One thing I love about studying the life of Jesus Christ is that not only did He teach us the way of a disciple by what He said, He also showed us the way by how He lived. He was always kind and thoughtful. He did as much good as He could do each day, and He taught us to do as He did. Then again, there are many things that He did that we can't do, but even in that, I think He taught us an important principle that we can apply to our own lives. Jesus Christ used His talents to do good.
One thing the Christ did frequently that most people don't normally do (besides teaching the gospel) was healing. In my opinion, Jesus seemed to have something of a 'knack' for healing, even a 'talent' for healing, one might say. And He used that talent to bless the lives of those that were suffering. Now, we don't all have a talent for healing. In fact, very few of us do, but we each have our own talents, whatever they may be, and God expects each of us to make good use of them.
That's most of the reason that I restarted my blog recently. I enjoy writing things, and some people say that I have a talent for it. I also like talking about spiritual things. I feel that it invites the spirit of God to touch my heart and help me to deeply understand and believe in the things that I learn and share. Thus, with some encouragement from the person who loves my most, I've decided to write about spiritual things and share them on my blog, hoping that whoever reads this will have something in what I say touch their hearts and bless their lives. It may not be as dramatic as Jesus' miracles, but I feel like I can still do some good.
Some people have a talent for music. They can write and/or perform inspiring, uplifting music which will bless people's lives immensely. Others have talents for communicating and listening, which can help to soften hearts, ease burdens, comfort and gladden others, and guide people along the path of righteousness. Good listeners and be great blessings to those who need someone to talk to.
We all have, or can develop, talents. I encourage you to find yours and learn how you can apply it to bless the lives of others. That way, you can follow the Savior's example and receive His blessings to uphold you during your times of trouble. That's what I believe. I testify of Jesus Christ as the Great Healer and the Great Teacher, as well as the Son of God, who marked the path that leads to Him. I pray that we may all follow that path, and find joy in the service of others along the way.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Creation, Conflict, and Controversy
I haven't blogged for a while, mostly because my thoughts recently haven't been fully compatible with this kind of blog. For example, I did homework for my Historical Geology class yesterday. I spent hours identifying events of the Pre-Cambrian Earth and putting them in chronological order. Then I wondered "If the Great Oxygenation Event marked the end of the Archean Eon and the beginning of the Proterozoic Eon 2.5 billion years ago, what great event caused the end of the Proterozoic Eon 0.542 billion years ago?" I hope our teacher will tell us soon. It's really going to bug me if I never find out.
Whenever I talk to people about my Historical Geology class (bear in mind that most of the people I know are LDS), they ask me how what I'm learning in class compares with "how it really happened." I put that phrase in quotation marks because it implies that what I'm learning in class isn't true, and I would like to ask in response "How do we know they're not both true?" I agree that God knows much more than we do, and if we disagree with what He says, then He's still right and we still have a lot to learn. But I suggest that if our theories seem to contradict with His revealed truths, then either our theories are wrong, or we're interpreting the revelations incorrectly. I suggest that it's possible that we don't perfectly know exactly HOW God created the Earth.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we humans are smart enough to figure out exactly how the earth was formed, even if God doesn't tell us. I'm saying that we humans are stupid enough to think we know everything. Example, one biologist looks at a couple of canaries in the Galopagos, and suddenly we have a huge theory on how every living creature on Earth evolved from some original organism that existed billions of years ago. Meanwhile, one Christian reads in the Bible that God created every living creature, and he jumps to the conclusion that God personally created every living creature by hand.
One theory says that Evolution did everything and who knows if there even is a god? The other theory says that God did everything and evolution doesn't exist. My theory is that God exists, and He did create the Earth. But you've heard of the "Economy of Heaven" haven't you? In October 1976, Elder Neal L. Maxwell of the Presidency of the Seventy said, "In the economy of heaven, God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough, or a prophet if a priest can do the job." My reasoning, in my own imperfect human fallacy, is that God probably wouldn't put the whole Earth together step by step if He could have simply set things in motion and let the laws of physics and, yes, even evolution, do the rest. Of course, there were a few places where God would have to step in and provide miracles in situations where the laws of physics would fall short. I'm pretty sure that God created the first few living organisms Himself, at the very least. And the scriptures are very clear that God created the first human beings personally (thus explaining the gap between apes and humans known as the "missing link"). But other than that, when the scriptures talk about "the waters gathering together" and other such steps in the creation process, remember: water does that even without God's help. All water flows the the lowest point it can reach, which, in most cases, is the ocean. It's not a miracle - it's physics. Of course, it helps to remember that God knows everything. He understands the laws of physics perfectly, and I believe He uses them to His advantage. God is the greatest scientist in all the universe. I believe that He used that knowledge to help Him create the earth. Though, of course, that's just a theory.
Whenever I talk to people about my Historical Geology class (bear in mind that most of the people I know are LDS), they ask me how what I'm learning in class compares with "how it really happened." I put that phrase in quotation marks because it implies that what I'm learning in class isn't true, and I would like to ask in response "How do we know they're not both true?" I agree that God knows much more than we do, and if we disagree with what He says, then He's still right and we still have a lot to learn. But I suggest that if our theories seem to contradict with His revealed truths, then either our theories are wrong, or we're interpreting the revelations incorrectly. I suggest that it's possible that we don't perfectly know exactly HOW God created the Earth.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we humans are smart enough to figure out exactly how the earth was formed, even if God doesn't tell us. I'm saying that we humans are stupid enough to think we know everything. Example, one biologist looks at a couple of canaries in the Galopagos, and suddenly we have a huge theory on how every living creature on Earth evolved from some original organism that existed billions of years ago. Meanwhile, one Christian reads in the Bible that God created every living creature, and he jumps to the conclusion that God personally created every living creature by hand.
One theory says that Evolution did everything and who knows if there even is a god? The other theory says that God did everything and evolution doesn't exist. My theory is that God exists, and He did create the Earth. But you've heard of the "Economy of Heaven" haven't you? In October 1976, Elder Neal L. Maxwell of the Presidency of the Seventy said, "In the economy of heaven, God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough, or a prophet if a priest can do the job." My reasoning, in my own imperfect human fallacy, is that God probably wouldn't put the whole Earth together step by step if He could have simply set things in motion and let the laws of physics and, yes, even evolution, do the rest. Of course, there were a few places where God would have to step in and provide miracles in situations where the laws of physics would fall short. I'm pretty sure that God created the first few living organisms Himself, at the very least. And the scriptures are very clear that God created the first human beings personally (thus explaining the gap between apes and humans known as the "missing link"). But other than that, when the scriptures talk about "the waters gathering together" and other such steps in the creation process, remember: water does that even without God's help. All water flows the the lowest point it can reach, which, in most cases, is the ocean. It's not a miracle - it's physics. Of course, it helps to remember that God knows everything. He understands the laws of physics perfectly, and I believe He uses them to His advantage. God is the greatest scientist in all the universe. I believe that He used that knowledge to help Him create the earth. Though, of course, that's just a theory.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Mormon Messages
I love Mormon Messages because they combing inspired messages with inspiring music. It's a powerful combination for uplifting and strengthening the soul. It's also a powerful combination for taking up a lot of your time on the internet, but actually having a good feeling about it afterward. So many things we do online simply waste time. Other things have temporal benefit. Very few things found online can truly enrich the soul, but Mormon Messages definitely can.
I'm grateful for the wonderful words of our inspired leaders and especially for the touching music of artists throughout the world. They do more good than they know.
I'm grateful for the wonderful words of our inspired leaders and especially for the touching music of artists throughout the world. They do more good than they know.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments
I just read a talk that Elder F. Melvin Hammond gave in General Conference in April 1994. In it, he spoke of the love of Christ and how it motivated Him to do great things for us and for the rest of the world, often at great personal sacrifice to Himself. Today, I would like to ask the question, "If that's how much He loves us, how much do we love Him?"
Elder Hammond asks, "Do we love Jesus Christ enough to follow His chosen prophets and Apostles, giving heed to their counsel and guidance as if it came from His own mouth?" "Certainly we all love Him. Therefore, I implore us, keep His commandments and become more like Him."
Christ once said to His Apostles, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And when asked about the commandments, Christ said that the greatest commandment is love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
It was love that motivated Christ to be our Savior. And it can be our love for Him that motivates us to keep His commandments and try to be like Him. To love Him and others the way that He loves us is the greatest achievement we can reach, and the one that will bring us the most joy. With Elder Hammond, I encourage you to think about all that the Savior has done for you, and to let your love and gratitude for Him work in you a desire to keep His commandments and live as He lived. I promise that I'll try to do the same.
Elder Hammond asks, "Do we love Jesus Christ enough to follow His chosen prophets and Apostles, giving heed to their counsel and guidance as if it came from His own mouth?" "Certainly we all love Him. Therefore, I implore us, keep His commandments and become more like Him."
Christ once said to His Apostles, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And when asked about the commandments, Christ said that the greatest commandment is love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
It was love that motivated Christ to be our Savior. And it can be our love for Him that motivates us to keep His commandments and try to be like Him. To love Him and others the way that He loves us is the greatest achievement we can reach, and the one that will bring us the most joy. With Elder Hammond, I encourage you to think about all that the Savior has done for you, and to let your love and gratitude for Him work in you a desire to keep His commandments and live as He lived. I promise that I'll try to do the same.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Seek the Higher Ground
I just watched a very short video featuring a message from Elder Quinton L. Cook and a community of people on an island in the pacific who were hit by a tsunami. The topic of Elder Cook's message was Seeking Higher Ground to get through the storms of life. "None of us are exempt from the storms of life," he said. But he counseled us to seek the protection and safety that can be found on spiritually "high ground." It makes me wonder, which is more difficult: enduring the storm, or climbing the path toward the higher ground?
Some people get discouraged, thinking that it would be impossible for them to climb a hill so high, so they stay where they are, and the floods come, and they are left in a very desperate situation. Others are a bit more wise. They face the hardship of climbing to higher ground so that they can avoid the even greater hardship of getting caught out in the storm.
Elder Cook's message seems perfectly analogous of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, only we never stop to think about how inconvenient or difficult or unpopular building a house on a rock can be. Many very rich people live as close to the ocean as they can get, thinking of how glamorous it is to live on the beach. It's also more fun. They rarely consider that it's also among the most dangerous places to build a home.
I occasionally think about the difference between fun and joy. People of the world have fun. People of God find joy. One is harder to get than the other. One lasts longer than the other. One is worth pursuing. The other? Not so much. Yet everyone pursues it anyway, because we all are, to some extent "foolish men."
Elder Cook's warning, then, is to stop being so foolish. We need to stop trying to build a beach house, and instead lay our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer (Helaman 5:12). That is our "sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall," even when the devil "shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you," you can be impervious to it, if you stand on higher ground.
Some people get discouraged, thinking that it would be impossible for them to climb a hill so high, so they stay where they are, and the floods come, and they are left in a very desperate situation. Others are a bit more wise. They face the hardship of climbing to higher ground so that they can avoid the even greater hardship of getting caught out in the storm.
Elder Cook's message seems perfectly analogous of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, only we never stop to think about how inconvenient or difficult or unpopular building a house on a rock can be. Many very rich people live as close to the ocean as they can get, thinking of how glamorous it is to live on the beach. It's also more fun. They rarely consider that it's also among the most dangerous places to build a home.
I occasionally think about the difference between fun and joy. People of the world have fun. People of God find joy. One is harder to get than the other. One lasts longer than the other. One is worth pursuing. The other? Not so much. Yet everyone pursues it anyway, because we all are, to some extent "foolish men."
Elder Cook's warning, then, is to stop being so foolish. We need to stop trying to build a beach house, and instead lay our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer (Helaman 5:12). That is our "sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall," even when the devil "shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you," you can be impervious to it, if you stand on higher ground.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Reflections on a Consecrated Life
I almost didn't blog today. I had a brief chance this morning, but I missed my chance. After that, I knew it would be difficult to get onto the computer to blog, and I could have given up on the idea. But Mom was playing a Conference Talk on her laptop and Ben wasn't really using the shared computer at the time, so I felt to asking him if I could log him off, and here I am.
Church today was alright. Well, okay, some parts of it were boring, but I managed to get a few insights from one of the testimonies that was shared. A question that I was pondering was "What does God want me to do? Or at least, how can I learn what God wants me to do?" Two answers came. First, attending the Temple can help us learn our place in God's plan. Second, he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. The second answer seems to be pointing at service. So, my hypothesis is that if I lose myself in the service of others and attend the temple as much as I can, I will be able to find purpose in my life. I wonder if there's a Conference Talk that discusses this topic.
In October 2010, Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke of "Reflections on a Consecrated Life." He said, "True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes. In so doing, we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny." I like that quote. He also quotes Elder B. H. Roberts to have said: “The man who so walks in the light and wisdom and power of God, will at the last, by the very force of association, make the light and wisdom and power of God his own—weaving those bright rays into a chain divine, linking himself forever to God and God to him."
According to Elder Bednar, there are five elements of a consecrated life, and service is one of them, so I'm on the right track. The other elements are purity, work, respect for one's physical body, and integrity. He discusses each of these, and service, in greater detail than I have time to convey. The talk is just over 16 minutes long, but it was worth my time to listen to. It taught me that constant effort is part of the Lord's plan for us on Earth. Yes, I know we've heard that before, but this time, he tells us why constant work is so important. True, constant work is a prerequisite for maintaining a spiritual life, but why is that? If God wants more of His children to make it home, why did He set the standards so high? The basic idea is that hard work helps us grow. With high standards set for us, we achieve more than we would with lower standards. There's a natural tendency for us to do as little as we can get away with. Through His high standards, God intends to bring out the best in us.
It's amazing to think that God has great things in store for me. He wants me to become incredibly capable, powerful even, as well as pure and righteous, so that I'll not only posses the desire to do a great deal of good, but also the ability to do so. But of course, with great power comes great responsibility, so God only grants us that kind of power when we prove that we can handle the responsibility, and we do that by maintaining the high standards He has set - by living a consecrated life.
I've read recently that "most of the profound and important teachings in the Church are simple," and I suppose they truly are, once we've given enough time and attention to understanding them. I now understand that living the gospel is, basically, being a good person. If I can manage that, and I think I can, God can help me with the rest. First, I need to just focus on the basics. I can work out the finer details after that.
Church today was alright. Well, okay, some parts of it were boring, but I managed to get a few insights from one of the testimonies that was shared. A question that I was pondering was "What does God want me to do? Or at least, how can I learn what God wants me to do?" Two answers came. First, attending the Temple can help us learn our place in God's plan. Second, he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. The second answer seems to be pointing at service. So, my hypothesis is that if I lose myself in the service of others and attend the temple as much as I can, I will be able to find purpose in my life. I wonder if there's a Conference Talk that discusses this topic.
In October 2010, Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke of "Reflections on a Consecrated Life." He said, "True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes. In so doing, we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny." I like that quote. He also quotes Elder B. H. Roberts to have said: “The man who so walks in the light and wisdom and power of God, will at the last, by the very force of association, make the light and wisdom and power of God his own—weaving those bright rays into a chain divine, linking himself forever to God and God to him."
According to Elder Bednar, there are five elements of a consecrated life, and service is one of them, so I'm on the right track. The other elements are purity, work, respect for one's physical body, and integrity. He discusses each of these, and service, in greater detail than I have time to convey. The talk is just over 16 minutes long, but it was worth my time to listen to. It taught me that constant effort is part of the Lord's plan for us on Earth. Yes, I know we've heard that before, but this time, he tells us why constant work is so important. True, constant work is a prerequisite for maintaining a spiritual life, but why is that? If God wants more of His children to make it home, why did He set the standards so high? The basic idea is that hard work helps us grow. With high standards set for us, we achieve more than we would with lower standards. There's a natural tendency for us to do as little as we can get away with. Through His high standards, God intends to bring out the best in us.
It's amazing to think that God has great things in store for me. He wants me to become incredibly capable, powerful even, as well as pure and righteous, so that I'll not only posses the desire to do a great deal of good, but also the ability to do so. But of course, with great power comes great responsibility, so God only grants us that kind of power when we prove that we can handle the responsibility, and we do that by maintaining the high standards He has set - by living a consecrated life.
I've read recently that "most of the profound and important teachings in the Church are simple," and I suppose they truly are, once we've given enough time and attention to understanding them. I now understand that living the gospel is, basically, being a good person. If I can manage that, and I think I can, God can help me with the rest. First, I need to just focus on the basics. I can work out the finer details after that.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Components and Blessings of Daily Worship
One of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon is the King Benjamin Address (Mosiah chapters 2-5). I love the things that King Benjamin teaches, but as many times as I've read his sermon, there was always this one point I missed. Luckily, Elder Keith Crockett got the following point, and in October 2000, he shared it with the rest of the world.
The message comes from Mosiah chapter 4 verses 11 and 12, in which King Benjamin shares a glorious promise. In verse 11, King Benjamin encourages us to:
1. Remember the greatness of God and His goodness
2. Humble yourself
3. Call on the name of the Lord daily
4. And stand steadfastly in the faith.
And in verse 12, King Benjamin promises that if we do this:
1. We shall always rejoice
2. and be filled with the love of God
3. and always retain a remission of our sins
4. and grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created us, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
Such amazing promises for such simple acts! What would it be worth to you if you could have the promise that you would always rejoice? Personally, for that promise alone, I believe that it would be worth a great deal of effort. Yet, "a great deal of effort" is not what's required of us. To obtain these promises, all we must do is remember God in thanks and daily worship, acknowledge His greatness, especially compared to ourselves, and stand steadfastly in the faith. Daily worship is as it boils down to. If we keep a spirit of worship in our hearts, we'll be praying almost constantly, and if we do it with the right attitude, it will help us to remember the greatness of God, and to consequently humble ourselves in comparison.
Of course, maintaining a spirit of worship like that takes constant effort, like pedaling a bicycle, but just like riding a bike, it propels us forward.
I'm grateful for the scriptures, for their "hidden treasures" of timeless wisdom. I'm grateful for dedicated teachers who find these hidden treasures and share them with others. I'm also grateful for God's patience with us, that even though we learn so slowly, He still works with us and tries so hard to teach us. I thank Him for that, and for His giving us so many ways to learn of Him and His truths. I pray that I may be able to do everything that I need to do to qualify for the blessing of growing in the knowledge of the glory of Him that created me and in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
The message comes from Mosiah chapter 4 verses 11 and 12, in which King Benjamin shares a glorious promise. In verse 11, King Benjamin encourages us to:
1. Remember the greatness of God and His goodness
2. Humble yourself
3. Call on the name of the Lord daily
4. And stand steadfastly in the faith.
And in verse 12, King Benjamin promises that if we do this:
1. We shall always rejoice
2. and be filled with the love of God
3. and always retain a remission of our sins
4. and grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created us, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
Such amazing promises for such simple acts! What would it be worth to you if you could have the promise that you would always rejoice? Personally, for that promise alone, I believe that it would be worth a great deal of effort. Yet, "a great deal of effort" is not what's required of us. To obtain these promises, all we must do is remember God in thanks and daily worship, acknowledge His greatness, especially compared to ourselves, and stand steadfastly in the faith. Daily worship is as it boils down to. If we keep a spirit of worship in our hearts, we'll be praying almost constantly, and if we do it with the right attitude, it will help us to remember the greatness of God, and to consequently humble ourselves in comparison.
Of course, maintaining a spirit of worship like that takes constant effort, like pedaling a bicycle, but just like riding a bike, it propels us forward.
I'm grateful for the scriptures, for their "hidden treasures" of timeless wisdom. I'm grateful for dedicated teachers who find these hidden treasures and share them with others. I'm also grateful for God's patience with us, that even though we learn so slowly, He still works with us and tries so hard to teach us. I thank Him for that, and for His giving us so many ways to learn of Him and His truths. I pray that I may be able to do everything that I need to do to qualify for the blessing of growing in the knowledge of the glory of Him that created me and in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
Friday, March 2, 2012
More on the Subject of Light
When I was getting up this morning, shortly after dawn, I couldn't help noticing how beautiful the sunlight was. Light, especially sunlight, is often used as a symbol of God, or of His influence, His love, and His guidance. In April 2011, Elder David A. Bednar gave a General Conference talk relating sunlight and other forms of light to revelation. Revelation guides us and inspires us, showing us the path our Heavenly Father wants us to take. Sometimes, revelation comes suddenly and brilliantly, just when we ask for it, like the light that shines as soon as we hit the light switch. Other times, and far more frequently, Elder Bednar adds, revelation comes slowly and gradually. Like a sunrise on a cloudy morning, most revelation comes so seamlessly that we may not even know the exact moment the revelation came. Yet, before too long, we have enough light to find our way, even if we can't see the source of that light through the clouds.
Some people find it hard to accept that they need heaven's light to guide them. Some people, like me, would like to be able to find their own way, without guidance, and to be able to accomplish their goals without help. Only those who have tried things that way know just how difficult it is to follow an unlit path.
In another talk, this one given by Sister Virginia U. Jensen in October 2000, Sister Jensen said, "There are all kinds of darkness in this world: darkness that comes from sin; darkness that comes from discouragement, disappointment, and despair; darkness that comes from loneliness and feelings of inadequacy." In essence, all of us are subject to one or more types of darkness almost our entire lives. The trick is to repel the darkness with the Light of Christ, for "the light of Jesus Christ is stronger than any darkness we face in this life, if we have faith in Him, seek after Him, and obey Him."
Sister Jensen also said that even "amidst encircling gloom, amidst the darkest possible circumstances, it is possible to feel hope, peace, and comfort—all because of the light which is stronger than all darkness, the light of Jesus Christ."
However, she also offered us this wise warning: "Christ’s light and the gospel message of light and salvation can be darkened in our own lives only by our disobedience and lack of faith. In like manner the Savior’s light increases in our lives as we keep the commandments and strive continually to be like Him. For 'that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.' ” See Doctrine and Covenants 50: 24.
Therefore, it's up to us to gain and maintain Christ's light in our lives. As long as we're keeping God's commandments, or at least striving to do so, the light that he sends to guide us will grow brighter and brighter, filling our hearts with comfort and hope.
I love this doctrine. It's hard to accept, sometimes, that we desperately need God's help, and that we must keep the commandments to fully get it, but it's an essential lesson to learn. And once we learn this lesson, we learn how we can get God's help to overcome the trials in our lives. I consider it a blessing to have inspired teachers like David A. Bednar and Virginia U. Jensen to tell us how we can follow the paths of light, and what a blessing that light can be in our lives.
Some people find it hard to accept that they need heaven's light to guide them. Some people, like me, would like to be able to find their own way, without guidance, and to be able to accomplish their goals without help. Only those who have tried things that way know just how difficult it is to follow an unlit path.
In another talk, this one given by Sister Virginia U. Jensen in October 2000, Sister Jensen said, "There are all kinds of darkness in this world: darkness that comes from sin; darkness that comes from discouragement, disappointment, and despair; darkness that comes from loneliness and feelings of inadequacy." In essence, all of us are subject to one or more types of darkness almost our entire lives. The trick is to repel the darkness with the Light of Christ, for "the light of Jesus Christ is stronger than any darkness we face in this life, if we have faith in Him, seek after Him, and obey Him."
Sister Jensen also said that even "amidst encircling gloom, amidst the darkest possible circumstances, it is possible to feel hope, peace, and comfort—all because of the light which is stronger than all darkness, the light of Jesus Christ."
However, she also offered us this wise warning: "Christ’s light and the gospel message of light and salvation can be darkened in our own lives only by our disobedience and lack of faith. In like manner the Savior’s light increases in our lives as we keep the commandments and strive continually to be like Him. For 'that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.' ” See Doctrine and Covenants 50: 24.
Therefore, it's up to us to gain and maintain Christ's light in our lives. As long as we're keeping God's commandments, or at least striving to do so, the light that he sends to guide us will grow brighter and brighter, filling our hearts with comfort and hope.
I love this doctrine. It's hard to accept, sometimes, that we desperately need God's help, and that we must keep the commandments to fully get it, but it's an essential lesson to learn. And once we learn this lesson, we learn how we can get God's help to overcome the trials in our lives. I consider it a blessing to have inspired teachers like David A. Bednar and Virginia U. Jensen to tell us how we can follow the paths of light, and what a blessing that light can be in our lives.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
To Generate Spiritual Light
In April 2002, Elder Robert D. Hales gave a talk entitled Out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light, in which Elder Hales shared the following story:
"When I was a boy, I used to ride my bicycle home from basketball practice at night. I would connect a small pear-shaped generator to my bicycle tire. Then as I pedaled, the tire would turn a tiny rotor, which produced electricity and emitted a single, welcome beam of light. It was a simple but effective mechanism. But I had to pedal to make it work! I learned quickly that if I stopped pedaling my bicycle, the light would go out. I also learned that when I was 'anxiously engaged' in pedaling, the light would become brighter and the darkness in front of me would be dispelled."
I'm discovering that it's not enough to simply choose light over darkness, you also have to constantly generate light, or you'll be engulfed in darkness. I've chosen the side of righteousness, but simply deciding is not enough. The forces of darkness are still working against me. To repel the darkness, I need to constantly generate spiritual light.
"The generation of spiritual light comes from daily spiritual pedaling." Elder Hales continued, "It comes from praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, and serving—from living the gospel and obeying the commandments."
"Sometimes people ask, 'Why do I have to go to sacrament meeting?' or 'Why do I have to live the Word of Wisdom, pay tithing? Why can’t I have one foot in Babylon?' May I tell you why? Because spiritual pedaling takes both feet. Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all of your 'heart, might, mind and strength' —you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness."
In light of this, I've been trying to make some changes in my life, so I can more fully devote myself to spiritually pedaling with both feet. Part of that has been studying the gospel more. Every morning, I listen to at least one talk from General Conference, and yesterday, I was encouraged to share what I learn.
I can't remember everything I've learned since I've started this morning ritual, and some of it is too personal to share anyway, but from now on, the plan is to post a few new insights online every day, partly so I can remember them, and partly so you all can learn from them, too. I can't guarantee that I'll be faithful in posting daily (this blog has been anything but regular since I came home), but I'll do my best.
I hope that thought on spiritual pedaling and generating light will be able to help some of you. It helps me to remember that there's still a spiritual war going on here. Our souls are under attack. If we grow casual in our worship, our light will start to dim, putting us at great spiritual risk.
Today is the first day of March, and as some of you may know, the month of March was named after Mars, the Roman God of war. In ages past, the Romans used to pray to Mars for victory in their many battles. Now, I don't worship the same way the Romans did, but I fully believe that there is a God in heaven and He can have a great influence on the war for my soul. I pray for His strength and for victory. And I pray for protection and happiness for you as well. May God be with you and may you also win this war.
"When I was a boy, I used to ride my bicycle home from basketball practice at night. I would connect a small pear-shaped generator to my bicycle tire. Then as I pedaled, the tire would turn a tiny rotor, which produced electricity and emitted a single, welcome beam of light. It was a simple but effective mechanism. But I had to pedal to make it work! I learned quickly that if I stopped pedaling my bicycle, the light would go out. I also learned that when I was 'anxiously engaged' in pedaling, the light would become brighter and the darkness in front of me would be dispelled."
I'm discovering that it's not enough to simply choose light over darkness, you also have to constantly generate light, or you'll be engulfed in darkness. I've chosen the side of righteousness, but simply deciding is not enough. The forces of darkness are still working against me. To repel the darkness, I need to constantly generate spiritual light.
"The generation of spiritual light comes from daily spiritual pedaling." Elder Hales continued, "It comes from praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, and serving—from living the gospel and obeying the commandments."
"Sometimes people ask, 'Why do I have to go to sacrament meeting?' or 'Why do I have to live the Word of Wisdom, pay tithing? Why can’t I have one foot in Babylon?' May I tell you why? Because spiritual pedaling takes both feet. Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all of your 'heart, might, mind and strength' —you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness."
In light of this, I've been trying to make some changes in my life, so I can more fully devote myself to spiritually pedaling with both feet. Part of that has been studying the gospel more. Every morning, I listen to at least one talk from General Conference, and yesterday, I was encouraged to share what I learn.
I can't remember everything I've learned since I've started this morning ritual, and some of it is too personal to share anyway, but from now on, the plan is to post a few new insights online every day, partly so I can remember them, and partly so you all can learn from them, too. I can't guarantee that I'll be faithful in posting daily (this blog has been anything but regular since I came home), but I'll do my best.
I hope that thought on spiritual pedaling and generating light will be able to help some of you. It helps me to remember that there's still a spiritual war going on here. Our souls are under attack. If we grow casual in our worship, our light will start to dim, putting us at great spiritual risk.
Today is the first day of March, and as some of you may know, the month of March was named after Mars, the Roman God of war. In ages past, the Romans used to pray to Mars for victory in their many battles. Now, I don't worship the same way the Romans did, but I fully believe that there is a God in heaven and He can have a great influence on the war for my soul. I pray for His strength and for victory. And I pray for protection and happiness for you as well. May God be with you and may you also win this war.
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