Viewing 46 - 54 out of 82 Blogs.

<< First  < Previous | Page:  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Next >  Last >>

Each of us,at the time of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, had dreams conceived in our hearts and minds concerning the form our life should take.  These were visualizations that came to us -- desires -- what we wanted to be, to do and to have.

Most of us gauged these visions against the current manner of society; the expectations and criticisms of peers and family; our fears and "can't"s and "never"s; and our misunderstanding that heavenly Father is displeased with accomplishment and abundance.  When we are finished with these judgments, we have no dream.  Then we spend years and sometimes decades (agh!) doing everything BUT our missions and our dreams.  To me, this is a famine of living that we will be held accountable for.

Here are some steps can lead us to a more exciting, relieved life.

Step One.  Realize your dream(s).
Meditate again about what moved you, what you hoped for, when you were more youthful.  How did you want people to see you?  In what way did you conceive of greatness in yourself?  What would you have liked to lead others in (if you'd only had more confidence)?  What did you intend or wish to accomplish before you left this life?  If you could really pick any way or thing to make this world better, what would it be?  What would you do if you knew you could not fail? What do you just plain love to do?

Are you on track with any of this with the way you act now?  Your Father in heaven gave you your dream.  You are his unique child; you are a creator.  He expects you to produce a surplus,or abundance, in your stewardship (of all kinds, not merely economic; think of the parable of the talents). What is the surplus for?  To give freely to THE POOR (again, not just economic).

Step Two. Purify your dream.
Differentiate between your conceived dreams and any vanity (but don't let others casually judge this for you).  (Another thing to watch for is a sense of false prophecy; simply rest in hope and effort.)  Detach yourself from any rigidity in the day to day unfolding of your dream.  God can, and will, lead you to better opportunities (i.e. (including) adversity) than you can imagine now.  He just needs to know if you are committed to a REAL LIFE.  Also, be ready to suffer long without puffing up.

Your dreams should serve or interplay with your mission, and be founded in obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Step Three.  Build.
Understand that it is not if, or when, you will live your dreams -- it is that you ARE living your dream.  if you ever get a sense that one dream is fulfilled, there is one 'right behind it', a new vision.  if we never take up our dreams and build, then all we are doing in time is dying.

Faith IS the building, the effort, the steps, the seeds, the unfolding of precept by precept.  "What needs to happen between here and there?  What one little thing can I do today?"

Have a 'project' mentality.  Always have at least one thing you would call a 'project' that you are involved in or going for.  The succession of projects can be aligned to lead to your dream-fruit.  Don't be frantic; that is not called for.  See all challenges as places to go over or through with a little adventure (or agonized clinging to the Savior! whichever ) -- but challenges ARE NOT STOPPING PLACES.  Simply begin, and do a little, consistently, evaluate and adjust when needed; and allow for some winter seasons.

Step Four.  It is always about love.
All we need for confidence is to love another person.  Then we love more people.  To give presents (not always of financial means) and watch the face of the one receiving our present -- and there you will have that feeling of confidence in your breast.

If you have dreams with no people in them that you are loving, then go back and purify your dream.  Dreams will not sever us from our roles as sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, MOTHERS and FATHERS.  Sometimes we do have dreams that expand our ability, such as excelling in a sport.  But could you see yourself then helping, say, handicapped children with sports?

Sometimes dreams expand past our immediate family, but not always -- don't compare yourself to others and their dreams.  But 'small' or 'large' EACH OF US WILL BE SEEN BY OTHERS AND WILL INFLUENCE THEM as we build and fulfill our dream.

One more note.  Although dreams begin as something we want, we must quickly pass from that soul condition --which is an experience of lack -- to one of BEING full of the Father's providence, just simply in the growing stages.  The pain leaves then, generally.  The dream is not in the future; it is NOW, unfolding.  And, of course, there will be a day of harvest (heavy laden boughs!)

[I wrote this is 1998. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1998.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Dreams Vision Mortality Priorities Goals

Having a mission, purpose and/ or cause for our life is vital to our ability to weather afflictions and setbacks.  It also helps us select opportunities out of all the choices in life.  It helps us stretch a little more each day because we know and love where we are going.  We feel our own worth because we realize we have a unique life that no one else can give.

It is important that there is chosen -- or really, discovered -- only one focus for the entire life.  We state our mission in very general terms, and it will then be manifested in a variety of methods and seasons.  Sometimes we may connect to a great, or common, cause -- such as in the brotherhood of a religion, dedicating ourselves to it.

A mission, as I speak of it, is a calling, or agreement, established before our birth, given to us from our Father in heaven, and for the purpose of building up his kingdom -- or in other words being an agent for him here on earth (an agent for good).  We will account to our heavenly Father our mission when the time comes (and daily as well).

Since many of us cannot have our mission stated to us in no uncertain terms, there are a few things to do to have it revealed to us:

1.  Ask God to guide you to understand or know.  The revelation may be more or less immediate, or it may take some time, line upon line.

2.  Begin by living the life purpose that we ALL have:  preparing to meet God.  Keep the commandments and take and make opportunities to help other people and meet their needs.  Any mission you have will end up being a way to serve God's children, anyway.

3.  What you already intensely enjoy or are intensely interested may be a clue as to the direction to keep going.  At the least, your dreams and passions may be methods of fulfilling your mission.  Also take note of any unusual lifechanging opportunities that are literally offered to you.  "Most" of these are not meant to be turned down.

4.  Remember -- our missions are not likely to take us out of our homes much when we are mothers and fathers of young children and youth.  Missions adapt to all seasons.

5.  Receive a patriarchal blessing.  (I have been blessed in that my mission was stated to me plainly in my patriarchal blessing.)

Remember that every activity of life should be a facet of our mission.  Forsake all other choices.  All of God's commandments will fit in.  Forgive yourselft when learning by trial and error -- you are still going forward.

Purposes refer more to the style and method of how we might fulfill our missions.  Purpose arises from how we were, and still are, being spiritually, individually created.  We are a unique puzzle piece for the world.  A mission is more like an assignment from a Father to his sent child.  Purpose can be thought of as who we uniquely are; a mission can be thought of as what we will uniquely do.

We do participate as members of other groups and uphold their mission(s).  This works for business, religions, temporary committees, married couples, etc. 

Husbands and wives particularly can combine their personal missions into something that they labor together in.  As a married couple, believe that you are here in this time of world history for a reason, that you are meant to be partners, and that you are sent by God to change the world for the better and leave your legacy -- as a team!  (This is much stronger relationship glue than 'being in love'.)

Matthew 5:13-16 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 5:44-48 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? . . . And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? . . . Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Matthew 6:19-24  "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. . . . Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock."

Daniel 6:16  "They brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.  Now the king . . . said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."

Moses 1:6 "I have a work for thee . . . my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten . . ."

D&C 11:1-4, 8, 10 "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men . . . the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth [my italics] to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God.  Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God . . . I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation . . . behold, thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee."

D&C 6:33-37  "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.  Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.  Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.  Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.  Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."

[I wrote this is 1998. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1998.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Mission Purpose Mortality Affliction Guidance

"The within is ceaselessly becoming the without.  From the state of a man's heart proceed the conditions of his life; his thoughts blossom into deeds, and his deeds bear the fruitage of character and destiny."  James Allen

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."  Albert Einstein

"I hate time management systems.  Do lists, day planners, and breathing-by-objective systems give me the hives."  Ron Zemke

"If therefore thine eye be single to the glory of God, thy whole body shall be full of light."  Jesus

I once read a book entitled First Things First by Covey and Merrill.  Their first section was called 'The Clock and the Compass.'  Just reading that phrase clarified a concept or premise for the life-planning I will be proposing in my (future) blogs.

Do I hope for all of us merely to fill each hour, to be efficient, to make certain 'to do's belong to only certain times?  Do I believe that if we act a certain way, get it 'all' organized, everything will be all right -- no pain, no sorrow, no mistakes?

On p26 of First Things First the authors provide two scenarios.  "Sorry but you can't express your deepest feelings.  I only have ten minutes scheduled for this interview."  AND "Don't bother me now, son.  Just take your emotionally broken and bleeding self somewhere else for a few minutes while I finish this 'to do' item I have here on my schedule."

Reading those two scenarios we know immediately something is not right with that way of thinking and doing.

I do believe that everything is basically all right on this earth and in our lives, but this does not arise from our skill in the linear use of time.  Hope and redemption and love are gifts from the Savior and his atoning sacrifice.

The compass.  A vision.  God directing our paths.  The law of the harvest.  Creation of life.  Meaning and joy.  Realizing our human needs and our righteous desires.  Giving our gift to the world.  Transformation.  These are the most burdenless and rewarding and, yes, productive ways to move through and grow in the materiality and mortality of THE PRESENT.  (And we do want to GROW instead of GET, right?)

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Tak my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

From my discussions in previous blogs, we now possess a clear perception and true belief as to the reasons for and objectives of mortal time and human LIFE.  Now in upcoming blogs, we are ready to design our life practically -- in application from day to day, from season to season, from moment to moment.  We can plan activity that leads to happiness.  We will be viewing use of time as sowing and harvesting -- and the principles in between the seed-planting and the fruit-enjoying.  I believe this view is the most conducive to Living In the Present.  Right now even just think for a moment -- as I examine this HOUR that I am in right now -- What Am I Planting? (in the hour.)

[I wrote this is 1998. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1998.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Time Management Priorities Vision Mortality

Here is a summary (a repeat) of the principles that I have presented in the past several blogs.

1.  Before birth into our present mortal and probationary existence, we were nurtured and taught by our infinitely loving Father.  After we pass away from mortality, experience continues.

2.  Today is a gift from God:  a place in time (the only place!) for the opportunity for my life to be built and for the goodness of God to enter the world through my agency.

3.  Act, and organize time, according to priorities.  Select priorities according to truth.

4.  In mortality we come in contact with evil and the nature of death, even as we work to live.  They can influence our agency and actions and produce misery.

5.  Jesus Christ, through his love and sacrificial atonement, has broken the bands of death and hell.

6.  We receive the power from this sacrifice through living in commandments, covenants and sealings -- administered in this age by prophets.

7.  We are redeemed TODAY -- and also in process of time.  We are lifted to the victory of REAL LIFE -- peaceful, eternal.

8.  Use TODAY'S TIME to act according to covenants.

9.  Before or upon entering mortality our Father endowed us with all we need:  overflowing treasures really.  Some of those gifts:  a Divine parentage; a light with which to recognize good; an earthly Work To Do and the Means With Which To Do It; a Savior; etc. etc.

10.  With these gifts we can be prepared for the difficulties of learning and being tested.  ALLOW TIME for learning (to know God) and testing (proving out our weaknesses and receiving/ reception of righteousness).  Allow time for the suffering that does occur and simply seek the Balm of Gilead.

11.  The purpose of life is to prepare to meet God.  That preparation is to receive knowledge and righteousness -- in TIME.

12.  Design or choose beliefs before designing and organizing the use of your time.

Alma 34:31-36  "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately [my italics] shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.  For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors . . . do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh . . . wherein there can be no labor performed . . . that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world . . . the Lord . . . dwelleth . . . in the hearts of the righteous . . . the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb."  [see the whole chapter]

[I wrote this is 1998. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1998.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Probation Mortality Time Experience Tested Purpose Righteousness

If you're like me, it's important to organize the hours of the day in order to maximize life and the happiness of it.

However, I don't like to suggest method without first contemplating philosophy.  I have a testimony that the only life giving philosophy is the truth of the Gospel.

2 Nephi 31:18,21 "And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive . . . And now, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.  And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.  Amen."

Use of time is sacred, and when I reflect deeply, time is a miracle -- life and its seasons unfold to eternity within the canvas of time.

Let me make two more remarks in connection with 'learning and being tested' in addition to the ones I have made in previous blogs.

1)  Gospel learning is not a mental process.  Knowledge of God is equal to becoming like God, and this is a record that is laid down in our BODIES, hearts and spirits through our experiences and the function of the Holy Ghost. (3-D! 4-D! 5-D!)  In terms of time use, we can facilitate these experiences by choosing to act according to the commandments.  (Knowledge is the 'law written in us'.)

Isaiah 51:7  "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whoe heart is my law . . ."

Ether 3:13 " . . . the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you." see also 14-20

Moses 3:9, 17 & 4:11 " . . . And I, the Lord God, planted the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and also the tree of knowledge of good and evil . . . of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die . . . God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."

Alma 5:33-35 "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.  Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely; Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness . . . " see also 6-10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 28

D & C 130:18-19 "Whatever principle or intelligence we ATTAIN unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.  And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so muc the advantage in the world to come." [notice in this verse knowledge comes by obedience not by reading or study or etc.]

Moroni 10:30-33 "And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.  And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion . . . that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee . . . may be fulfilled.  Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.  And again, ifye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."  see also v 21

1 Corinthians 15:2, 44-46, 49-58  "By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain . . . It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first, which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual . . . And as we have born the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption . .[read v 51-57] . . Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the WORK of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." see also 13:3

xxxxxx

2) Testing is a point in our experiences where our knowledge (testimony) [remember: obedience not 'mental'] provides immunity to the shafts of the devil, or the lack of knowledge leaves us vulnerable to destruction. [Helaman 5:12 "Remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his might winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."]

Always, always testing occurs in, or at, our weaknesses -- the purpose being to provide an opportunity of success, our weaknesses proved out, righteousness and strength remaining, RECEIVED. (I might add that often our test affects other people also:  we let them down; OR we choose to remain steadfast, faithful and loving.)  see Ether 12:27;  1 Nephi 14:14  "I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord . . . upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory."

Righteousness is a power or energy flowing from the Lamb, the Son of God, to a saint (sanctified human)  -- its effect IS to preserve us from Satan's power.  Never try to pass through testing without righteousness.  Preparations for the reception of righteousness include humility and living our covenants and priesthood/ temple ordinances.

The truth leaves you free to use your time without having to deal with misery -- either we never encounter a given adverse effect (lifted above it); OR/ as well, we experience redemption (in process of TIME) from the adversity we do encounter and pass through.

Alma 37:45  "Is there not a type in this thing?  For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise."

1 Nephi 12:11  "And the angel said unto me: Look!  And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God.  And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him."

1 Nephi 22:26  "And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power . . . he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth."  see all v 11-27

[I wrote this is 1997. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1997.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Time Management Eternity Knowledge Redemption Weakness Righteousness Misery

Our Father in heaven -- since he is our Father -- is guiding the development of his children.  That's us! 

There is, of course, a gap between where we are now in our growth, and the fulness of our potential.  Our Heavenly Father (and his servants) are interested and busy in leading us to the next step, and step by step, closer to him and closer to our own maturity (exaltation).

I believe that our experiences here on earth are not random, but have been lovingly and intelligently prepared by our Father in heaven according to the weaknesses we each have that need to be refined out. **  Also our experiences give us the time and the opportunity to receive the record of truth that we require (knowledge of God; we literally bear the testimony of the Son of God).  Keep the commandments!

And, by the way, experiences don't have to be crises.  Simply: "What is happening right now?  What am I compelled to participate in, in my life as it is?"

Other useful questions could be:
How could I become closer to God right now?
What weakness could I forsake, or what strength(s) could I receive within these circumstances? 
Will I learn my lesson by changing the situation? or by changing my feelings and belief(s)? or by just waiting patiently?

Some answers are 'easy'.  In some ways we really never have totally unique experiences, because we are all human.  So we can search the prophets and there will be counsel there for us.  Always we can pray to our Father and ask.  (And knock! -- maybe a long time? Arm tired yet? )

One of my friends ordered her questions like this:  "What is my lesson?  How can I best learn it?  How can I be happy while learning it?"  She asked her heavenly Father, and the Holy Ghost let her know.

So:  1) our life experiences are designed by our Father: keep the commandments (the commandments are some of those designed experiences); 2) they are designed so that we may be successful, and success in this case means being closer to God as well as further growth toward maturity; 3) as agents we are free to follow this course, or we can rebel or ignore, etc.; 4) but Father is always ready to help us with the next step towards him even if we've gone back for a time; and 5) our godly growth will be in knowledge and righteousness.

And so, we need to realize that our Father is interested in entering our life, and sometimes we could step back and perceive what it is he has designed and rejoice in that!  (And not to say that he takes over our minds and choices -- we're free to design, too.)


** please don't read this previous sentence as if I am advocating any deterministic view of our mortal existence.

[I wrote this is 1997. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1997.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Guidance Growth Potential Experience Tested Weakness Commandments Learn Cho

In my last blog I numbered some of the gifts from Heavenly Father with which we came to earth.  Our creation is good!  With such miraculous provisions, how is it, then, can "things go wrong"?  What do we mean when we say to ourselves "Everything has gone wrong!"  I think, for myself I am going to stop saying that, and be more specific about what it is I am perceiving as wrong.

Here are some steps I hope to take:

1.  Acknowledge that "It hurts!"  (Say it aloud.)  When we deny the existence of pain, it is like putting a top on a volcano.  Eventually it's still going to blow and cause uncontrollable damage.  In pain, we are in company with Christ, saints, children, and everyone else.

2.  Identify misery and despair (states that Satan and sin are at the root of) as different from states more along the lines of the nature of mortality:  mourning?  fear?  illness?  disbelief?  or???

3.  Search the scriptures for the redemption of those states ('Those who mourn shall be comforted' for example), then pray for this deliverance and/ or patience to pass through.  Act upon any counsel or commandments.  Rest in the Savior, have faith in Him.

I will go into more ideas about suffering in future blogs, but I brought it up here because sometimes in our challenges we say to ourselves, "Maybe God is trying to teach me."  Or "Maybe God is testing me."  And we realize how to the point these processes are for us on earth, even if we understand very little else.

Experiencing suffereing DOES NOT INDICATE: 1) the cessation of God's love towards us; nor 2) the thwarting of God's work in our lives.

There IS NO organization or set of actions that we can do in our days to completely avoid being hurt.  The gospel does not teach that for this life.  What there IS PROMISED is redemption, a Redeemer.  Also, His love is a faithful love -- we won't be cast away for our mistakes.

In the next blog (Part 3) I will go over: Learning -- we receive knowledge; Tested -- we receive righteousness.

[I wrote this is 1997. I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1997.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.]

Tags: Tested Mortality Adversity Misery Pain Redemption

[I wrote this in 1997]

I have talked in a previous blog how we have experienced life and growth before we were born here on this earth; and we can plan on the same (life and growth) after we fulfill mortality.  I also presented for your realization that, by accepting the Atonement of Jesus through faith and covenants, we can live today as eternal life even though we are also in the midst of coming up against or passing through a variety of adversity.

Let us now explore the gospel ideas of learning and being tested -- especially as they relate to the daily use of our time.

As we left our pre-existent home -- a celestial life with our Father -- we were endowed by him.

First of all, our very personage was a son or daughter of the Father, with His own seeds in us capable of being developed.  Our original principle is intelligence, which is truth and light; truth is that which is able to be comprehended, and light is the power to comprehend; and together they are the beginning and end of being and joy.  Through the use of our agency (in premortality) and the gifts and tutelage of our Heavenly Parents, each of us fulfilled our potential as spirits and showed ourselves servants of God and followers of Christ.

Secondly, we came to earth lighted by Christ, so that we would have an affinity for the good, the truth, the way of Christ that would be presented to us here on earth.

Thirdly, God gave each of us a work to do, and the means to do it, either within us already and/ or by opportunities prepared on earth.  God called us, and we agreed, to help others on their way; to fulfill a unique place; to accomplish the great work of bringing the kingdom of God to earth; to fill a purpose and a mission; and to prepare the way for the entry of other spirits into the world (motherhood and fatherhood).

So then with this three-fold endowment we enter our human body and are soon born to our mother and father from earth.

We are met by more gifts from God.  Here are some:  parents (and other family) who have been here for a while and can guide us; provision for the preservation of mortal life from the planet's bounties; a Savior; the restored gospel and its priesthood coming by direct authority from Christ to a living prophet; and always, always, our Father Himself draw near and answers us through prayer.

[disclaimer: I do not present this writing as a representation of doctrine.  It is my own thoughts, feelings, study and belief -- or at least the condition it was in, in 1997.  I encourage you to not take my word for anything, but to do your own study, pondering, and asking of God.  Otherwise -- enjoy!]

Tags: Learn Tested Mortality Growth Life Premortal Preexistence Mission Gifts Pur

[I wrote this in 1997.]

That profound, sure destiny:  unfailing life.  Unfailing life -- the godly marriage of love's dynamism with truth's holy stability.

But here and now we are touched by the nature of death.  I am not only nor even really speaking of that gate through which we will all pass away from MORTALITY -- but more relevantlly, every moment we feel the influence of the power of loss, corruption, captivity, hardening, darkening, incapacity, and destruction.  These fates press upon us as we strive in our work of LIVING.

This danger is purposeful.  We LEARN and are TESTED.  With knowledge and righteousness we are able to grow to the full potential of the BEINGS we ARE (God, our Father!).

So on the one side -- death.  But mortality is also founded on a second principle:  the light and power of God has been injected into this existence through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God -- an energy that has never had a finish and never will -- incorruptible and free, omnipotent and expanding.  God is the same today, yesterday and forever.

So now let us think of ourselves.  This gift of a physical body is a vessel and an instrument.  As if a candle our spirits our lit from that great eternal source (our Father).  Here on earth we are now in contact with the dual powers of death and life.  The fruit of our daily work will be dependent on the seed we choose to plant.  To the Adversary or to Christ we go, to receive a wage from one or the other.

Believe in Jesus Christ.  Plant his seed.  It is love and truth.  You will be born again.

We can tune our instruments (our bodies) to receive only good power into ourselves and, by degrees, be protected from death's workings.  This is done by commandments, covenants, and sealings -- taught by prophets; and of which baptism by immersion by authority from Jesus Christ is the first.

In fact, if we neglect to accomplish this, the good power from the Savior's sacrifice will never be tuned sufficiently to us to uplift us from DAY TO DAY from death's battle (although all will receive at least a portion of Christ's salvation at last).  FROM DAY TO DAY what is lost to us by nature and by evil, is now or can be redeemed to us -- by faith and in process of time.

To me, to PRIORITIZE MY LIFE, simply means to use the time given to me to ACT BY, OR WITHIN, THE COVENANTS I HAVE ENTERED INTO and to prepare for further ones; and so receive the seed, growth, power, and fruit of eternal life and happiness -- from moment to moment.

Isaiah 25: verses 1, 8 and 9
"O Lord, thou are my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."  "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth ... And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, and we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

1 Corinthians 15:51-55
"Behold, I will show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death where is thy sting?  O grave, where is they victory?'" [see also verses 56-58]

Mosiah 15:7-8, 23
"Yea, even so shall he be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.  And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men . . . and they are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death." [see also the entire chapter 15]

[see also 2 Nephi 2, esp. ver 25-29]

Tags: Life Tested Body Covenants Grow Purpose Priorities

<< First  < Previous | Page:  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Next >  Last >>