tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18873036109602436142024-02-02T02:46:16.954-07:00Christian Thoughts - What I'm Learning and Want to ShareUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-88244921774907700572013-11-24T18:16:00.001-07:002013-11-24T18:37:18.411-07:00The New T-Shirt Syndrome - Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZakNjCsRGztmxbLlXkVkmfypom6C2cmm3irxLOIzHhnN3nd6Gouug3Le-aHXLrG7p_WYkKFEeJ8e-2oFia8_413h4-hEBg5qr-CVFCyT02lx1aKgllTXCzEQQU0R-quZV6NKyd8lK47A/s1600/Tshirts+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZakNjCsRGztmxbLlXkVkmfypom6C2cmm3irxLOIzHhnN3nd6Gouug3Le-aHXLrG7p_WYkKFEeJ8e-2oFia8_413h4-hEBg5qr-CVFCyT02lx1aKgllTXCzEQQU0R-quZV6NKyd8lK47A/s320/Tshirts+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The excitement and novelty of buying a new t-shirt usually wears off after wearing it once or twice. It then just becomes another one my shirts. I stop giving it extra-careful attention while doing laundry and instead start treating just like I treat any of my other clothes. I've seen this happen over and over, but I always seem to think that the next new shirt I'm about to buy at the store will make me happier than it actually does.<br />
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While studying at the required 9-week training program, a missionary did nothing but talk about how much better life would be once he was out in the area he had been assigned to. Once he was in the first neighborhood of that area, he would talk about how he hoped to be moved to a different one. Or how being home was just the thing he needed. Once home, he was certain that once he graduated from school he would be happy. Or once he was married. Or, then, once he had a family. Or once his children were older.<br />
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She didn't like herself very much. She tried to be good and to do her best, but she was always discouraged by how she never seemed to get anywhere in regards to overcoming her faults. She couldn't seem to acknowledge all that she had already learned and become as she had lived life, simply because she was looking to the future, imagining a day when she would be finally be free from her own weaknesses and stupidity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAh0wd-i5ahN08gPntShVqhBuoOTg6NLxNMyktNQNH6OktvyM21tm6X0XnWnHZ4XFdJMp8NyQhy2s-pBC4iDL0QgrB3OPdtyWqNf2z3NFUAi0HMH4p9Q3dQ4skjgzj4OxIYdeckkZB0sE/s1600/tshirts2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAh0wd-i5ahN08gPntShVqhBuoOTg6NLxNMyktNQNH6OktvyM21tm6X0XnWnHZ4XFdJMp8NyQhy2s-pBC4iDL0QgrB3OPdtyWqNf2z3NFUAi0HMH4p9Q3dQ4skjgzj4OxIYdeckkZB0sE/s320/tshirts2.jpg" width="320" /></a>As he looked in the mirror he was discouraged. He was still too big. Sure, he was healthier than he had ever been in his life. But, just look! Once he had lost another ten pounds, yes, that would make him feel differently.<br />
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She sat quietly as her married friends tried to get their squirmy children into their pajamas. As they asked why she wasn't dating anyone and offered suggestions, she faked a smile and gave some sort of amusing answer. Once back a home, she sat in her car long after she had pulled into the parking lot, thinking about how different and happy life would be once she was married.<br />
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Dieter Uchtdorf said:<br />
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“So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is
something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family
situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSHljv8jt98jjXMHy_crEVGhDkaY3CDCNQrxwEDIwADfZUBbiKrRSMfUIeyO5BNCHqkq9VczJiaUPl7CPOzO4inV9mA8nCkBAYnB6mEQwcAbdI82zAQl4V4MQ31PDz20HzvhrXND91nw/s1600/tshirts+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSHljv8jt98jjXMHy_crEVGhDkaY3CDCNQrxwEDIwADfZUBbiKrRSMfUIeyO5BNCHqkq9VczJiaUPl7CPOzO4inV9mA8nCkBAYnB6mEQwcAbdI82zAQl4V4MQ31PDz20HzvhrXND91nw/s1600/tshirts+3.jpg" /></a></div>
“We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future
point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life
is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. 'This is the day which the
Lord hath made … ,' the Psalmist wrote. 'Rejoice and be glad in it.'</div>
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“We are commanded 'to give thanks in all things.' So isn’t it
better to see with our eyes and hearts even the small things we <i>can</i> be
thankful for, rather than magnifying the negative in our current condition?</div>
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“The Lord has promised, 'He who receiveth all things with
thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be
added unto him, even an hundred fold.'</div>
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Read Dieter Uchtdorf's complete sermon here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/of-regrets-and-resolutions">http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/of-regrets-and-resolutions</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-22225577171694080352013-10-20T22:47:00.000-06:002013-10-21T19:43:29.364-06:00When One's Life is a Mess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zgwwaVEUbgGFb18CeO3jxLNr1bbjwFX05uvutnkyelyH5wLDK55FN19wUSN_YhL4hGicJFbwiIoe0kC1hGA37pkSieUP21i_718lp0D4Kf-Z2njtZSvcguXcAr_EstuQ0aKjj8RUVu8/s1600/living_room3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zgwwaVEUbgGFb18CeO3jxLNr1bbjwFX05uvutnkyelyH5wLDK55FN19wUSN_YhL4hGicJFbwiIoe0kC1hGA37pkSieUP21i_718lp0D4Kf-Z2njtZSvcguXcAr_EstuQ0aKjj8RUVu8/s320/living_room3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My parents are doing some renovations on their house, so
they had to take everything that was stored down in the basement and put it
upstairs until the renovation is finished. So, everything is everywhere. My
parents are tidy and organized people, so it's pretty unusual for things to be
this way; for example, we had a mattress and a box-spring just sitting in the
middle of the front room because there really was nowhere else to put it.<br />
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Once the basement is finished, however, everything will be back to normal. Well,
actually, it will be better than our old normal because of what my parents have
planned to do to the basement. The storage capacity of the basement itself will
be improved and it will be a more useful space for my parents. Everything
will fit nicely and there will be plenty of room for other things as well.<br />
<br />
C.S. Lewis:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWbZuwXPunaNRfqZ3Kq05KsU4xq-ll9bYz7TnqEITXL_jsrKbybSqA4awKoU9xqE6mc0xtT46A4AZULi6oOlTLIb83zx0DNxsIZwHLPPkdcOtCcEJD4ZCW6gJYN54eGQ5M7kH36NV6ok/s1600/living_room2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWbZuwXPunaNRfqZ3Kq05KsU4xq-ll9bYz7TnqEITXL_jsrKbybSqA4awKoU9xqE6mc0xtT46A4AZULi6oOlTLIb83zx0DNxsIZwHLPPkdcOtCcEJD4ZCW6gJYN54eGQ5M7kH36NV6ok/s320/living_room2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild
that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is
getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew
that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He
starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not
seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He
is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out
a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making
courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but
He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”<br />
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So, God is at work with all of us. We know that He wants us to become like Him,
and that that process can be painful, perplexing, and exhausting. But when
things are in flux and God is actively focusing on a particular way of making
us more like Him, certain aspects of our lives (relationships, time or ability
to serve, school or job opportunities, etc.) can become unorganized and can start
feeling messy. This messiness can be frustrating since it only seems to have arisen
because we are trying to figure out and do what God is asking us to do. So then guilt
and shame set in and we feel that we are failing, even though we are just trying
to keep our hand in God’s and follow His plan for us.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EjN8FkHaY14LzDg9FNSQ7pER35BTjyYQliYEa9JsThUOiU8oXJHATHQFek7Jm8Is4JQOVLM6Zi-wYDN3GGl8LLVGISO9UyAo5H4RlgUJ4Z7CEJcI03V8otdTFZla2t0oYeSiMKnU6hc/s1600/living_room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EjN8FkHaY14LzDg9FNSQ7pER35BTjyYQliYEa9JsThUOiU8oXJHATHQFek7Jm8Is4JQOVLM6Zi-wYDN3GGl8LLVGISO9UyAo5H4RlgUJ4Z7CEJcI03V8otdTFZla2t0oYeSiMKnU6hc/s320/living_room.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But, really, there is nothing wrong with having a “mattress”
in one’s front room, especially when one's self is under construction. Having the faith to follow God in His way and in His time while
our lives seem to be falling apart or getting messy is a manifestation of one’s
deep faith in God and His purposes. God is building us and He will help us work
through whatever the physical, emotional, or spiritual consequences of following
Him may be. He knew that messiness would be required as our own personal remodeling
is going on. And I have felt a special love and gratitude from God when we are
willing to give up our want for clarity and stability, or when we are willing
to give up our will, so that He can do His work. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-25177355119289233362013-06-11T18:22:00.000-06:002013-06-11T18:29:48.031-06:00Guest Post: Natalie Tripp<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiZN1-2yI_KO8oDtt_eM3t-jvVDmizxgK2NuBAcwyzScxheZ8rJrD2HlxgbWBj49T-HdTpo0nGCIC4XqBeWrpBr4uDDHwk6K9NHCGTkrLRjvs4y_dhjy53_LEWq3sLTqhBm-joORRMHg/s1600/provo_tabernacle_by_coulombic-d356000.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiZN1-2yI_KO8oDtt_eM3t-jvVDmizxgK2NuBAcwyzScxheZ8rJrD2HlxgbWBj49T-HdTpo0nGCIC4XqBeWrpBr4uDDHwk6K9NHCGTkrLRjvs4y_dhjy53_LEWq3sLTqhBm-joORRMHg/s320/provo_tabernacle_by_coulombic-d356000.png" width="320" /></a><b>Handling the What-Ifs</b><br />
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Regret is a word that instantly twists my stomach in knots.
Either because a) I made a mistake and feel bad about making it and haven’t yet
forgiven myself even though I’ve done my best to make the situation right again
or b) because it gives me anxiety that I maybe I could have made a better
choice somewhere down the line and will forever miss out on whatever
opportunity I might have had. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Opportunities come and go. There isn’t anything we can do to
make sure we take every great opportunity that comes to us. But I’ve always
struggled to reconcile with my past choices. I get anxiety over the
“should’ve…could’ve….would’ve” moments in my life, and wonder if my life will
ever be as good as it could have been if I would have just done things
differently or ‘right’ the first time around, and now I must have condemned
myself to a lesser state or something.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZvjg6_woZQuz1Z4hfh_wpTM5WX8vPVY7cR06Oayzj_GhedI0aaTJb_3FJ9JS9fKgK2_gVIdopsRQXsI-WExu8l5Uu0HBi4UlDaUlWnvaSGK-4XcnSsSuZSBjIUW3n4EA8tfsamUD4Ww/s1600/on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZvjg6_woZQuz1Z4hfh_wpTM5WX8vPVY7cR06Oayzj_GhedI0aaTJb_3FJ9JS9fKgK2_gVIdopsRQXsI-WExu8l5Uu0HBi4UlDaUlWnvaSGK-4XcnSsSuZSBjIUW3n4EA8tfsamUD4Ww/s320/on+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a>I’ve recently taken up biking, and enjoy riding around the
streets of Provo. I frequently pass the construction site of the Provo
Tabernacle/ City Center Temple. I often think back to the morning following the
fire that destroyed the building. I was producing and anchoring a morning radio
newscast and the fire was the big story of the day. A short time later, I was
told that someone who dealt with security of the Tabernacle received
notification that an alarm was going off in the building the night of the fire.
That person checked with an advisor and was told not to worry about it. Even
after a second alarm notification sounded, the warnings were left alone until
it was too late. Some might say the warnings or notifications were disregarded,
excused, dismissed, or "not heeded," until it was "too
late." The result? One of the older church buildings of this dispensation
burned into a hollow shell. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m sure a number of people involved in the fire feel awful
about a missed opportunity to check something that may have prevented the loss
of the building. I can’t imagine the guilt and pain I might feel if I were in
that situation. But less than a year later, something beautiful happened. In
the 2011 October General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced the
empty shell of the tabernacle would be restored and dedicated as a temple.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As a tabernacle the building served a wonderful role as a
community gathering center for cultural performance. It was a landmark honoring
the area’s faithful founders. I regret that I never took the opportunity to
visit the building prior to the fire. But now as a temple this building will,
in a sense, become perfect. It will be able to do so much good for so many
generations of people. It will become a more holy and sacred place than it was
before because of a missed opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t know whether or not the church had plans to
eventually turn the tabernacle into a temple and the fire just pushed those
plans to the front of the line, or if the building would have just remained the
great place it was before the fire. But I do look at it as an example that just
because we make mistakes or we choose one good thing over another good thing
does not mean that we will never be able to be as good or better than we would
be if we’d chosen differently.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjtXGv-wLqHvvaMJdV-KV44TuFQnNoc50Gu8vDYXgUiXyCe06z6-nVIfp1nfm7T29ksjUuq8VMjYYu5VZUfxeqe6Ymc7kdCIApMqZBNiuPxX6ZmhGKExkv2lp8yvrQ8sUjIskZMHn5UY/s1600/provo-city-center-mormon-temple1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjtXGv-wLqHvvaMJdV-KV44TuFQnNoc50Gu8vDYXgUiXyCe06z6-nVIfp1nfm7T29ksjUuq8VMjYYu5VZUfxeqe6Ymc7kdCIApMqZBNiuPxX6ZmhGKExkv2lp8yvrQ8sUjIskZMHn5UY/s320/provo-city-center-mormon-temple1.jpg" width="320" /></a>More recently I’ve been reviewing the last couple years of
my life and wondered if I might be happier if I’d made few different decisions
and avoided some mistakes. Thousands of years ago, a wise father once counseled
his son “[God] shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.” Mistakes have
consequences, sometimes very serious consequences. I believe God doesn’t want us
to knowingly choose the wrong path, because He understands the pain that path
will cause us. But He also understands that we will make those mistakes, and we
can learn and grow because of those mistakes. I’m grateful for a merciful God
who can use my mistakes to turn me into something better than I was before. I
believe that if I’m trying my best to do what’s right, I won’t have to wonder
if I’m missing out on a better life. Just like the tabernacle, God can restore
and perfect me.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-88556838449516111512013-05-06T19:47:00.000-06:002013-05-06T19:47:34.800-06:00Too Hard on Yourself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DvWfAnzwdL-35XSw-aHsF7GbcygWVHSfmIuVgnJm0OmAuDtWV-hmz5m7CvzjVx7V98GIZRAEAVi7_cwCHfYhbim5VljPjF02ylx1VozyVdiVPIeSOX5YM3W3Y4fhMcz5vhZ8kxtcwGY/s1600/playground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DvWfAnzwdL-35XSw-aHsF7GbcygWVHSfmIuVgnJm0OmAuDtWV-hmz5m7CvzjVx7V98GIZRAEAVi7_cwCHfYhbim5VljPjF02ylx1VozyVdiVPIeSOX5YM3W3Y4fhMcz5vhZ8kxtcwGY/s320/playground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
"If you treated your friends like you treat yourself, would you have any friends?"<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Ragan Lybbert</div>
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"We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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-Roderick Thorp</div>
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"Of all our infirmities, the most savage is to despise our being."<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
-Michel de Montaigne</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"People are crying up the rich and variegated plumage of the peacock, and he is himself blushing at the sight of his ugly feet."<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
-Sa'Di</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-Pn-PYKiQQNC2pazEtv6n0xFp9gyqmRffIxcH91Aa0_cs0dRWTSwLOgX05GvMglTmmwhAIHLEDYHtrDKeqxPFAvZ2xehR2VV6hyHJn027KCvwtBbWiWsqS99tAdjgo8xh0x6gPCcmhg/s1600/playground+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-Pn-PYKiQQNC2pazEtv6n0xFp9gyqmRffIxcH91Aa0_cs0dRWTSwLOgX05GvMglTmmwhAIHLEDYHtrDKeqxPFAvZ2xehR2VV6hyHJn027KCvwtBbWiWsqS99tAdjgo8xh0x6gPCcmhg/s320/playground+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>"Love yourself unconditionally, just as you love those closest to you despite their faults."<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
-Les Brown<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/12.27?lang=eng" target="_blank">Ether 12:27</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-24302766793783977042013-03-20T03:58:00.001-06:002013-03-20T04:01:00.636-06:00Studying God's Words Helps Us Get to Know Him<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnzNogZywN7n_bN6Wr0OtF9XyvsqtBYcaKM-LKxksbAsgE-0Ufgi18AzI6KQBn_x13kPWKfzdsxQK5W4pWs8JaL_mi5ZvEFha0cblG1f-DpX00i5rtk6olrYoeRjxzTEoXUV1j53-eT4/s1600/BibleStudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnzNogZywN7n_bN6Wr0OtF9XyvsqtBYcaKM-LKxksbAsgE-0Ufgi18AzI6KQBn_x13kPWKfzdsxQK5W4pWs8JaL_mi5ZvEFha0cblG1f-DpX00i5rtk6olrYoeRjxzTEoXUV1j53-eT4/s200/BibleStudy.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">"We can and must go often and carefully to the word of God. If we become casual in our study of the scriptures, we will become casual in our prayers. We may not cease to pray, but our prayers will become more repetitive, more mechanical, lacking real intent. Our hearts cannot be drawn out to a God we do not know, and the scriptures and the words of the living prophets help us know Him. As we know Him better, we love Him more."</span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #656565; line-height: 18px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Henry Eyring (read <a href="http://lds.org/liahona/2002/01/prayer?lang=eng&query=%22We+can+and+must+go+often+and+carefully+to+the+word+of+God.+If+we+become+casual+in+our+study+of+the+scriptures,+we+will+become+casual+in+our+prayers.%22" style="color: #0868b7; text-decoration: none;">this sermon</a>)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-38481174987143038022013-03-20T01:46:00.000-06:002013-03-20T01:49:14.725-06:00Waiting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmLv4yTc0tCMOqQWF2Qzpi2sHFUgJtT8yFCiAk0f6JRCngbstFtU8dlVwQgQG1l8GLDUqIJsHGlL5j44YB_kyTJ8oxThykYqtK4o7_uc6FBG_vBMSpUJVFuzo977vIgXj6MvTsEZ23Fk/s1600/desert+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmLv4yTc0tCMOqQWF2Qzpi2sHFUgJtT8yFCiAk0f6JRCngbstFtU8dlVwQgQG1l8GLDUqIJsHGlL5j44YB_kyTJ8oxThykYqtK4o7_uc6FBG_vBMSpUJVFuzo977vIgXj6MvTsEZ23Fk/s320/desert+mountains.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Submitting fully to heaven’s will…is essential to removing
the spiritual pavilions we sometimes put over our heads. But it does not
guarantee immediate answers to our prayers.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Abraham’s heart seems to have been right long before Sarah
conceived Isaac and before they received their promised land. Heaven had other
purposes to fulfill first. Those purposes included not only building Abraham
and Sarah’s faith but also teaching them eternal truths that they shared with
others on their long, circuitous route to the land prepared for them. The
Lord’s delays often seem long; some last a lifetime. But they are always
calculated to bless. They need never be times of loneliness or sorrow or
impatience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hv8AEEewlrVdhbKw9H1E_GCHdmgzmmpW8y-_-S8QETgO4NoKaTOEASdCxBVH0oyHgpWlLFTff93pHoZhOLgl9_gXxWIHFliJgE9L1UGdhaQ0cHx73lpoueuPqJQdPxbVUVk4FfbVVNk/s1600/desert+mountains+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hv8AEEewlrVdhbKw9H1E_GCHdmgzmmpW8y-_-S8QETgO4NoKaTOEASdCxBVH0oyHgpWlLFTff93pHoZhOLgl9_gXxWIHFliJgE9L1UGdhaQ0cHx73lpoueuPqJQdPxbVUVk4FfbVVNk/s1600/desert+mountains+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Although His time is not always our time, we can be sure
that the Lord keeps His promises. For any of you who now feel that He is hard
to reach, I testify that the day will come that we all will see Him face to
face. Just as there is nothing now to obscure His view of us, there will be
nothing to obscure our view of Him. We will all stand before Him, in person. …We
want to see Jesus Christ now, but our certain reunion with Him at the judgment
bar will be more pleasing if we first do the things that make Him as familiar
to us as we are to Him. As we serve Him, we become like Him, and we feel closer
to Him as we approach that day when nothing will hide our view.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">-Henry Eyring, member of the First Presidency of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<br />
<br />
Read the complete sermon:</span><br /><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/where-is-the-pavilion?lang=eng">http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/where-is-the-pavilion?lang=eng</a></span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-14030460100733084932013-03-05T12:07:00.000-07:002014-12-02T09:53:30.812-07:00I Have a Future. Right?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfh79KUjbRGOSmyptu7MDttlaZ7cQAZJAVYryaXAbC6H_cWJ3uKBFJ6Xl-Z-rI-5Sxcng1zpULPTVdC5O3O94bVxdOhH6RXLLTkYQ1ntOwUtVetEH9lvpW9Z95L1eMnPlaz0yl0riCvCA/s1600/crossroads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfh79KUjbRGOSmyptu7MDttlaZ7cQAZJAVYryaXAbC6H_cWJ3uKBFJ6Xl-Z-rI-5Sxcng1zpULPTVdC5O3O94bVxdOhH6RXLLTkYQ1ntOwUtVetEH9lvpW9Z95L1eMnPlaz0yl0riCvCA/s1600/crossroads.jpg" /></a></div>
Sigh. I still don't know what career path to head down. And now I don't even know what direction to face. I have eagerly started down a lot of different ones, even feeling like God had led me to them, only to have opportunities fall through or me find out I don't actually want to head that way. I sometimes feel frustrated that there isn't clearer direction being given by God. And sometimes I feel like I am being left behind, stuck at the crossroads as others head off into the woods, waving goodbye to me as they walk off down their seemingly clear and exciting paths.<br />
<br />
In response to these concerns, two experiences came to mind as I was in church the other day:<br />
<br />
1 - A little while ago I thought I might be lactose intolerant. But, it turned out to be a corn allergy. I had assumed that my allergic symptoms were caused by one thing but they were actually the result of something else. I had assumed I knew what the problem was, but I didn't.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjo8Qn1_d0_xPqXGlPLTt9kcPYCfh3R18sgq3E98SVwD5P33ExmfZtXN8G_TLUwGXHCl25ScCSo1Mgv5ic5gW-viF4pGPrHVVVdon8Brl9CKY2RSWdMKBA-MRA_jSqEtV0JRtCpcyK08/s1600/crossroads+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjo8Qn1_d0_xPqXGlPLTt9kcPYCfh3R18sgq3E98SVwD5P33ExmfZtXN8G_TLUwGXHCl25ScCSo1Mgv5ic5gW-viF4pGPrHVVVdon8Brl9CKY2RSWdMKBA-MRA_jSqEtV0JRtCpcyK08/s1600/crossroads+2.jpg" /></a></div>
2 - My friend and I were driving back from the grocery store the other night when he passed the road that we normally turn down to head home. I didn't say anything. Perhaps he wanted to take the scenic route? But, as we kept going further and further in the seemingly wrong direction, I suddenly realized that I had forgotten that I had asked him to drop me off at my brother's house after we had finished shopping. I had been questioning the direction we were going because I hadn't remembered our destination.<br />
<br />
While I may not know exactly what's going on now, a few truths have been repeatedly confirmed to me. God is my Father and He does have an individualized plan for me. He does know exactly what's going on. I may assume something is wrong, but what is currently going on might actually be exactly what needs to happen so that I can get to where God is leading me (and where I actually will want to go).<br />
<br />
I am on earth to learn and to become like God, and nothing helps me do that more than times of trial, uncertainty, or difficulty. <br />
<br />
And God has and does lead me through the Holy Spirit. I can clearly see how He has done that in the past. I am not where I am today because I knew where I was going; I am here because God knew where I needed to be and He knew how to get me here. He helped me make choices. He led me even when I didn't recognize that I was being led.<br />
<br />
So, does remembering those things help me know where I'm going? No. But, it brings me peace as I remember that God knows. And He'll help me get there.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-35508527901025072502013-03-05T01:52:00.000-07:002013-03-05T02:45:30.173-07:00Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSHnsLAgvgH9HmIvt_yNUYKF2DrQbQ8uQG_mhoPRNBefuoRx4e4nLn7pHNwnY8Fml9fMIC4UerHzpc6-GURV1FtXiTByTULlFjm5sO4AYNKyKk9tN5t7tw0m0-Nvx8EKvUhqbV1Lt1rg/s1600/Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSHnsLAgvgH9HmIvt_yNUYKF2DrQbQ8uQG_mhoPRNBefuoRx4e4nLn7pHNwnY8Fml9fMIC4UerHzpc6-GURV1FtXiTByTULlFjm5sO4AYNKyKk9tN5t7tw0m0-Nvx8EKvUhqbV1Lt1rg/s1600/Stars.jpg" /></a></div>
I usually like praying. Though sometimes I anxiously feel the need to try to remind God that, despite my behavior, I actually am a good person. But, imagining that I need to convince God to love me shows that I am afraid that God can only love me if I have perfect behavior. And that simply isn't and never has been true.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I feel connected to God the most when I am just Eric. Just genuine. Because I want to follow Christ's teachings, there will always be ways to improve. But I want to, and I want to follow Him more than anything. And He knows that. So, I don't need to try to prove my heart's desires to God; He already knows that I am sincerely trying. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One easy way to be more open with God is to tell Him about what is going on during the day. It makes it feel more like a father/son relationship. Because even though He already knows what's going on, He actually does care to hear about it. It's like when I talk to my nephews on the phone. Even though I know that they only do a couple of things every day I love to hear them describe it all. It's adorable and I love to hear them talk. Similarly, I have felt God's excitement for me as I have told Him about things I like, hate, and am doing. It helps me feel closer to Him. And coming closer to God feels good.</div>
<div>
<br />
Learn more about prayer <a href="http://mormon.org/commandments" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-91567122753199507012012-09-25T13:54:00.003-06:002013-03-20T04:10:01.236-06:00Guest Post: Emilie Gardner<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6ysgfYQSN3zbGeFnOaykwBOV-MC5K2D2Juld1dQTVcPVp4JT4Ro6MTKFqj2VSPjUUNi5kfkBb7sVGXJ-_lc_wdO0z4nbI216KWWg2pDUJT9oT1H4W1Y6rWz-E61Hx7Tl_Qus2eH5lzw/s1600/Freeway+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6ysgfYQSN3zbGeFnOaykwBOV-MC5K2D2Juld1dQTVcPVp4JT4Ro6MTKFqj2VSPjUUNi5kfkBb7sVGXJ-_lc_wdO0z4nbI216KWWg2pDUJT9oT1H4W1Y6rWz-E61Hx7Tl_Qus2eH5lzw/s320/Freeway+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Several weeks ago, I was driving
on the freeway a distance that took about 45 minutes to drive. About 20 minutes
from my destination, I noticed a truck following me very closely. Not only was
this truck following me, but this truck also had its brights on. I changed
lanes and then became frustrated because the truck changed into the same lane
behind me! The truck followed me for about 10 minutes with its brights on. I
started glaring into my rear-view mirror at the truck (that always
works ;) ). Because the brights were on and I was glaring so intently, when I
turned to look back at the road, I could no longer see. I was blinded by what
was going on behind me. In fact, it took my eyes several seconds to be able to
see what was going on in front of me again.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought about that experience
and realized that Heavenly Father was teaching me a valuable lesson. And with a
New Year approaching, I feel it is important to explore that lesson in a little
more detail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe that Father in Heaven
was teaching me not to focus on the annoyances that are in my past. In fact, I
think that's the point, they are in the past. They are behind me. I am on the
road, in a car that is leaving those things behind. They are not current for
me. They are behind me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmL8aTnR5gNL8JeU0T3Jt6qf6oXBnwlJTN5LqEy-gfJLQLOsCBaW9et1wePynrTgXROhVPb0e__ds7UqZ37Kr_9wWQnUYSlyEkLcoop0NqCpPTpJASi7qXf3MLrngh6ksDKVAnODUSVo/s1600/Freeway+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmL8aTnR5gNL8JeU0T3Jt6qf6oXBnwlJTN5LqEy-gfJLQLOsCBaW9et1wePynrTgXROhVPb0e__ds7UqZ37Kr_9wWQnUYSlyEkLcoop0NqCpPTpJASi7qXf3MLrngh6ksDKVAnODUSVo/s320/Freeway+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Apostle, Paul, said,
"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (<a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/philip/3.13-14?lang=eng#12">Philippians
3:13–14</a>)."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we make the past our focus,
instead of the future, it indicates a lack of faith. As Elder Holland said,
"I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for
yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be
learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing
experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn
and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead
and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith
always has to do with blessings and truths and events that
will yet be efficacious in our lives." So yes, look back and
learn, and then be done! When we have faith, we look forward and we let go of
what is behind us. We let go of things people have done to hurt us-whether
intentional or unintentional. We let go of relationships when it is time to let
go. We let go of our own mistakes. We let go of anything that keeps us from
moving forward and becoming.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is time to let go of the
things that are keeping us from safely moving forward. Do not be blinded by
what is behind you. Look forward, stay safe, and live in faith.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Look ahead and remember
that faith is always pointed toward the future." -Elder Holland</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-62288413838661783872012-07-16T22:18:00.000-06:002012-09-25T13:52:32.568-06:00Long but Good, or C.S. Lewis: The Three Parts of MoralityThis is an excerpt from <u>Mere Christianity</u>, by C.S. Lewis: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nVEckGAhYeRBtIItsUYO8w6osBXjLyrbhTLPgyp_lf8qnAxqXNUbp-dZE97Ta6iOprKPpe2subBcrOzd5z4y1_0ZRKXnIL2AS7MxmqpUSkJTABDhuYs7zWWjBBiZFc2bep715NQipo8/s1600/84724036709386869_XHjw3m1K_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nVEckGAhYeRBtIItsUYO8w6osBXjLyrbhTLPgyp_lf8qnAxqXNUbp-dZE97Ta6iOprKPpe2subBcrOzd5z4y1_0ZRKXnIL2AS7MxmqpUSkJTABDhuYs7zWWjBBiZFc2bep715NQipo8/s320/84724036709386869_XHjw3m1K_c.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>The Three Parts of Morality </b><br />
<br />
There is a story <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">about</span> a schoolboy who was asked what he thought God
was like. He replied that, as far as he could make out, God was "The
sort of person who is always snooping round to see if anyone is enjoying
himself and then trying to stop it." And I am afraid that is the sort
of idea that the word Morality raises in a good many people's minds:
something that interferes, something that stops you having a good time.
In reality, moral rules are directions for running the human machine.
Every moral rule is there to prevent a breakdown, or a strain, or a
friction, in the running of that machine. That is why these rules at
first seem to be constantly interfering with our natural inclinations.
When you are being taught how to use any machine, the instructor keeps
on saying, "No, don't do it like that," because, of course, there are
all sorts of things that look all right and seem to you the natural way
of treating the machine, but do not really work.<br />
<br />
Some people prefer to talk about moral "ideals" rather than moral
rules and about moral "idealism" rather than moral obedience. Now it is,
of course, quite true that moral perfection is an "ideal" in the sense
that we cannot achieve it. In that sense every kind of perfection is,
for us humans, an ideal; we cannot succeed in being perfect car drivers
or perfect tennis players or in drawing perfectly straight lines. But
there is another sense in which it is very misleading to call moral
perfection an ideal. When a man says that a certain woman, or house, or
ship, or garden is "his ideal" he does not mean (unless he is rather a
fool) that everyone else ought to have the same ideal. In such matters
we are entitled to have different tastes and, therefore, different
ideals. But it is dangerous to describe a man who tries very hard to
keep the moral law as a "man of high ideals," because this might lead
you to think that moral perfection was a private taste of his own and
that the rest of us were not called on to share it. This would be a
disastrous mistake. Perfect behaviour may be as unattainable as perfect
gear-changing when we drive; but it is a necessary ideal prescribed for
all men by the very nature of the human machine just as perfect
gear-changing is an ideal prescribed for all drivers by the very nature
of cars. And it would be even more dangerous to think of oneself as a
person "of high ideals" because one is trying to tell no lies at all
(instead of only a few lies) or never to commit adultery (instead of
committing it only seldom) or not to be a bully (instead of being only a
moderate bully). It might lead you to become a prig and to think you
were rather a special person who deserved to be congratulated on his
"idealism." In reality you might just as well expect to be congratulated
because, whenever you do a sum, you try to get it quite right. To be
sure, perfect arithmetic is "an ideal"; you will certainly make some
mistakes in some calculations. But there is nothing very fine about
trying to be quite accurate at each step in each sum. It would be
idiotic not to try; for every mistake is going to cause you trouble
later on. In the same way every moral failure is going to cause trouble,
probably to others and certainly to yourself. By talking about rules
and obedience instead of "ideals" and "idealism" we help to remind
ourselves of these facts.<br />
<br />
Now let us go a step further. There are two ways in which the human
machine goes wrong. One is when human individuals drift apart from one
another, or else collide with one another and do one another damage, by
cheating or bullying. The other is when things go wrong inside the
individual-when the different parts of him (his different faculties and
desires and so on) either drift apart or interfere with one another. You
can get the idea plain if you think of us as a fleet of ships sailing
in formation. The voyage will be a success only, in the first place, if
the ships do not collide and get in one another's way; and, secondly, if
each ship is seaworthy and has her engines in good order. As a matter
of fact, you cannot have either of these two things without the other.
If the ships keep on having collisions they will not remain seaworthy
very long. On the other hand, if their steering gears are out of order
they will not be able to avoid collisions. Or, if you like, think of
humanity as a band playing a tune. To get a good result, you need two
things. Each player's individual instrument must be in tune and also
each must come in at the right moment so as to combine with all the
others.<br />
<br />
But there is one thing we have not yet taken into account. We have
not asked where the fleet is trying to get to, or what piece of music
the band is trying to play. The instruments might be all in tune and
might all come in at the right moment, but even so the performance would
not be a success if they had been engaged to provide dance music and
actually played nothing but Dead Marches. And however well the fleet
sailed, its voyage would be a failure if it were meant to reach New York
and actually arrived at Calcutta.<br />
<br />
Morality, then, seems to be concerned with three things. Firstly,
with fair play and harmony between individuals. Secondly, with what
might be called tidying up or harmonising the things inside each
individual. Thirdly, with the general purpose of human life as a whole:
what man was made for: what course the whole fleet ought to be on: what
tune the conductor of the band wants it to play.<br />
<br />
You may have noticed that modern people are nearly always thinking
about the first thing and forgetting the other two. When people say in
the newspapers that we are striving for Christian moral standards, they
usually mean that we are striving for kindness and fair play between
nations, and classes, and individuals; that is, they are thinking only
of the first thing. When a man says about something he wants to do, "It
can't be wrong because it doesn't do anyone else any harm," he is
thinking only of the first thing. He is thinking it does not matter what
his ship is like inside provided that he does not run into the next
ship. And it is quite natural, when we start thinking about morality, to
begin with the first thing, with social relations. For one thing, the
results of bad morality in that sphere are so obvious and press on us
every day: war and poverty and graft and lies and shoddy work. And also,
as long as you stick to the first thing, there is very little
disagreement about morality. Almost all people at all times have agreed
(in theory) that human beings ought to be honest and kind and helpful to
one another. But though it is natural to begin with all that, if our
thinking about morality stops there, we might just as well not have
thought at all. Unless we go on to the second thing-the tidying up
inside each human being-we are only deceiving ourselves.<br />
<br />
What is the good of telling the ships how to steer so as to avoid
collisions if, in fact, they are such crazy old tubs that they cannot be
steered at all? What is the good of drawing up, on paper, rules for
social behaviour, if we know that, in fact, our greed, cowardice, ill
temper, and self-conceit are going to prevent us from keeping them? I do
not mean for a moment that we ought not to think, and think hard, about
improvements in our social and economic system. What I do mean is that
all that thinking will be mere moonshine unless we realise that nothing
but the courage and unselfishness of individuals is ever going to make
any system work properly. It is easy enough to remove the particular
kinds of graft or bullying that go on under the present system: but as
long as men are twisters or bullies they will find some new way of
carrying on the old game under the new system. You cannot make men good
by law: and without good men you cannot have a good society. That is why
we must go on to think of the second thing: of morality inside the
individual.<br />
<br />
But I do not think we can stop there either. We are now getting to
the point at which different beliefs about the universe lead to
different behaviour. And it would seem, at first sight, very sensible to
stop before we got there, and just carry on with those parts of
morality that all sensible people agree about. But can we? Remember that
religion involves a series of statements about facts, which must be
either true or false. If they are true, one set of conclusions will
follow about the right sailing of the human fleet: if they are false,
quite a different set. For example, let us go back to the man who says
that a thing cannot be wrong unless it hurts some other human being. He
quite understands that he must not damage the other ships in the convoy,
but he honestly thinks that what he does to his own ship is simply his
own business. But does it not make a great difference whether his ship
is his own property or not? Does it not make a great difference whether I
am, so to speak, the landlord of my own mind and body, or only a
tenant, responsible to the real landlord? If somebody else made me, for
his own purposes, then I shall have a lot of duties which I should not
have if I simply belonged to myself.<br />
<br />
Again, Christianity asserts that every individual human being is
going to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there
are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I
were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother
about very seriously if I am going to live for ever. Perhaps my bad
temper or my jealousy are gradually getting worse -so gradually that the
increase in seventy years will not be very noticeable. But it might be
absolute hell in a million years: in fact, if Christianity is true, Hell
is the precisely correct technical term for what it would be. And
immortality makes this other difference, which, by the by, has a
connection with the difference between totalitarianism and democracy. If
individuals live only seventy years, then a state, or a nation, or a
civilisation, which may last for a thousand years, is more important
than an individual. But if Christianity is true, then the individual is
not only more important but incomparably more important, for he is
everlasting and the life of a state or a civilisation, compared with
his, is only a moment.<br />
<br />
It seems, then, that if we are to think about morality, we must think
of all three departments: relations between man and man: things inside
each man: and relations between man and the power that made him. We can
all cooperate in the first one. Disagreements begin with the second and
become serious with the third. It is in dealing with the third that the
main differences between Christian and non-Christian morality come out.
For the rest of this book (Mere Christianity) I am going to assume the Christian point of
view, and look at the whole picture as it will be if Christianity is
true.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-91151099693435449782012-06-11T23:12:00.001-06:002012-06-12T13:57:32.220-06:00A Thought II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8jnOdywsj3oukxg6arYHU93fveLbZDFP2wR6f34mKiK7naIVaM3zU0lovQ8GWV0rpKqrkS9sxbj0ITg_Tp73qa5ZSh6cIt6HnJ5K9X8qS2inIZTzS-y_REKv9G_Km9dMtvjucodKXz4/s1600/blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8jnOdywsj3oukxg6arYHU93fveLbZDFP2wR6f34mKiK7naIVaM3zU0lovQ8GWV0rpKqrkS9sxbj0ITg_Tp73qa5ZSh6cIt6HnJ5K9X8qS2inIZTzS-y_REKv9G_Km9dMtvjucodKXz4/s200/blue.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">“Happiness
is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof,
if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue,
uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of
God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing
them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless
we comply with or keep those we have already received."</span></div>
<div class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: right;">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Joseph Smith </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-53888635269274586642012-06-11T16:27:00.000-06:002012-06-12T13:56:26.721-06:00A Thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRZbJcJhKv72_swxV5peaB4ZeUhhEtem63KAnKjVPdmIXNp_FqOOX0dLVsEJZfu6sEAkzWFZSN9-IWeOzk6SCyEqgPNHCADDkLrPy0A5M55TJdrw1ACLNdOA2RFgFQNsgA0brLf_p2Dw/s1600/soft+red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRZbJcJhKv72_swxV5peaB4ZeUhhEtem63KAnKjVPdmIXNp_FqOOX0dLVsEJZfu6sEAkzWFZSN9-IWeOzk6SCyEqgPNHCADDkLrPy0A5M55TJdrw1ACLNdOA2RFgFQNsgA0brLf_p2Dw/s200/soft+red.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
"If all I had tomorrow is what I thanked God for today, what
would I have tomorrow?"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-12580132767282598102012-06-11T16:08:00.001-06:002013-03-20T01:57:54.875-06:00Life as of June 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_33vVImk7DCJOTReUSSK3zW5O9jNB6uU24gUSV766I8e_U1eGBLj7Y6VqFzdGiINQd8ub4W6IdY3ZigcfhA9crC_1zS97vhkCrezIZMLtqvh4bsdz_kMFX0GNsWzvajpgYMUA8HV4J4/s1600/0908111934_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_33vVImk7DCJOTReUSSK3zW5O9jNB6uU24gUSV766I8e_U1eGBLj7Y6VqFzdGiINQd8ub4W6IdY3ZigcfhA9crC_1zS97vhkCrezIZMLtqvh4bsdz_kMFX0GNsWzvajpgYMUA8HV4J4/s1600/0908111934_0001.jpg" /></a></div>
So, if you've spoken with me in the last few months, you know that I have been struggling to figure out what I want to do with my life, especially in regards to my career. I feel a little like I'm playing Keep-Away, the game where a big circle of people keep tossing a ball back and forth to each other while one person runs around inside the circle, trying to touch whoever currently has the ball before they toss it to someone else. I've been seriously and carefully "running" back to old career options, exploring new ones, and being concerned because the time to decide is now. <br />
<br />
Going through this process, along with witnessing one of my friends pass through a true tragedy, has helped me learn a truth that is very precious to me:<br />
<br />
<i>It is in the process of experiencing uncertainty or adversity that we can receive some of God's choicest blessings.</i><br />
<br />
And, for me, one of those blessings is <i>knowledge</i>. Knowledge of who I am, what I'm made of, and what my core is. Knowledge of God's purpose for sending us to earth. He has given us the opportunity to <i>become</i> like Him: to grow and learn by experiencing new things. And to learn that He is always going to support us, no matter what we've lost or how frustrated we might feel. <br />
<br />
A lesson from music lessons: if the goal is to learn how to play an instrument well, no amount of theoretical knowledge can take the place of actually practicing that instrument. I could study what a piano is and what the keys do when they're pushed, but no amount of theoretical knowledge could replace the experiential knowledge I will gain by actually practicing the piano every day. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7apiheJ3Tel2-FqQIk3_qgemFKlA8BfGD_HRKHeDFZ2lT8fuzGSaNWCjGsiSGEeIOEumNr-XbFUFTkjvdEH8GjPYvJdSqoFAyW8acD9kSFNdd6L33tq-1UAYzsv9aqqehdxX5qFAlhbs/s1600/0908111932_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7apiheJ3Tel2-FqQIk3_qgemFKlA8BfGD_HRKHeDFZ2lT8fuzGSaNWCjGsiSGEeIOEumNr-XbFUFTkjvdEH8GjPYvJdSqoFAyW8acD9kSFNdd6L33tq-1UAYzsv9aqqehdxX5qFAlhbs/s1600/0908111932_0001.jpg" /></a>Well, we lived with God before this life and we all chose to come to earth. We had theoretical knowledge of what this whole earth-life would be like and who we could become. But, now we're here. We're actually doing the practicing and learning. We are experiencing things that can, for the better, <u>change us</u>. The becoming thing is actually taking place. And we will become better than we ever imagined we could become. And the becoming occurs as we learn from the difficult things we experience. <br />
<br />
Blessings don't just come at the end of trials. I've also learned that expressing thanks for adversity and confusion while still experiencing them leads to some pretty powerful experiences. It's a simple act of faith: showing God that you trust Him, and that you trust that there are beautiful things to learn from the difficulties of life. I promise that as you express thanks to God for your own struggles, even while you're still experiencing them, you will feel Him teach you exciting and important things. What we learn from trials can often lead us to sincerely feel grateful for the trial itself. Passing through our hard times enables us to learn things that will forever be a part of who we are.<br />
<br />
So, as we ask God to help us, He will change our hearts and teach us the
lessons we came here to learn. He will give us the strength that we
need to keep going. He suffered what we experience so that He can help
us (<a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/7.11-15?lang=eng" target="_blank">Alma 7:11-15</a>). And God will not leave us alone; He will comfort us through His Holy Spirit and through our friends and loved ones.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-12188181856519186242012-06-11T15:10:00.001-06:002013-03-05T02:26:47.607-07:00Guest Post: Dominique Badura<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESMJ4nAmVflgbomdIrmQeQKxj6_9SDNd0Obs7AEe2kMql6AHjBesFtfJ4eJEUP3hhgfSQ-KJ9Xpa6JiXIGjVXD5nrwly0h5tTYnyNTT64VG6cXfmZQAAP-J8FkBbJ5W8OkFmLmGrRqJQ/s1600/boston+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESMJ4nAmVflgbomdIrmQeQKxj6_9SDNd0Obs7AEe2kMql6AHjBesFtfJ4eJEUP3hhgfSQ-KJ9Xpa6JiXIGjVXD5nrwly0h5tTYnyNTT64VG6cXfmZQAAP-J8FkBbJ5W8OkFmLmGrRqJQ/s320/boston+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0bBVxED_ssBRDX4THgXYAwBUu_b9Vtuz5QYPLu7-xH-zOysC8mmwyCUYsxOyK4KzbTat1wUDQwKziLkA_k63k70gSPgnCtwVdH0xRhN0fDUbGLRFej60_0YuFBUxPLEQOLkIO2rHUvQ/s1600/boston+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I was baptized when I was 8 years old and have been a member
of the church my whole life, but my true conversion happened later in life,
after I went to Boston. If it wasn’t for missionary work, I wouldn’t be a
member of this church. <br />
<br />
I always wanted to be the person that could share my testimony on an airplane,
or with a random stranger on the street. But it just didn’t work like that. In
order to share your testimony, you have to have a testimony. After being a
member of this church for 18 years, I realized as I was trying to I was trying
to share my testimony in Boston that I didn’t really have one. I took books of
Mormon with me so I could pass them out, but in order to share my testimony, I
needed to have one of my own. I met friends while in Boston that to this day
are some of the best missionaries I know. They saw me struggling and made sure
I went to church every week, they read scriptures with me but most importantly,
they loved me. <br />
<br />
When I came back from Boston, I fell back into old habits and stopped going to
church. My Boston friends, with a few additions, wouldn’t let me go though.
They continued their missionary work and eventually I gained a testimony of my
own. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0bBVxED_ssBRDX4THgXYAwBUu_b9Vtuz5QYPLu7-xH-zOysC8mmwyCUYsxOyK4KzbTat1wUDQwKziLkA_k63k70gSPgnCtwVdH0xRhN0fDUbGLRFej60_0YuFBUxPLEQOLkIO2rHUvQ/s1600/boston+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0bBVxED_ssBRDX4THgXYAwBUu_b9Vtuz5QYPLu7-xH-zOysC8mmwyCUYsxOyK4KzbTat1wUDQwKziLkA_k63k70gSPgnCtwVdH0xRhN0fDUbGLRFej60_0YuFBUxPLEQOLkIO2rHUvQ/s200/boston+4.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
With help of friends I started reading the book of Mormon, and living the way I
was supposed to. But most importantly, I started to feel Heavenly Father’s love
for me. I could see through my friends examples that Heavenly Father loves me,
and that I was supposed to go to Boston so I could gain a testimony and be able
to share it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MwBEq1yu2y9WSjbYqIXqnhkaksOOiFPSgAXMpMvT5NWlIk9y3KR3SsctpvO2GscZuVELZY-7sZXiKJ_DfDTlALKQXhMSKSYN83Q0AxLQerdt_YzVjySGbyIrTh17UDHN_ASrNFmkR-U/s1600/boston+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MwBEq1yu2y9WSjbYqIXqnhkaksOOiFPSgAXMpMvT5NWlIk9y3KR3SsctpvO2GscZuVELZY-7sZXiKJ_DfDTlALKQXhMSKSYN83Q0AxLQerdt_YzVjySGbyIrTh17UDHN_ASrNFmkR-U/s320/boston+3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Through this I gained a testimony of the book of Mormon, as I did Moroni’s
promise each time I knelt in prayer I just heard the voice “you know it’s true”
But during the sessions of the last October conference, that is when I got the
firm answer of knowing what I was doing was good, and right, that Joseph Smith
translated the book of Mormon and that when we do what is right that Heavenly
Father blesses us. <br />
<br />
Missionary work is love, like said by Elder Koelliker in this most recent
conference, “it is when we yield to God’s will and live His patter that His
spirit is felt. The Savior taught, “by this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another” This principle of having love one to
another and developing our ability to be Christ centered in how we think,
speak, and act is fundamental in becoming disciples of Christ and teachers of
His gospel.” <br />
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It is because of the love of others that I am a member of
this church. Missionary work is incredibly important, I can now testify of
that.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-8079089489136943862012-04-03T23:58:00.000-06:002013-03-05T02:27:06.089-07:00Guest Post: Ragan Lybbert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn-YbOnVPsQiB-gTib6zJER6GhG4G-eXTS3miteBK52PE6hb3tgGZtmtIqWq_dAepxAxjPSlXwEWBcS8VGkByuLAxAJGvtNW_FooBFW61lIdSMzFGQPjuoTdmH0g4h7zzqge4PUGra7w/s1600/77194581082969580_NLyShbZ8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn-YbOnVPsQiB-gTib6zJER6GhG4G-eXTS3miteBK52PE6hb3tgGZtmtIqWq_dAepxAxjPSlXwEWBcS8VGkByuLAxAJGvtNW_FooBFW61lIdSMzFGQPjuoTdmH0g4h7zzqge4PUGra7w/s400/77194581082969580_NLyShbZ8_c.jpg" width="400" /></a>I was sitting in Sunday School not too long ago and had a
very vivid memory come to mind that I hadn’t reflected on for quite some time.
The instructor was speaking about our Savior and His ability to rescue us from
any difficulty or hardship, even the darkest times in our lives. A very brief,
yet dark moment of my life flooded to my memory and dominated my thoughts. Even
more vividly I remembered how the thought of the Savior and God’s promises to
me helped pull me out (almost literally) of that situation.<br />
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I was on a river rafting trip with a youth group from my
ward having a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">great</i> time. A few
minutes before this incident I had climbed off a large raft with a big group of
my peers and leaders and climbed onto the back half of a small, inflatable, two
man kayak with a close friend. As we headed downstream we took on every big
rapid and quick current we could. We were having the time of our lives. Finally,
we took on a particularly big rapid that seemed to dip and then wash back over
itself so that the visible part of the rapid was actually flowing upstream. Its
upstream force was enough to stop our little kayak with my friend past the
rapid and me still behind it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoesDTJwa7lHFxMy0ongC9or9_J7Kx5QAvX9zT91tuVKRjvLFiBfqVD5pY50DQvnRFAxccp3uPUXGFzxgy77b9J6SoLrS9rq2ICczQUPH3hBU_4WzeBV4vDTOV6rzB8HAONB_yZEUtSNg/s1600/79516749640247987_6gnj5Q5T_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoesDTJwa7lHFxMy0ongC9or9_J7Kx5QAvX9zT91tuVKRjvLFiBfqVD5pY50DQvnRFAxccp3uPUXGFzxgy77b9J6SoLrS9rq2ICczQUPH3hBU_4WzeBV4vDTOV6rzB8HAONB_yZEUtSNg/s320/79516749640247987_6gnj5Q5T_b.jpg" width="224" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoesDTJwa7lHFxMy0ongC9or9_J7Kx5QAvX9zT91tuVKRjvLFiBfqVD5pY50DQvnRFAxccp3uPUXGFzxgy77b9J6SoLrS9rq2ICczQUPH3hBU_4WzeBV4vDTOV6rzB8HAONB_yZEUtSNg/s1600/79516749640247987_6gnj5Q5T_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>All of a sudden our kayak buckled and I was sucked down into
the rapid. At first I thought nothing of it as I had already jumped in the
river multiple times that day and have spent much of my life in the water.
However, despite wearing a life jacket, I wasn’t surfacing. Still, I didn’t
become concerned until I noticed that my surroundings were getting darker and
darker as the rapid forced me deeper and deeper without allowing me to move
downstream at all. I don’t know how long I was under the water, but I know it
was long enough to think that I was going to die; just as that thought crossed
my mind, I remembered my patriarchal blessing. Specific promises and personal assignments
that I had been given came to mind and I knew my time on earth was not yet
finished. I knew the Lord had more for me to do and that He would take care of
me until I had finished my assigned tasks.</div>
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No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than I instantly
shot to the surface. Immediately next to me was a couple on a small boat who just
happened to be right where I surfaced. They helped me onto their boat and took
me to my group where I was fussed over for a minute and then allowed to enjoy
the rest of the trip.</div>
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I have since associated this experience with one of my
favorite scriptures. Matthew 14:30-31. This is the story where Peter joins our
Savior, who is walking on the water. It reads -</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa3_n1bJJQMFjYR4Qhb-gx7u9qpt93s6S0RD-i4ale6acSyT4fZ_XY12HSvlTVfHqHVRU1pVy-c6NoyhyphenhyphenUDcbq3IKUyb_LIRE3slIYFF5E6KtuvHQ-okGmWZyRPO8RYvoC0wJYWnVfR8/s1600/795167496460247987_6gnj5Q5T_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa3_n1bJJQMFjYR4Qhb-gx7u9qpt93s6S0RD-i4ale6acSyT4fZ_XY12HSvlTVfHqHVRU1pVy-c6NoyhyphenhyphenUDcbq3IKUyb_LIRE3slIYFF5E6KtuvHQ-okGmWZyRPO8RYvoC0wJYWnVfR8/s400/795167496460247987_6gnj5Q5T_b.jpg" width="400" /></a>30 But when he (Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he
was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, save me</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1887303610960243614" name="31"> </a>31 And <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">immediately</i> Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught
him,</div>
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<br /></div>
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I love that the Savior <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">immediately</i>
came to Peter’s rescue, much like He did mine. I know that if we are living
according to God’s laws that we can call upon Him in our need and that He will
come <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">immediately</i> to our aid, no
matter how bleak the situation, so long as it is His will to do so. Our Savior
can save us from any situation we find ourselves in, so long as we will turn to
Him and ask for His help. I love Him for that and for the great sacrifice He
made for each one of us.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-84652377505057026082012-03-22T16:08:00.000-06:002013-03-20T02:37:03.079-06:00List Time, or Lately<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2xhYHQglmCrVbyW-egVlpkKoei2c1tKHrnONoK5grJHmXt_GlTZtCfl-vx01Y-Gnn0-Ybqcbm4OBpyoLJajeSXEF0HSRzWc0I1lGsQJuhQPeUmS0962Xpiyb5GYVaWopRR4KS_vM2Rg/s1600/201043570835065074_bvTxwrWk_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2xhYHQglmCrVbyW-egVlpkKoei2c1tKHrnONoK5grJHmXt_GlTZtCfl-vx01Y-Gnn0-Ybqcbm4OBpyoLJajeSXEF0HSRzWc0I1lGsQJuhQPeUmS0962Xpiyb5GYVaWopRR4KS_vM2Rg/s320/201043570835065074_bvTxwrWk_c.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
Life's been wild lately; I've made some decisions that have dramatically changed where I'm going with my life. But, I'm really happy about where I'm headed. So, here're just some thoughts:<br />
<br />
- Prayer really is two-way communication. God has encouraged us to talk <i>with</i> Him, not just <i>at </i>Him. It's a whole different experience to really tell God our sincere feelings instead of just saying what we think we should be saying and how we should be saying it. Sometimes we may feel that God couldn't really love us because of who we are or because of what we've done, or we may think that the small things in our lives are insignificant or inappropriate to share with Him. Not so. None of those ideas are true; they are lies designed to keep us from approaching the one person who really does love us unconditionally. No matter what's happened or how imperfect we are, God <i>always</i> wants to hear from us. (Learn more about prayer <a href="http://mormon.org/commandments/#pray-often">here</a>)<br />
<br />
- Life is exciting and there are loads of cool opportunities we can take advantage of every day. Even if our options are genuinely limited, God can help us to take advantage of the opportunities we <i>are</i> presented. <br />
<br />
- Being true to oneself gives a cool sense of confidence. Placing my worth on others' opinions of me is exhausting and against everything God has told me. My worth comes from knowing that I am God's son and that He loves me. I can learn to love myself and others in that same way. (More info <a href="http://mormon.org/plan-of-happiness/#gods-plan-for-you">here</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbruOyGKIMqz_Z_ZQdRQpHDXeZKtINdw2xU9Y3JNWJlkDRSjjWrAQFpKS6wD1Byhsdl1PDnKcD2FNbP-RTDI-2fSULKgQD5wa5bOP7jiyDEbYFb1oBVZXTNGnOqDC4daUEpC4tbQf17U/s1600/72550243967227902_FWUr7qxR_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbruOyGKIMqz_Z_ZQdRQpHDXeZKtINdw2xU9Y3JNWJlkDRSjjWrAQFpKS6wD1Byhsdl1PDnKcD2FNbP-RTDI-2fSULKgQD5wa5bOP7jiyDEbYFb1oBVZXTNGnOqDC4daUEpC4tbQf17U/s320/72550243967227902_FWUr7qxR_c.jpg" width="245" /></a>- Change takes time. God's answers take time. Troubles and concerns never end. I think God wants me to learn to be happy in the process, in the moment, each day. There is no "finished" or "ok,-now-I'm-ready-to-go." Every day can be good, no matter how terrible <i>some</i> elements of life may be. I have given those "<i>some</i>" hard elements of my life too much attention. God is helping me look at those as only a<i> part</i> of my life; as He's helping me do this, I am seeing a world of exciting and beautiful people, opportunities, and experiences that have always been mine, but that I have overlooked.<br />
<br />
- It has been a process to learn what I've learned, to see what I'm seeing, and to feel what I feel. And I'm not done with my process. But, that's exactly where I need to be. We are where we are, and there are no "oh dear, I've ruined everything" or "this will never work out." These ideas may seem to be real and inescapable, but they're not. They're not real because of Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice for us, He knows how and is able to help us exactly where we are. The future is not determined by the past. We can place our hope and our trust in Jesus. He will comfort and help us as we learn how to accept Him in our lives.<br />
<br />
Click <a href="http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/">here</a> to learn more about things you can do to accept Jesus more in your life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-25119111867491158912012-03-11T23:17:00.003-06:002012-03-11T23:17:52.241-06:00We Lived With God Before This Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JR8qIrJcJh4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-6134803387565195352012-02-27T22:54:00.003-07:002012-02-27T22:54:10.803-07:00Eric, Remember This, or Cool Blog Post I Found<a href="http://www.growinghomeblog.com/2012/02/god-wont-give-you-anything-you-cannot.html">http://www.growinghomeblog.com/2012/02/god-wont-give-you-anything-you-cannot.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-7703970300023980942012-01-28T22:59:00.001-07:002012-01-28T22:59:19.563-07:00When I Feel That My Efforts Are Insignificant, or God Knows Our Hearts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/e1G-aZIempw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-48366917554694442662012-01-27T09:05:00.001-07:002013-03-20T01:59:42.432-06:00When No is Right, or When Yes is Assuring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXY5DPlC97flViwJqYWHViDrjDEMGRQzySQEum0Kk1TgnlxUisI9om0RGGt564Xnh-ruLk1gx08FLbXw8-ca1WEg7XS9xvtoRnv59rCFeOc-w4a1r8MSSa1TSNP04eQdMPCMFcqOlqsM/s1600/250682247_Wq3Irqk8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXY5DPlC97flViwJqYWHViDrjDEMGRQzySQEum0Kk1TgnlxUisI9om0RGGt564Xnh-ruLk1gx08FLbXw8-ca1WEg7XS9xvtoRnv59rCFeOc-w4a1r8MSSa1TSNP04eQdMPCMFcqOlqsM/s320/250682247_Wq3Irqk8_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So, prayer is how we talk with Heavenly Father. I have asked for His help with situations and problems and concerns many times. Sometimes God answers almost immediately and I see incredible positive changes or miracles. But, there are other things I ask about that seem to go unanswered and are still unanswered. I am coming to learn that those aren't "unanswered" prayers. They are "not-yet" prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here are few observations: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 - "Not-yet" prayers teach us that God actually does have a plan for us. He can do anything, but He won't in these specific situations. That's often because He knows where we will need to be, who we will need to meet, and when and where all of this will need to happen. Sometimes we're just a little early, or at times we may just be barking up the wrong tree. But more often He is just using our current trials or situation to teach us things and change us in ways for which we will thank Him later. We came to earth to learn and grow. And to be changed. Trials are one of the essential ways that growth is facilitated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">2 - "Not-yet" answers are not punishments, and they are not signs that God doesn't love us. It certainly gives God no pleasure to see us go through disappointment after disappointment (<a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ezek/33.11?lang=eng">Ezekiel 33:11</a>). He really does weep with us when we suffer. I know that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 - That said, I am amazed at how quickly God does respond with a "yes" at other times. When He answers "yes," I think that He hopes to assure us that He really is helping us, and that either answer can be a sign of His concern and perfect knowledge; in other words, "yes" answers can help us accept "not-yet" answers with greater faith because we know God is responding. God wants us to not forget that He cares so much for us, and to know that He will answer "yes" whenever it is the best thing for us. He is our Dad, after all; He'd give anything to help us return to Him; His goal is our ultimate happiness.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-60036960797776169062012-01-18T13:09:00.000-07:002013-03-20T02:38:03.188-06:00Roller Coaster, or The Days After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc0rKSPcBY_UYsNDPBqo3VDHy8bm8fRmr8iFRyfGMtPjwH9X9WqHcrRslaLnozLWvg3REWgN0mBowed-mUPf8ICHUOfPdi6z4X3CfRx9mlyAVqUBGFGQ7YGW1E-F5rTA-uWaml4NDOm8/s1600/194851121347557570_7F2ZMKug_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc0rKSPcBY_UYsNDPBqo3VDHy8bm8fRmr8iFRyfGMtPjwH9X9WqHcrRslaLnozLWvg3REWgN0mBowed-mUPf8ICHUOfPdi6z4X3CfRx9mlyAVqUBGFGQ7YGW1E-F5rTA-uWaml4NDOm8/s400/194851121347557570_7F2ZMKug_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I talk about roller coasters whenever I can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I find that how I feel about things fluctuates. And it can change in just a few minutes. When I'm feeling doubtful or worried about the future, I sometimes wonder how things will work out. But, I haven't given up and I won't. I know and feel assured that everything will be good and that God really does have places for me to go, jobs to find, and people to meet and love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Neal A. Maxwell said:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"We may not know how to account for our moods at times, but the fact
that these moods pass through us ought not to destabilize us so far as
the deep doctrines of the Church are concerned. If down moods cannot be
driven out at once, we can at least accelerate their transit times.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtRQ4CcE7nwhUbaRZijLt1vKaMGcm0uTcUUJC4JIqWTNYYSt-RMB_lgsTQvkonKGd0Qw674RlKl0_GtnowbM9xt0HVC5J55hXO9IPZymM06bU7tnZFArZBwJc308LalJskJdvmXrVJmc/s1600/106467978660409182_Q6ifv5nG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtRQ4CcE7nwhUbaRZijLt1vKaMGcm0uTcUUJC4JIqWTNYYSt-RMB_lgsTQvkonKGd0Qw674RlKl0_GtnowbM9xt0HVC5J55hXO9IPZymM06bU7tnZFArZBwJc308LalJskJdvmXrVJmc/s320/106467978660409182_Q6ifv5nG_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
"It is so easy for one person's bad day to become another person's bad
day. A spreading electrical power outage ends up affecting everybody,
because early on, the discipline required was abandoned in favor of
passing the problem along. Emotional electricity is much like the real
thing.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYUgQDgiCIu11zeYzEBZ4LGYjsDgsNi5r8YRG5zQ2dITHt-sd_NzX1K5i6OLp-R2esghsygbs6YOWlIE34Nz-enmakaB7-hS-PWOZLU7dRCvICg-tVyfE5GNTL8s6nToUK8YaUooiO54/s1600/106467978660409182_Q6ifv5nG_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: small;">
"In any objective assessment of life, we can always be reassured as to
the things that matter most: Immortality is ours through the gift and
grace of Jesus Christ; there is a loving, caring Father in heaven; and
we will live eternally under His perfect rule. We have such high
promises and absolutely no reason for ultimate discouragement.
Therefore, proximate pessimism ought not to envelop us. We ought not to
be blitzed by our moods." </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So, I'll remain seated, keep my hands and feet inside the car at all times, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride. : )</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-16905395977814112472012-01-18T00:10:00.000-07:002012-01-18T00:17:04.876-07:00A Sermon by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, or When We Are Looking For Peace<a href="http://lds.org/ensign/1996/11/the-peaceable-things-of-the-kingdom?lang=eng">http://lds.org/ensign/1996/11/the-peaceable-things-of-the-kingdom?lang=eng</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-66563008955721732542012-01-17T22:29:00.000-07:002013-03-20T02:41:33.939-06:00Another List, or Disappointment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlX62VDZbcycQmSKnGlCQ6n7VLA5tMrC_GYoGX4fxcDTqzYNjqomMJSP508mUQB9bdyrL9fhHY89nviBZri-KoalK7dQRa9yBpNOJM55w5O1vbxzPqdZFeWOdQNcpy0-X4_X7d_cRtWQQ/s1600/137570963586932492_kxqQWNL3_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlX62VDZbcycQmSKnGlCQ6n7VLA5tMrC_GYoGX4fxcDTqzYNjqomMJSP508mUQB9bdyrL9fhHY89nviBZri-KoalK7dQRa9yBpNOJM55w5O1vbxzPqdZFeWOdQNcpy0-X4_X7d_cRtWQQ/s320/137570963586932492_kxqQWNL3_c.jpg" width="247" /></a><i>I liked the whole <a href="http://erichales.blogspot.com/2012/01/in-summary-or-lately.html">list</a> thing, so here goes another one:</i><br />
<br />
Faith in God and His individual plan for us is a choice. And when the choice to trust God is made, sweet assurances, such as peace and security, are felt. <br />
<br />
God can help us choose to have faith. One way He does so is by preparing us for current challenges through our past experiences.<br />
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Remembering who God is and what the purpose of life is eases disappointment. A proper and true perspective changes everything.<br />
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Unpleasant feelings aren't meant to be smothered by pretend happiness.<br />
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Sometimes we don't receive strong spiritual impressions or experiences from God because we don't need them at that time. Instead, He'll give us less intense doses of ideas or simple thoughts. He wants us to learn to rely on Him, not just on strong feelings or experiences.<br />
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Experience allows us to relate with others.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4dOFgehJmlhuj_VirJDOVaIhcIFYx8S0Tn7OExB-FP0dGzJoj6R7LI7RR75idOVUbmMrjpLZD27LdeyZEM0f4fQPC9P-cOss5C3lc78f2yjBGCB5gqKYgEn-wW3SO5EwCIkPhgvIcXU/s1600/37295503133892483_499P9puz_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4dOFgehJmlhuj_VirJDOVaIhcIFYx8S0Tn7OExB-FP0dGzJoj6R7LI7RR75idOVUbmMrjpLZD27LdeyZEM0f4fQPC9P-cOss5C3lc78f2yjBGCB5gqKYgEn-wW3SO5EwCIkPhgvIcXU/s320/37295503133892483_499P9puz_c.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Simply being oneself is so relieving. Trying to guess what others want or expect is both draining and impossible. Really, how could we hope to please everyone all at once? By trying to be what we hope others want, we may temporarily please some people, but we will unknowingly push away those people who want to be close to us. Our true friends and loved ones don't want to be close to the "us" we want people to like. They want to be close to just <u>us</u>, our true selves.<br />
<br />
God is the same way. He loves us as we are. And we don't have to pretend with Him. We can, if we want, be our true selves with Him. It does take some practice and trust, but we can learn to do it more constantly and with greater willingness. It becomes easier and easier the more we feel that God's love is consistent and perfect.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-16034421505130517862012-01-13T14:22:00.002-07:002012-01-13T14:22:44.239-07:00Lifting Burdens: The Atonement of Jesus Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/coef8G5ax6E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1887303610960243614.post-17411606302588180232012-01-13T00:19:00.000-07:002012-01-13T00:22:32.901-07:00Babykins Update<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just an update on Babykins (see post </span><a href="http://erichales.blogspot.com/2011/09/meet-babykins-or-lessons-from-learning.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">). He's great at walking now, just like we knew he would be. : )</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0