And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
-Revelation 12:10
If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours—for charity covereth a multitude of sins.
-Joseph Smith
And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come.
-Helaman 16:21-22
Cease to find fault with one another.
-D&C 88:124
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail.
-Moroni 7:46
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
-1 Corinthians 13:8
Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day.
Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another? And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!
-Mosiah 2:15-19
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
-1 Corinthians 13:1
30.4.10
29.4.10
The Enemy is Not the Enemy
Often times we fall victim to the syndrome I call Don Quixote syndrome where we utilize our energies and imaginations to the fighting of a villain thats not there.
We come up with an amazing case against someone, accusing them of this and that. What happens is we don't have the whole story and but then fill in the rest with our fears and prejudice. Sort of like online dating, but the opposite, when we just see the good things and assume the rest about that person would also be amazing and build up this fantasy.
The truth is our brains need closure, we need labels, we hate when things are up in the air. We need to put things in a category for our minds to know how to deal with it. Thats why politics are often such a shaky ground. We get a narration from one side and then another and then there are still gaps and theories and we just don't know what is right.
Luckily, theres a cure for this.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Matthew 7:7
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
-Matthew 21:22
First we must seek knowledge. We must ask about the situation. We must knock on the door by our active desire to figure it out. Then, we must have an open heart and mind and then we shall receive and know. So how does this relate to dealing with people? The same as it does with getting knowledge from God. We must find common ground, hope for the best, build from there, and try to reconcile the differences with forgiveness and humility. Charity never faileth. If we love God and our brethren with all our heart, might, mind and strength then we cannot fail.
Back to fighting the imaginary villain, I think Satan is behind this. My friend had a great way of looking at it. He said Satan is more like the Don King of our fight, than the opponent. Our enemy isn't our enemy, those things that make us think someone or something is our enemy is our enemy. We are all family. We must seek charity and fight our instincts to hate or despise others. Don't fight people, fight fighting. I'm not saying we shouldn't stand up for whats right but we should stand by principles more than people. People are weak and imperfect but the principles are eternal and the way to godhood.
I LOVE this scripture passage:
And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?
The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
And the afire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.
Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.
But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.
And That which I have chosen hath led before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;
Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands.
We come up with an amazing case against someone, accusing them of this and that. What happens is we don't have the whole story and but then fill in the rest with our fears and prejudice. Sort of like online dating, but the opposite, when we just see the good things and assume the rest about that person would also be amazing and build up this fantasy.
The truth is our brains need closure, we need labels, we hate when things are up in the air. We need to put things in a category for our minds to know how to deal with it. Thats why politics are often such a shaky ground. We get a narration from one side and then another and then there are still gaps and theories and we just don't know what is right.
Luckily, theres a cure for this.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Matthew 7:7
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
-Matthew 21:22
First we must seek knowledge. We must ask about the situation. We must knock on the door by our active desire to figure it out. Then, we must have an open heart and mind and then we shall receive and know. So how does this relate to dealing with people? The same as it does with getting knowledge from God. We must find common ground, hope for the best, build from there, and try to reconcile the differences with forgiveness and humility. Charity never faileth. If we love God and our brethren with all our heart, might, mind and strength then we cannot fail.
Back to fighting the imaginary villain, I think Satan is behind this. My friend had a great way of looking at it. He said Satan is more like the Don King of our fight, than the opponent. Our enemy isn't our enemy, those things that make us think someone or something is our enemy is our enemy. We are all family. We must seek charity and fight our instincts to hate or despise others. Don't fight people, fight fighting. I'm not saying we shouldn't stand up for whats right but we should stand by principles more than people. People are weak and imperfect but the principles are eternal and the way to godhood.
I LOVE this scripture passage:
And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?
And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?
The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
And the afire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.
Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.
But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them.
And That which I have chosen hath led before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment;
Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands.
Victim Mentality is Bird Poop
I believe there are many with a victim mentality. In this mentality, they have an excuse for all their lackings. This mentality breeds resentment and hatred, it fosters the idea that they aren't responsible for their lives but are merely thrown into an inescapable circumstance. They do many things out of spite and give you logic but its all based on negativity and cynicism. I'm afraid we've all been a victim of victim mentality at one point or another.
Who hasn't thought themselves unmerited of their current state? "If only this or that would happen...then I'd be happy and free" or "If my mom and dad would've done such and such thing then things would be better", honestly there is no end to the things we can complain about or be happy about and really the choice is ours.
We don't have to be victims. Those that are raped, molested, born with A.I.D.S., grow up in a foster home, get in a car accident, get thrown into a concentration camp, get crucified, go blind, lose everything that ever mattered to them are victims. But, how true it is that our mentality will restrict us and bind us to never moving on, if we keep the victim mentality? Those that go through these situations have so much burden to bear. I'm not saying its easy, but I am saying its the only way to move on, we have to accept that it happened and not let our hearts and minds be consumed by it. Just as Ghandi said "The rulers may have our land and bodies but not our souls." He understood that what happens to us in life doesn't have to overcome our spirits. Satan only has the power that we give him.
Its not easy to escape the victim mentality. Sometimes we hold on to the pain because its scary to invoke that vulnerability to trust again. So we try to have control over everything we can and that resentment and distrust gives us that control. We all have crosses to bear and trials to overcome. The trials don't have to define us as victims if we choose to not have a victim mentality. Its extremely hard but who was more of a victim than Christ?
Webster defines Victim to mean "one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment." I think the keyword is "Mistreatment". We love to think ourselves so innocent and how dare anyone cross us? We're not better than anyone for God loves us all the same. He does. He loves the sinner as much as the righteous but none are righteous we all have flaws that could only truly be seen when compared to the perfection of God. God might trust some more than others, but He truly loves us all equally.
Of course nobody is perfect and we all will be let down by others but we all have to share this world. If we hold others to the demands of perfection how lonely and bitter we will be all the days of our lives! We have to eventually love again or how empty and sad is that life? Do not let that which divides you from others become your only focus or you will have a deeper hole in your heart.
So, everyone is imperfect (so be humble) but God loves us all equally anyway? So how should we treat others? With love, respect, and dignity. We. Must. Forgive. Forgive, move on, love, let go of the anger and resentment.
"The Lord will forgive whom he will forgive, but men must forgive all."
-D&C 64: 10
"Inasmuch as men forgive one another, the Lord will forgive them."
-D&C 82: 1
That which you hold in anger and hatred will burn your hand. Its your choice to react the way you do. If something happens to you thats out of your control, remember, the only thing thats in your control is if you decide to be bitter or forgiving. If a bird poops on you, do you shoot the bird? You might like to but he's long gone. You could wallow in the despair of having to clean your shirt, complaining for all to listen, venting and criticizing all the birds in the world, digging deeper and deeper into the anger till it totally consumes your whole life. All over bird poop. Its all bird poop when you think about it. Why not just brush it off and move on? Your life will be so much easier. You won't have to keep picking and driving a wedge in your life. Wasting your time and energy.
Choose to not be a victim. Helen Keller is such an amazing example of this. Deaf, dumb and blind but she knew she had no control of that but had control of what she would do. It was her choice to not be consumed by her crosses to bear and like Christ overcame them through faith and love of life.
I learned this principle from my faith in Christ who led a life of hardships, persecution, trials directly from Satan, taking on the weight of all the sin in the world and being crucified all to fulfill His Father's will and didn't become bitter or shrink from the responsibility He had of drinking this bitter cup. He overcame and asks us to do the same.
"...knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon..."
-2 Nephi 2:26
"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."
-Matthew 5:44
Who hasn't thought themselves unmerited of their current state? "If only this or that would happen...then I'd be happy and free" or "If my mom and dad would've done such and such thing then things would be better", honestly there is no end to the things we can complain about or be happy about and really the choice is ours.
We don't have to be victims. Those that are raped, molested, born with A.I.D.S., grow up in a foster home, get in a car accident, get thrown into a concentration camp, get crucified, go blind, lose everything that ever mattered to them are victims. But, how true it is that our mentality will restrict us and bind us to never moving on, if we keep the victim mentality? Those that go through these situations have so much burden to bear. I'm not saying its easy, but I am saying its the only way to move on, we have to accept that it happened and not let our hearts and minds be consumed by it. Just as Ghandi said "The rulers may have our land and bodies but not our souls." He understood that what happens to us in life doesn't have to overcome our spirits. Satan only has the power that we give him.
Its not easy to escape the victim mentality. Sometimes we hold on to the pain because its scary to invoke that vulnerability to trust again. So we try to have control over everything we can and that resentment and distrust gives us that control. We all have crosses to bear and trials to overcome. The trials don't have to define us as victims if we choose to not have a victim mentality. Its extremely hard but who was more of a victim than Christ?
Webster defines Victim to mean "one that is subjected to oppression, hardship, or mistreatment." I think the keyword is "Mistreatment". We love to think ourselves so innocent and how dare anyone cross us? We're not better than anyone for God loves us all the same. He does. He loves the sinner as much as the righteous but none are righteous we all have flaws that could only truly be seen when compared to the perfection of God. God might trust some more than others, but He truly loves us all equally.
Of course nobody is perfect and we all will be let down by others but we all have to share this world. If we hold others to the demands of perfection how lonely and bitter we will be all the days of our lives! We have to eventually love again or how empty and sad is that life? Do not let that which divides you from others become your only focus or you will have a deeper hole in your heart.
So, everyone is imperfect (so be humble) but God loves us all equally anyway? So how should we treat others? With love, respect, and dignity. We. Must. Forgive. Forgive, move on, love, let go of the anger and resentment.
"The Lord will forgive whom he will forgive, but men must forgive all."
-D&C 64: 10
"Inasmuch as men forgive one another, the Lord will forgive them."
-D&C 82: 1
That which you hold in anger and hatred will burn your hand. Its your choice to react the way you do. If something happens to you thats out of your control, remember, the only thing thats in your control is if you decide to be bitter or forgiving. If a bird poops on you, do you shoot the bird? You might like to but he's long gone. You could wallow in the despair of having to clean your shirt, complaining for all to listen, venting and criticizing all the birds in the world, digging deeper and deeper into the anger till it totally consumes your whole life. All over bird poop. Its all bird poop when you think about it. Why not just brush it off and move on? Your life will be so much easier. You won't have to keep picking and driving a wedge in your life. Wasting your time and energy.
Choose to not be a victim. Helen Keller is such an amazing example of this. Deaf, dumb and blind but she knew she had no control of that but had control of what she would do. It was her choice to not be consumed by her crosses to bear and like Christ overcame them through faith and love of life.
I learned this principle from my faith in Christ who led a life of hardships, persecution, trials directly from Satan, taking on the weight of all the sin in the world and being crucified all to fulfill His Father's will and didn't become bitter or shrink from the responsibility He had of drinking this bitter cup. He overcame and asks us to do the same.
"...knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon..."
-2 Nephi 2:26
"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."
-Matthew 5:44
25.4.10
Work
Work is something we are continually asked to do. The Lord wants us to use our time wisely and become something better than we are now. He is our goal. He should be our guiding force in who we should be. If we do that then lots of work on ourselves will come to pass.
Its like working out at the gym. We must go through the hard to become greater. That which you cannot do has power over you. That which you can do gives you freedom to do that. I am in bondage to the ivory keys of a piano till I learn to use them. I must work and work and work or I'll forever be less free. The more we work the freer we are. By our work we grow and become powerful. We have dominion over those things that once gave us trouble.
We all have huge amounts of potential at our fingertips. We can accomplish whatever we set our minds to. We must be humble to realize where we are weak so as to start developing in that area. The Lord shows us our weaknesses so we can utilize His strength through our humility in Him and His ability to make us strong. We cannot change that which we do not know.
Repentance is always work. While repenting we give up those things which are bad for things that are good. When this happens our life changes and if we repent to God we are blessed and freed from those things that once had us in bondage. Christ overcame death and sin and through Him are we able to overcome all things.
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
-John 16:33
Its like working out at the gym. We must go through the hard to become greater. That which you cannot do has power over you. That which you can do gives you freedom to do that. I am in bondage to the ivory keys of a piano till I learn to use them. I must work and work and work or I'll forever be less free. The more we work the freer we are. By our work we grow and become powerful. We have dominion over those things that once gave us trouble.
We all have huge amounts of potential at our fingertips. We can accomplish whatever we set our minds to. We must be humble to realize where we are weak so as to start developing in that area. The Lord shows us our weaknesses so we can utilize His strength through our humility in Him and His ability to make us strong. We cannot change that which we do not know.
Repentance is always work. While repenting we give up those things which are bad for things that are good. When this happens our life changes and if we repent to God we are blessed and freed from those things that once had us in bondage. Christ overcame death and sin and through Him are we able to overcome all things.
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
-John 16:33
What I Learned at Church Today 4/25/10
The good things you do will be a blessing unto you.
Be better this week than last week. Do more.
Nothing feels better than love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and hope.
Seek to build up others.
"But if not..." We know God will deliver us but if not we won't deny or disobey Him. There are so many instances where we have to keep faith in God even if He doesn't deliver us or bless us in the manner we hope.
We are not tempted beyond our limits so have faith and keep at it because you can see it through.
Don't be obedient for the blessing but for the Lord. Thats all the blessing you need.
That which you continually expose yourself to has a deep impact on what you become and how your life is shaped. The time you put in at church, reading scriptures, praying, participating, thinking about the Lord, makes a difference on who you are. Feed your testimony by exposing it to the nurturing goodness of God.
There are endless amounts of things to be grateful and ungrateful for. Choose which you want to do.
These messages aren't just for you.
Overlooked commandments:
Be of good cheer
Ask, Seek, Knock and Receive and Find
Don't lose hope or despair
Forgive
Love your enemies
No idle words
The Lord is aware of the flaws of others yet He chooses them for His own purposes. Perhaps to teach them or you or someone else. Don't lose faith. Don't judge or be too critical but first take the beam out of your own eye.
To satisfy our egos we often sacrifice or condemn others. The Lord asks just the opposite. We must sacrifice our egos to satisfy others and not condemn them.
One is not truly converted to the church until they see the power of the Lord rest upon the shoulders of the leaders of the church.
What is so intimidating when you are clothed in truth? Nothing. Fear not to do good. Its superior and everlasting. There is so much crap and darkness in the world. The word of the Lord is a double edged sword. Use it.
How to develop Love:
Service
Getting to know someone or something
Be sincere
Express your love and it will be able to grow
Hearken to the Holy Ghost's promptings
Assume the good in others
Our love determines what we seek which determines what we think then do which determines who we are and what we become. Love directly correlates with our destination.
Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.
Be better this week than last week. Do more.
Nothing feels better than love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and hope.
Seek to build up others.
"But if not..." We know God will deliver us but if not we won't deny or disobey Him. There are so many instances where we have to keep faith in God even if He doesn't deliver us or bless us in the manner we hope.
We are not tempted beyond our limits so have faith and keep at it because you can see it through.
Don't be obedient for the blessing but for the Lord. Thats all the blessing you need.
That which you continually expose yourself to has a deep impact on what you become and how your life is shaped. The time you put in at church, reading scriptures, praying, participating, thinking about the Lord, makes a difference on who you are. Feed your testimony by exposing it to the nurturing goodness of God.
There are endless amounts of things to be grateful and ungrateful for. Choose which you want to do.
These messages aren't just for you.
Overlooked commandments:
Be of good cheer
Ask, Seek, Knock and Receive and Find
Don't lose hope or despair
Forgive
Love your enemies
No idle words
The Lord is aware of the flaws of others yet He chooses them for His own purposes. Perhaps to teach them or you or someone else. Don't lose faith. Don't judge or be too critical but first take the beam out of your own eye.
To satisfy our egos we often sacrifice or condemn others. The Lord asks just the opposite. We must sacrifice our egos to satisfy others and not condemn them.
One is not truly converted to the church until they see the power of the Lord rest upon the shoulders of the leaders of the church.
What is so intimidating when you are clothed in truth? Nothing. Fear not to do good. Its superior and everlasting. There is so much crap and darkness in the world. The word of the Lord is a double edged sword. Use it.
How to develop Love:
Service
Getting to know someone or something
Be sincere
Express your love and it will be able to grow
Hearken to the Holy Ghost's promptings
Assume the good in others
Our love determines what we seek which determines what we think then do which determines who we are and what we become. Love directly correlates with our destination.
Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.
21.4.10
Doctrine and Covenants 78:19
Doctrine and Covenants
78:19
And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.
78:19
And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.
20.4.10
True Prophets vs Salesmen
The difference between true prophets and salesmen is that true prophets aren't trying to sell you but give you something and salesmen are just trying to take your money away.
You cannot buy what true prophets want to give you.
You cannot buy what true prophets want to give you.
18.4.10
Things I learned at church today
Those that seek power in robes of false priesthoods are constant and always have been. Costly apparel was the first major fall of the people in the Book of Mormon. We must seek refuge from this idolatrous behavior by remembering our endowments come from God and not the power of the pride of the world.
Also we must seek refuge in the Lord from the evils of wasting our times and feeding our egos on the addictions found in online escapes such as pornography or constant social networking. The seemingly anonymity from the Internet fools us into thinking our actions have no consequence and we are merely doing harmless activities.
DC 59:13
“…that thy fasting may be perfect, or in other words, that thy joy may be full.”
Be faithful to the end. When we do not spoil our blessings, we have more joy in them. Being pure lets us be filled with purity.
Watch without jealousy the diminishing influence you have as those that followed you now follow what influenced you. Like John the Baptist.
All love is an act of mercy unless it is to God. As we love others, we love God. But our friends and neighbors, enemies and acquaintances are imperfect and cannot fully live up to our expectations but our love must be extended nonetheless as an act of mercy. With that mercy will God give us mercy.
Don’t fear men, they’re ever changing. Fear God and nothing will separate you from loving others. Ask yourself: Who do you wish to please? God, others or yourself?
Give up that which you think God would see as a sacrifice. The things of the world that make you think you need to be are what stops you from being, as in social acceptance, fancy clothes, media, new toys, etc. These things actually constrain your true being. By giving up your so called life you’ll have a real life. Give up your loves and you’ll make room for greater loves. Let it be. Let your heart be open, not holding or controlling. Give, give, give and you’ll live, live, live.
That which is closed is dark and that which is open is bright.
How do you know when the silver is refined completely? When I see my image in it.
Theres a barrier between the educated/experienced and the ignorant which can only be broken by education and experience.
Your pride must lose, you must lose your pride. You must let others be lifted up for you to be upheld by God
The works of our hands are secondary to the works of God’s hands
Fashion, social networks, jobs, possessions, labels often give us roles and thus rules in our identity. We try to fit ourselves into these little boxes often mislabeled “Self Expression” and “Identity” but we are more than all these things. We are not our jobs or our facebook profiles. Who we are goes deeper and the car we drive is just something in our lives but isn’t the measure of who we are in God’s eyes. The fight for possessions is a war that doesn’t need us. We have an opportunity to truly live by our means and not for means. We should forget these boxes and seek the joy of being a part of something greater called the universe and not be condemned to the rules and boxes of video games or shopping.
Its okay to be thought of the fool sometimes. We often kill ourselves trying to prove ourselves to others, as if we need the approval of others to know who we are. Its impossible to view ourselves let alone others and let alone others viewing you for who we truly are. We don’t have that view. Only God does. If we succumb to having to be expressed in every single facet of life from every person, then we will spend a lot of time being very shallow trying to convince others of who we are and loving us without every actually loving ourselves or others. Don’t waste time proving your identity but spend your time getting to know others and loving them and then will we know as we are known and see as we are seen. True connections lay in the loving others more than trying to be loved by others.
You are not what you own but what you do, feel, and know.
The good things you do will never let you down but fashion, selfishness, and vanity will always let you down.
God will always support you if you seek His approval but Satan won’t and can’t support you.
Love + High expectations = Best Outcome
Love-High expectations = Complacent and lazy
No Love and No Expectations = Disaster
High Expectations – Love = Rebellion
This table shows how we can often find best results by giving high expectations and lots of love. But keep in mind people ultimately will decide what they will do and there is no way to change that.
Does what you know square with what you do? If it doesn’t then you’re knowledge is just for entertainment and a waste.
God wants to bless us as much as possible but our agency needs to be exercised so we can receive it. Ask and you shall receive. We must continually Ask, Seek, and Knock because we must be continually receiving to grow.
Content is king. Not any style. Substance beats style with God.
If the first thing you do is pray then you’re consecrating your works to God and thus allows Him to give you grace sufficient enough for them to be accepted. The rest will be added that’s needed in order to complete the task if we just ask.
God looks at the heart.
Also we must seek refuge in the Lord from the evils of wasting our times and feeding our egos on the addictions found in online escapes such as pornography or constant social networking. The seemingly anonymity from the Internet fools us into thinking our actions have no consequence and we are merely doing harmless activities.
DC 59:13
“…that thy fasting may be perfect, or in other words, that thy joy may be full.”
Be faithful to the end. When we do not spoil our blessings, we have more joy in them. Being pure lets us be filled with purity.
Watch without jealousy the diminishing influence you have as those that followed you now follow what influenced you. Like John the Baptist.
All love is an act of mercy unless it is to God. As we love others, we love God. But our friends and neighbors, enemies and acquaintances are imperfect and cannot fully live up to our expectations but our love must be extended nonetheless as an act of mercy. With that mercy will God give us mercy.
Don’t fear men, they’re ever changing. Fear God and nothing will separate you from loving others. Ask yourself: Who do you wish to please? God, others or yourself?
Give up that which you think God would see as a sacrifice. The things of the world that make you think you need to be are what stops you from being, as in social acceptance, fancy clothes, media, new toys, etc. These things actually constrain your true being. By giving up your so called life you’ll have a real life. Give up your loves and you’ll make room for greater loves. Let it be. Let your heart be open, not holding or controlling. Give, give, give and you’ll live, live, live.
That which is closed is dark and that which is open is bright.
How do you know when the silver is refined completely? When I see my image in it.
Theres a barrier between the educated/experienced and the ignorant which can only be broken by education and experience.
Your pride must lose, you must lose your pride. You must let others be lifted up for you to be upheld by God
The works of our hands are secondary to the works of God’s hands
Fashion, social networks, jobs, possessions, labels often give us roles and thus rules in our identity. We try to fit ourselves into these little boxes often mislabeled “Self Expression” and “Identity” but we are more than all these things. We are not our jobs or our facebook profiles. Who we are goes deeper and the car we drive is just something in our lives but isn’t the measure of who we are in God’s eyes. The fight for possessions is a war that doesn’t need us. We have an opportunity to truly live by our means and not for means. We should forget these boxes and seek the joy of being a part of something greater called the universe and not be condemned to the rules and boxes of video games or shopping.
Its okay to be thought of the fool sometimes. We often kill ourselves trying to prove ourselves to others, as if we need the approval of others to know who we are. Its impossible to view ourselves let alone others and let alone others viewing you for who we truly are. We don’t have that view. Only God does. If we succumb to having to be expressed in every single facet of life from every person, then we will spend a lot of time being very shallow trying to convince others of who we are and loving us without every actually loving ourselves or others. Don’t waste time proving your identity but spend your time getting to know others and loving them and then will we know as we are known and see as we are seen. True connections lay in the loving others more than trying to be loved by others.
You are not what you own but what you do, feel, and know.
The good things you do will never let you down but fashion, selfishness, and vanity will always let you down.
God will always support you if you seek His approval but Satan won’t and can’t support you.
Love + High expectations = Best Outcome
Love-High expectations = Complacent and lazy
No Love and No Expectations = Disaster
High Expectations – Love = Rebellion
This table shows how we can often find best results by giving high expectations and lots of love. But keep in mind people ultimately will decide what they will do and there is no way to change that.
Does what you know square with what you do? If it doesn’t then you’re knowledge is just for entertainment and a waste.
God wants to bless us as much as possible but our agency needs to be exercised so we can receive it. Ask and you shall receive. We must continually Ask, Seek, and Knock because we must be continually receiving to grow.
Content is king. Not any style. Substance beats style with God.
If the first thing you do is pray then you’re consecrating your works to God and thus allows Him to give you grace sufficient enough for them to be accepted. The rest will be added that’s needed in order to complete the task if we just ask.
God looks at the heart.
Expectations
Expectations from God can lead one to either more faith or less. The Lord tells us "Ask and you shall receive." We have an invitation to expect a lot from God. Constantly He is reassuring us that He knows and that He can help us. He is begging us for high expectations. Of course this is a two way street. He has tremendous expectations for us as well. He expects us to listen to Him and do what He says. Thats when He will fulfill His promises.
A lot of people have that disillusionment when they feel they've given everything and yet their expectations are unfulfilled.
A number of reasons this happens.
-Alma 32:21
And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
It dictates that true faith must be in things that are true. At times expectations of can be a faith in things that are not true and thus cannot be fulfilled. In order to have faith they must be in true things. If we have unrealistic expectations then of course they won't come to pass for us. We must be humble in our expectations
-Moroni 7:8-11
For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
I think this scripture definitely sums it up. We cannot expect to receive a true gift from God without giving a true gift to God.
-Perhaps all the more what happens is we just don't know how to receive the great things God has in store for us. Its possible that we have been given what we wanted but just don't realize it. Often the Lord works in His own way and has certain specifications upon what He has for us.
-Its possible what we asked for isn't really what we wanted.
If I had more time I'd probably be able to come up with more but one things I've learned today at church is that the Lord has a million ways to teach us a million things if we have but a humble heart.
I know we can put our expectations on God and thus on ourselves just as if we're honest with God we'll be honest with ourselves and realize the great things that are in store for those who love God.
A lot of people have that disillusionment when they feel they've given everything and yet their expectations are unfulfilled.
A number of reasons this happens.
-Alma 32:21
And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
It dictates that true faith must be in things that are true. At times expectations of can be a faith in things that are not true and thus cannot be fulfilled. In order to have faith they must be in true things. If we have unrealistic expectations then of course they won't come to pass for us. We must be humble in our expectations
-Moroni 7:8-11
For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
I think this scripture definitely sums it up. We cannot expect to receive a true gift from God without giving a true gift to God.
-Perhaps all the more what happens is we just don't know how to receive the great things God has in store for us. Its possible that we have been given what we wanted but just don't realize it. Often the Lord works in His own way and has certain specifications upon what He has for us.
-Its possible what we asked for isn't really what we wanted.
If I had more time I'd probably be able to come up with more but one things I've learned today at church is that the Lord has a million ways to teach us a million things if we have but a humble heart.
I know we can put our expectations on God and thus on ourselves just as if we're honest with God we'll be honest with ourselves and realize the great things that are in store for those who love God.
4.4.10
Far More Amazing Than We Can Even Conceive
I never really thought about how important patience is. Joseph Smith once said "Patience is heavenly", which to me is usually just the opposite. But, Joseph understood that great things come to those who are diligently patient on the Lord. Diligently, because patience is not just waiting, but actively doing all you can for the Lord and then leaving it up to the Lord. Its an act of faith, hope, and love.
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14: 15
"But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
Indulgence is often the pitfall and downfall of many. Indulging and not exercising control of appetites leads to destruction and slavery to our souls. Smoking, overeating, laziness, despairing, pornography, drugs, overly negative, easily angered, shirking responsibilities, the list goes on and on and giving in to these wants and weaknesses erodes our independence from them, slowly losing our freedoms.
The Lord has a better way. He teaches us to avoid self serving dangerous indulgences so as to help us remain in control of our choices. How often do we find people wanting to quit these indulgences later on in life and finding themselves engulfed in some very strong chains that are unwilling to be loosed?
The Lord's better way is through keeping His commandments, being patient on the Lord. In doing this we show our trust for Him. Dependence on Him means being freed from and freedom from sin. Only He can loosen these chains and remove the stains of sin from our souls. This is possible because He suffered for our sins, so that the price we would pay, would be upon Him. He overcame death both spiritually and physically in order to allow us to return to having the presence of God in our lives. We cannot know what happiness and joy that is till we start stepping in that direction.
I can testify that I have felt the incredible presence of God in my life by keeping the commandments and there is so much joy/peace/love/strength/hope/happiness/wisdom/insight (the list goes on and on) that comes from it. He is able to deliver us in ways we cannot fully understand at the present. As that scripture in Corinthians illustrates; when we keep the commandments things don't just work out, but are far more amazing than we can even conceive.
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love."
John 15: 10
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14: 15
"But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
1 Corinthians 2:9
Indulgence is often the pitfall and downfall of many. Indulging and not exercising control of appetites leads to destruction and slavery to our souls. Smoking, overeating, laziness, despairing, pornography, drugs, overly negative, easily angered, shirking responsibilities, the list goes on and on and giving in to these wants and weaknesses erodes our independence from them, slowly losing our freedoms.
The Lord has a better way. He teaches us to avoid self serving dangerous indulgences so as to help us remain in control of our choices. How often do we find people wanting to quit these indulgences later on in life and finding themselves engulfed in some very strong chains that are unwilling to be loosed?
The Lord's better way is through keeping His commandments, being patient on the Lord. In doing this we show our trust for Him. Dependence on Him means being freed from and freedom from sin. Only He can loosen these chains and remove the stains of sin from our souls. This is possible because He suffered for our sins, so that the price we would pay, would be upon Him. He overcame death both spiritually and physically in order to allow us to return to having the presence of God in our lives. We cannot know what happiness and joy that is till we start stepping in that direction.
I can testify that I have felt the incredible presence of God in my life by keeping the commandments and there is so much joy/peace/love/strength/hope/happiness/wisdom/insight (the list goes on and on) that comes from it. He is able to deliver us in ways we cannot fully understand at the present. As that scripture in Corinthians illustrates; when we keep the commandments things don't just work out, but are far more amazing than we can even conceive.
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love."
John 15: 10
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