Showing posts with label example. Show all posts
Showing posts with label example. Show all posts
January 5, 2011
Today I read an excellent article in the Ensign called Ancient Examples, Modern Promises. The author was anonymous, but shared a personal struggle of wanting to find someone to marry but having been unable to for the past 10+ years. He's been promised he will marry in his patriarchal blessing. He shares how he has found comfort in his situation through examples in the scriptures. The three examples he uses are those of Joseph in Egypt, Abraham and Isaac, and Zacharias. As I read over these familiar stories I really felt a sense of connection to these individuals in imagining what they may have felt while struggling through their particular trials. Their stories are wonderful examples to remember when I am faced with my own trials. As I read this article I thought of my gratitude for the scriptures and the stories of faithful individuals contained in them. I am so grateful to have these examples to turn to, to learn from and to emulate.
January 3, 2011
Tonight I used the New Testament study guide, lesson 1. In John 1:1-13, it teaches that Jesus Christ is the word of God and that it was through Him that everything was created. He was and always has been completely obedient to every word spoken by God. I think His name/title of The Word is completely appropriate due to His perfect obedience in carrying out God's will. In verse 9 it says Christ is the light which "lighteth every man that cometh into the world." The Savior has given me life because of His gift of the resurrection and the Atonement. Because of the resurrection I have the hope of an immortal life. And because of the gift of the Atonement, the possibility of eternal life, or life with God, is a reality for me. He has shown me the way to go so I can obtain this eternal life. The hope that is a part of my life because of the resurrection and Atonement give meaning to my mortal day to day life. He has given me light as well through His example. It is a shining light to me of how to act, how to be obedient, submissive to the will of God and humble, and how to love and serve others. Following His light enriches my life immensely for how it helps me to strengthen relationships with the people I love and how it teaches me to be the best person I am capable of being. I am so thankful for the light and life of Jesus Christ, my Savior.
December 26, 2010
I read Russell M. Nelson's talk from the last Priesthood session titled Be Thou an Example of the Believers. The talk is about missionary work and how both missionaries and members have a responsibility to take part in this work. I believe that one of the best ways to be a missionary is, like the title says, to be an example of the believers. "As followers of Jesus Christ, each of [us] can live in accord with His teachings. [We] can have a 'pure heart and clean hands,' [we] can have 'the image of God engraven upon [our] countenance[s].' [Our] good works will be evident to others. The light of the Lord can beam from [our] eyes. With that radiance, [we] had better prepare for questions." These are things I try to do, and I hope the way I live my life does make a difference in the lives of others. I want to always be prepared for any questions that may come to me as a result of how I live my life. I liked a piece of advice included in this talk. It says, "reach out to those you do not know and greet them warmly. Each day of your life, strive to enlarge your own circle of friendship." I really am grateful for my friends and I'm grateful to be a friend. In this ward, I have reached out to others more than I have ever before and it really has blessed my life and I hope it has blessed the lives of those I've become friends with too. I love relationships and the opportunity I have to make a difference in someone else's life. I believe we are all children of God and all in this life together. I hope that everyone I come in contact with will be able to feel the pure love of Christ coming through me as a result of how I live my life.
December 22, 2010
I read a Conference talk by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold called What Have You Done With My Name? He talked of the importance of honoring the name of Christ in all that we do. He also used the example of Nephi and Lehi in The Book of Mormon, who were named after their forefathers so they would remember their examples and remember to do good. We gave our son his name for a similar reason. There have been many to bring honor to the name he carries and I hope he lives his life also in a way that will honor the great men who have gone before him. I also think often about the legacy we will leave for our children and for generations to come and I want it to be one of faith and obedience to the commandments of God.
I really liked the story he shared of his wife's experience with cows eating wheat grass that helped her understand the purpose of commandments - that "they are protective - not restictive." Keeping the commandments can "save [us] from physical and spiritual death." And "the wonderful blessings of obedience are numberless." I love the commandments and am grateful for their protection. I know my Heavenly Father loves me for He gave me His Son. I want to always honor the name of Christ in how I live my life and treat others.
I really liked the story he shared of his wife's experience with cows eating wheat grass that helped her understand the purpose of commandments - that "they are protective - not restictive." Keeping the commandments can "save [us] from physical and spiritual death." And "the wonderful blessings of obedience are numberless." I love the commandments and am grateful for their protection. I know my Heavenly Father loves me for He gave me His Son. I want to always honor the name of Christ in how I live my life and treat others.
November 7, 2010
Today I read a couple of articles in the new magazine the church released about temples. I have felt the Spirit a lot today, and have enjoyed basking in the peace and joy of the gospel. The first article read was by President Monson about the blessings of the temple. I am really thankful for the temple and to have one so near. It is a wonderful gift to be able to enter the house of the Lord and feel His peace there. The second article I read was by President Hinckley called Why These Temples? I really feel blessed with the promises of being sealed together as an eternal family in the holy temple. I also read half of the article by Boyd K. Packer called The Holy Temple. I really liked the part where he emphasizes that the teaching in the temple is symbolic. And even the temple itself is symbolic, "bathed in light, standing out in the darkness, becomes symbolic of the power and inspiration of the gospel of Jesus Christ standing as a beacon in a world that sinks ever further into spiritual darkness." Again I am so thankful for that wonderful building and especially for the ordinances that take place inside. I am thankful for the Lord's promises to me if I chose to be obedient to His commandments and honor my covenants. This is of supreme importance to me in my life.
November 5, 2010
Tonight I read a couple of articles in the September Ensign. Two (1 & 2) were on members' comments on how they've used Preach My Gospel and it really made me excited about using that book as part of my daily scripture study as well. The third article was called Finding the Lord in Tonga and was full of personal experiences and testimonies of Tongan saints. I am really thankful for the Ensign and how it helps to connect me to members worldwide. The examples of others' faith and testimony are inspiring to me and help to strengthen my own.
October 24, 2010
I found a Book of Mormon on my shelf that has no markings in it so I am going to use it from now on as my book where I am focusing on the phrase, "keep my commandments." I will be marking it throughout what I read. Tonight I read in Alma 39 where Alma is speaking to his son Corianton. He is disappointed in Corianton because not only was he carried away in pride, but he forsook his missionary work and went after a harlot. It is interesting to note that of the very few women who are mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon, one of them is this harlot, Isabel. The actions of Corianton affected Alma's missionary work because when the people saw what he was doing, they wouldn't believe Alma's words. The power of example and our good name and reputation is so strong and can be a great tool for missionary work.
October 10, 2010
I read an Ensign article from August's Ensign by Robert D. Hales called Our Parental Duty to God and to the Rising Generation. He poses a question that I feel is very important to remember often and to answer affirmatively: "Do we recognize the urgency of our duty to help our children understand and live gospel principles?" He gives several suggestions of how to "establish a house of learning" and they are to:
- focus the minds and hearts of children on the Savior
- lead and teach by example
- establish righteous patterns in the home
- encourage meaningful personal prayer and scripture study
- use tools the church provides to parents
September 19, 2010
Tonight I read a Conference talk by Henry B. Eyring called Help Them on Their Way Home. I really enjoyed this talk and the greatest thing was it was an affirmation of a lesson I feel I have learned powerfully in my life within the past five years, and that is the importance of being guided by the Spirit. In fact, that is the only way. He says that we "can arrive back to Heavenly Father only as [we] are guided and corrected by the Spirit of God."
This talk focused on how we can best help youth to return to our heavenly home. The greatest opportunity we have is within our own homes with our own children. We can help them to "put [their] feet firmly on the path home" within those first years of life. I am so grateful for the opportunity and blessing it is to be a mother and help my children develop faith and confidence that they are on the right path that will lead them home. Since the best counsel I can give them is to seek the guidance of the Spirit in their life and to live worthy of that, then the best way I can teach that to them is through my own example of doing that very thing. "We need to pray for the gifts of the Spirit. We need to ponder in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. We need to make plans which are not only wishes but covenants. And then we need to keep our promises to the Lord. And we need to lift others by sharing with them the blessings of the Atonement which have come in our lives. And we need to exemplify in our own lives the steady and prolonged faithfulness that the Lord expects of them." I feel grateful that I myself am on this right path and living by the Spirit because I truly feel that this example of how I live my own life is and will continue to be the greatest gift I could ever give to my children, grandchildren and other generations to follow. I find great joy in living my life this way and hope for each of my descendants to also experience this same joy which comes as a result of faithful, obedient, righteous living.
This talk focused on how we can best help youth to return to our heavenly home. The greatest opportunity we have is within our own homes with our own children. We can help them to "put [their] feet firmly on the path home" within those first years of life. I am so grateful for the opportunity and blessing it is to be a mother and help my children develop faith and confidence that they are on the right path that will lead them home. Since the best counsel I can give them is to seek the guidance of the Spirit in their life and to live worthy of that, then the best way I can teach that to them is through my own example of doing that very thing. "We need to pray for the gifts of the Spirit. We need to ponder in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. We need to make plans which are not only wishes but covenants. And then we need to keep our promises to the Lord. And we need to lift others by sharing with them the blessings of the Atonement which have come in our lives. And we need to exemplify in our own lives the steady and prolonged faithfulness that the Lord expects of them." I feel grateful that I myself am on this right path and living by the Spirit because I truly feel that this example of how I live my own life is and will continue to be the greatest gift I could ever give to my children, grandchildren and other generations to follow. I find great joy in living my life this way and hope for each of my descendants to also experience this same joy which comes as a result of faithful, obedient, righteous living.
August 11, 2010
Tonight I read Alma 25. I found it interesting to note that the Lamanites who had gone to war against the Nephites and also those Lamanites who had been converted, saw that "they could not overpower" them. So they went back home, and in fact went and joined up with the Anti-Nephi-Lehites and became obedient and righteous. That says something for the powerful example of what way of living truly brings joy and fulfillment and purpose. I also took note of the last verse where the sons of Mosiah are just so happy that they had had success in their missionary efforts with the Lamanites. They labored for 14 years! And key to their success was the fact that they fasted and prayed much. When our desires are in line with the Lord's will, as long as we apply a consistent, obedient and righteous effort over time, I believe we will enjoy success in our endeavors like the sons of Mosiah. The Lord had "granted unto them according to their prayers." And they were so grateful for that. I'm learning the key to recognizing and experiencing the kind of success the Lord wants to bless us with depends on our consistent efforts compounded over time. We shouldn't ever give up when we know our cause is just and worthy. The Lord wants to bless us because by so doing it brings many others closer to him through the examples we set.
July 20, 2010
Tonight I read Alma 17, the story of Ammon cutting off the arms of the Lamanites who were trying to scatter the flocks of the king. What most struck me about this chapter was the beginning which spoke of the sons of Mosiah reuniting with Alma, and then it flashes back to when they first left. I love verses 9-10 where it says, about when they had first left their homes to go among the Lamanites, that "they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God... the Lord did visit them with his Spirit."
The Lord hears and answers our prayers, especially when our prayers are in line with His will and His work. I love verse 11 also where the Lord tells them that by being patient in long suffering and afflictions that they would show a good example and the Lord would be able to use them as instruments in His hands to bringing about the salvation of many souls. I want to be that kind of example too and be used as an instrument in God's hands. I believe I can be patient and long suffering. I've learned that the key to developing that kind of patience is gratitude... expressing thanks for as many things as I can think of. I thank God every day for something. I am truly blessed and I see His hand in my life.
The Lord hears and answers our prayers, especially when our prayers are in line with His will and His work. I love verse 11 also where the Lord tells them that by being patient in long suffering and afflictions that they would show a good example and the Lord would be able to use them as instruments in His hands to bringing about the salvation of many souls. I want to be that kind of example too and be used as an instrument in God's hands. I believe I can be patient and long suffering. I've learned that the key to developing that kind of patience is gratitude... expressing thanks for as many things as I can think of. I thank God every day for something. I am truly blessed and I see His hand in my life.
July 19, 2010
Tonight I read the First Presidency message for this month by President Henry B. Eyring called Faithful Friends. It goes along with the same principles that I read and wrote about yesterday. Jesus Christ offers us the perfect example of how to be a friend to others. I want to be among those whom the Savior calls His friends. He is certainly on my list of friends. I think of my best friends being those that I share a common vision with. There are many more people who I call my friends however, and I think that's because for some reason we have been brought into each others' lives. We are connected through shared memories and share experiences. And I can never know when one of those many friends may be an answer to one of my prayers, or me to one of theirs. I think it's important to always treat each of Heavenly Father's children with love and respect.
I loved this part of President Eyring's message: "When we reach out to give succor and to lift a burden, He reaches with us. He will lead us to those in need. He will bless us to feel what they feel. As we persist in our efforts to serve them, we will more and more be given the gift of feeling His love for them." Being this kind of friend to others is part of what I covenanted with the Lord to do when I was baptized. As my testimony has grown and my faith and understanding increased, so has my desire to fully honor the covenants I have made. I have noticed the Lord's guidance in helping me to be a good friend to others. He helps me to see and feel things I didn't before... and I believe they are the things He sees and feels about that particular person. Being a friend fills me with the love of God and I love the feeling. I am so grateful for my friends.
I loved this part of President Eyring's message: "When we reach out to give succor and to lift a burden, He reaches with us. He will lead us to those in need. He will bless us to feel what they feel. As we persist in our efforts to serve them, we will more and more be given the gift of feeling His love for them." Being this kind of friend to others is part of what I covenanted with the Lord to do when I was baptized. As my testimony has grown and my faith and understanding increased, so has my desire to fully honor the covenants I have made. I have noticed the Lord's guidance in helping me to be a good friend to others. He helps me to see and feel things I didn't before... and I believe they are the things He sees and feels about that particular person. Being a friend fills me with the love of God and I love the feeling. I am so grateful for my friends.
July 18, 2010
Today I read what I believe is my favorite talk from the last General Conference titled You Are My Hands by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. His talk was about following the example of the Savior in loving others. I thought a lot about my sister and the awareness her choices has provided our family about homosexuals. I have had five people that I can think of who, knowing about my sister and her choices, have sought to ask me, "How do you do it? How can you still be so loving and supportive of her?" My answer is that I truly feel I have been learning how to love like Jesus Christ loves.
There was so much in this particular talk that was so absolutely relevant to what I try to share with others about "how I do it." He says, "I hope we welcome and love God's children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently."
"In our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion."
"Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father."
"As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn."
"True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long - but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
"Without this love ... we are only the form of His Church - without substance. What good is our teaching without love? What good is missionary, temple, or welfare work without love?"
In my youth, I really took to heart the suggestion of asking "what would Jesus do?" What would He do? That is such an important question to ask ourselves before we jump to quick conclusions about a person and treat them as lesser than. Not a single person is "lesser than." Learning to love others has been my favorite thing about life I've learned so far. There is so much to see when truly looking into the eyes of another individual and seeing them as valuable, lovable, a priceless treasure... a child of God. I've noticed I've had a ton more patience with others since seeing them that way, and also with myself. I find myself saying often, "We're all in the same boat!" I really believe that!
We all fall short of the glory of God. A sin is a sin, no matter what it is, it separates us from God, then it's up to each of us individually if we want to choose to come unto Christ and be reconnected to God through Christ's redemption. We need to allow others their choice without attempting to force them or condemning them. Every person is loved by God unconditionally, so if I want to truly follow His example, I should be striving to emulate that same unconditional love towards all I meet. What we are is children of God and that never changes, and never will. That's at least one commonality that I will always have with everyone else.
I try to focus on commonalities I have with others and look past all the differences, the poor choices, the different choices that I don't understand... I just focus on what we have in common and that helps me to love with that unconditional love. I don't have to agree with someone, or embrace their lifestyle, or even support their lifestyle choices to still be able to love them fully. I love my sister tremendously. She loves to serve and loves to help others. She takes the time to reach out to others in a real and personal way. We definitely share that in common and I love that about her. She is a shining example to me of loving service and wholeheartedly working towards bringing awareness and understanding to issues that she feels passionately about and I really admire that about her.
There was so much in this particular talk that was so absolutely relevant to what I try to share with others about "how I do it." He says, "I hope we welcome and love God's children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently."
"In our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion."
"Every person we meet is a VIP to our Heavenly Father."
"As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn."
"True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long - but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."
"Without this love ... we are only the form of His Church - without substance. What good is our teaching without love? What good is missionary, temple, or welfare work without love?"
In my youth, I really took to heart the suggestion of asking "what would Jesus do?" What would He do? That is such an important question to ask ourselves before we jump to quick conclusions about a person and treat them as lesser than. Not a single person is "lesser than." Learning to love others has been my favorite thing about life I've learned so far. There is so much to see when truly looking into the eyes of another individual and seeing them as valuable, lovable, a priceless treasure... a child of God. I've noticed I've had a ton more patience with others since seeing them that way, and also with myself. I find myself saying often, "We're all in the same boat!" I really believe that!
We all fall short of the glory of God. A sin is a sin, no matter what it is, it separates us from God, then it's up to each of us individually if we want to choose to come unto Christ and be reconnected to God through Christ's redemption. We need to allow others their choice without attempting to force them or condemning them. Every person is loved by God unconditionally, so if I want to truly follow His example, I should be striving to emulate that same unconditional love towards all I meet. What we are is children of God and that never changes, and never will. That's at least one commonality that I will always have with everyone else.
I try to focus on commonalities I have with others and look past all the differences, the poor choices, the different choices that I don't understand... I just focus on what we have in common and that helps me to love with that unconditional love. I don't have to agree with someone, or embrace their lifestyle, or even support their lifestyle choices to still be able to love them fully. I love my sister tremendously. She loves to serve and loves to help others. She takes the time to reach out to others in a real and personal way. We definitely share that in common and I love that about her. She is a shining example to me of loving service and wholeheartedly working towards bringing awareness and understanding to issues that she feels passionately about and I really admire that about her.
July 4, 2010
Tonight I read another conference talk called Helping Hands, Saving Hands by Koichi Aoyagi. He shared his experiences in his life where he was converted, gained his testimony and had someone reach out to him in love. He gave examples of others who "follow the counsel of the prophet - not out of duty or responsibility but of their own free will, anonymously and joyfully." Our prophet has provided a wonderful example of loving service to those in need. I want to follow his example. I especially liked a quote Elder Aoyagi shared by President Monson that begins, "We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness..." and all of those things are things I have and that I can give freely to others. I want to be liberal with my attention, encouragement, support, comfort, and kindness towards others, be they family or friends or strangers, and I trust that by doing so, the Lord will be able to use my hands to fulfill His work.
July 2, 2010
Tonight for my study I am looking at a hymn. The hymn I was singing in my mind when I had this idea was Let Us All Press On. My favorite part of this hymn is the chorus: "Fear not, though the enemy deride; courage, for the Lord is on our side. We will heed not what the wicked may say, but the Lord alone we will obey." I wanted to look up the scripture references to this hymn, but there weren't any, so I am looking up another hymn with the similar theme of commitment. The next hymn I looked at is True to the Faith, which I also love and I read the scripture references to that one. The first is 1 Timothy 4:12. This scripture is one of my favorites: "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." The other one is Alma 53:18-21 which talks about the 2,000 stripling warriors. I am most impressed with verse 20 which says, "they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold this was not all - they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted." I love the example of these young men and get the feeling that they lived life with a great sense of enthusiasm and purpose. I think theirs is a great example to follow.
June 20, 2010
Tonight I am reading a Conference talk by Cheryl C. Lant titled That Our Children Might See the Face of the Savior. I enjoyed this talk and found it interesting that it tied in so closely with what I have been studying lately. She even quoted the same scripture I did a few days ago, D&C 93:1. I appreciated this confirmation of what it takes to see His face: "Coming to Christ, and eventually seeing His face, comes only as we draw close to Him through our faith and our actions. It comes through a lifetime of effort." That last phrase especially struck me because I have been making a sincere effort to do this gospel study every day with pen in hand and I've done it now for almost two weeks. That's such a short amount of time compared to a "lifetime of effort" but truly, it is my desire to make this a lifetime goal. I never want to stop. I do want to get better at doing it earlier in my day and on a more consistent basis.
Sister Lant uses the account in 3 Nephi as a "pattern to follow" for how to help me, as a parent, to help bring my children to Christ so they can see His face too. Because of my cross stitch hobby, I love the concept of following a pattern. It works. It really does. By following a pattern the best I can, my finished piece looks exactly like the picture I am given to begin with. The pattern she gives for helping our children come to Christ is that "First, we must love the Lord with all our hearts, and we must love our children. Second, we must become a worthy example to them by continually seeking the Lord and striving to live the gospel. And third, we must teach our children the gospel and how to live its teachings." She points out that these things take time, experience, and faith. I always need that reminder because I am very accustomed to seeking after things with immediate results. Working at something long enough to see results has been a lifetime challenge for me. It is important to me to follow this pattern of parenting.
I want my children to come to know God and Jesus Christ. I want them to learn from my example. And I want to be a good teacher to them. I just told my husband today that we ought to start having a regular family home evening with our little son and begin teaching him our of the nursery manual. I am so excited for the opportunity and blessing it is to be a mother and I hope that my children will learn to love God and to love others. I want them to really feel God as a part of their lives and to want to do their part to return to live with Him again. I want to be together as a family forever.
Sister Lant uses the account in 3 Nephi as a "pattern to follow" for how to help me, as a parent, to help bring my children to Christ so they can see His face too. Because of my cross stitch hobby, I love the concept of following a pattern. It works. It really does. By following a pattern the best I can, my finished piece looks exactly like the picture I am given to begin with. The pattern she gives for helping our children come to Christ is that "First, we must love the Lord with all our hearts, and we must love our children. Second, we must become a worthy example to them by continually seeking the Lord and striving to live the gospel. And third, we must teach our children the gospel and how to live its teachings." She points out that these things take time, experience, and faith. I always need that reminder because I am very accustomed to seeking after things with immediate results. Working at something long enough to see results has been a lifetime challenge for me. It is important to me to follow this pattern of parenting.
I want my children to come to know God and Jesus Christ. I want them to learn from my example. And I want to be a good teacher to them. I just told my husband today that we ought to start having a regular family home evening with our little son and begin teaching him our of the nursery manual. I am so excited for the opportunity and blessing it is to be a mother and I hope that my children will learn to love God and to love others. I want them to really feel God as a part of their lives and to want to do their part to return to live with Him again. I want to be together as a family forever.
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