Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
December 27, 2010
I read President Eyring's talk from Conference called Trust in God, Then Go and Do. There are some issues weighing on my heart right now. I want to do what is right. I loved this quote from this talk that says: "You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song and prayer... you will find it. And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you." I want God to be able to trust me. I want to be one of His valiant servants. I want to be fully obedient to His commandments, even when it is hard, because I do trust in His promises. His promises are great for those who keep His commandments. Thinking of these things has helped me to strengthen my resolve to do what is right in regards to the issues on my mind. I pray the Lord will lead me in that direction and I can recognize His Spirit. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to prove myself to Him, to prove I will be obedient and that I do trust in Him.
November 12, 2010
Tonight I'm using the scripture study box on page 6 of Preach My Gospel. It asks, "What is the gospel, or doctrine, of Christ?" According to 2 Nephi 31:10-21, it is being willing to keep the commandments, repenting, being baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end in following the example of Christ, pressing forward with a steadfast faith in Christ, and feasting on his words. In 3 Nephi 11:31-41 it says it is repentance, belief in Christ and baptism. And the last scripture I read is 3 Nephi 27:13-22. The gospel is that Christ came to this earth to give his life for us so that we can return to God. His doctrine is to repent, be baptized, and endure to the end. I should be doing the things I have "seen" Christ do. I am grateful for my testimony of the gospel and my determination to follow the doctrine of Christ as well. I think the important thing to remember is that repentance is an ongoing activity... a constant turning of my heart to Christ. It isn't just a one time thing to do. I love the gospel and doctrine of Christ because I have felt the joy and love and peace in my life that has come as a result of living the doctrine of Christ.
November 10, 2010
I am using Preach My Gospel for my study tonight. I'm doing the personal study on page 2 which is studying the tree of life in 1 Nephi 8 & 11. After Lehi ate the fruit of the tree, his first desire was for his family to eat of it also. With the fruit of the tree being the love of God, this is my same hope and desire for my family as well. I really want them to partake of this fruit because it is "desirable above all other fruit." To partake of the fruit, people had to "press forward" to get on the path that led to the tree and once they were on that path, they had to hold to the rod of iron to avoid losing their way. For me to receive all the blessings of the Atonement, I need to be humble and repent with a sincere heart. I need to come unto Christ and press forward with a steadfast faith in Him. Commitments and covenants help to partake of these blessings because when I am committed to keeping my covenants, I am obedient and repentant, striving to be worthy of the Spirit and humble. They offer me a direction to go, whereas, without them, I can imagine it would be easy to become distracted from the importance of daily obedience and faith.
October 27, 2010
I read Alma 42 which is a beautiful discourse about the plan of salvation and the purpose of the Atonement to satisfy the demands of justice and mercy. I couldn't help but think that I would be absolutely fascinated by these words if I were reading them for the first time. It is a beautiful chapter. The thing that struck me the most was the reason that Alma taught these things. He sensed his son was feeling that it is unjust for God to punish a sinner. As I read, verse 10 really tied into that. It says, "Therefore, as they [men and women] had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state." It is a time for repentance; a time to overcome our natures. This really stuck out to me because I think that one of the adversary's tactics is to convince us humans to fall in love with, embrace and celebrate our "carnal, sensual and devilish natures" as who we are. This ploy leads people to believe there is no sin and there is no devil. It leads people to believe there is no need for repentance, self-discipline, or the Atonement. I believe that is all lies. I truly do believe that I am a divine daughter of God who has been given the opportunity to come to earth, to live with a body, to experience mortality as a probationary state - a time to prove my faithfulness and obedience to my Heavenly Father in order to receive the blessings of all that He has. I believe that God expects me to strive to overcome my "carnal, sensual and devilish nature" ... to put it aside - and instead put on the robes of righteousness, faithfulness, diligence and obedience in order to prove my worthiness to be an heir to the kingdom of God.
I also love verse 27 that says, "whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds." I really believe that at that last day, there won't be anyone throwing a fit, feeling that God's judgement is unjust. I believe we will all know and accept our judgements according to our works. We will know what we did and where our heart was... and so does the Lord. His judgement will be just. He is merciful towards those who choose to repent, put off the natural man, and come unto Him. That is what I am striving to do.
I also love verse 27 that says, "whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds." I really believe that at that last day, there won't be anyone throwing a fit, feeling that God's judgement is unjust. I believe we will all know and accept our judgements according to our works. We will know what we did and where our heart was... and so does the Lord. His judgement will be just. He is merciful towards those who choose to repent, put off the natural man, and come unto Him. That is what I am striving to do.
October 18, 2010
I finished reading Alma 37 and came up with a question: how many times does it teach in the Book of Mormon to "keep the commandments?" I looked it up on lds.org and the search pulled up 36 references to it. I think there's a lot more. It would be a neat experience to read the Book of Mormon with that purpose of looking for just that teaching. I believe it is a foundational teaching.
In verse 32 I was struck by the power of one word. Alma says to Helaman to "teach [the people] an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity." The word "hatred" stood out to me because I have been taught to avoid using it because it such a powerful and destructive idea. Even now, I have a difficult time imagining hating something. I think there are a lot of people who attach their identities to "sin and iniquity" and would feel (and do feel) hated as a person by someone who claims to hate sin and iniquity. So what would a disciple of Christ who has a hatred against sin and iniquity do? How would their actions and words differ from someone who claims to dislike sin and iniquity? How would a hatred of sin and iniquity be a positive thing? The only thing I can think of is that it would cause that person to stay as far away as possible from committing sin and engaging in iniquity. This would keep them worthy of the companionship of the Spirit and help them to make righteous choices. I still don't feel comfortable feeling hatred towards anything. Perhaps I am lacking in spiritual understanding in this matter.
I really love verses 33-34: "Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls."
And I love how Alma brings up the example of the liahona and says it wouldn't work when "they were slothful and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence." He compares following the liahona to heeding the word of Christ. He says that both are just as easy, so "let us not be slothful because of the easiness of the way... the way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." I want to always exercise my faith and diligence and look to God because I believe in His promises of eternal life if I do so.
In verse 32 I was struck by the power of one word. Alma says to Helaman to "teach [the people] an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity." The word "hatred" stood out to me because I have been taught to avoid using it because it such a powerful and destructive idea. Even now, I have a difficult time imagining hating something. I think there are a lot of people who attach their identities to "sin and iniquity" and would feel (and do feel) hated as a person by someone who claims to hate sin and iniquity. So what would a disciple of Christ who has a hatred against sin and iniquity do? How would their actions and words differ from someone who claims to dislike sin and iniquity? How would a hatred of sin and iniquity be a positive thing? The only thing I can think of is that it would cause that person to stay as far away as possible from committing sin and engaging in iniquity. This would keep them worthy of the companionship of the Spirit and help them to make righteous choices. I still don't feel comfortable feeling hatred towards anything. Perhaps I am lacking in spiritual understanding in this matter.
I really love verses 33-34: "Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls."
And I love how Alma brings up the example of the liahona and says it wouldn't work when "they were slothful and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence." He compares following the liahona to heeding the word of Christ. He says that both are just as easy, so "let us not be slothful because of the easiness of the way... the way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." I want to always exercise my faith and diligence and look to God because I believe in His promises of eternal life if I do so.
October 14, 2010
I read Alma 34:18-41. I am really loving these sermons of Alma!
I love verse 28 that says if we aren't helping the needy, sick, naked and afflicted, that our prayers our in vain. They don't do anything for us. We must be charitable. I think it's also important to remember the importance of prayer in conjunction with charity. It's not one or the other that brings blessings, it's both.
I love verses 31-33 that teach that now is the time, this is the day to work out our salvation! I am so grateful for every day I have to be alive and to study and live the gospel. I thought a lot about my grandfather as I read the next verses that explain we aren't going to magically change into something we're not after we die, but that the same spirit that possesses our bodies when we die will go with us into the eternal world. The last I knew, my grandfather was still of an unrepentant spirit at his death. My heart yearns for him to repent. I know I'm not the only one who has that hope for him. Even last week, my aunt made reference to him on the other side and all that he must be working out. My prayer is for him to be acting on a desire to repent and accept the power of the Atonement. So many in our family have forgiven him. Every single one of his children was at his funeral service, something no one foresaw even being possible. We just have so much hope and love for you grandpa... please come unto Christ! This is the yearning of my heart.
I loved in verse 38 where it says, "contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but receive it." Isn't that what the natural man does? Resists and argues with those promptings of the Spirit. So I love this scripture. Just stop contending and receive the Spirit. The blessings for doing so are so great it's impossible to comprehend.
And finally, I love verse 41: "Have patience and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." I couldn't help but think of my brothers and sisters struggling with same sex attraction. Please, have patience... keep the faith! I and many others, especially the Lord are here to support you and love you.
I love verse 28 that says if we aren't helping the needy, sick, naked and afflicted, that our prayers our in vain. They don't do anything for us. We must be charitable. I think it's also important to remember the importance of prayer in conjunction with charity. It's not one or the other that brings blessings, it's both.
I love verses 31-33 that teach that now is the time, this is the day to work out our salvation! I am so grateful for every day I have to be alive and to study and live the gospel. I thought a lot about my grandfather as I read the next verses that explain we aren't going to magically change into something we're not after we die, but that the same spirit that possesses our bodies when we die will go with us into the eternal world. The last I knew, my grandfather was still of an unrepentant spirit at his death. My heart yearns for him to repent. I know I'm not the only one who has that hope for him. Even last week, my aunt made reference to him on the other side and all that he must be working out. My prayer is for him to be acting on a desire to repent and accept the power of the Atonement. So many in our family have forgiven him. Every single one of his children was at his funeral service, something no one foresaw even being possible. We just have so much hope and love for you grandpa... please come unto Christ! This is the yearning of my heart.
I loved in verse 38 where it says, "contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but receive it." Isn't that what the natural man does? Resists and argues with those promptings of the Spirit. So I love this scripture. Just stop contending and receive the Spirit. The blessings for doing so are so great it's impossible to comprehend.
And finally, I love verse 41: "Have patience and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." I couldn't help but think of my brothers and sisters struggling with same sex attraction. Please, have patience... keep the faith! I and many others, especially the Lord are here to support you and love you.
August 27, 2010
Tonight I read Alma chapter 29:1-8. I really liked this quote in verse 8: "The Lord doth grant unto all nations, ... in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have." And I really do believe that each person is given exactly what they need to learn and grow and come unto Christ and be made whole. What Alma wishes he could declare to everyone is repentance and the plan of redemption. I have found in my own heart that those are the two most foundational principles of my faith and testimony. I am so grateful for the understanding and peace I have been blessed with.
August 22, 2010
Tonight I finished reading the talk I began last night about the blessings of scripture. The scriptures make it "clear that real happiness lies ... in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the son of God." I have found that true in my own life. The scriptures teach us of Jesus Christ and strengthen our faith in Him. That is something I want, especially in this time in the world. "Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God. And faith matures as we continue to feast upon the word." I have felt that "spirit to spirit" communication and could never deny it. I know there is a divine power outside of myself that has inspired me, prompted me and led me to do good, to repent and to forgive. I am grateful I have always had a love for the scriptures. I am grateful to have been encouraged as a child to read the Book of Mormon. I am grateful for the time I've spent in Seminary and Institute studying the scriptures. And I am extremely grateful for the time I've spent these past few months, studying, reading and pondering the scriptures daily. I have felt my faith strengthened and I have felt a greater desire to do what is right. I have felt protected from the influence of the adversary.
August 17, 2010
Tonight I read the chapter on the Atonement in the Gospel Principles manual (chapter 12). I so appreciate the simplicity of this teaching: "We accept Christ's Atonement by placing our faith in Him. Through this faith, we repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and obey His commandments." His offer extended to us is His paying the price of suffering for all of our sins. What our part is to receive that offer is to repent and keep His commandments. It is that simple. Not necessarily always easy, but certainly simple. I am really grateful for the gift of the Atonement. It is two-fold. One, I will be resurrected and my body and spirit will be together in an immortal state. I am so excited for that because I really love my body. I love all that I can do and feel with this amazing body. And two, if we choose to place our faith in Him, He has also given us the gift of eternal life, but we have to choose it. That gift is conditioned on our faithfulness. I am so thankful for the plan that provided a Savior, and so grateful to Christ for fulfilling His great mission. What faith He must have had to accomplish what He did. His example provides me with a road map for my own life. I am so grateful for my Savior.
June 30, 2010
Tonight I read an awesome article by Dallin H. Oaks. It is from the April Ensign and was adapted from an address given at a mission president's seminar. It is called The Atonement and Faith. One part of it spoke of how the Savior builds us up and the devil tears us down. He speaks of applying that to our choices in the way we use our time, entertain ourselves, etc. It really inspired me to want to really pay attention to the "themes of the books, magazines, movies, television shows, and music" that I choose and ask myself, "does this build up or tear down the children of God?" He says, "Whatever builds people up serves the cause of the Master, and whatever tears people down serves the cause of the adversary." I want to use that as a guide to my choices of entertainment and thoughts and support that which "serves the cause of the Master." And things that serve the cause of the adversary are important to pay attention to as well, for educational purposes, and it's important to know what I am fighting against.
And another part of this talk really impacted me. he spoke of comparing a person who sins to a tree that bends easily in the wind. On a windy day, the tree bends so much that the leaves dip in the mud. Only cleaning off the leaves still leaves a tree that is susceptible to the wind when the next storm blows through. It will bend again and be soiled again. True repentance occurs only when we become strengthened as well as cleansed so that we have "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2) I really really loved that analogy and it really helped me to understand repentance in a way that I never have before. I am really grateful for this article. What I read tonight really helped me a lot.
And another part of this talk really impacted me. he spoke of comparing a person who sins to a tree that bends easily in the wind. On a windy day, the tree bends so much that the leaves dip in the mud. Only cleaning off the leaves still leaves a tree that is susceptible to the wind when the next storm blows through. It will bend again and be soiled again. True repentance occurs only when we become strengthened as well as cleansed so that we have "no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2) I really really loved that analogy and it really helped me to understand repentance in a way that I never have before. I am really grateful for this article. What I read tonight really helped me a lot.
June 17, 2010
Today I want to read the additional scripture references that are listed at the end of the last chapter I read in the Gospel Principles manual. One of the scriptures I read was Moses 6:57, the beginning of which says: "wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." I've heard it taught that to repent means to turn away from. I love that concept of repentance. It is turning my heart away from selfishness and wickedness and pride, turning away from the world, and turning towards love, light, truth... turning towards Jesus Christ who will lead me back into my Father's presence.
Another reference I read was in Matthew 10:1-8. Verses 2-4 named the 12 apostles and I realized for the first time that I don't even know all of their names! As I read it, I was surprised that two of the names I didn't even recognize as being apostles, one of which is a name I don't recall even hearing before! That name is Lebbaeus. The other I didn't know was Bartholomew. So here are the names of the 12 apostles: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Lebbaeus, Simon, and Judas. Learned something new tonight! :)
Another reference I read was in Matthew 10:1-8. Verses 2-4 named the 12 apostles and I realized for the first time that I don't even know all of their names! As I read it, I was surprised that two of the names I didn't even recognize as being apostles, one of which is a name I don't recall even hearing before! That name is Lebbaeus. The other I didn't know was Bartholomew. So here are the names of the 12 apostles: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Lebbaeus, Simon, and Judas. Learned something new tonight! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)