I really appreciated Elder Bednar's analogy on light in his Conference talk yesterday, in which he compared two different examples of perceiving light to receiving personal revelation.
In the first example, a light switch is turned on. A dark room is immediately filled with light. This parallels instances in which we ask God a question and receive an immediate, unmistakable answer, or we otherwise receive a message from God that is clear and instantaneous. I have experienced this kind of revelation, although relatively infrequently.
In the second example, we watch nighttime turn to day. The change from dark to light as the sun rises is "gradual and steady," "slow and almost imperceptible." On some days, the fog might make it impossible for us to determine exactly when the light appeared, though we cannot deny it is there.
I was struck by this analogy, especially because personal revelation has often seemed elusive and hard to recognize, yet there are solutions to questions and problems that have become increasingly clear to me over time. Where there was once darkness, I have light, although I can't tell exactly when the light appeared. Elder Bednar said that the guidance we receive will come "often so delicately, you may not even consciously recognize it." However, if we "press forward obediently and with faith in the Savior. . . [we] cannot go amiss."
I am grateful for the confidence we can have in the Spirit of revelation--confidence that the Lord will guide our steps. I'm grateful for my baptismal covenants and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March 30, 2011
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Yesterday I was reprimanded for not showing up for a meeting I was supposed to be at. I just forgot--I got busy working on something else, and completely forgot to go. I hate being chastised. It makes me feel very small. Insignificant, incompetent, miserable. When I read this scripture about how the Savior bore the "chastisement of our peace," I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but I know what chastisement is.
From Merriam-Webster: 1. To inflict punishment on (as by whipping). 2. To censure severely.
If "chastisement" refers to rebuking/scolding/chiding from government officials or the people who condemned Him to death, I wonder what kind of sting it had--if it was anything like that insignificant, incompetent, miserable feeling I get. I don't know if it could have been, because He hadn't done anything wrong, so the sting of guilt couldn't have been there for Him. But He was punished as if He had done something wrong, and it's a particular kind of belittled feeling to be punished.
Yesterday I was reprimanded for not showing up for a meeting I was supposed to be at. I just forgot--I got busy working on something else, and completely forgot to go. I hate being chastised. It makes me feel very small. Insignificant, incompetent, miserable. When I read this scripture about how the Savior bore the "chastisement of our peace," I wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but I know what chastisement is.
From Merriam-Webster: 1. To inflict punishment on (as by whipping). 2. To censure severely.
If "chastisement" refers to rebuking/scolding/chiding from government officials or the people who condemned Him to death, I wonder what kind of sting it had--if it was anything like that insignificant, incompetent, miserable feeling I get. I don't know if it could have been, because He hadn't done anything wrong, so the sting of guilt couldn't have been there for Him. But He was punished as if He had done something wrong, and it's a particular kind of belittled feeling to be punished.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Missionary Work
In my Book of Mormon reading for today, I came across the scripture that I chose for my missionary plaque before I went on my mission almost 5 years ago. (In our Church, local Church units often hang a plaque with the missionary's picture, favorite scripture, and where they're serving, just so members of the congregation can remember the person).
It's not necessarily my favorite scripture--it's just one about missionary work. The Savior is teaching some of his disciples about some of the "signs of the times."
"Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward." (3 Nephi 21:27-29)
Basically, the Savior prophecies that all those who were "scattered" historically--this refers to both a literal scattering (ie. when people were brought/sold/conquered/etc. out of Israel) and a spiritual scattering, too (ie. people becoming separated from their religion--as I understand, this was mainly a consequence of being physically scattered). Anyway, I'm no history buff. But that's basically what I understand about what happened. The important thing is, there's been a promised "gathering." People will go out from all nations--missionaries--and Heavenly Father will prepare the way for them so His children can hear about the gospel. I was a missionary once. I went to Puerto Rico and Aruba and Curacao for 18 months, and although I didn't often think of it this way, I was an active participant in the gathering. I worked non-stop to help people accept Jesus Christ, live His commandments, and be able to be gathered home to Him someday.
I'm not a full-time missionary anymore. But I believe Heavenly Father can use any of us to prepare the way for His children to be gathered in. What are some thoughts you have about the gathering? What evidence do you have that it is taking place? What part do you think we should play as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
It's not necessarily my favorite scripture--it's just one about missionary work. The Savior is teaching some of his disciples about some of the "signs of the times."
"Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward." (3 Nephi 21:27-29)
Basically, the Savior prophecies that all those who were "scattered" historically--this refers to both a literal scattering (ie. when people were brought/sold/conquered/etc. out of Israel) and a spiritual scattering, too (ie. people becoming separated from their religion--as I understand, this was mainly a consequence of being physically scattered). Anyway, I'm no history buff. But that's basically what I understand about what happened. The important thing is, there's been a promised "gathering." People will go out from all nations--missionaries--and Heavenly Father will prepare the way for them so His children can hear about the gospel. I was a missionary once. I went to Puerto Rico and Aruba and Curacao for 18 months, and although I didn't often think of it this way, I was an active participant in the gathering. I worked non-stop to help people accept Jesus Christ, live His commandments, and be able to be gathered home to Him someday.
I'm not a full-time missionary anymore. But I believe Heavenly Father can use any of us to prepare the way for His children to be gathered in. What are some thoughts you have about the gathering? What evidence do you have that it is taking place? What part do you think we should play as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
March 2, 2011
D&C 6:34 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.
2 Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
In Preach My Gospel, hope is "an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. the scriptures often describe hope in Jesus Christ as the assurance that you will inherit eternal life the celestial kingdom."
I know I have reason to hope. I've been through something really hard lately--something that almost causes me to feel complete despair and hopelessness. But I have to trust in my Heavenly Father. In His time, He will answer my prayers and fulfill the promises I've been given. I have to believe that.
2 Nephi 31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
In Preach My Gospel, hope is "an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement. the scriptures often describe hope in Jesus Christ as the assurance that you will inherit eternal life the celestial kingdom."
I know I have reason to hope. I've been through something really hard lately--something that almost causes me to feel complete despair and hopelessness. But I have to trust in my Heavenly Father. In His time, He will answer my prayers and fulfill the promises I've been given. I have to believe that.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Doing Hard Things
"Doing hard things." I think those were the words I typed into the search bar on lds.org today, as I looked for something to read. I came across this talk, given by Elder Richard G. Scott as a BYU devotional several years ago. It was exactly what I needed!
I love how in the beginning of the talk, he tells us we should learn to act according to what we hear, see, and feel, as prompted by the Holy Ghost. This principle really struck me as true today. Sometimes I wait and wait for spiritual promptings when there is plenty to learn just by watching and listening to what's going on and judging a situation for myself. However, we can often judge the goodness of the path we're on by what we see and hear and how we feel. Even if we don't have what seems to be an explicit prompting from the Spirit, if we are praying for the Spirit's companionship and guidance daily, we can trust our feelings about a choice we have to make. Elder Scott, in speaking about choosing some key guiding principles for our lives, states, "Tragedy, disappointment, and lack of attainment in life come when one is dishonest with self or with the Lord." How true is that?! If we have chosen our priorities and goals, we can surely feel when we are being dishonest with ourselves and God and following a path that won't really lead us to achieve our goals. I believe that is true, because I have felt those feelings of misgiving from time to time. I have also felt confidence when headed down a path that will lead me where God wants me to be.
I love how in the beginning of the talk, he tells us we should learn to act according to what we hear, see, and feel, as prompted by the Holy Ghost. This principle really struck me as true today. Sometimes I wait and wait for spiritual promptings when there is plenty to learn just by watching and listening to what's going on and judging a situation for myself. However, we can often judge the goodness of the path we're on by what we see and hear and how we feel. Even if we don't have what seems to be an explicit prompting from the Spirit, if we are praying for the Spirit's companionship and guidance daily, we can trust our feelings about a choice we have to make. Elder Scott, in speaking about choosing some key guiding principles for our lives, states, "Tragedy, disappointment, and lack of attainment in life come when one is dishonest with self or with the Lord." How true is that?! If we have chosen our priorities and goals, we can surely feel when we are being dishonest with ourselves and God and following a path that won't really lead us to achieve our goals. I believe that is true, because I have felt those feelings of misgiving from time to time. I have also felt confidence when headed down a path that will lead me where God wants me to be.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
January 27, 2011
I really love John 14 in the Bible. I think it is one of the most comforting chapters of scripture. I always imagine the Apostles as being kind of distraught as Jesus is telling them He will be dying and leaving them, and I love the comforting words He gives them.
I love Judas's seemingly skeptical question in verse 22, and the Savior's response in the next verse. I guess the Apostles had to have a different kind of faith than we do now, in that they knew Christ lived but they had to believe in what He was about to do and that they really would see Him again (ie. that the Resurrection was real and the plan as explained to them would actually happen).
verse 23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He also promises them the Comforter, which will help them to feel peace and remember all the things Jesus taught them. I've experienced this "remembrance" a lot of times. Often it's something silly like a meeting I almost forgot to go to today. Just as I was getting ready to take a leisurely bath and get ready for the day, the realization that I had a meeting in 20 minutes came charging through my mind. I think sometimes we remember more important, spiritual things, too--things we knew once but have since forgotten.
I love Judas's seemingly skeptical question in verse 22, and the Savior's response in the next verse. I guess the Apostles had to have a different kind of faith than we do now, in that they knew Christ lived but they had to believe in what He was about to do and that they really would see Him again (ie. that the Resurrection was real and the plan as explained to them would actually happen).
verse 23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He also promises them the Comforter, which will help them to feel peace and remember all the things Jesus taught them. I've experienced this "remembrance" a lot of times. Often it's something silly like a meeting I almost forgot to go to today. Just as I was getting ready to take a leisurely bath and get ready for the day, the realization that I had a meeting in 20 minutes came charging through my mind. I think sometimes we remember more important, spiritual things, too--things we knew once but have since forgotten.
Monday, January 24, 2011
January 24, 2011
A couple of thoughts from 3 Nephi 15 today.
In verse 18: "And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they understood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them."
As I read this, I thought about having an open heart, kind of like I blogged about yesterday. But then I thought, "Isn't it this way in all communication?" With God, but with other people, too. Being arrogant and skeptical actually inhibits our ability to understand. Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you just absolutely could not understand why they felt the way they did, even though you were listening? Well, I have. And it's hard not to be thinking about our own viewpoint, or what we're going to say next to the person, but it is impossible to understand what another person says unless we humble ourselves enough. And I guess it probably works the same when Heavenly Father tries to speak to us, as well.
In verse 18: "And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they understood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them."
As I read this, I thought about having an open heart, kind of like I blogged about yesterday. But then I thought, "Isn't it this way in all communication?" With God, but with other people, too. Being arrogant and skeptical actually inhibits our ability to understand. Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you just absolutely could not understand why they felt the way they did, even though you were listening? Well, I have. And it's hard not to be thinking about our own viewpoint, or what we're going to say next to the person, but it is impossible to understand what another person says unless we humble ourselves enough. And I guess it probably works the same when Heavenly Father tries to speak to us, as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
