In preparation for my lesson this Sunday, I have been reading conference talks and other addresses on LDS.org but couldn't get the website to save my highlights. So I copy and pasted all the quotes here. It's a little rough but there's a lot here I want to include in my lesson. I included my thoughts in italics.
| The Sower—the seeds grow differently depending on the ground they fall on. | People react differently to the gospel message. Their willingness to accept the truth determines whether they are gathered. Joseph Smith taught that “this parable was spoken to demonstrate the effects that are produced by the preaching of the word; and we believe that it has an allusion directly, to the commencement, or the setting up of the Kingdom” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 97). |
Press On - Joseph B Wirthlin
Some think of enduring to the end as simply suffering through challenges. It is so much more than that—it is the process of coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him.
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi taught: “Wherefore, ye must pressforward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness ofhope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall pressforward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold,thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 3
Enduring to the end means that we have planted our lives firmly on gospelsoil, staying in the mainstream of the Church, humbly serving our fellowmen, living Christlike lives, and keeping our covenants. Those who endure are balanced, consistent, humble, constantly improving, and without guile. Their testimony is not based on worldly reasons—it is based ontruth, knowledge, experience, and the Spirit.
This quote really jumped out at me because I have been seeking balance in my life lately and in have realized that I need greater consistency also. It states that those who endure have balance in their lives, or actually does that mean something else. It says that they "are balanced" not that everything around them is balanced, but they in their soul are balanced. For me I feel like little pieces of my soul are slowly coming back together as I have been seeking out the Holy Ghost's companionship in my life.
This quote really jumped out at me because I have been seeking balance in my life lately and in have realized that I need greater consistency also. It states that those who endure have balance in their lives, or actually does that mean something else. It says that they "are balanced" not that everything around them is balanced, but they in their soul are balanced. For me I feel like little pieces of my soul are slowly coming back together as I have been seeking out the Holy Ghost's companionship in my life.
“The sower soweth the word.
“And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but whenthey have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the wordthat was sown in their hearts.
“And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, whenthey have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
“And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward,when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediatelythey are offended.
“And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear theword,
“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lustsof other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
“And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear theword, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty,and some an hundred.” 5
This parable describes the types of soil onto which seeds of truth aresown and nourished. Each type of soil represents our degree ofcommitment and ability to endure.
The first type of soil, that of the “way side,” represents those who hearthe gospel but never give the truth a chance to take root.
The second type of soil, “stony ground,” represents those in the Churchwho, at the first sign of sacrifice or trial, run away offended, not willingto pay the price.
The third type of soil, “sown among thorns,” represents some membersof the Church who are distracted and obsessed by the cares, riches, andlusts of the world.
Finally, those on “good ground” are those members of the Church whoselives reflect their discipleship to the Master, whose roots go deep intogospel soil, and thereby produce abundant fruit.
In the parable of the sower, the Savior identifies three obstacles toendurance which can canker our souls and stop our eternal progress.
The first obstacle of endurance, “the cares of the world,” is essentiallypride. 6 Pride rears its ugly head in so many ways that are destructive.
Knowledge is very important and one of the few things that accompaniesus into the next life. 7 We should always be learning. However, we mustbe careful not to set aside our faith in the process, because faith actuallyenhances our ability to learn.
The second obstacle to endurance is “the deceitfulness of riches.” Weshould end our fixation on wealth. It is only a means to an end, whichend should ultimately be the building up of the kingdom of God. We must be carefulin our daily lives that we do not allow the things of this world to takeprecedence over spiritual things.
The third obstacle to endurance mentioned by the Savior is “the lusts ofother [things].” The plague of pornography is swirling about us as neverbefore.
No one is immune from Satan’s influence and temptations.
Stay close to the Lord throughdaily scripture study and daily prayer. We cannot afford to sit back andtake our salvation for granted. We must be anxiously engaged our wholelives.
These words of President Brigham Young motivate and remindus that we can never give up the fight to endure: “The men and women,who desire to obtain seats in the celestial kingdom, will find that theymust battle every day [for this sacred goal].” 11 please do not lose hope in the Savior and His lovefor you. It is constant. He promised that He would not leave uscomfortless. 12
When we face challenges in our lives, we are comforted by the words ofthe Lord in the 58th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, thedesign of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter,and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
“For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the daycometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, butis nigh at hand.” 13
For me studying the scriptures daily and saying prayers at the start of the day are critical. When I don't the backward slide begins and then quickly the downward spiral ensues. However, when I do, I there is a drastic and noticeable difference in who I am and my ability to cope with the stressors of the day. The gifts that God can give us in response to our obedience to his laws have a life changing impact in us and those around us. Every day is going to be a battle, but will I choose each day to put on the armor that God has provided for me?
When we face challenges in our lives, we are comforted by the words ofthe Lord in the 58th section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, thedesign of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter,and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
“For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the daycometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, butis nigh at hand.” 13
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