured over the course of the last twenty-four months. The sudden separation would have been unbearable if severed heartstrings were not immediately reconnected with the familiar and loving embrace of family and friends at home.
More common than almost any other question asked me is, "How are you adjusting?" Though immediate adjustments were required and made, the real challenge that lay ahead is not in adjusting to the demands of life and the cares of the world. Rather, the greatest challenge that lay ahead will be to remaining diligent and true to the patterns and truths that were taught and experience through my mission; patterns which, if followed, lead to increased light and understanding until the perfect day. This goal, at first glance of the returning missionary, seems ill served by the fast paced life and tempo of the family life I return to. Work, school, bills, friends, dating, callings, movies and even music all seem to compete and demand time and energy from all my loved ones. I suspect that herein lies one of the greatest tests of this mortality: to be in the world, and not of the world. It is now no wonder to me why President Monson has, on so many occasions, told us to carefully determine those things which matter most, prioritize, and act accordingly.
It also ceases to be a wonder to me why Elder Richard G. Scott, when he spoke to my mission, taught us that the answer to many of life's challenges in post-mission life are best faced by an eternal companionship, and establishing that union should be our first priority. I know from experience that changes made, challenges met, and fears faced are easier done by two. In this fast paced world where time, money, and commitment are demanded on every side; in this world where so narrow and strait the path to health and happiness and eternal families in the presence of God; in this world where danger, distraction, and death are lurking around every corner, surely one of the greatest strengths and blessings one could have is a companionship, each fully committed to Christ, and to each other. Ultimately, the journey back to God and the fulfillment of our eternal potential and progression cannot be made alone. But the faithful in Christ have the promises of God, and all things shall be made unto them right.
Priorities change, challenges occur, and life moves ever on to the tic tock of time. Through it all, truth remains unchanged, priesthood holds and binds, and faith in Christ enables us to keeps beat with the demands of life, being in the world, but not of the world.
Don't forget your daily dose of Scripture
It is a strange feeling indeed to be so suddenly removed from the work into which all my time, work, love, effort and passion have been poured over the course of the last twenty-four months. The sudden separation would have been unbearable if severed heartstrings were not immediately reconnected with the familiar and loving embrace of family and friends at home.
More common than almost any other question asked me is, "How are you adjusting?" Though immediate adjustments were required and made, the real challenge that lay ahead is not in adjusting to the demands of life and the cares of the world. Rather, the greatest challenge that lay ahead will be to remaining diligent and true to the patterns and truths that were taught and experience through my mission; patterns which, if followed, lead to increased light and understanding until the perfect day. This goal, at first glance of the returning missionary, seems ill served by the fast paced life and tempo of the family life I return to. Work, school, bills, friends, dating, callings, movies and even music all seem to compete and demand time and energy from all my loved ones. I suspect that herein lies one of the greatest tests of this mortality: to be in the world, and not of the world. It is now no wonder to me why President Monson has, on so many occasions, told us to carefully determine those things which matter most, prioritize, and act accordingly.
It also ceases to be a wonder to me why Elder Richard G. Scott, when he spoke to my mission, taught us that the answer to many of life's challenges in post-mission life are best faced by an eternal companionship, and establishing that union should be our first priority. I know from experience that changes made, challenges met, and fears faced are easier done by two. In this fast paced world where time, money, and commitment are demanded on every side; in this world where so narrow and strait the path to health and happiness and eternal families in the presence of God; in this world where danger, distraction, and death are lurking around every corner, surely one of the greatest strengths and blessings one could have is a companionship, each fully committed to Christ, and to each other. Ultimately, the journey back to God and the fulfillment of our eternal potential and progression cannot be made alone. But the faithful in Christ have the promises of God, and all things shall be made unto them right.
Priorities change, challenges occur, and life moves ever on to the tic tock of time. Through it all, truth remains unchanged, priesthood holds and binds, and faith in Christ enables us to keeps beat with the demands of life, being in the world, but not of the world.
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