Gold Flecks! They Add Up

Window Cleaner - Judge Not

How To Use the Scriptures

 

Lehi's Dream is one of my Favorite parts in the Book of Mormon!

 

I know using the Iron Rod (the Word of God) to hold to our path back home to our Heavenly Father will bring us peace and courage in the midst of any trial.  Ask yourself how these people had to use the iron rod to get to the tree.  If we do the same things with the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, we can get through anything.  This is because "the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Ne. 1:20)

   

• We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
•  Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah. (Book of Mormon Introduction)

String Fingers

So this morning I picked up some weights in our apartment.  I tried doing some curls and it was a lot easier than it had been in the past!  I was way excited, and kept pumping away.  Suddenly the weights on one end slipped off and crashed to the wood floor... this was at 6:30am... on the second floor.  I suddenly remembered the first time I tried lifting these weights a while back when the same thing had happened!  I wish I had remembered, it had just been so long.

I think there's a lesson to be learned from this.  Learn from our mistakes and never forget what we learned.  That is progress.

•  39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.
• 40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel.

Gospel Sauce Packets

I struggle with the little packets of sauce that every fast food restaurant has... It never ends well for me.  Do you ever pull down no those little ceraded ends and get sauce bursting forth upon you?  I do.  Sometimes I just use the already opened packets that my companions have cracked so I don't have to worry.  It's a lot easier that way, but I don't get as much ketchup on my burger.

"Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ." (Richard G. Scott)

As we search the scriptures we can have light burst forth upon us!  Lets crack them open more often, and not only rely on what others have read from them.  This way we will have more guidance and inspiration for our lives.

On the Edge

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...

What was he doing there?!

I can only assume that dear old Humpty thought he would have more fun if he could be playing on the wall.  He probably thought so much about all the sites he could see, and fun he could have that he forgot the eternal perspective.  I forget sometimes too.  Sometimes I feel like having ice cream for dinner... and then I do.  Not thinking ahead opens the way for problems.  If only Mr. Dumpty would have thought about how fragile he was, and how putting his shell so far above the ground opened the way for a major spoiling. 

Let's learn from his experience and try to remember what will be important for eternity.  Like our families, friends, neighbors, and especially our Father in Heaven.  Real joy and happiness lies in putting these first.  I'm sure H.D. would agree.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and will save us from our falls.  We just need to stop scrambing up walls.

How Can I Build Faith?

'Did God send a message that was just for me?  Did I see His hand in my life?'

Trying to remember had allowed god to show me what he had done.

I know that as we seek to remember what God has done for us, His children, we will recognize how much he does love each and every one of us.  Would not this increase your faith?

"remember, 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 mighty 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. (Helaman 5:12)

Don't Take My Word For It

Reading Rainbow was one of my favorite shows of all time!  Learning about Crayons, fish, dinosaurs, germs, candles and more. 

At the end of every show the guy would say, 'But you don't have to take my word for it.'  And then would direct you to a book or two to study about what we learned.  I loved it!  The same principle applies in the gospel.

The Savior said, 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.'  (John 7:17)

And the prophet Alma said, 'Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Now behold, would not this increase your faith?' (Alma 32:28-29)

I know that if we will 'awake and arouse [our] faculties, even to an experiment upon [His] words, and exercise a particle of faith' (Alma 32:27) we will know what the Lord wants us to do.  And our Faith will swell.  Lets read the Book of Mormon and apply what we learn.

Blackbirds Baked in a Pie

You're one of 24 blackbirds who just got baked in a pie... The pie is opened and you see the king so you start singing (because he's a big deal).  The king goes to count his money while the queen's eating bread and honey, so you sneak out the window and peck off the nose of the maid who baked you in that pie! 

Now you've got somebody's nasty nose in your mouth and she's going to the doctor's.  Who is happy now? 

So none of us reading this are Blackbirds, but we have all had times when we've been baked in a pie - in one way or another.  Shafted, dejected, rejected, insulted, and so on. When we get hurt like this we have to make a choice.  Do we hold a grudge, or do we forgive?  I promise in every case, if you forgive, it will be better for everyone, especially you.  I mean, really, who wants someones nasty nose in their mouth?

They send for the king's doctor,

who sewed it on again;

He sewed it on so neatly,

the seam was never seen.

Climbing Over Mountains of Life

Rock Climbing is the best! When you climb a mountain that is longer than your rope it takes two people.  The 1st climber begins climbing, clips into bolts every 5-10 feet, reaches the length of the rope, anchors into the rock face, and belays the 2nd up to him.  They repeat that until they reach the top of the mountain.

The 1st climber really does the hardest and scariest work because they don't have someone who's shown them the route, and if they fall, they fall far since their anchor is below them.  The 2nd climber has it easy because they just have to follow the route the 1st took. The anchors are all above them so they can't fall (so long as they don't skip any anchors) and the rope connects the dots to show the path the 1st took.



Jesus Christ is the first climber.  He overcame the mountains of life and death.  He showed us the path and left behind principles and ordinances that can be anchors in our life.  The first anchor is Faith in him.  We have to believe that he is ready to catch us when we fall.  The second is repentance which includes acting on that faith and following in his way. We will fall, but the key is to let him catch us.  When we choose to skip these anchors we risk a hard fall, but he will still catch us and put us back on the path. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  He is at the top of the mountain rooting us on, and as we follow his example we will be on the safe path through life and will reach the greatest heights!

The Savior said,

• "will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may ^cheal you?" (3 Nephi 9:13)

 "The Greek word of which repentance is the English translation “denotes a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world” (Bible Dictionary, “Repentance,” 760). This means we are to change our thoughts and then behavior until we are turned away from our sins and are aligned with God’s commandments. This change of mind means that we are actually progressing toward what Paul called “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Repentance is thus a continuing process in which each of us needs to draw on the Atonement for real relief, real forgiveness, and real progress." (See Article)

Jesus Christ made it possible for each of us to have real lasting happiness.  The Atonement means everything to me. I know that Jesus is our Savior.

Watch Out For That... Tree

Walking out of the apartment, I.. OUCH!  too sunny.  I quickly decided to shut my eyes.  I didn't want to stop moving toward the parking lot because time is of the essence, so I decided to reverse-blink until my eyes got acquainted with the light.  I'd take a glimpse, see what obstructions were in my path, and close my eyes again.  Relying on what I could see in a blink every few steps, I made it to the car unharmed.

What do my baby sensitive eyes have to do with the gospel?

Heavenly Father has shown us the safe path through life's struggles: following the example of Jesus Christ.  We can pray and ask Him what he would have us do.  We get answers through the Holy Ghost, or the spirit.

• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
• 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (Galatians 5)

When we get our answers it is like glimpses into the safest path, and when we are anxiously 'engaged in a good cause' (D&C 58) we can trust in God that He will be there for us if we are going to run into another car or a bush or something.

'Asked about the role of the Spirit in his professional career, Elder Scott said, “[In my work] it just seemed natural to turn to the Lord to ask for guidance. I’ve never separated church, professional life, family life, or personal life into little compartments; I’ve just felt that the Spirit can guide in all of those.” He said he believes that the Lord is “absolutely aware and very interested in giving us support in whatever we do in life, our professional life included.”' (See Article)

Mixed Signals? Who is Right?

The other day we tried to cross the street and to my dismay this is what we saw.  I froze.  I was stuck one foot on the curb and the other on the pavement.  Who do I trust: the White Walker or the Red Hand?  For a second I simply didn't know what to do...  Then we laughed and crossed the street because we knew it was safe at that point.

Mixed signals like this come every day.  It's hard to know what's right and what's wrong sometimes when people are telling us different things.  One source will say something and another will completely flip flop it.  Who do we trust?

• 30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
• 31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 28:30-31 bolds added)

We don't have to trust the White Walker or the Red Hand!  We can find out for ourselves the truthfulness of all things as we pray and ask God and he answers us through the comforting power of the Holy Ghost.

• 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
• 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.  (Moroni 10:4-5)

How Can We Avoid Whirlpools in Life?

I first saw this river and thought, 'this can't be the whirlpools I don't even see whirling...'  But we've read about others' experiences in them and they're extremely dangerous. 

Whirlpools in life can be deceptive.  It can be hard to see sometimes the troubles that lie ahead, but as we trust in the promises Heavenly Father has made us we can know that it will all turn out okay as we turn to Him.  The scriptures are where we can read others' experiences with trials and how the gospel helped them through them.  As we search the word of God and apply what we learn in our own lives we can find peace, joy, and happiness, and avoid whirlpools.

Water Under The Bridge

"When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else."

• “And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men” (1 Nephi 19:9).

•  "Through the strengthening power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you and I can be blessed to avoid and triumph over offense. “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165)."

 (see all of Elder Bednar's talk)

Power In Righteousness

Niagara Falls is amazing! The river is incredibly powerful and the falls dump about 150,000 gallons of water per second. 

Think of the drop of water that chooses to take another path...It's purpose is to make it to this grand spectacle, but it may go into tributaries/whirlpools and get stuck.  Other times it may try to start it's own river, but then it gets drawn out until it realizes it must recede back to 'the fountain of all righteousness.' (1 Nephi 2:9)

Our loving Heavenly Father lets us take our own path. He won't force us into anything, and when we realize that the best path is that of His son's he is there to welcome us back.  As we strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ we come closer to God and feel His love more powerfully.  I know that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to reach our full potential.  Let's try to help Him help us and stay in the river.

Wispy Distractions

The other day we were driving along and saw this really neat cloud cover up the sun.  There were all these wisps, but they were thick enough to bog down the light from getting through.  We had to stop and take a picture.

It made me think about the light and truth that Heavenly Father has revealed in the scriptures and how they are often bogged down by simply not reading them.  Often times we let 'wispy things' like busywork or sleepiness get in the way of what is more important, and that darkens our life.  When we read, ponder, and pray about the scriptures individually and as a family we grow within ourselves and together.  We come to know Heavenly Father is there and become united in following the example of His son.  This is the path to true happiness.

• 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (John 14:6)

Rock of Our Redeemer

When you take pictures at night and there is not much light, the shutter in the camera will stay open for a while.  The longer the shutter stays open, the more light gets absorbed, and eventually you can make out what is in the picture.  If you shake or waver, the picture will get very fuzzy and will be hard to understand.  We were at Niagara Falls, but by myself I could not hold still enough to get the picture I wanted.  To get this picture I had to set the camera on a firm foundation and hold it there while it absorbed light.

When we are seeking light and truth we can only obtain a clear view when we are established on a firm foundation.  The only truly solid foundation is our Savior Jesus Christ.  He offers us a rock to build on, and we must do everything we can to hold ourselves to it.  As we learn more about our foundation through prayerful study of the scriptures we become more and more stable, and begin to understand the finer details in the picture of life.  As we stand firm in faith in Jesus Christ we will realize the blessings Helaman spoke of when he said

• 12 And now, my sons, remember, 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 mighty 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. (Helaman 5:12)

Growth Amidst the Storm

This build up of snow stands in front of one of the most powerful waterfalls on the planet.  Niagara Falls.  150,000 gallons of water pour over these falls every second!  The rock at the base of this mound probably didn't enjoy being bombarded with all that water, but here it's grown to be an amazing work of nature.

We sometimes feel like were under 150,000 gallons of water... or I guess more like we're under a ton of stress. But in the end Heavenly Father is just tring to build us and make us stronger.

• 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
• 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. (Alma 7:11-12)

The Savior suffered for more than our sins.  He took our pains, sicknesses, and infirmities upon  himself so he would know how to help us.  He knows what each of us have been through because he's endured it for us individually. It's easy to think that when we are in the midst of torrential difficulties that there is no one who understands.  But he does.  We can lean on him in hard times and he will lift us up to our greatest potential.

• 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27)

Faith Is Like A Little Seed

Seeds are peculiar things.  Or, at least they would be if we never experimented with planting them and watering them.  I mean, imagine you'd never experimented with a seed or seen one growing.  I might laugh at putting a pebble like object in a pot of dirt and spending a bunch of time every day taking care of it.  I might even try to stop others from wasting their time if I lacked the belief that seeds would grow.   I would wonder at the dedication others took to get up each morning and spend such time watering the dirt with a rock in it.  I would be shocked when they spent money on more rich soil and fertilizer. 

Thankfully I've believed others when they've said that these things will grow to be plants, even large trees, and I've experimented on that belief.  I've tried it.  Now I don't have to laugh at truth and wonder at plain facts, and I'm not shocked when I see people pay a price to have stronger and faster growth.  This growth can be compared to our own spiritual growth.

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma compared faith to a seed.

• 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. 
• 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. (Alma 32 read past these 2 it's a great chapter)

When we are willing to believe enough to experiment on the promises of our loving Heavenly Father through praying, studying the scriptures, and keeping the commandments we can experience the 'swelling' within us.  That swelling is the spirit -

• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, 
• 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  (Galatians 5 parenthesis added)

We can all enjoy these great blessings if we will but give the gospel a try.  God loves us and wants only the best for us.  No matter what the case may be this is the way to the most happiness.