I know...I know...I've been gone for a while and I can't promise I'll be back too soon, but I want to try. I want to write something that will keep my mind focused on what I should be focusing on, not where it seems to always be going. That that it is a bad place, but just not good for my own self-thinking. So here I am trying to get my thoughts down, again.........I'm sure there aren't very many people following me any more, so this will probably be just for me. But that is just fine.
My mind has been very clouded the past few months because of my own doing. Not blaming anyone for my own thoughts. I just seem to not be thinking the right way right now. Today in Sacrament meeting and Relief Society it kind of hit me hard because of two of the songs we sang. I think I need to remember the words to the hymns and look up the scriptures associated with them. Maybe that will get my mind where I should be.
Our opening songs was Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses. Oh, boy, does it ever! I've always thought this song had more of a lecture meaning than any other song in the hymn book, simply because it does! The verses don't seem to go with the chorus because the chorus is just about our Savior guiding us to Him. But, I suppose if we live the message of the verses, that is where we will more likely return. The verses tell us we should not judge others without being open to the same judgement ourselves. We can't tell someone they need to change something, or pull the mote out of their eye, if we don't acknowledge the beam in our own eye. No one is without some problems of our own. We are told by the Savior that we should judge not, because it is high to be a judge. If we want to be pure and holy we must love others, no matter what we may see in them. I read through the two verses that we don't usually sing (I wonder why?) The last few lines really made me think:
Now I'll take no further trouble;
Jesus' love is all my theme;
Little motes are but a bubble
When I think upon the beam.
I know the beam that is referred is the beam in our own eyes, not a glowing beam, but a larger hindrance than a mote in our friends eyes. I always thought of the mote and beam as like a sliver and a big wooden beam. The beam in my eyes makes it difficult to see the mote in my friend's eye. But then I got thinking was there another meaning to the beam? Could it be the beam that Jesus carried when He went to the hill and was died for me? When I think upon that beam, I am reminded that He died to save me from the sins I have committed, sins like judging others. I have had trouble with this lately, and I need to look at myself and see what I can do to get that out of my eyes and look at others more clearly.
The other song we sang in Relief Society was Lord, I Would Follow Thee. We only sang the second verse, but there it was again:
Who am I to judge another When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden Sorrow that the eye can't see.
Who am I to judge another? Lord, I would follow thee.
The last verse reminds us we should love everyone as Jesus loves us. He will help us find the strength to do so, then we hear ourselves pleading to love our brother, promising the Savior we will follow him. Oh, how I need to remember this, and apply it in my life every day.
I need to look past my own thoughts and feelings and just learn to love as He has loved me. It doesn't do me any good to look at their faults because it makes mine all the more out there for others to see what I am doing wrong. It makes me look like a smaller person when I can't follow the Savior's example and love.
I will be working on this.
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Why This? Why Now? Why Me?
This life is a test. I don't like taking tests! But I need to remember that I agreed to this test. That doesn't mean I have to like it, but I did agree. And I know there is someone on the other side pulling for me, so that helps make it all just a bit easier. Heck, I know a lot of people on the other side who are pulling for me. Why can't I pull for myself? I guess I need to clarify all this. I am doing fine. I am not having any difficulty emotionally or spiritually right now. That isn't to say that tomorrow might be the same. But right now I am fine. Which is why I can see the errors of my thinking when I am down in the dumps and things go wrong. It is always so difficult at that time, during our trials, to feel that everything is going wrong, that you don't get answers to prayers, that you don't understand why you have to go through another problem. I guess that is why I feel the need to share what I have learned lately when I have not been in that strange darkness.
Long ago I read a book called If God Loves Me, Why This? I found it again when I was cleaning off my bookshelf. I started looking through it and thought someone I love really needs to read this. So I packed it up and took it for a drive. But during the next few weeks I really wanted to read it again, at least to look through the pages and find some comforting words for many other people I know who are going through trials. So I took it back. I know. You shouldn't do that. But I will give it away again, I promise. Like the BFG said, "In about 80 years or so."
The comforting part I really needed was to read again how much my Father in Heaven really does love me, even if I can't see that. He is the 'perfect' parent. The one who does everything right. You know that kind. Well, since He is perfect, He must know what my needs are and even if I don't feel He is near me, He really, truly is. This book stresses that we must remember who we are and what our relationship to God is. We also need to remember that Satan is the father of all lies, so he doesn't want us to be happy. When we aren't happy, he is happy. He wants to keep us away from our Heavenly Father. Sometimes he does a good job of it, too.
But our Heavenly Father is still there. Neal A. Maxwell said, "God has no distracting hobbies off somewhere in the universe. We are at the very center of His concerns and purposes." (Ensign, November 2003, 100.) Must have been a conference talk. But it is true. God isn't involved in a hobby! We are what brings Him joy. He wants to help us. So he sent us to Earth to learn, knowing it would be difficult. Boy was He ever right!
One line in the book tells us that perhaps God said, "It requires that I do not intervene to soften the impact of your choices--or the harmful effect that the choices of others would have upon you." Oh, how true. We have to experience consequences of choices made by others. What we do with those consequences is our choice. Then the book also says, "In many cases, those hurt most would be innocent of wrongdoing." Now, I don't know about you, but that is the first time I have ever read anyone acknowledge that those hurting might be innocent. Think of our children who suffer because of nothing they have done. God knows this. But he can't stand in the way of the consequences. The author goes on to say, "What if our options are limited by the decisions others make? What if our physical condition keeps us from having meaningful life choices? Then the mercy of a loving Father's plan is our hope. The Atonement provides the final leveling of all our obstacles. Our acceptance of the Savior's atoning sacrifice brings us home. We are evaluated on our circumstances and the choices we would have made if we had been free to make them." What powerful words to think about. ....If we had been free to make them...... I guess He knows what we would have done by our past choices that we DO make. Maybe I need to show HIM that I will make right choices for the things I do have control over. "There is a way to provide for those who have been robbed of some of their life choice. HE is the way, the truth, and the life. He employeth no servant there" (2 Nephi9:41). HE is the only one, the only way. Because HE loves us, there is a way.
I love this sentence: "God doesn't love us because we are particularly lovable. he loves us because he is God, he is our Father and he has chosen to love us." God is perfect. He loves everyone. I know it is easy to think that God doesn't love ME when I am down. But He has chosen to, and HE does. Just as a parent loves their child. He cares for us as we do our own children, only a whole lot more. Our children don't need to earn our love before we learn to love them. We love them before we even see them. Why is it so difficult to believe that God loves us as much? We love our children unconditionally. Why would God put conditions on His love? Why do we think we have to "earn" His love? When our child struggle and make poor choices, we still love them and want them to see the errors of their ways. Why do we think God isn't the same? Why do we suppose Father withdraws when we are less than perfect? He doesn't. We are the ones who move away from him.
Can you recognize the pride a parent feels when their child has been honored with some award, or does something so good that others take notice? Well, guess what? Our Father in Heaven feels that same pride. When we make a good choice, we bring Him happiness. He doesn't sit there and complain when we don't do it every day, but He rejoices with us in our happiness and our good choice. Think of it this way: When we make good choices, like going to church, paying our tithing, serving others willingly, relieving other's burdens, we are bringing happiness to HIM. When we keep trying, He is happy.
Remember learning to ride a bike with training wheels? Usually the Dad runs along beside the child on the bike, helping him/her learn to keep balance. They know there will be a fall, a hurt knee, whatever. But they don't say, "NO! It is too dangerous! You can't ride a bike, ever!" No, he runs along beside, giving a helping hand when needed. Well, our Father in Heaven does the same thing. He knows we will fall down, we will get hurt, we will be a wreck, but He is there to help us keep our balance, until we are ready to ride by ourselves. And even then, he will be watching us, ready to help us if and when we fall again, because He knows we will.
We just need to keep trying. Get back up on our bikes, cautiously pick up our feet and start to pedal again. He will smile at us, assure us He is there. Then we have to keep going, making those good choices and decisions so He has to run to keep up with us. He loves us as a father loves his son or daughter. He wants us to be happy. He knows what He has to do to be happy, and He wants us there with him. But it is our choice. That is the trail we are going through. And when we can accept all of that in our lives, the other trials will be so much less of a burden. He is there to help us through. We just have to ask, and through the Holy Ghost, we will know what we must do. When we think He must not love us because we have too much of a burden to bear, we need to remember that He has already paid the price of that burden. We made the choice to do whatever it was to receive that burden, or the choices of others gave us these burdens, but Jesus already paid the price for them. We just now have to make choices to overcome the effects of the choices. Jesus agreed to pay the price before we even knew what the price would be! We knew we would have problems, but Jesus said he would pay for it. Now we just have to love Him because of his kindness and love, and show how much we appreciate his love by doing what He has asked us to do. Get back on that bike and try it again!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Stake Conference
We had a wonderful stake conference again. I took lots of notes so I can remember the words that were said. Sorry to say one of the talks I didn't take very many notes because I was busy listening. That speaker was my brother-in-law, Kent. He did a terrific job of making me think of things, so I was took busy listening and pondering to write. Sorry Kent. What notes I did take will help me remember my thoughts, which I'm not ready to share here, yet. I will put them all in my personal journal.
Last night President Sharp showed us a Mormon Message that is also a book we have about a man who lost most of his family in a car accident because of a young driver. He explains that he knew from the time he became aware of what had happened, he knew he had to forgive the driver. It was a very moving video, not just about the loss the man experienced but forgiveness. He stressed that if we don't forgive others for the things they have done to us, we are the ones who will miss out on blessings. President Sharp spoke about how important it is that we forgive, and show it. We may think that we don't care, that we are free from the effects or pain of the things that hurt us, but if we don't let the person know, if we avoid them, if we don't let them know we are not holding any negative feelings about them, then sometime in the future we will realize that we are missing some blessings that would have come our way had we done as the Savior would have us do. It is our responsibility to make sure our families are strengthened, that we aren't the link that is keeping families apart. And "families" does not mean just spouses and children, but parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, grandchildren, etc. When we are not working to strengthen families we are making Satan happy. He talked about the need of repentance being as strong as the need of forgiveness, and that if we don't forgive we have greater need to repent than the person we did not forgive. These notes are a blend of both of President Sharp's talks, Saturday night and Sunday session. They fit in very well together.
Mary Huntington also spoke on the same subject. She told of a time when she was very offended by someone else and felt she had to call her parents and vent about it. She was talking with her dad and he just said, "Mary, I'm sorry you are experiencing this, but you have to let it go or it will eat away at you for eternity." She explained that he further said that if not in this life, but in the life to some she would have to learn that she could have made life better if she had let it go, that relationships are far more important than the anger, and that she was very wrong in not being understanding with the other person.
All the other talks were wonderful as well, but right now I have been pondering these three messages and seeing what I can do to strengthen myself.
I did have a scary experience when I nearly choked to death during the Sunday morning meeting. I get these spasms when I can't swallow and I start to cough and can't get air, and I feel like I am ready to pass out before I start to breath again. But that is another story. I survived.
I am so thankful for the words I heard at conference. I hope I can keep the spirit I felt there and improve myself this week.
Last night President Sharp showed us a Mormon Message that is also a book we have about a man who lost most of his family in a car accident because of a young driver. He explains that he knew from the time he became aware of what had happened, he knew he had to forgive the driver. It was a very moving video, not just about the loss the man experienced but forgiveness. He stressed that if we don't forgive others for the things they have done to us, we are the ones who will miss out on blessings. President Sharp spoke about how important it is that we forgive, and show it. We may think that we don't care, that we are free from the effects or pain of the things that hurt us, but if we don't let the person know, if we avoid them, if we don't let them know we are not holding any negative feelings about them, then sometime in the future we will realize that we are missing some blessings that would have come our way had we done as the Savior would have us do. It is our responsibility to make sure our families are strengthened, that we aren't the link that is keeping families apart. And "families" does not mean just spouses and children, but parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, grandchildren, etc. When we are not working to strengthen families we are making Satan happy. He talked about the need of repentance being as strong as the need of forgiveness, and that if we don't forgive we have greater need to repent than the person we did not forgive. These notes are a blend of both of President Sharp's talks, Saturday night and Sunday session. They fit in very well together.
Mary Huntington also spoke on the same subject. She told of a time when she was very offended by someone else and felt she had to call her parents and vent about it. She was talking with her dad and he just said, "Mary, I'm sorry you are experiencing this, but you have to let it go or it will eat away at you for eternity." She explained that he further said that if not in this life, but in the life to some she would have to learn that she could have made life better if she had let it go, that relationships are far more important than the anger, and that she was very wrong in not being understanding with the other person.
All the other talks were wonderful as well, but right now I have been pondering these three messages and seeing what I can do to strengthen myself.
I did have a scary experience when I nearly choked to death during the Sunday morning meeting. I get these spasms when I can't swallow and I start to cough and can't get air, and I feel like I am ready to pass out before I start to breath again. But that is another story. I survived.
I am so thankful for the words I heard at conference. I hope I can keep the spirit I felt there and improve myself this week.
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Best Words
I am sure Bro. Uchtdorf's message in the Ensign was inspired for my family. I hope they all read this and realize their own part in recent event. I would highlight every sentence, and double-highlight
"None of us is without sin. Every one of us makes mistakes, including you and me. We have all been wounded. We all have wounded others."
Wouldn’t it be only right to put aside our own egotism and pride and begin to open that blessed door of forgiveness to those with whom we struggle—especially to all of our own family?
May God help us to be a little more forgiving in our families, more forgiving of each other, and perhaps more forgiving even with ourselves. I pray that we may experience forgiveness as one wonderful way in which most happy families are alike.
No one can say it like he does. I don't need to say anything else.
"None of us is without sin. Every one of us makes mistakes, including you and me. We have all been wounded. We all have wounded others."
Wouldn’t it be only right to put aside our own egotism and pride and begin to open that blessed door of forgiveness to those with whom we struggle—especially to all of our own family?
May God help us to be a little more forgiving in our families, more forgiving of each other, and perhaps more forgiving even with ourselves. I pray that we may experience forgiveness as one wonderful way in which most happy families are alike.
No one can say it like he does. I don't need to say anything else.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A New Book
I recently purchased a book from Deseret Book for my iPad. They advertised a new book written by the author of The Peacemaker. I loved that book, and his other book The Holy Secret so I decided to get this one as well, and I haven't been disappointed.
Falling To Heaven has given voice to some things I have been thinking of for some time. He talks about look down in order to look up, similar to President Monson's talk about looking up to get answers. However, Brother Ferrell stresses that we much humble ourselves and look down, in the manner of praying, in order to see where we should be heading. The introduction talks about how people tell us we should be happy with ourselves, but in reality, Jesus taught us to love others and forget about our self. When the world tells us to stop being so hard on ourselves, to look at our strengths, Jesus says that He will show us our weakness. And then our job is to make that weakness our strength.
He then goes on to explain about the Truth in Contradiction. Like in walking, we move forward because we push backward. A good basketball rebounder doesn't move toward the basket, but away from it. For a golfer to hit the ball hard it sometimes helps to swing easy; to hit the ball high, swing down. The scriptures say "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall fine it." In Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life, the one thing that one group of people did when they tasted of the fruit, having held to the rod of iron,....."they came forth and fell down and partook oft he fruit of the tree." They didn't reach up to get the fruit, they fell down. They became humble and fell to the ground. The Zoramites raised themselves up on the Rameumptom (what a word!), thinking they would be closer to Christ, they were better than the poor souls around them. They even prayed that they were thankful for how good they were! They felt so good about what they were doing, how righteous they were. But the Lord made it clear that this was not a good thing.
In the next chapters he talks about how being down isn't always good, either.....Herein lies the Great Paradox. How do we find the balance between down and up? We shouldn't look down on others and say we are up ourselves. We can't look up at others and say we are down on ourselves. We have to realize that we are focusing on the Savior, seeing our weaknesses, and working to make them our strengths, and realize that the Savior is the one who will help us in all ways.
I love the titles of the chapters: The False Doctrine of Up; The False Burden of Down;Unacceptable and Acceptable Sins (Do you mean some sin is acceptable? No, but some people think so, or in other words, think their actions and words are acceptable when in realize they are sins.) Superiority by Association (Don't we all know people who think if they associate with certain people they will become superior themselves, or they can now associate with certain people because they have reached a certain place in their lives where they are 'as good as them', leaving the rest of their associates behind in the dust?)
All these types of 'upness' are discussed throughout the book, with the emphasis on learning to overcome this in our own selves, or learning how to recognize it in others and therefore learn not to get 'down' on others who we see suffering from this upness. While at the same time not thinking we are better because we don't have the upness because if we think we don't and that others do, we make ourselves better, again. The Great Paradox.
Right now I am reading about how we sometimes withhold forgiveness at our own peril. This goes along with my mantra "Eternity depends on how we view those who mistreat us." If we say we forgive someone but refuse to have any association with them (thinking of family, loved ones, workers, friends, etc.) we our self need to repent. As Bro. Ferrell says "We are unwilling to pay the purchase price of forgiveness and are using it instead as a crass currency of exchange." "Any withholding of love is itself a sin. So to have held it back on account of what another has done is itself an act for which we must repent. .......when I as the harmed party respond to this request by giving up my resentment and my grudge, what I am doing is repenting--repenting of my failing to love. Forgiveness is simply the word we use to describe this kind of repentance....This is the most crucial type of repentance of all. " He talks about how the Lord's example of prayer, known as the Lord's Prayer, has only one item that has a condition...""Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." And right after Christ closed his prayer he taught "your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
If we withhold our love, our association, our friendship, or our family ties from others because of their sins, we have not truly forgiven. We may say we have forgiven them, and we probably have, but we need to forgive ourselves for withholding that love that Christ says we must show for everyone.
Why do I gravitate to books that force me to look at myself and see where I need to forgive? I know it is because I hold some strong feelings toward others and need to let them go so I can become a better person. My book is striped with highlighted comments, which is wonderful because then I can go back and read what I have been thinking about. I love the interactive scriptures as well because I can then mark in my scriptures the verses that are brought to life.
I am anxious to read Bro. Bednar's book "Increase in Learning". I am so thankful that the church leaders feel the need to write books to help us. Reading their words and looking up the scriptures they use to bring out their points, helps me in my scripture study. I love reading the scriptures, but reading them in context with the words of the apostles and other people who teach through the scriptures helps me see ways I can apply the scriptures in my life. I get so much 'pondering' done when I read books along with the scriptures, and then write about my thoughts.
If you are looking for a good book, I suggest "Falling to Heaven: The Surprising Path to Happiness" by James Ferrell.
He then goes on to explain about the Truth in Contradiction. Like in walking, we move forward because we push backward. A good basketball rebounder doesn't move toward the basket, but away from it. For a golfer to hit the ball hard it sometimes helps to swing easy; to hit the ball high, swing down. The scriptures say "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall fine it." In Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life, the one thing that one group of people did when they tasted of the fruit, having held to the rod of iron,....."they came forth and fell down and partook oft he fruit of the tree." They didn't reach up to get the fruit, they fell down. They became humble and fell to the ground. The Zoramites raised themselves up on the Rameumptom (what a word!), thinking they would be closer to Christ, they were better than the poor souls around them. They even prayed that they were thankful for how good they were! They felt so good about what they were doing, how righteous they were. But the Lord made it clear that this was not a good thing.
In the next chapters he talks about how being down isn't always good, either.....Herein lies the Great Paradox. How do we find the balance between down and up? We shouldn't look down on others and say we are up ourselves. We can't look up at others and say we are down on ourselves. We have to realize that we are focusing on the Savior, seeing our weaknesses, and working to make them our strengths, and realize that the Savior is the one who will help us in all ways.
I love the titles of the chapters: The False Doctrine of Up; The False Burden of Down;Unacceptable and Acceptable Sins (Do you mean some sin is acceptable? No, but some people think so, or in other words, think their actions and words are acceptable when in realize they are sins.) Superiority by Association (Don't we all know people who think if they associate with certain people they will become superior themselves, or they can now associate with certain people because they have reached a certain place in their lives where they are 'as good as them', leaving the rest of their associates behind in the dust?)
All these types of 'upness' are discussed throughout the book, with the emphasis on learning to overcome this in our own selves, or learning how to recognize it in others and therefore learn not to get 'down' on others who we see suffering from this upness. While at the same time not thinking we are better because we don't have the upness because if we think we don't and that others do, we make ourselves better, again. The Great Paradox.
Right now I am reading about how we sometimes withhold forgiveness at our own peril. This goes along with my mantra "Eternity depends on how we view those who mistreat us." If we say we forgive someone but refuse to have any association with them (thinking of family, loved ones, workers, friends, etc.) we our self need to repent. As Bro. Ferrell says "We are unwilling to pay the purchase price of forgiveness and are using it instead as a crass currency of exchange." "Any withholding of love is itself a sin. So to have held it back on account of what another has done is itself an act for which we must repent. .......when I as the harmed party respond to this request by giving up my resentment and my grudge, what I am doing is repenting--repenting of my failing to love. Forgiveness is simply the word we use to describe this kind of repentance....This is the most crucial type of repentance of all. " He talks about how the Lord's example of prayer, known as the Lord's Prayer, has only one item that has a condition...""Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." And right after Christ closed his prayer he taught "your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
If we withhold our love, our association, our friendship, or our family ties from others because of their sins, we have not truly forgiven. We may say we have forgiven them, and we probably have, but we need to forgive ourselves for withholding that love that Christ says we must show for everyone.
Why do I gravitate to books that force me to look at myself and see where I need to forgive? I know it is because I hold some strong feelings toward others and need to let them go so I can become a better person. My book is striped with highlighted comments, which is wonderful because then I can go back and read what I have been thinking about. I love the interactive scriptures as well because I can then mark in my scriptures the verses that are brought to life.
I am anxious to read Bro. Bednar's book "Increase in Learning". I am so thankful that the church leaders feel the need to write books to help us. Reading their words and looking up the scriptures they use to bring out their points, helps me in my scripture study. I love reading the scriptures, but reading them in context with the words of the apostles and other people who teach through the scriptures helps me see ways I can apply the scriptures in my life. I get so much 'pondering' done when I read books along with the scriptures, and then write about my thoughts.
If you are looking for a good book, I suggest "Falling to Heaven: The Surprising Path to Happiness" by James Ferrell.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
A New Year
If today is any indication of what the new year will be, it must be a great one! What a wonderful way to start out the year for me. I realize that not everyone is starting out the year with happiness and good things going on, but I sure did need the jump-start I got today.
First of all, we had a later church, so I didn't have to get up at my usual waking time to be to church by 9:00. I actually slept until about 7:30, when just did not much until time to get ready for church. We always leave for church about one-half hour before it is time for the meeting to start, at least that is our goal. I am usually at the organ and I like to be playing before people start coming into the chapel. And Garth has the calling to be an usher so he likes to be at his post early, so 10:30 was the time we wanted to go out the door. At almost 10:00 I was in the process of getting the final touches on myself when I realized we should have been listening to The Spoken Word while we were getting ready. I quickly turned on the TV and listened to the last song. Then we just kept watching as the next show came on. It was a new show to us, since we have been in church by this time during the past year. It is called Mormon Times and is hosted by Michelle King. She had a guest author on who was speaking about her book. I was sold on it as soon as she started to speak. It is called "Live Life...and See Good Days". She told that in her book she has 12 ways to see the good in every day, but today she focused on just three. She was full of scriptures that helped her make her points. Oh, to know the scriptures like she must! (I ended up finding the book at Deseret Book and got an ebook copy for less than $10.00! Can't wait to read it!)
Point #1 - Rise above what you are asked to do. I didn't get the scripture for this reference, but she talked about how the Lord will help us overcome any obstacle we are met with.
Point #2 - Let your heart have great experiences - Sometimes we have to allow our hearts to feel and experience the good in things.
Point #3 - List what you love - Alma did so in his writing, even though he went through many trials. In Alma 26:37 he is listing what good things he had, and how much joy he experienced, even through his trials. Ester spoke of her days of gladness. She showed her Grandmother's Happiness journal, where she wrote the things that made her happy. What a keepsake to have.
The show then went on to other things, but I went into the kitchen and looked through the latest Ensign. I read the article on page 17 from Bro. Todd Christofferson, about how we need to keep close to the Lord every day so we can get the blessing He has for us. He told how the people of Israel relied on the Lord giving them manna for their food each day. It took them 40 years to learn that the Lord will keep his promise of manna, of food enough for their substance, to learn that they can rely on the Lord in all things. He stressed that we also need to learn this lesson, that we can count on Him to give us the blessings we need when we learn to rely on Him and learn to go to Him with our needs. This just really struck me and gave me lots to think about.
We saw a really nice video on the writing of the Book of Mormon in Sunday. It was a seminary video, but helped me remember that the plates of gold are abridgements of larger plates, and who wrote each part of the Book of Mormon. I liked it and hope we can see more. It's been a long time since I have been to Seminary, and I know we didn't have fun videos like that! More like film strips!
Then, the frosting on the cake, came at Relief Society. I think it was meant just for me. Our Relief Society president said she was inspired to have her sister-in-law speak to us. I had noticed that most of the Law family was here visiting and was excited to get a hug from Janice Law, Dallin's wife. They always sit in front of us, and they are always kind to us and acknowledge us every time they visit. They know how special Bro. and Sister Law have been to our family. So when I heard she was giving the lesson I knew it would be special.
Janice spoke about trials she has had to overcome in her life and how her trials have helped her turn to Christ. Her main thought was spoken many times:
Whatever you focus on expands.
Truer words can not be spoken! She stressed that we should be careful what we think about because it will consume our thoughts and grow out of porportion to reality. You can find proof for what you look for. If you feel you have been slighted or mistreated and that is your focus, you will find all the proof you need to convince yourself, and others, that you are right. She told of a time when she felt down about things others had done, and she went to the Lord to find out what to do. Her answer was to "bury your weapons' or the things you use to hurt others or to keep your pain going. Just as the Book of Mormon people were told to bury their weapons so they wouldn't fight any more. She quoted Ezekiel 36:26-27 where the Lord tells us that He will give us a new heart, a new spirit. We need to pray to get that spirit and heart so that we don't feel the pain from others, and before we spread the pain on to others.
She stressed that putting our focus on Christ will help us overcome any negative thoughts we might have, whether they are about ourselves, or our lot in life. If we have difficult appointments we need to go to, if we focus on how the Lord can (and will) help us, we will see that the time will go much better. If we focus on how difficult it is, we will see that it is difficult. We need to put our focus on how He will help us, not how He tries us.
She gave us several pointers on how we can focus on Christ. #1 - Choose a street that you drive on every day, and decide that while you are on that street, or block, or area, that you will think about Christ. #2 - Think about Christ as you fall asleep, thinking of stories or scriptures about Him, or ways you felt close to Him that day. #3 - Tell yourself that you will think about Him at certain times of the day (doing dishes, or combing hair) and make it a habit. Moroni 7:33 If you have faith in Him, He will give you power.
She told how she was very hurt by something someone said, and how she wanted to call her mom, or her sister, or someone and tell how hurt she was. Then she decided to kneel and pray about her hurt, realizing that if you focus on anger it will get bigger, but if you focus on Christ and think of the other person also at the feet of Christ asking for forgiveness, it makes it a little easier to calm those hurtful thoughts. After Mormon had seen the terrible state of his people and the horrible things they were doing, he still wanted his son, Moroni, to remember how the Lord can lift you up. Moroni 9:25. If we are faithful to Christ, He will lift us upward. Another scripture she used was D&C6:36-37. Look unto Him in every thought, doubt not, fear not.
I really was impressed with the quote "Whatever you focus on Expands". I see that in so many parts of my life, and those around me. Some of those thoughts can consume us, while others help us to grow. No matter what situation we are in, we can look for good, and focus on good. Especially focus on how the Lord can help us. There is reason for everything, and He will help us find the lesson in all our situations. We just need to focus on Him.
First of all, we had a later church, so I didn't have to get up at my usual waking time to be to church by 9:00. I actually slept until about 7:30, when just did not much until time to get ready for church. We always leave for church about one-half hour before it is time for the meeting to start, at least that is our goal. I am usually at the organ and I like to be playing before people start coming into the chapel. And Garth has the calling to be an usher so he likes to be at his post early, so 10:30 was the time we wanted to go out the door. At almost 10:00 I was in the process of getting the final touches on myself when I realized we should have been listening to The Spoken Word while we were getting ready. I quickly turned on the TV and listened to the last song. Then we just kept watching as the next show came on. It was a new show to us, since we have been in church by this time during the past year. It is called Mormon Times and is hosted by Michelle King. She had a guest author on who was speaking about her book. I was sold on it as soon as she started to speak. It is called "Live Life...and See Good Days". She told that in her book she has 12 ways to see the good in every day, but today she focused on just three. She was full of scriptures that helped her make her points. Oh, to know the scriptures like she must! (I ended up finding the book at Deseret Book and got an ebook copy for less than $10.00! Can't wait to read it!)
Point #1 - Rise above what you are asked to do. I didn't get the scripture for this reference, but she talked about how the Lord will help us overcome any obstacle we are met with.
Point #2 - Let your heart have great experiences - Sometimes we have to allow our hearts to feel and experience the good in things.
Point #3 - List what you love - Alma did so in his writing, even though he went through many trials. In Alma 26:37 he is listing what good things he had, and how much joy he experienced, even through his trials. Ester spoke of her days of gladness. She showed her Grandmother's Happiness journal, where she wrote the things that made her happy. What a keepsake to have.
The show then went on to other things, but I went into the kitchen and looked through the latest Ensign. I read the article on page 17 from Bro. Todd Christofferson, about how we need to keep close to the Lord every day so we can get the blessing He has for us. He told how the people of Israel relied on the Lord giving them manna for their food each day. It took them 40 years to learn that the Lord will keep his promise of manna, of food enough for their substance, to learn that they can rely on the Lord in all things. He stressed that we also need to learn this lesson, that we can count on Him to give us the blessings we need when we learn to rely on Him and learn to go to Him with our needs. This just really struck me and gave me lots to think about.
We saw a really nice video on the writing of the Book of Mormon in Sunday. It was a seminary video, but helped me remember that the plates of gold are abridgements of larger plates, and who wrote each part of the Book of Mormon. I liked it and hope we can see more. It's been a long time since I have been to Seminary, and I know we didn't have fun videos like that! More like film strips!
Then, the frosting on the cake, came at Relief Society. I think it was meant just for me. Our Relief Society president said she was inspired to have her sister-in-law speak to us. I had noticed that most of the Law family was here visiting and was excited to get a hug from Janice Law, Dallin's wife. They always sit in front of us, and they are always kind to us and acknowledge us every time they visit. They know how special Bro. and Sister Law have been to our family. So when I heard she was giving the lesson I knew it would be special.
Janice spoke about trials she has had to overcome in her life and how her trials have helped her turn to Christ. Her main thought was spoken many times:
Whatever you focus on expands.
Truer words can not be spoken! She stressed that we should be careful what we think about because it will consume our thoughts and grow out of porportion to reality. You can find proof for what you look for. If you feel you have been slighted or mistreated and that is your focus, you will find all the proof you need to convince yourself, and others, that you are right. She told of a time when she felt down about things others had done, and she went to the Lord to find out what to do. Her answer was to "bury your weapons' or the things you use to hurt others or to keep your pain going. Just as the Book of Mormon people were told to bury their weapons so they wouldn't fight any more. She quoted Ezekiel 36:26-27 where the Lord tells us that He will give us a new heart, a new spirit. We need to pray to get that spirit and heart so that we don't feel the pain from others, and before we spread the pain on to others.
She stressed that putting our focus on Christ will help us overcome any negative thoughts we might have, whether they are about ourselves, or our lot in life. If we have difficult appointments we need to go to, if we focus on how the Lord can (and will) help us, we will see that the time will go much better. If we focus on how difficult it is, we will see that it is difficult. We need to put our focus on how He will help us, not how He tries us.
She gave us several pointers on how we can focus on Christ. #1 - Choose a street that you drive on every day, and decide that while you are on that street, or block, or area, that you will think about Christ. #2 - Think about Christ as you fall asleep, thinking of stories or scriptures about Him, or ways you felt close to Him that day. #3 - Tell yourself that you will think about Him at certain times of the day (doing dishes, or combing hair) and make it a habit. Moroni 7:33 If you have faith in Him, He will give you power.
She told how she was very hurt by something someone said, and how she wanted to call her mom, or her sister, or someone and tell how hurt she was. Then she decided to kneel and pray about her hurt, realizing that if you focus on anger it will get bigger, but if you focus on Christ and think of the other person also at the feet of Christ asking for forgiveness, it makes it a little easier to calm those hurtful thoughts. After Mormon had seen the terrible state of his people and the horrible things they were doing, he still wanted his son, Moroni, to remember how the Lord can lift you up. Moroni 9:25. If we are faithful to Christ, He will lift us upward. Another scripture she used was D&C6:36-37. Look unto Him in every thought, doubt not, fear not.
I really was impressed with the quote "Whatever you focus on Expands". I see that in so many parts of my life, and those around me. Some of those thoughts can consume us, while others help us to grow. No matter what situation we are in, we can look for good, and focus on good. Especially focus on how the Lord can help us. There is reason for everything, and He will help us find the lesson in all our situations. We just need to focus on Him.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
My Permanent Place
I think I have a piano bench attached to me, to be my chair for all my life. Sometimes people just assume I will be there to play, which I usually am. I am thankful for the gift I have been given, and I do love to participate in my own way. This week our ward choir hurried through a song they will sing in Ward Conference. It's a song I have played with my eyes closed......not a challenge for me. But this week the words really struck a chord (major or minor?) and seemed to leave a message with me. I thought I would write the words here so I can remember them.
Where Can I Turn for Peace? Hymn #129
Where can I turn for peace?
Where is MY solace when other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?
Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know,
Where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm MY anguish?
Who,... who can understand?
He, only One.
He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching in my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant He is...and kind...
Love without end.
In those times when I don't understand what is happening, or why it is happening, those times when I feel I am all alone, or that no one understands, or that I am expected to read others minds, or when more is expected of me than I know of, when I am condemned because of things I don't know about, when I am doing my best to keep myself above water and others want to push me down, when I realize I'm doing things the best I can but it doesn't meet others approval, when others judge me for things I am unaware of, when I'm doing all I can at the time but it isn't enough to please others.......The only place I can find true comfort is from knowing that my Father in Heaven knows, and He will give me peace.
Who can understand?
He....Only One.
Where Can I Turn for Peace? Hymn #129
Where can I turn for peace?
Where is MY solace when other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?
Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know,
Where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm MY anguish?
Who,... who can understand?
He, only One.
He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching in my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant He is...and kind...
Love without end.
In those times when I don't understand what is happening, or why it is happening, those times when I feel I am all alone, or that no one understands, or that I am expected to read others minds, or when more is expected of me than I know of, when I am condemned because of things I don't know about, when I am doing my best to keep myself above water and others want to push me down, when I realize I'm doing things the best I can but it doesn't meet others approval, when others judge me for things I am unaware of, when I'm doing all I can at the time but it isn't enough to please others.......The only place I can find true comfort is from knowing that my Father in Heaven knows, and He will give me peace.
Who can understand?
He....Only One.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Counting Cross-stitches
I learned to enjoy handwork from my mother. She taught me to embroidery on dishcloths, pillowcases, and table runners. I don't do much embroidery anymore, but I use those skills when I do cross-stitching. My eyes are getting old and I have a hard time seeing those little squares but I just buy stronger reading classes and enlarge the patterns more. My next purchase may be a large magnifier to wear around my neck to help me see more clearly.
I wanted to leave something special for each of my grandchildren, so a few years ago I decided to stitch them each a Christmas stocking. I have completed three out of six stockings, and am working on the fourth one now, and loving every minute of it. But this weekend I learned a very valuable lesson that I would like to pass on.
In my crocheting and my cross-stitching I have learned to "cheat" a little. If I don't have the exact number of stitches on a row of an afghan, I can increase or decrease as needed and no one can ever tell. I am pretty cleaver at hiding my mistakes. I am also good at helping others hide theirs, or helping them make something look alright after they have reached the point they can't figure out what to do. One time a friend brought me an afghan she was working on because she was in desperate need of help. She had tried to undo some of her work and it just wasn't "undo-ing" correctly and she didn't know what was wrong. It didn't take me long to see she was unpicking from the wrong end, from the beginning of the rows instead of the end. I really had to work backward to get that cleared up.
A few weeks ago as I was working on the Christmas stocking I started working on a new area of the pattern. I counted very carefully over several squares to start this area because it used the same color of thread that I just finished using and I didn't want to change threads. I continued working on the new area until it was ready to be tied into the rest of the completed part. This is when I found it didn't fit in right. Somewhere in my counting I had gotten off, I had made a mistake.
Normally I would be able to just "cheat" a little and make it work, but it was too far off this time and the picture was going to be out of porportion. I have had to pick out the work I had worked on for several day. Would anyone have noticed the mistake? I don't know, perhaps not, but probably because it was about 3 rows off and would end up making everything look just a bit funny in that area.
How many times do we get "just a little bit off"? How many times do we try to cover up a little mistake? Many times our mistakes don't affect the total outcome and we can go on without any problems, the final picture look just fine. But how much "off" is too much? Where does the step happen that creates a problem that causes us to unpick our work?
Repentence is an "unpicking" process. We have to recognize that our mistake will cause a flaw in the big picture and we need to be willing to unpick the threads and correct that mistake. The Lord knows none of us are perfect and allows us to "blend" in our mistakes and still create a good picture of our lives. We don't have to unpick everything, just work around it to correct the wrongs. But there are times when we need to completely take those threads out and start that area again.
There are some threads in that area of my picture that can remain, as long as I selectively those that don't belong there. I am able to start over again and will have a better outcome than before. I have learned that it isn't always best to jump ahead and fill in areas before I work up to that spot. Take things section by section instead of jumping around. Work on one area of my life and get it right before jumping to another without the experience I need to make it right.
With the Lord's help I will be able to complete the picture of my life and all the threads will be in the right place with the right number of squares.
I wanted to leave something special for each of my grandchildren, so a few years ago I decided to stitch them each a Christmas stocking. I have completed three out of six stockings, and am working on the fourth one now, and loving every minute of it. But this weekend I learned a very valuable lesson that I would like to pass on.
In my crocheting and my cross-stitching I have learned to "cheat" a little. If I don't have the exact number of stitches on a row of an afghan, I can increase or decrease as needed and no one can ever tell. I am pretty cleaver at hiding my mistakes. I am also good at helping others hide theirs, or helping them make something look alright after they have reached the point they can't figure out what to do. One time a friend brought me an afghan she was working on because she was in desperate need of help. She had tried to undo some of her work and it just wasn't "undo-ing" correctly and she didn't know what was wrong. It didn't take me long to see she was unpicking from the wrong end, from the beginning of the rows instead of the end. I really had to work backward to get that cleared up.
A few weeks ago as I was working on the Christmas stocking I started working on a new area of the pattern. I counted very carefully over several squares to start this area because it used the same color of thread that I just finished using and I didn't want to change threads. I continued working on the new area until it was ready to be tied into the rest of the completed part. This is when I found it didn't fit in right. Somewhere in my counting I had gotten off, I had made a mistake.
Normally I would be able to just "cheat" a little and make it work, but it was too far off this time and the picture was going to be out of porportion. I have had to pick out the work I had worked on for several day. Would anyone have noticed the mistake? I don't know, perhaps not, but probably because it was about 3 rows off and would end up making everything look just a bit funny in that area.
How many times do we get "just a little bit off"? How many times do we try to cover up a little mistake? Many times our mistakes don't affect the total outcome and we can go on without any problems, the final picture look just fine. But how much "off" is too much? Where does the step happen that creates a problem that causes us to unpick our work?
Repentence is an "unpicking" process. We have to recognize that our mistake will cause a flaw in the big picture and we need to be willing to unpick the threads and correct that mistake. The Lord knows none of us are perfect and allows us to "blend" in our mistakes and still create a good picture of our lives. We don't have to unpick everything, just work around it to correct the wrongs. But there are times when we need to completely take those threads out and start that area again.
There are some threads in that area of my picture that can remain, as long as I selectively those that don't belong there. I am able to start over again and will have a better outcome than before. I have learned that it isn't always best to jump ahead and fill in areas before I work up to that spot. Take things section by section instead of jumping around. Work on one area of my life and get it right before jumping to another without the experience I need to make it right.
With the Lord's help I will be able to complete the picture of my life and all the threads will be in the right place with the right number of squares.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Chapter 15, 16, 17.....
Just a side note before I start reviewing this chapter. The other day I got my daily message from LDS-Gem which really struck me because it is what we are reading in this book. Here it is:
"We are safe on the rock which is the Savior when we have yielded in faith in Him, have responded to the Holy Spirit's direction to keep the commandments long enough and faithfully enough that the power of the Atonement has changed our hearts. When we have, by that experience, become as a child in our capacity to love and obey, we are on the sure foundation."
Topics: Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost, Atonement
(Henry B. Eyring, "As a Child," Ensign, May 2006, 15-16)
Grandfather has been teaching Rick to become as a little child, which is just what President Eyring saying. When we can love unconditionally then the atonement can work in our lives.
Now, on to chapter 15. Rick is trying to connect the messages of Abigail and Jonah in his mind. He remembers "yes, the Lord has paid in full for others' sins, that was the point--that it may be helpful to think more often about how he has paid for others' sins rather than just dweling on how he has paid for our own." Maybe this is thinking of others and not ourselves as much. Rick outlines his thoughts about the atonement:
1. We are each of us sinners, entitled to nthing but hell and therefore utterly and equally dependent upon the mercies of the Lord. (Jonah)
2. I can receive the Lord's mercy--and the happiness, healing, and peace that attent it--only to the extent I extend the same to others. (Jonath).
3. The Lord mercifully removes any justification for failing to extend mercy to others. (Abigail)
A. For the Lord has taken the sins of others upon his own head and personally atoned for them. (Abigail)
B. What possible justification could there be for demanding more for others' sins than the Lord has given? (Abigail)
4. I can recover mercy by remembering (a) Abigail's offering, (b) the Lord's question to Jonah, and (c) my own sins, the memory of whch brings me to the Lord and invites me to rediscover his mercy and peace.
5. if I repent of failing to extend mercy, the Lord will supply me with everything I need and more--he will grant me his love, his companionship, his understanding, his support, He will make my burdens light.
Rick does some serious thinking when he gets upset with remarks Carol makes.
"My peace is not determined by others--whether they be righteous or ot--but by myself. Or rather, my peace is determined by whether I come to Christ myself. For when I come to him, he blesses me with his mercy, and basking in that mercy I find peace. Whether others come to Christ--Nineveh and Nabal, for example--will determine their peace but not mine." In his mind he continues to think that it would be easier to come to Christ if Carol were only better and then thinks about the Book of Mormon and how the Nephites came to Christ when things were hardest and their burdens greatest. He feels a voice from within telling him,"...you find it easier to sin toward those who sin toward you. But it is your sin, not theirs, that is the source of your struggle. Carol cannot keep you from me. Only you can. Your love faileth. Mine never will. Come cast off your sins and drink of my love."
Children love fully, despie the problems we create, because of their own purity from sin. And Christ, who suffered at the hands of every soul, nevertheless loves us perfectly, and this because He was perfectly free from sin himself.
Grandfather appears and hands Rick a book,(the description of this book is beautiful and should be read by everyone!) The words he reads are from 2 Nephi about the chains of hell. Grandfather tells him that he has been flattered by these very chains and that he needs to get rid of them if he is to be at peace.
There is so much coming up in the next chapters that I will need to stop here.
"We are safe on the rock which is the Savior when we have yielded in faith in Him, have responded to the Holy Spirit's direction to keep the commandments long enough and faithfully enough that the power of the Atonement has changed our hearts. When we have, by that experience, become as a child in our capacity to love and obey, we are on the sure foundation."
Topics: Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost, Atonement
(Henry B. Eyring, "As a Child," Ensign, May 2006, 15-16)
Grandfather has been teaching Rick to become as a little child, which is just what President Eyring saying. When we can love unconditionally then the atonement can work in our lives.
Now, on to chapter 15. Rick is trying to connect the messages of Abigail and Jonah in his mind. He remembers "yes, the Lord has paid in full for others' sins, that was the point--that it may be helpful to think more often about how he has paid for others' sins rather than just dweling on how he has paid for our own." Maybe this is thinking of others and not ourselves as much. Rick outlines his thoughts about the atonement:
1. We are each of us sinners, entitled to nthing but hell and therefore utterly and equally dependent upon the mercies of the Lord. (Jonah)
2. I can receive the Lord's mercy--and the happiness, healing, and peace that attent it--only to the extent I extend the same to others. (Jonath).
3. The Lord mercifully removes any justification for failing to extend mercy to others. (Abigail)
A. For the Lord has taken the sins of others upon his own head and personally atoned for them. (Abigail)
B. What possible justification could there be for demanding more for others' sins than the Lord has given? (Abigail)
4. I can recover mercy by remembering (a) Abigail's offering, (b) the Lord's question to Jonah, and (c) my own sins, the memory of whch brings me to the Lord and invites me to rediscover his mercy and peace.
5. if I repent of failing to extend mercy, the Lord will supply me with everything I need and more--he will grant me his love, his companionship, his understanding, his support, He will make my burdens light.
Rick does some serious thinking when he gets upset with remarks Carol makes.
"My peace is not determined by others--whether they be righteous or ot--but by myself. Or rather, my peace is determined by whether I come to Christ myself. For when I come to him, he blesses me with his mercy, and basking in that mercy I find peace. Whether others come to Christ--Nineveh and Nabal, for example--will determine their peace but not mine." In his mind he continues to think that it would be easier to come to Christ if Carol were only better and then thinks about the Book of Mormon and how the Nephites came to Christ when things were hardest and their burdens greatest. He feels a voice from within telling him,"...you find it easier to sin toward those who sin toward you. But it is your sin, not theirs, that is the source of your struggle. Carol cannot keep you from me. Only you can. Your love faileth. Mine never will. Come cast off your sins and drink of my love."
Children love fully, despie the problems we create, because of their own purity from sin. And Christ, who suffered at the hands of every soul, nevertheless loves us perfectly, and this because He was perfectly free from sin himself.
Grandfather appears and hands Rick a book,(the description of this book is beautiful and should be read by everyone!) The words he reads are from 2 Nephi about the chains of hell. Grandfather tells him that he has been flattered by these very chains and that he needs to get rid of them if he is to be at peace.
There is so much coming up in the next chapters that I will need to stop here.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sacrament Meeting Talk
When I got to church this morning I took out my little notetablet I have been using and looked through the talks from last week. I then remembered that I wanted to write something about them. The speakers were Amber and Michael Reed. I had Michael in my third grade class a while ago. Amber is the granddaughter of a family in our ward. Dick and Lynn went on a mission and Amber and Michael have moved into their home while they are gone.
Amber spoke on their previous ward and a calling they had there to visit the patients at Primary Children's. They learned to love the people there and were sorry to leave that ward but they love it here in Emery County. (Amber works as a PT assistant at ProRehab.) She gave a very good talk.
Michael spoke on forgiveness and he did a wonderful job. He mentioned the talk of Bro. Bednar where he spoke about the two men having water disputes and how it led to one of the men killing the other. We should never let someone escalate into such a terrible crime. He also spoke about getting bitten by a snake and that there are two ways to respond: Run after the snake to kill it, or get the poision out of our systems. Only one way will result in us living. We need to work to get the poision out of our own systems. He reminded us that others cannot make us hurt,upset, or offended but that we choose to be so. We can also choose NOT to be offended, hurt, or upset. When we feel hurt, offended, or upset in reality we are hoping that others will feel the same way. We want others to take our pains away. But when we have chosen those pains, we must make them go away ourselves.
As he was speaking these words I felt the spirit testify that what he was saying was true. We make our choices and we have to live by them. If we want the feelings gone, we have to work on that ourselves.
I know others have been offended by what I have said or done, but I have never intended to hurt or offend anyone. I really just want peace and love in my family. I know that sometimes others don't think I am going about it in the right way, and that is perhaps true, but I just want everyone to understand each other and appreciate, or understand, others positions and feelings, without taking offense.
That is my desire, a family that will try to understand each other and be tolerant of others.
Amber spoke on their previous ward and a calling they had there to visit the patients at Primary Children's. They learned to love the people there and were sorry to leave that ward but they love it here in Emery County. (Amber works as a PT assistant at ProRehab.) She gave a very good talk.
Michael spoke on forgiveness and he did a wonderful job. He mentioned the talk of Bro. Bednar where he spoke about the two men having water disputes and how it led to one of the men killing the other. We should never let someone escalate into such a terrible crime. He also spoke about getting bitten by a snake and that there are two ways to respond: Run after the snake to kill it, or get the poision out of our systems. Only one way will result in us living. We need to work to get the poision out of our own systems. He reminded us that others cannot make us hurt,upset, or offended but that we choose to be so. We can also choose NOT to be offended, hurt, or upset. When we feel hurt, offended, or upset in reality we are hoping that others will feel the same way. We want others to take our pains away. But when we have chosen those pains, we must make them go away ourselves.
As he was speaking these words I felt the spirit testify that what he was saying was true. We make our choices and we have to live by them. If we want the feelings gone, we have to work on that ourselves.
I know others have been offended by what I have said or done, but I have never intended to hurt or offend anyone. I really just want peace and love in my family. I know that sometimes others don't think I am going about it in the right way, and that is perhaps true, but I just want everyone to understand each other and appreciate, or understand, others positions and feelings, without taking offense.
That is my desire, a family that will try to understand each other and be tolerant of others.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Chapter 7 Forgiveness
This chapter opened my eyes to things I have been wrong in thinking. What I read here totally changed my life. I have so much underlined in my book that it is difficult to decide what to discuss here.
Ricky starts out saying that he doesn't feel the Lord is helping him out with his burdens. How often have I felt the same thing? I have so much to worry about, so much I need help to endure? Where do I begin? Grandpa helps him see that if he doesn't see the Lord helping him, he isn't looking in the right place because the Lord is there. OK..hit me between the eyes! Am I the same way? If I don't see the Lord, where am I looking? That needs to be my question. I guess I need to work on that!
Grandpa goes on to say, "Although the Lord stands before us offering the help we need, there is a condition we must meet in order to see and receive of his atonement offering." When Ricky asks what that condition is Grandpa says he has to find out himself. Through his deep thinking and contemplating, Ricky discovers that Abigail took on herself the sins of Nabal. In that act she resembled the Savior. Grandpa says he is right, but there is more to it than just that. The second thing she did was the key to understanding. "It will illuminate what it means to have taken another's sins on one's own head." As he keeps recounting what happens, Ricky realizes that Abigail asked David to forgive her own trespasses. She didn't ask him to forgive Nabal's trespasses, but her trespasses, and she had done nothing wrong.
And so it is with the Savior. "Christ did the same--that having taken upon himself the sins of those who have wronged us, Christ now comes to us and asks us to forgive him the trespasses." This doesn't strike Ricky as being right. Why should Christ ask us to forgive him? He didn't do anything wrong. He doesn't need our forgiveness. Grandpa says, "That one who didn't need forgiveness nevertheless asked for it--illuminates something very important about forgiveness. It illustrates who forgiveness is for."....."Abigail asked for forgiveness not because she needed to be forgiven but because Davd needed to forgive."
"Abigail's message was that forgiveness was for the one who was forgiving, not the one who was being forgiven. David needed to forgive so that, in the words of Abigail, 'he would continue to be found without evil, so that the Lord could make him a sure house.'" Abigail took on the sins, was willing to pay the price, so David would not sin. If he forgave her, he would be free from the effects of holding grudges.
"The Lord, by taking the sins of our Nabals upon his head, extends us the same mercy. 'Upon me let this iniquity be,' he pleases. "let me deal with it if there is any dealing to be done. But you, my dear son or dear daughter, let it go. Let me take it, as I alreay have done. Forgive.'"
We know that the Lord isn't actually asking us to forgive him, but the atonement is like that is what he is asking. "Inas much as you have done it (or not done it) unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."
This is what struck me so hard: "When we withhold forgiveness from others, we are in effect saying that the atonement alone was insufficient to pay for this sin. We are holding out for more. We are finding fault with the Lord's offering. We are in essence demanding that the Lord repent of an insufficient atonement. So when we fail to forgive another, it is as if we are failing to forgive the Lord--who, as you already rightly said, needs no forgiveness." (p. 66)
"You must repent of your own sin of failing to forgive." "The Lord has already forged forgiveness for her. What more could your forgiveness add?" "The atonement applies as much to (others) as it does to you, my son. I have claimed (their) sins and taken them upon me. Let it go." "You should consider how your failure to forgive is in effect a withholding from the Lord--he who has claimed and atoned for the sins and weaknesses in (others) that you insist on carrying with grudge." So what if the other person doesn't forgive you.....it doesn't matter. Not forgiving them is not really an option if we want to be free from sin. Although we can't be completely sinless in this life, we can at least work toward it.
Christ will show us what pain others are feeling. He wants us to see others as he sees and loves them. "He begs you not merely to ungird your sword but to ungird your heart. If you do, the miracle of his atonement will flow freely, and you, like David, will put down war and take up bread and drink and sheep and figs."
Here are some key points to remember:
1. The Lord has taken the sins of others on his own head.
2. He has atoned for those sins. Our failure to forgive is, therefore, in essence a witholding from the Lord.
3. If we grant this forgiveness in full, he atones in full for the pain and burdens that have come at others' hands.
4. He will bless us with his own love, his own appreciation, his own companionship, his own strength to endure.
If we have these, what more do we need?
I am far from perfect, and I have been "accused" (I say that lovingly) in my own family of too often saying, "Just forget what the other has done." Maybe I really knew that this is how true forgiveness can come. You can't feel good with yourself if you aren't willing to forgive. Withholding forgiveness causes us pain and suffering, heavy hearts, and saddness. We don't need that. The Lord has paid the price for the wrong they did to us. We need to forgive. For our own sakes. This is so important, but so hard.
I have been so blessed that some members of my family have learned to love this message, this book, as much as I. I feel our family relationships have improved so much. There are still others I pray will be able to see the importance of forgiving. It is not just for us, but for others as well. And in forgiving, we are so blessed. Everyone needs blessings. We shouldn't deny ourselves this freedom from the sin of not forgiving.
I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with some amazing insights into the atonement. I have so much more to learn, but I feel I am beginning to see a little bit of what it really means.
Ricky starts out saying that he doesn't feel the Lord is helping him out with his burdens. How often have I felt the same thing? I have so much to worry about, so much I need help to endure? Where do I begin? Grandpa helps him see that if he doesn't see the Lord helping him, he isn't looking in the right place because the Lord is there. OK..hit me between the eyes! Am I the same way? If I don't see the Lord, where am I looking? That needs to be my question. I guess I need to work on that!
Grandpa goes on to say, "Although the Lord stands before us offering the help we need, there is a condition we must meet in order to see and receive of his atonement offering." When Ricky asks what that condition is Grandpa says he has to find out himself. Through his deep thinking and contemplating, Ricky discovers that Abigail took on herself the sins of Nabal. In that act she resembled the Savior. Grandpa says he is right, but there is more to it than just that. The second thing she did was the key to understanding. "It will illuminate what it means to have taken another's sins on one's own head." As he keeps recounting what happens, Ricky realizes that Abigail asked David to forgive her own trespasses. She didn't ask him to forgive Nabal's trespasses, but her trespasses, and she had done nothing wrong.
And so it is with the Savior. "Christ did the same--that having taken upon himself the sins of those who have wronged us, Christ now comes to us and asks us to forgive him the trespasses." This doesn't strike Ricky as being right. Why should Christ ask us to forgive him? He didn't do anything wrong. He doesn't need our forgiveness. Grandpa says, "That one who didn't need forgiveness nevertheless asked for it--illuminates something very important about forgiveness. It illustrates who forgiveness is for."....."Abigail asked for forgiveness not because she needed to be forgiven but because Davd needed to forgive."
"Abigail's message was that forgiveness was for the one who was forgiving, not the one who was being forgiven. David needed to forgive so that, in the words of Abigail, 'he would continue to be found without evil, so that the Lord could make him a sure house.'" Abigail took on the sins, was willing to pay the price, so David would not sin. If he forgave her, he would be free from the effects of holding grudges.
"The Lord, by taking the sins of our Nabals upon his head, extends us the same mercy. 'Upon me let this iniquity be,' he pleases. "let me deal with it if there is any dealing to be done. But you, my dear son or dear daughter, let it go. Let me take it, as I alreay have done. Forgive.'"
We know that the Lord isn't actually asking us to forgive him, but the atonement is like that is what he is asking. "Inas much as you have done it (or not done it) unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me."
This is what struck me so hard: "When we withhold forgiveness from others, we are in effect saying that the atonement alone was insufficient to pay for this sin. We are holding out for more. We are finding fault with the Lord's offering. We are in essence demanding that the Lord repent of an insufficient atonement. So when we fail to forgive another, it is as if we are failing to forgive the Lord--who, as you already rightly said, needs no forgiveness." (p. 66)
"You must repent of your own sin of failing to forgive." "The Lord has already forged forgiveness for her. What more could your forgiveness add?" "The atonement applies as much to (others) as it does to you, my son. I have claimed (their) sins and taken them upon me. Let it go." "You should consider how your failure to forgive is in effect a withholding from the Lord--he who has claimed and atoned for the sins and weaknesses in (others) that you insist on carrying with grudge." So what if the other person doesn't forgive you.....it doesn't matter. Not forgiving them is not really an option if we want to be free from sin. Although we can't be completely sinless in this life, we can at least work toward it.
Christ will show us what pain others are feeling. He wants us to see others as he sees and loves them. "He begs you not merely to ungird your sword but to ungird your heart. If you do, the miracle of his atonement will flow freely, and you, like David, will put down war and take up bread and drink and sheep and figs."
Here are some key points to remember:
1. The Lord has taken the sins of others on his own head.
2. He has atoned for those sins. Our failure to forgive is, therefore, in essence a witholding from the Lord.
3. If we grant this forgiveness in full, he atones in full for the pain and burdens that have come at others' hands.
4. He will bless us with his own love, his own appreciation, his own companionship, his own strength to endure.
If we have these, what more do we need?
I am far from perfect, and I have been "accused" (I say that lovingly) in my own family of too often saying, "Just forget what the other has done." Maybe I really knew that this is how true forgiveness can come. You can't feel good with yourself if you aren't willing to forgive. Withholding forgiveness causes us pain and suffering, heavy hearts, and saddness. We don't need that. The Lord has paid the price for the wrong they did to us. We need to forgive. For our own sakes. This is so important, but so hard.
I have been so blessed that some members of my family have learned to love this message, this book, as much as I. I feel our family relationships have improved so much. There are still others I pray will be able to see the importance of forgiving. It is not just for us, but for others as well. And in forgiving, we are so blessed. Everyone needs blessings. We shouldn't deny ourselves this freedom from the sin of not forgiving.
I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with some amazing insights into the atonement. I have so much more to learn, but I feel I am beginning to see a little bit of what it really means.