Peace, Faith, and Personal Revelation

I have now twice attended the Cardiff Ward's Scripture study "enrichment" group aka "a relief society meeting".  To me it feels more like an Institute of Religion class or a religion class at BYU in other words--It's FABULOUS!!!!  The subject matter for the class right now is the Sermon on the Mount/Sermon at the Temple.  (Which I didn't even realize before this class that the sermon was given twice, once in the old world, once in the new world.)  This class certainly requires me to think on a higher level which I so desperately need these days.  It is also filling my spiritual need to be taught by others the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have recently understood that I need more spiritual food than I have been absorbing in my meetings in the Spanish Branch due to my lack of knowledge of the Spanish language.  Anyways, this class has been so spiritually stimulating.  It reminded me of how much I used to enjoy learning when I was in college.    So here are some of the quotes shared in the class that have been the most thought provoking for me.

John A. Widstoe
• "The only way to build a peaceful community is to build men
and women who are lovers and MAKERS of PEACE. Each
individual, by that doctrine of Christ and His church, holds in
his owns hands the peace of the world.
That makes me responsible for the peace of the world, and
makes you individually responsible for the peace of the world.
The responsibility cannot be shifted to someone else. …Not
upon the shoulders of congress, or parliament, or any other
men."

I am the one responsible for creating peace in my home.  I know I need to and I'm still trying to figure out some better ways that I can do this.  For me to be better at creating peace, I certainly need to be feeling it more.

We have been told that our testimonies need constant nourishment or they will dwindle and as I mentioned above I finally realized that mine wasn't progressing or standing still, but dwindling due to lack of nourishment.  So for the last few months I have been trying to find out things that I can do strengthen my faith.  Of course the obvious--read my scriptures longer and with more intent came to mind as well as be more consistant and meaningful in my prayers too.  However, it seemed that there was more that I needed, more outside support. I have a profound appreciation for the necessity of attending all 3 church meetings on Sundays now.  I recognize how much we are strengthened just by hearing each others testimonies, experiences and insights in to the gospel and living it.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to attend this scripture study class to supplement and inspire my personal study of the scriptures.   While I was reading more on the Sermon on the Mount that I found on LDS.org I came across these two quotes that reaffirmed my need to be taught, not just relying alone on my personal scripture study.

“Effective teaching,” President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, “is the very essence of leadership in the Church. Eternal life will come only as men and women are taught with such effectiveness that they change and discipline their lives. They cannot be coerced into righteousness or into heaven. They must be led, and that means teaching.” ⁶ 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles added:“For each of us to ‘come unto Christ,’ to keep His commandments and follow His example back to the Father is surely the highest and holiest purpose of human existence. To help others do that as well—to teach, persuade, and prayerfully lead them to walk that path of redemption also—surely that must be the second most significant task in our lives. Perhaps that is why President David O. McKay once said, ‘No greater responsibility can rest upon any man [or woman] than to be a teacher of God’s children.’” ⁷ 

I recognize that of course they are speaking first about our responsibility to share the gospel and teach those around us the gospel, but standing on the other end of the spectrum right now, I also see how important that it is that I am nourished with the good word of God not just from the scriptures but through others testimonies and experiences applying the gospel and atonement in their lives.  Thus by being so nourished, my testimony will grow and I will be able to again share it with others.  It really is a peculiar thing, sitting in class, wanting to comment, but not knowing what the conversation is, having a thought pop into my head that I would like to share but not knowing if it even pertains to the lesson and so I let it go.  I don't share it, and by not vocalizing that thought it more quickly disappears from my mind and I found that less and less thought came.  Sharing our thoughts about the gospel truly does help to strengthen our testimonies.  [The thought that just popped into my head--I do have a place where I can share these thoughts and they are with my children.  Just last night, for some unknown reason I had my children's complete attention--a rare occasion.  We were reading the Book of Mormon stories for children and I was actually expounding the scriptures to them.  They listened and they seemed to understand.  We discussed how the lesson from the scriptures applied to them and I testified to them about the power of prayer.  It felt wonderful.  It was one of those golden moments that let me know I'm doing something right, not sure if it makes up for all the wrongs of parenting, but it brought peace to me and them in that moment and also showed me what direction to go in creating more peace in my home.  And so I will try to continue.]

In trying to increase my faith this quote from class on Wednesday really stuck out to me. 

Bruce R. McConkie:

"Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for

personal righteousness. It is always given when

righteousness is present, and the greater the

measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater

will be the endowment of FAITH."

I knew from reading in Moroni that faith is a gift bestowed upon us by God.  But here Elder McConkie clarifies that the gift is attained according to our obedience.  Therefore I need to search myself and see what areas I need to be more obedient in.  There are of course the 10 commandments that I can review as well as the higher law and the covenants I have made.  However, Stephen R. Covey stated in an address given in 1975 called "An Educated Conscience" that there are other commandments that we are responsible to obey too:

"In addition to these general commandments and these Church principles and ordinances which apply to all members of the Church, they have the Holy Ghost.  If they truly receive it, the Holy Ghost will give to them personal commandments...giving guidance and direction in all of the activities and affairs of their life." 

So then I also need to listen better to the Spirit or as he says, "truly receive it" and then obey those personal commandments given.   I love what Brother Covey says next: 

"Their conscience is more educated than ever.  They're educated regarding the world's enlightenment and the Church's basic principles and doctrines, all of which is revelation-- general revelation.  But they are also educated with regard to personal revelation, personal commandments regarding each individual stewardship.  We have been told many times by the Brethren words to this effect, that you and I as members of the Church have the same right to personal guidance and revelation in our area of jurisdiction, our stewardship, as the President of the Church has in his stewardship."

And so this ends my thoughts for tonight.  I am glad I took the time to sit down and pull together all these thoughts that I have had floating about in my head for the last two weeks.  When I write them down they really come together with meaning.  Good night.

Today's study:

I have been reading an article by Stephen R. Covey from 1975 called "An Educated Conscience".
The self reflective questions that he asks in the article are providing me with my goals for 2011.  I had already decided that reading scriptures everyday, now matter how much was going to have to be a commitment that I make for 2011.
The answer to two of the questions included my acknowledgement that going to bed earlier would help in those areas of my life.  So a 10:30 bedtime is going to be added to my New Year's Resolutions.

I also realized that having them in my head is not good enough, certainly not concrete enough, I need to write them down and post them.

Parenting Lessons

So I have been in need of a parenting manual for a while now, and I tried one self help book that a friend gave me but it was insufficient for my needs. So lately as I have been reading the scriptures and other articles I have been more keenly aware of the parenting advice that the Lord has given to us in the scriptures.

Much of this may seem obvious to you, but for me it took my particular current situation to have the "Ah hah" understanding of these scriptures in this way. I'll start with the most recent passage that I have read. Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-46.  Of course the obvious context of this passage is regarding the priesthood, however it is extremely applicable to parenting too.  I have inserted parenting into the verses to apply to me: "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of 'parenting', only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile."  So there is my first list of things that I need to work on.  This pregnancy has been easy and harder at the same time.  Easier-because I haven't had almost any morning sickness, harder- because I have been short tempered and cranky.  I'm also hoping that the latter is really a symptom of pregnancy.  I find myself in greater need of Heavenly strength and patience than ever.  And I guess that's why what I read in Moroni 8 was so poignant, specifically verses 8-26.  These verses on the surface speak specifically to the doctrine of infant baptism.  However, at a deeper level, it completely applies to me as a parent and my expectations of my children.  How I need to focus more on acknowledging my mistakes and seeking forgiveness from my Savior and others for my misdeeds.  Verse 8: "...wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me (Jesus), that it hath no power over them..."  I think often I am too hard on my children, or that my expectations aren't necessarily appropriate.  I need to be more understanding that they will constantly make mistakes, but that they are not serious, just a matter of learning.  Whereas, my mistakes are serious as I have the knowledge and experience to know better. Mormon continues in verse 10: "...yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children."  It is I who must repent, and I have already been baptized, but each week I need to renew those baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.  And somehow I need to make more of an effort toward renewing that covenant.  As I attend church in Spanish right now because of my husband's calling, but don't speak Spanish, I have almost forgotten the covenants that I am renewing.  I partake of the sacrament, but my mind is far from it because I am not hearing the words of the prayers.

Mormon answers my "how?" question that accompanies my "to become list" from D & C 121 in Moroni 8:26.  As I repent and renew/keep my baptismal covenants "the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God."

Moroni 7:5-26

Christ has said that if we ask for good things with faith that the Lord will bless you, behold it shall be done unto you. So then our responsibility lies in searching out if it be a good thing and having faith. In order to know if it is a good thing vs 5-15 are clear as to how to discern good from evil. And 15 states that it is given to us to judge ie we have our agency to know good from evil. And we are told that the "way to judge is plain" because we look to the source, that which is of God is good, that which is of Satan is evil. But we are also told that we "may know with a perfect knowledge" if it is of God. And the way to know is in vs 19 "search diligently in the light of Christ...and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing...ye certainly will be a child of Christ." So search the scriptures, the prophets, patriarchal blessings, and the temple-all things that are of the light of Christ. And "lay hold" of them or take them unto yourself. I guess this is all just part of the process of becoming like Jesus.

Cry unto him over the flocks of your fields....

I am so thankful to know that my Heavenly Father does hear and answer my prayers. We have had a lot of extra expenses on our rental properties recently but we were able to work it all out. Then this morning my tenant called to tell me that her furnace wasn't working. We just had the unit serviced 4 months ago and it is only 7 years old so it should have been fine. But she called to say that it wasn't even turning on. I told her I would check into it and call her back. I fell to my knees and pleaded with the Lord to know what to do because the company absolutely doesn't have enough reserves to replace a furnace right now. I pleaded for His help and then got up and went to call the heating company that last serviced it hoping that maybe their work would be guaranteed and they would go out and inspect it for free. I picked up my phone and my tenant was calling me back. She told me that she didn't know why, but the furnace just switched on and began working again. I knelt back down and thanked my Heavenly Father for hearing my prayer and answering my prayer. Our prayers are not always answered so quickly and directly and I know that and didn't expect such a direct and clear answer, but I needed it. I needed that witness once again that He is there for me as my faith had been waning. I know that my Heavenly Father does continue to perform miracles on the earth today and that he has blessed me and my husband with a miracle today. He is a merciful and loving Father who knows what we need if we turn to him.
It says in the scriptures, in Alma 34: 20,24-25 that we should pray over our flocks, crops, and our fields. My little rental property is our little flock/field and the Lord has blessed us this day.