We should not let ourselves suffer from all or nothing thinking with the trials we face. We can choose happiness and be happy whether the circumstances we find ourselves in are favorable or not. :)
Monday, September 30, 2013
Expectations
Yet again, a great talk on the devotional this morning - Jeffry H. Larson gave a talk titled "What do you Expect? A Key to Personal Happiness (text of talk here). I loved it cause it went right along with things shared by Virginia H. Pearce in her book "Through His Eyes" - how we feel (our mood) stems from our thoughts (Pearce calls it a "belief box") more than the actual events in our lives.
We should not let ourselves suffer from all or nothing thinking with the trials we face. We can choose happiness and be happy whether the circumstances we find ourselves in are favorable or not. :)
We should not let ourselves suffer from all or nothing thinking with the trials we face. We can choose happiness and be happy whether the circumstances we find ourselves in are favorable or not. :)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Becoming and Overcoming
Loved the BYU devotional on Monday by Carol Wilkinson titled "Becoming and Overcoming" - transcript here, originally given on March 17, 2009
I loved this quote from Thomas Steed, recorded in his journal after he immigrated to the US and arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois:
The Prophet Joseph Smith was at the pier. At first glance I could tell it was him, by his noble expression. He came on board to shake hands and welcome us by many encouraging words, and express his thankfulness that we had arrived in safety. As he could not stay with us, he sent Apostle Geo. A. Smith to preach on board. “What did you come here for?” asked he. “To be instructed in the ways of the Lord,” answered someone. [Apostle Smith said,]“I tell you, you have come to the thrashing floor, and after you have been thrashed and pounded you will have to go through the fanning mill, where the chaff will be blown away and the wheat remain.” (The troubles of Nauvoo were just coming upon them).[Life of Thomas Steed, 8–10]
This earth life is the thrashing floor. Ugh, that doesn't sound fun. But that is what we are hear for, to help us learn humility, trust, and charity. She gives 4 steps that we can apply when we face adversity in our lives:
Step 1. Your Plan Is Thwarted; You Trust God and Ask Different Questions
Step 2. Faith Doesn’t Bring Desired Results; You Ask for Strength
Step 3. You Are Not Consumed with the Trial; You Focus on the Good Things in Your Life
Step 4. You Consecrate Your Life to God; You Draw Closer to Him
I loved this quote from Thomas Steed, recorded in his journal after he immigrated to the US and arrived in Nauvoo, Illinois:
The Prophet Joseph Smith was at the pier. At first glance I could tell it was him, by his noble expression. He came on board to shake hands and welcome us by many encouraging words, and express his thankfulness that we had arrived in safety. As he could not stay with us, he sent Apostle Geo. A. Smith to preach on board. “What did you come here for?” asked he. “To be instructed in the ways of the Lord,” answered someone. [Apostle Smith said,]“I tell you, you have come to the thrashing floor, and after you have been thrashed and pounded you will have to go through the fanning mill, where the chaff will be blown away and the wheat remain.” (The troubles of Nauvoo were just coming upon them).[Life of Thomas Steed, 8–10]
This earth life is the thrashing floor. Ugh, that doesn't sound fun. But that is what we are hear for, to help us learn humility, trust, and charity. She gives 4 steps that we can apply when we face adversity in our lives:
Step 1. Your Plan Is Thwarted; You Trust God and Ask Different Questions
Step 2. Faith Doesn’t Bring Desired Results; You Ask for Strength
Step 3. You Are Not Consumed with the Trial; You Focus on the Good Things in Your Life
Step 4. You Consecrate Your Life to God; You Draw Closer to Him
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Notes from Church Class
Sister Christofferson taught Sunday School today 22 Sep 2013 - class centered on D&C 107~
Succession of the presidency, mantel fell to Brigham Young. People witnessed Brigham Young having an image of Joseph and even a hissing "s" as he spoke, just like Joseph had. Many people witnessed it, but we only know about it by the people who wrote it down.
Benjamin Franklin - "If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing."
Are records today as treasured as records from earlier times where records are scarce?
5615 living endowments in Nauvoo before they left.
Pres Packer "Rocky Ridge was easy compared to what we face in the latter days" - Ahh! Yikes! Basically, you ain't seen nothing yet. Pres Packer was speaking of hte EVIL we face compared to the evil they faced. Spiritual death is more devastating than physical death. like pioneers burying their infants on the plains.
In Sacrament meeting, Eder Harris (missionary from AZ, convert, only member in his family) said when they teach sometimes people ask "Are you saying there's nothing good about my religion?" He received what he considered as a revelation - churches can be compared to car washes. They still get clean, but we want to be spotless and protected by temple blessings and covenants - which is the $9 wash:
$3 car wash - basic scrub and rinse.
$6 car wash - basic plus wax and dry
$9 car wash - shine and spotless finish
In Russia, Sis Christofferson said they translated "Come Come Ye Saints" on their own before Russian hymnbook was printed, and they translated "All is Well" as "Not so Bad, Could be worse" - I loved that!
Relief Society lesson - April 2013 General Conference talk by Elder Holland "Lord, I Believe"
He wanted to be a doctor, but on his mission he kenw that God wanted him to be a teacher. "An average LDS kid seminary attending boy from Southern Utah.
TED Steward "The Mark of a Giant" - 7 people who changed the world
FHE - Fan the Fire of your Faith - DESIRE
New insight Relearned "Write it down"
Matt 17:20 Nothing shall be impossible unto you
Hold fast to what you already know
Helaman 5:50 - greatness of the evidences - by their fruits ye shall know them - the fruit = evidence
2 Nephi 31:13 - Pray with real intent. Ask your father.
Succession of the presidency, mantel fell to Brigham Young. People witnessed Brigham Young having an image of Joseph and even a hissing "s" as he spoke, just like Joseph had. Many people witnessed it, but we only know about it by the people who wrote it down.
Benjamin Franklin - "If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing."
Are records today as treasured as records from earlier times where records are scarce?
5615 living endowments in Nauvoo before they left.
Pres Packer "Rocky Ridge was easy compared to what we face in the latter days" - Ahh! Yikes! Basically, you ain't seen nothing yet. Pres Packer was speaking of hte EVIL we face compared to the evil they faced. Spiritual death is more devastating than physical death. like pioneers burying their infants on the plains.
In Sacrament meeting, Eder Harris (missionary from AZ, convert, only member in his family) said when they teach sometimes people ask "Are you saying there's nothing good about my religion?" He received what he considered as a revelation - churches can be compared to car washes. They still get clean, but we want to be spotless and protected by temple blessings and covenants - which is the $9 wash:
$3 car wash - basic scrub and rinse.
$6 car wash - basic plus wax and dry
$9 car wash - shine and spotless finish
In Russia, Sis Christofferson said they translated "Come Come Ye Saints" on their own before Russian hymnbook was printed, and they translated "All is Well" as "Not so Bad, Could be worse" - I loved that!
Relief Society lesson - April 2013 General Conference talk by Elder Holland "Lord, I Believe"
He wanted to be a doctor, but on his mission he kenw that God wanted him to be a teacher. "An average LDS kid seminary attending boy from Southern Utah.
TED Steward "The Mark of a Giant" - 7 people who changed the world
FHE - Fan the Fire of your Faith - DESIRE
New insight Relearned "Write it down"
Matt 17:20 Nothing shall be impossible unto you
Hold fast to what you already know
Helaman 5:50 - greatness of the evidences - by their fruits ye shall know them - the fruit = evidence
2 Nephi 31:13 - Pray with real intent. Ask your father.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Grace
Today's 11:00 devotional was a talk by Brad Wilcox titled "His Grace is Sufficient". He shares such a wonderful analogy of how Christ's grace is like a mother paying for piano lessons. This analogy was also shared by him in an article of this month's Ensign here.
Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice.
If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with Mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.
In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say: “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19); “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask, maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.
If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with Mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.
In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say: “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19); “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask, maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Ring The Bells
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
Tyler Jarvis gave a great devotional talk on 9 July 2013, titled "That's How the Light Gets In". He shared his thoughts of while we would like perfection in ourselves and our actions, we have to accept our limitations and failures for now. And Christ will use us with our imperfections to do his work and build his kingdom - that is how others will see Him - through Him working through us. Great talk
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