Personal Weakness helps us rely on Christ
2nd Corinthians 12:
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
For a while we have been living in an age of ease. Even though the economic climate has caused a shift in the ease, we still live in the most physically privileged age of all time. Due to advances in technology and the prosperity of our country we have become, to one degree or another, saviors to ourselves. If we become sick, we go to the doctor or to the store and buy medicine. If we feel mental distress, there are legions of therapists at the ready to aid us. If we feel hungry we go to the store and pick whatever we like from cuisine that spans the globe. I fear that all to easily the days of the apostle of old are gone from our minds and we do not go the Lord first recognizing Him as the maker and ruler of all that is or ever was or ever will be in and on this earth.
Said Elder Oaks, 'Through the prophet Moroni, the Lord gave us this great insight into the role of humility: “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” I believe this relationship identifies materialism as a peculiar Mormon weakness, a classic example of how Satan can persuade some to drive a legitimate strength to such excess that it becomes a disabling weakness." (Dallin H. Oaks, “Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct 1994, 11)
Q:What are my weaknesses? How can I use them to draw near to and serve the Lord?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
1st Corinthians
There is no such thing as free agency.
1st Corinthians 6:
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Heavenly Father paid a very high price so that you and I might be able to return to Him someday. In the pre-mortal life he sacrificed one third of His children. In this life he delivered His only sinless child to be mocked, tortured, and killed so that He might bring us back to Him. So, our actions do not affect us alone. We do not have free agency, we have moral agency. We can choose to be happy and follow the Lord or to be miserable and follow the devil.
Said President Uchtdorf, “God has granted us agency. I believe that moral agency is one of the greatest gifts of God unto His children, next to life itself.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Developing Christlike Attributes,” Ensign, Oct 2008, 4–9)
Q: What is your attitude towards your own agency?
1st Corinthians 6:
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Heavenly Father paid a very high price so that you and I might be able to return to Him someday. In the pre-mortal life he sacrificed one third of His children. In this life he delivered His only sinless child to be mocked, tortured, and killed so that He might bring us back to Him. So, our actions do not affect us alone. We do not have free agency, we have moral agency. We can choose to be happy and follow the Lord or to be miserable and follow the devil.
Said President Uchtdorf, “God has granted us agency. I believe that moral agency is one of the greatest gifts of God unto His children, next to life itself.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Developing Christlike Attributes,” Ensign, Oct 2008, 4–9)
Q: What is your attitude towards your own agency?
Romans
If we are not ashamed of Christ, he will deliver us from evil and lead us into life eternal.
Romans 1:
15 So, as much as in me is, I am aready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not aashamed of the bgospel of Christ: for it is the cpower of God unto dsalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the arighteousness of God revealed bfrom faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by cfaith
Romans was a difficult book for me to choose a favorite statement from. However, I believe that the above three verses are the thesis statement for the rest of the book. Paul speaks of being willing to give everything he has to the work of our Father and His Son. He promises to not be ashamed of it and to live by faith. Then the rest of the book speaks of the blessing of peace and glory and honor that come from being a true witness of Christ. He speaks of the need for patience in fulfilling such a mission and the blessing that come from patience. He explains the need for faithful representatives by explaining that others cannot build faith unless they hear the word of God and he beseeches us to be “living sacrifices”. We are surrounded by more and more evil that would try to intimidate us into being ashamed of our testimonies. However, defending truth and righteous is the only way to attain true happiness, regardless of what the louder voices in the world may say.
Said President Hinckely in addressing new converts, “We rejoice with you in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many blessings in store for you. We know at times it can be terribly lonely. It can be disappointing. It can be frightening. We of this Church are far more different from the world than we are prone to think we are. But the gospel is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something to be proud of.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Perfect Brightness of Hope: To New Members of the Church,” Ensign, Oct 2006, 2–5)
Q: Are there certain situations (i.e when I am at a certain place or with a certain person) where I feel ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Romans 1:
15 So, as much as in me is, I am aready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not aashamed of the bgospel of Christ: for it is the cpower of God unto dsalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the arighteousness of God revealed bfrom faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by cfaith
Romans was a difficult book for me to choose a favorite statement from. However, I believe that the above three verses are the thesis statement for the rest of the book. Paul speaks of being willing to give everything he has to the work of our Father and His Son. He promises to not be ashamed of it and to live by faith. Then the rest of the book speaks of the blessing of peace and glory and honor that come from being a true witness of Christ. He speaks of the need for patience in fulfilling such a mission and the blessing that come from patience. He explains the need for faithful representatives by explaining that others cannot build faith unless they hear the word of God and he beseeches us to be “living sacrifices”. We are surrounded by more and more evil that would try to intimidate us into being ashamed of our testimonies. However, defending truth and righteous is the only way to attain true happiness, regardless of what the louder voices in the world may say.
Said President Hinckely in addressing new converts, “We rejoice with you in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many blessings in store for you. We know at times it can be terribly lonely. It can be disappointing. It can be frightening. We of this Church are far more different from the world than we are prone to think we are. But the gospel is nothing to be ashamed of. It is something to be proud of.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Perfect Brightness of Hope: To New Members of the Church,” Ensign, Oct 2006, 2–5)
Q: Are there certain situations (i.e when I am at a certain place or with a certain person) where I feel ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Acts 12-28
This statement actually comes straight from the verse itself: It is more blessed to give than it is to receive.
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to agive than to receive.
The times that I have been truly happy in my life have been the times that I have been able to reach out and give something to someone who truly needed it. It is well and good to bestow gifts and compliments among our friends and those who are doing well along the pathway of life. However, we have been told that the Pharisees and Sadducees would do the same. Our measure of true Christianity is the sincerity and frequency with which we reach out to those who are suffering and give a gift, be it tangible or not. We must give compliments and encouragement to those lacking in self image, self respect, and self assurance. We must give guidance and support to those who feel lost or helpless to change. We must give money, means, and effort to those who struggle as single parents, widows, or elderly to survive on a daily basis. And why are we more blessed when we do this? I think President Hinckley’s quote sheds some light on the subject.
We cannot hope to influence others in the direction of virtue unless we live lives of virtue. The example of our living will carry a greater influence than will all the preaching in which we might indulge. We cannot expect to lift others unless we stand on higher ground ourselves. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “In Opposition to Evil,” Ensign, Sep 2004, 2–6)
Q: What more can I give to the cause of Christ(Remember Mosiah 2:17)?
Acts 20:35
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to agive than to receive.
The times that I have been truly happy in my life have been the times that I have been able to reach out and give something to someone who truly needed it. It is well and good to bestow gifts and compliments among our friends and those who are doing well along the pathway of life. However, we have been told that the Pharisees and Sadducees would do the same. Our measure of true Christianity is the sincerity and frequency with which we reach out to those who are suffering and give a gift, be it tangible or not. We must give compliments and encouragement to those lacking in self image, self respect, and self assurance. We must give guidance and support to those who feel lost or helpless to change. We must give money, means, and effort to those who struggle as single parents, widows, or elderly to survive on a daily basis. And why are we more blessed when we do this? I think President Hinckley’s quote sheds some light on the subject.
We cannot hope to influence others in the direction of virtue unless we live lives of virtue. The example of our living will carry a greater influence than will all the preaching in which we might indulge. We cannot expect to lift others unless we stand on higher ground ourselves. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “In Opposition to Evil,” Ensign, Sep 2004, 2–6)
Q: What more can I give to the cause of Christ(Remember Mosiah 2:17)?
Acts 4-11
The Lord wants us moving in the right direction before he gives us specific answers to our prayers.
Acts 9: 6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, awhat wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and [then] it shall be told thee what thou must do.
I believe that the Lord often wants to measure our determination and conviction before he will reveal certain things unto us. I also believe that He asks certain things of us so that we personally will be aware of our conviction and commitment to Him. As with Paul, we must be moving in the right direction (reading our scriptures, praying daily, fasting often, serving others) before we find out our specific mission. Often times we feel lost and I often wonder if it is because, much like Lehi and his family to the liahona, we have not been sufficiently obedient or persistent in doing the right.
President Monson is quoted as saying, “There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.” (Patience, Ensign, Nov. 1995)
Q: What daily activities do we need to be more faithful or have more patience in fulfilling in order to merit specific help from the Lord?
Acts 9: 6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, awhat wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and [then] it shall be told thee what thou must do.
I believe that the Lord often wants to measure our determination and conviction before he will reveal certain things unto us. I also believe that He asks certain things of us so that we personally will be aware of our conviction and commitment to Him. As with Paul, we must be moving in the right direction (reading our scriptures, praying daily, fasting often, serving others) before we find out our specific mission. Often times we feel lost and I often wonder if it is because, much like Lehi and his family to the liahona, we have not been sufficiently obedient or persistent in doing the right.
President Monson is quoted as saying, “There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.” (Patience, Ensign, Nov. 1995)
Q: What daily activities do we need to be more faithful or have more patience in fulfilling in order to merit specific help from the Lord?
Acts 1-3
A sincere testimony of Jesus Chris changes everything about us.
Acts 2:
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
When we gain a true testimony of Christ, we have a deep desire to become like him. We know that he, being a god and having power over life and death, served everyone around him. No one was above or below him. He loved all as he loved himself and he strove to serve His father in heaven by serving us. Once we understand these things, we will strive daily to serve the Lord by serving and aiding those around us.
Said Elder L. Tom Perry in his article “Called to Serve” of the May 1991 Ensign, “The discipline contained in daily obedience and clean living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from the temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality.”
Q: How can we apply examples of Christ’s mortal ministry into our daily lives in a way that will consciously help build our “armor”?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Simple Statement of Principle: Heed the prophecies of the scriptures and our modern-day prophets and apostles.
Revelations
1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
I really like this scripture, even though it's simple. It prequels what I think is one of the most difficult passages of scripture in the whole canon, but its advice is reall simple. The time is at hand, the time is now, and we need to listen to the words of prophecy and act accordingly. On Sunday, we had a lot of lessons about sustaining our testimonies and making sure that we're spiritually "in shape." This scripture helps me to remember that I need to listen to the prophets and their counsel for me.
Earl C. Tingey said, "I give thanks for modern-day prophets and apostles who have had and still have the vision to construct and extend into the future." I have a testimony that the apostles and the prophets of ancient scripture and modern-day can communicate what the Lord needs us to hear.
Revelations
1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
I really like this scripture, even though it's simple. It prequels what I think is one of the most difficult passages of scripture in the whole canon, but its advice is reall simple. The time is at hand, the time is now, and we need to listen to the words of prophecy and act accordingly. On Sunday, we had a lot of lessons about sustaining our testimonies and making sure that we're spiritually "in shape." This scripture helps me to remember that I need to listen to the prophets and their counsel for me.
Earl C. Tingey said, "I give thanks for modern-day prophets and apostles who have had and still have the vision to construct and extend into the future." I have a testimony that the apostles and the prophets of ancient scripture and modern-day can communicate what the Lord needs us to hear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)