Follow the Promptings

In Preach My Gospel this morning, I was asked to read 1 Nephi 16:9-30.  This is the story of the Liahona and what happened when Nephi broke his bow.  The assignment was to make two columns and on one would be the things the Lord did.  The other column was things Nephi and Lehi did.  

This was an interesting exercise.  The Lord gives us the commandments and then provides the means to accomplish those commandments.  We go about our lives without much interaction with the Lord until we start making mistakes.  Mistakes create discomfort and inconvenience.  These net the breeding ground for discontent and murmuring.  We forgot the means the Lord has given to accomplish what we’ve been commanded to do.  We actually forget the mission and become fixed on the problem at hand.  Apparently, they hadn’t been looking at the Liahona, because when Nephi asked Lehi where he should go for food, Lehi went to the Lord.  The Lord told him to look at the ball.  They were astonished.  Why would that be?  Hadn’t they given heed to it earlier and seen it was a guide to their success? 

What does this tell me about the Lord and how to receive inspiration to my problems?  It seems quite simple when you approach it like this.  I must give heed to the Lord’s “means”, i.e. the Holy Ghost, scripture, prayer, pondering, seeking, desiring to know His will for me to accomplish what He has asked of me.  What is the journey I’m on that I would need the guidance?  To return to my Heavenly Father.  Receiving the guidance from the Holy Ghost is similar to their Liahona.  However, I must look to it for guidance.  Is looking all that is necessary?  No, I must then heed the guidance given.  When I stop heeding, I forget to look.

How does that apply to me today?  Well, I’ve been praying to know what the Lord would have me to do with my time and energy.  I have my church calling and my family, and they keep me quite busy.  However, I know I must change something because of conference.  Elder Scott’s talk on finding someone I’m related to whose name I can take to the temple is gnawing at me some.  Isn’t that something I need to heed?  I’m thinking it is.  I’ve sent emails to the genealogists on Clyde’s and my family.  What’s the next step?  Follow the promptings.

I knew!

I’m trying really hard to make my study of Preach My Gospel a meaningful experience.  I’ve attempted this before but get bogged down when it talks about missionary experiences.  I’m determined this time not to let that happen.  The assignment this morning is to record in my journal spiritual experiences that have helped me understand better as I have studied the scriptures.  Or, Have I had unusual opportunities to meet people with whom I could share a message?  Have I been given words to say at the moment I needed them?  Have I had a strong feeling of love for a person I have met?  How have my prayers been answered?

You can see why this is a challenge for me.  I have not served a mission.  However, I have studied the scriptures and I feel I understand the purpose of studying them more than I use to. I don’t go through just reading a chapter at a time anymore, but rather I try hard to think of why the writer included it in the book I’m reading. 

I believe with all my heart the Lord wants us to understand His purpose in our lives, i.e. to progress and be worthy to return to Him.  Why?  He loves us.  We are his children.  I will never forget the first prayer I uttered for rescue.  “Heavenly Father, whatever it is my parents are praying for me, I’m ready to do my part.”  It had been nine years since I prayed for anything.  I don’t feel my heart was hardened; I had just stopped praying.  The miracles that occurred from that time on were undeniable.  I knew He was there for me.  I knew I was someone of worth somehow.

About a year later I was preparing to go to the temple.  Although I knew the reality of the Lord and that He loved me, I had a lesson in SS that really impacted me.  Had I had the confirmation of the Holy Ghost that the things I knew were true?  Well, according to the lesson, the Holy Ghost hadn’t exactly born witness to me – even though the joy I felt each day exceeded that of the day before.  I was happy for the first time in years and it wasn’t just from being entertained.  The joy of the gospel was permeated throughout my being.  I was excited to learn new things, or rather things that hadn’t stuck in my youth.  So I prayed as our SS teacher said to do.  I was already fasting.  I asked that Satan would be rebuked from my home and that the Holy Ghost would be present and bear witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel.  I don’t know what I expected, but I didn’t feel much different after an afternoon of what I thought was sincere prayer and longing.  I went back to Fast and Testimony meeting.  I had intended to bear my testimony, but I was concerned because the Holy Ghost hadn’t really told me it was true.  How could I bear witness of such things?  As soon as the meeting was turned over for testimonies, I stood up with the resolve to be cautious about what I said – since I guessed I didn’t know through the Holy Ghost.  As I stood up and took the microphone it seemed my words were on auto pilot.  I said, “I know my Savior lives.”  I cannot begin to do justice to the feelings I had at that very moment I spoke this truth.  It was as if a hole had been opened into my bosom and somehow warm liquid was being poured into my chest.  I could feel it moving and the more I said, the more it moved and warmed my whole soul.  I knew the Holy Ghost was bearing witness to me, and I knew I knew of the truth of the Gospel, the Book of Mormon, the reality of my Savior and His love for me.  I knew the Lord was pleased with me.  I knew I was on the right path.  I knew, I knew, I knew!  And I cried!

Oh how I pray for each of my children and their spouses and their children to have similar experiences.  This one experience alone has been my “go to” whenever my faith waivers.  I haven’t really had my faith waiver since that day, but sometimes I get weary thinking my children will never get it.  I’m reminded of the miracle of my own conversion and am given the peace I need.  I know we are all processing and that in the Lord’s own due time, my children – my posterity, will have these same convictions.  Perhaps it will not be in this life, but I know some day they will know.

Men are Unstable and Foolish

Helaman Chapter 12 is an epic chapter all by itself.  It describes how unstable men really are.  When the Lord blesses them, they forget their debt and dependence on Him and become arrogant and unworthy of the blessings so freely given. 

In verse 24, it says the Lord returns “…grace for grace, according to their works.”  I remember so well a conversation I had with people I use to live with.  They said the Lord loves all His children equally.  This is true.  However, we are blessed as we keep His commandments.  Why is that?  Perhaps the commandments themselves are what bring the blessings.  Think about it.  When we keep the Word of Wisdom, are we not more likely to experience good health?  This is only common sense.  As we humble ourselves and realize our dependence on the Lord, are we not more aware of the blessings we are given?  But of course! 

When we are quick to do iniquity, we are slow to do good (v4) we become prideful, boast in our own strength and genius and cease to give counsel to the work of the Lord.  We don’t want to be told what to do (keep the commandments), and then begins the spiral down into the depths of hell.  Oh, that last sentence is my own.  As I watch others take this course, I see nothing but misery and trouble in their lives.  It’s almost as if they are seeking for this misery.

This chapter is one that we would all benefit from reading on a regular basis.  Keep the commandments.  Recognize the Lord as having control over my life and live worthy of the blessings He would love me to have.  Will there be challenges.  Of course!  However, in dealing with those challenges I become more of what the Lord would have me become, thus feeling His blessings and finding the joy He has in store. 

The Voice of the People

Helaman 11 is a fascinating chapter in the Book of Mormon.  In a very short period – 7 years, the people experienced serious famine, humility and repentance, and then turned right around and started rebelling against the Lord thus making their land vulnerable to the Gadianton robbers once more.  One really wonders:  Did they not remember how painful it was to experience the famine?  Why is remembering such a difficult thing?

I’ve been told (and I do believe it to be true), that when things hurt enough, it will effectuate a change.  This was true in my own life.  It was true with the Nephites.  So what is it that will insure that the change is solid?  They’re called Primary answers, or Sunday School answers; but they are what works.  It is Prayer (remember the Lord in all things), scriptures (remembering why we remember), serving others (helping them come to the knowledge of the truth).  This is something that feels so good, you want more and more to have it each day.  Temple attendance helps me remember what it is I’ve been promised, and keeps me strong.

I have a reference to Mosiah 29:27 at the end of the chapter: “And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.”  This verse alone makes me fear for the future of this land.  Have the voice of the people forgotten?  I guess we’ll find out this November.  Then again, maybe it doesn’t hurt bad enough for us to remember.  Will it be too late when enough do remember?  That is the real question.

Holy Ghost Enhances our Skills and Abilities

I am so short of time, but I have to record my feelings about what I read in Preaching my Gospel that rang so true and has played out in my own life.

Prior to my own true conversion (I always knew as a child, but was weak), I really had no real skills I can think of.  I was going through life quite numbly.  However, once I knew the gospel was true and embraced its teachings with all my heart, once I started to serve and bear testimony on my own, the Lord blessed and continues to bless me with his Spirit.  I have skills and abilities I never knew before.  I could make a list, but I will focus on one that has brought me joy and amazed me a lot as I was never formally taught.  It was if it was given to me as a gift for my obedience – the ability to write music.  The first song was a result of an answered prayer and my awe at how that prayer had been answered.  In Exodus 31:3-5 it is quite simply explained:  “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”  1 Nephi 1:1-3, Nephi had a similar experience only his “gift” was in writing. 

What a blessing it is to have the Holy Ghost in our lives.  We can become men and women who make a difference not only in our own lives, but in the lives of others. 

Discipleship

Yesterday was my first of ten talks I'll give on discipleship as we make the rounds to the 12 wards in our stake.  I missed the first week, if you're doing the math.  I've studied the topic extensively and had my material ready to give.  I'm always fascinated at how the Lord seems to chip away at the things we've prepared as we're giving it.  I had my written talk whittled down to bullet points as queues and did very little reading.  The AM Priesthood was my first of two yesterday.  The brethren were so very kind and respectful.  In fact, they acted as if it was a great honor to have us in their meeting.  We sat up front with the Stake President.  He turned the entire meeting over to us!

After our presidency all talked, the Stake President stood up and asked the men to tell him what they had learned.  The bishop wrote their comments on the board.  They really did listen.

• Discipleship is a process - an every-day migration to the Celestial World.  
• Life is what happens while we're busy making plans, but discipleship is daily regardless of what is happening in our lives.
• We influence others by the way we live.  As we are disciples of the Lord, Jesus Christ, others will have a desire to change their lives.
• Being a disciple of Christ means we are learning to be like Christ.  The Latin word for disciple means "learner".

My presidency did a great job.  I feel so blessed to be working with these ladies.  

The Rock

Helaman 5

I went back to see what I wrote the last time I read this chapter.  I would feel to repeat it, so I won’t.  Suffice it to say, I still pray that my Dad will somehow be allowed to impact my wayward children.

I’ll focus instead on Verse 12.  I have written my name over the words “my sons”, so I make this verse a little more personal.  It is upon the rock – my redeemer, even Jesus Christ, that I must build my foundation.  I have felt the buffetings of Satan, the mighty winds of adversity, the whirlwind of the storm that is all around me.  I marvel that while these things are going on all around me, I still feel to sing, and although my mental time is spent a lot wondering how I can help my wayward children, I’m okay.  I sleep fine.  I feel my Savior’s love in my life.  I feel happy and know all will be well some day.  I don’t know how, but I know the Lord does.  I’m not miserable, but sad for them.  This is a very comforting verse in the Book of Mormon.  It is probably one we should all have taped to our mirrors and memorized.   

I believe I will do just that.  Consider it done!