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.
