Sunday Thoughts

Once again the Lord has shown patience and chosen to help me even though I continue to be blatantly mortal. As I mentioned in last Sunday's post I was given the assignment to speak in church next month, thus giving my aimless scripture study a clear direction. It has been over 2 weeks since I was given that assignment, and though my topic has been in my mind daily I still haven't done any solid scripture study!

So Friday afternoon I checked my email where I was asked to substitute teach Whitney's primary class this Sunday. I said yes (of course) and printed the lesson out. But as I read the scriptures for this lesson (Alma 37-38) I felt the Lord's hand in my life again, because this lesson was just what I needed. I was particularly struck by Alma 37:39-44.

 39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

 41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

 42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

I have been slothful, I have forgotten to exercise my faith and diligence, thus marvelous works have ceased and I have not progressed on my journey! I have hungered and thirsted after righteousness but haven't traveled in a direct course because I haven't given heed to the words of the scriptures. 

The thing that really kills me about this is that I have done it to myself. My complacency turned into a stupor and I lost any momentum or drive I had going for me.  It was a remarkable message for me and was made even more so as I taught the 6 girls in Whitney's class today (no easy feat). I felt the Spirit strongly as I testified to them of the importance of reading their scriptures and living worthily so they can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. We are lost and alone without it and that is a miserable way to live.

Sunday Thoughts

I've really been struggling this year with my personal scripture study. My habit in years past has been to start the Book of Mormon in January and finish it by my birthday in July, but I got kind of tired of doing that so I didn't do it this year or last year. I actually had big plans (always the kiss of death for me) to be like the Red Headed Hostess and get going on some amazing scripture journals to really help me put more depth into my scripture reading...but I didn't know where to start. I was having a debate of topic study and how to go about it, or character study or book study and just floundered so that I never got started. Instead I have listened to Conference talks and Conversations on the Mormon Channel, but that's not the same thing as reading my scriptures.

So here I am on summer vacation from work feeling like I have so much time to conquer this goal and dive in, but again where to start? Day after day I have said to myself, "I will get to that tomorrow and things are going to be great." But nothing has happened.

Then on Tuesday, I woke up with my heart racing from a dream. In this dream I was at some church-related site (there was a statue of Joseph Smith that's how I knew) and all these people were climbing a stone street that was covered with a light snow. I made it to the top of the hill but kept slipping and felt so panicked as I did so then ended up sliding all the way to the bottom as people kept passing me. It was truly horrible and I woke up feeling very flustered about it. But as I did some self-analysis I decided it had to do with my lack of focus on scripture study and feeling like I can't get my footing.

So later that same day after finishing up 4 Boards of Review for scouts at the church, Brother Johnston said he needed to talk to me. He asked me to speak on July 29th on the topic "Have No Other Gods Before Me". I immediately started putting on the calendar on my phone (I don't even think I said "yes") and recognized the connection this topic has for me (I'm always trying to get balanced and eliminate distractions) and the tender mercy of giving me a topic to research and refine with 7 weeks notice!! The Lord handed me my focus, let me know He is mindful of me, and gave me accountability and an outlet to share my thoughts. I don't usually understand the way the Lord works, but I really, really love it when I do.

Sunday Thoughts

As I mentioned in my last post, Amy gave us a great scripture journal tutorial, but she also told us about this great book she's been reading along with her study of The Book of Mormon. I was excited about this because I'm always wishing I had a way to sort of translate things so they're easier to understand. I ended up ordering it from Amazon last Monday and had it in my hands by  Wednesday (glorious) and could tell immediately this was the book I'd  been waiting for!

This morning I woke up at 6:00am to use the bathroom (if you must know) and ended up "waking" up for the day. I took a shower, dried my hair and was on the couch reading before 7:00am. It is a very rare thing for me to have the quiet house to myself since Landon is usually such an early riser (Sunday is the only exception most likely because TV and video games aren't an option).

It was so peaceful to sit on the couch reading over today's Gospel Doctrine chapters in The Book of Mormon, and it was exciting to have this new book which explained things and pointed out insights I had never considered before! I was so into it that I didn't want to stop and then found myself totally prepared and excited about class today.

For example:
"Note: Just a quick comment about some possible symbolism in going up into a mountain to commune with the Lord. It requires effort to climb up a mountain. Similarly, it requires effort for us to live worthy of inspiration and guidance from God. Symbolically, climbing up into a mountain could also represent drawing closer to heaven, or closer to God." page 126

I am so excited to expand my very limited view! I have already been experiencing a high level of motivation/increased desire to spend more time in the scriptures, but this is going to make it so much more rewarding!

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: This has been such a great Sunday! It has been the perfect balance of study, church, food, and family time.

Sunday Thoughts

I'm a day late on my Sunday Thoughts' post because my Sunday ended up being too dang busy! (That is NOT how I like my Sundays to be!) Even though I'm loving the extra 2.5 hours we have in the morning because of our new 11:30 schedule, I'm finding that my day feels way shorter because of this huge chunk of time taken out of the middle. Mathematically it should all work out the same, but somehow it doesn't.

I mentioned last week that I am really feeling motivated to change the way I read the scriptures and that I want to spend more time doing that this year. Last Sunday after church I was asked to teach Relief Society on the 22nd on one of the General Conference talks, but she didn't know which one it would be. I thought about this for the next day or so until she got back to me and said I was to teach Elder Scott's talk The Power of Scripture! (Chills!)

I've listened to this talk several times throughout the week and then was reading it yesterday morning. I started to write down all the things Elder Scott said about the scriptures and came up with this great list.

• They are packets of light
• They are pure truth
• Key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
• Provide Strength
• Stalwart friends
• Always available
• Foundation for truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost
• There is great power through memorizing scriptures.
• We forge a new friendship when we memorize them.
• They give help, inspiration and comfort.
• They are a source of motivation.
• Give great direction.
• Foundation of support.
• They are a large resource of willing friends.
• They are an enduring friend.
• Key to unlocking revelation
• Calm the soul
• Give peace, hope and restore confidence
• They have the power to heal emotional challenges
• Accelerate physical healing (!)
• Communicate different meanings at different times in our lives.

Isn't this a great list? I think it's interesting that he referred to them as our friends so many times. It made me think about how I can teach my kids to feel that way about them so that they will always think to turn to their scriptures in times of need. I'm excited for more insights to come as I continue to study this talk this week.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: Oh how I love a 3-day weekend!

Sunday Thoughts

I'm so excited to be studying The Book of Mormon this year. One of my BIG intentions for the year is to change the way I read the scriptures. I want to shift from my usual surface-style reading to more of a study-type, insightful way of reading...I'm just not sure how to do this.

I have been very inspired by the amazing scripture study style of The Red Headed Hostess and just bought myself one of her great scripture journals and some gel pens so I can do what she does. Even with all her great posts I'm still feeling slightly daunted and inadequate, but also highly motivated and excited to learn.

Today was week number two of attending Gospel Doctrine and other than the extreme heat in the room (seriously coma-inducing) I really enjoyed the class. Here are my notes...

• It is up to us to determine whether we think The Book of Mormon is true. So do what it takes to find out!
• 1 Nephi is a journal where Nephi records the things of God.
• Why is it important to keep a journal and what should we put in it?
• What do we write in our journals? We should write the things we do, think, say, and believe.
• We should include the things of God. (This made me so happy that I have hundreds of Sunday Thoughts posts recorded!)
• We do it to instruct and teach and to connect with our posterity.
• Lehi instructed Laman and Lemuel to be firm and steadfast, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness, we should be like this too.

• Laman and Lemuel's issues stemmed from being worldly, not knowing the things of God, not listening to the prophet, and murmuring continually which drives the Spirit away.
• What are we teaching our kids? Do they have faith? Do they know the things of the Lord?
• Nephi really believed his father had spoken to the Lord, he didn't think that was crazy.
• The Lord is more willing to give us further light and knowledge when we share the knowledge he has already given us (our beliefs/our testimony).
• The Lamanites were not the Nephites' problem, they were just a reminder to them to remember the Lord and trust in Him.
• Do we have the attitude of "however" or "therefore"?
• Do we value our scriptures? How important are they in our lives?
• We don't know why we have to do the things we've been asked to do, but we can move forward one step at a time in faith.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: Though I'm enjoying the new 11:30 church schedule I'm feeling like there's not enough time in my Sunday and that is the opposite of how Sundays usually feel to me. Uh oh.