Sadly, my reading retention is horrendous, so though I have enjoyed these books and felt inspired by them my actual take-away knowledge is minimal. This is part of the reason I prefer to own my books, so at least I can highlight passages and refer back to them when I need to refresh my memory (which is often)...but I digress.
The main thing I have learned from all of these books is that I need to open my heart to the spirit so that I am more teachable. I need to be more thoughtful about temple attendance and give myself time to sit in the chapel and think before my session rather than racing to change clothes and run into the session (which is what happened the last time I went, I barely made it into the session). It shouldn't be hard to do these things, but both require planning and effort.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from House of Learning (which I own and have marked passages readily available).
"As we continually tried to condition our hearts, our ability to understand the spiritual meaning of the ordinances was greatly enlarged." page 4
"This challenge [to condition our hearts] requires constant attention and vigilance on our part to prevent the world from contaminating our hearts. In other words, every choice we make influences the spirituality of our hearts. The language we use, the clothes we wear, the places we go, the things we read and watch, are all taken into our minds and directly influence our hearts...The spiritual development of our hearts is controlled by the daily decisions we make. The world would oppose our spiritual development." page 6
"Those who go to the temple with hearts prepared will make themselves available to the impressions and personal experiences we all desire, even personal revelation." page 9
"Elder David A. Bednar explains: 'Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart...Ultimately...the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter." page 78
**Thoughts??**
Comment Window Tidbit: Few things are as a wonderful as reading in the cozy and then drifting off into a luxurious Sunday nap!
9 comments:
Jill, I just love you. I love that you are so honest. I can relate with your 'take-away' knowledge. You are so cute.
I love the temple and never get there. I need to go more,but find it so hard while nursing a baby.
I have a couple of book suggestions that I loved.
Both by Robert L. Millet who is my favorite gospel scholar and writer.
More Holiness Give Me
and
The Life Beyond
Let me know if you need me to send them to you.
Love you.
I agree. A nap is such a luxury. And it's cheap so that makes it an economical luxury.
I think it's wonderful that you have a desire to build a desire. That's what it is all about.
Dude, I just wrote a temple post!!!
I love the temple, so, so much. My only advice is to go often, and to go with an empty mind and a peaceful, reverent heart. Sometimes it helps me just to listen and only listen, and not try to interpret what I'm hearing, or place it within my knowledge of the Gospel. Things will come to you later on as you go about your life, and you will want to go back to explore those thoughts more.
Some times I go to the temple and I don't have any big thoughts. The take away then is just a closeness to the Spirit and knowing that I am in the right place.
You are so lucky to live near a temple! It's great that you are making this a goal.
My apologies in advance, I have lots to say.
Thank you for this post. In March of this year, 9 1/2 months pregnant, I went to the temple for this first time. I've been a member of the church my whole life and married a non-member. (My husband was baptized last fall.) In an effort to prepare for our family being sealed it was high time I took the steps to prepare for that day. To be honest I was really scared about going. I don't like new things and becuase no one can talk about what happens at the Temple, I let me fears take over.
Overall the experience was great. As I entered the celestial room my escort and sister were totally crying. I just stood there like a deer in headlights. There was a lot to absorb and I wasn't sure I could remember everything.
Since my baby was born in April, I haven't had a chance to return. Still trying to mentally figure it all out. Even though everyone said I needed to have my spiritual eyes on. I just couldn't. Thank you Jill. For this post. Really I neeed to follow Elder Bednar's advice and my heart needs to be prepared to be penetrated.
Thank you!! I also owe you a HUGE thank you because thanks in part to this blog I've been able to better align my life and the life of my family so we can be sealed.
XO Tiana
Missy...JUST GO ON OBIDIENCE and SERVICE to start and to finish, everything else that happens will be added unto you. When you go to the temple and help someone on the other side of the veil open that gate and give her the choice... that is far more than you could ever gain for yourself. The beauty of the temple is that you lose yourself for seomeone else. There is ALWAYS someone else once you have gone for yourself. Don't overanalyse it, or hope for the desire because you will only find road blocks and stumbles and so DECIDE and take your tooch and walk up that hill (two good things actually three good things will happen, you will get your exercise, and then you will serve, and lastly but not least you will have a down hill enjoyment with a spiritual high!
From someone who wished could go daily...but has to comform to once a week...
ps...and DRAG missy CRYSTAL with you!
Its like missionary work, you actually CHOOSE the gospel, and then you let her decide if that is what she wants.....since she can't do it all by herself....
I completely understand this. I love the temple (although i have not gone in months!), but Brandon and I joke every time we go that it just ALWAYS seems that one of us doesn't want to go the day we have decided....we are tired, or stressed, or just had a long day. Now that we have to make an appointment, we always end up going (feel too guilty to skip out on an appointment) and leave feeling so happy that we went.
Someone told me that I should learn something everytime I go...but honestly, I don't feel that I do. What I do feel is peace and happiness just from doing what I know it right, and I have decided that that is enough.
I love what Claudia said.
I love that quote from Elder Bednar. It places so much of the responsibility on us, and I know that everything changes when my heart is open.
I also love what Rebekah said. I feel that way exactly.
One of my goals this school year is to get to the temple once a week. I'm always so glad when I go, but I think there's a tremendous amount of adversarial pressure on us to find reasons not to. That quote by Elder Bednar is wonderful -- thanks for sharing.
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