BEN'S PRIMARY TALK ON THE SCRIPTURES
February 2011
PEACE GOING TO KOREA
February 2011
Ben was assigned the talk in Primary today.
He wrote it all by himself.
He typed it all by himself.
He wrote it all by himself.
He typed it all by himself.
He is 8 years old.
I'm very proud of him...
I'm very proud of him...
the scriptures teach heavenly fathers plan because there so powerful that it change our lives forever
with joy'' the scriptures are heavenly fathers words written down to us. and there also his teachings
to us. and the word of god his teaching are in scriptures so that people can read them
in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
RECOMMITTING
Nov 2013
I've realized that I'd been getting too relaxed on my personal scripture
study and so I decided that this was the week to remedy that! I was
able to get up earlier than all of the kids each day this week and I
started off the morning with watching a talk from conference. I would
then pray and ponder about what I should study in the scriptures. With
my journal in hand, I had some really need personal revelation moments
this week - like in 2Ne:1 (particularly vs 21) I felt it was speaking
directly toward me and "[our family] Must arise and be determined in one mind and in one heart, UNITED in all things."
Also in Alma 56:29 where the Nephites are getting daily reinforcements for their army and the Lamanites are fearful and sally forth to put an end to it. I know that our homeschooling and daily enrichments, FHE, Family scripture study, Family prayer, etc are the DAILY REINFORCEMENTS for our family and the adversary doesn't like it. He is fearful and will try to stop it any way he can!
And finally, a verse that I have read many times took on a new meaning for me this week!
D&C 88:83 "He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken."
All of my life, I have taken this as seeking to know the truth of the gospel early (as pertaining to our earthly mortal years) HOWEVER, this week I felt that if I continue to rise early before the kids and seek out Heavenly Father's will through the scriptures, then He will be with me all throughout the day and guide me in all that I do :)
Also in Alma 56:29 where the Nephites are getting daily reinforcements for their army and the Lamanites are fearful and sally forth to put an end to it. I know that our homeschooling and daily enrichments, FHE, Family scripture study, Family prayer, etc are the DAILY REINFORCEMENTS for our family and the adversary doesn't like it. He is fearful and will try to stop it any way he can!
And finally, a verse that I have read many times took on a new meaning for me this week!
D&C 88:83 "He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken."
All of my life, I have taken this as seeking to know the truth of the gospel early (as pertaining to our earthly mortal years) HOWEVER, this week I felt that if I continue to rise early before the kids and seek out Heavenly Father's will through the scriptures, then He will be with me all throughout the day and guide me in all that I do :)
PEACE GOING TO KOREA
August 2014
I'm giving the Relief Society lesson next Sunday (but since Stephanie will be here, I've been preparing it this week)... it is on the power of the Book of Mormon and how we can find answers to our prayers/questions within it's pages. So I've been able to reflect and ponder on times when I have received answers through reading the Book of Mormon. Truthfully, there are numerous times for me, but one that stands out in particular was when Dad received his first military orders to Korea. Seth was only 2 weeks old when we found out and I was so sad that that our little family would be apart for entire year! However, through my daily studying of the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father's will was made known to me that we should pay for our own way and follow dad to Korea. This was super scary and many people tried to discourage us from going (except Grandma and Grandpa Carlson - they were VERY supportive and encouraging since they had lived in Korea and gave us advice on how we could make it work, etc)... I remember one night being very discouraged and scared about the unknown and so I got up at about 3am and cried as I poured my heart out to Heavenly Father in prayer. I had such a sweet feeling of peace come over me and I just KNEW everything would work out for our good. However, it wasn't too many days later that the discouragement returned and I went to the scriptures for solace. As I was opening my scripture study with prayer, I was impressed to read D&C section 6. In these verses my testimony of the scriptures grew - as did my testimony that Heavenly Father is aware of us and truly knows us! That morning as I studied Section 6, I read these words in verses 22 & 23:
22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
Those verses hit me like a ton of bricks and I could not deny the truth
of my witness that I had that night as I literally cried unto the Lord.
Ever since then I have known that the scriptures were written for US..
in these DAYS! Heavenly Father IS aware of us and of what we are going
through. I'm so grateful that I have these sacred words and that my life
can have more power as I partake of their truths!
Today during Sacrament Meeting, the Bishop issued a challenge for all families/Individuals to take time to read 2 pages of the Book of Mormon and to really study it (not just casually read). We have decided to take his challenge and counsel to heart and to do this as a family. We try to have family scripture study most nights (but it's usually only like 10 verses or so followed by a short discussion of what we read) but I'm looking forward to making our study time more purposeful and meaningful. I know that as we do this the promised blessings (from our Prophets) will be fulfilled. Some of those blessings are:
* A strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments
* Our spirit of Reverance will increase
* Mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow
* A stronger testimony of the son of God
* An added measure of the spirit of the Lord in our lives and homes
* We will enjoy the things of the Lord
* Power to stay on the straight and narrow path
* Power to avoid deception
* A greater power to resist temptation
* We will have peace, joy and happiness
* Faith, hope and charity will abound in our homes
* Righteousness will increase
* Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents
* Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom
* The spirit of contention will depart
I am grateful for the teachings of the gospel and for the writings of the Book of Mormon to help us along our journey of mortality. I'm excited to dive deeper into its teachings with the kids and to see these promised blessings pour into our lives.
I recently was re-reading my Scripture Journal and thought I'd share something I wrote last week as I was reading in Isaiah ch. 8. A question for the reading that was presented was "In verse 20, what is one test we can use to avoid spiritual deception?" The answer that Isaiah gives is if "they speak not according to the law or to the testimony." So basically if their words are not in harmony with the preaching of Christ's gospel. I then came across a quote by Ezra Taft Benson that went a bit further and he gives three tests that we can use to avoid being deceived. They are:
1) What do the standard works say about it?
2) What do the latter day Presidents of the church have to say on the subject - particularly the living Prophet
3) The Holy Ghost - the test of the Spirit. Moroni 10:5 tells us that by the Spirit we may know the truth of ALL things. Of course this test can only be freely effective if one's channels and communication with God are clean, virtuous and uncluttered with sin.
We then had the opportunity to put this to the test during our morning Enrichment time! Ben didn't see any problem with some of the words that he was using (they weren't swear words, but "ugly" words that were used to put down others) and so we looked up with the standards were for language in For the Strength of Youth and discussed how it specifically stated that "Speak kindly and positively about others. Choose not to insult others or put them down, even in joking. Avoid gossip of any kind and avoid speaking in anger." We then turned to what the prophets have said about language over the years and how they counsel us to use our language to uplift and edify ourselves and those around us. We talked about how the ancient prophets in the Bible used their words to beget mighty miracles - So if it is by words that miracles are commanded and things are created – should we not consider the power of our words in our everyday lives? We looked up verses on how Jesus spoke to others and saw how he made others feel good and lifted them up. So if we want to truly be Christlike, we should be seeking to build and to lift. It is impossible to imagine Christ going up to his friends calling them names or insulting them just in joking. His tongue was tamed and only filled with hope and love.
I also found this super cute poem and we committed that in our family, we wanted to be "builders" and not "wreckers":
A BISHOP'S CHALLENGE
June 2016
PROMISED BLESSINGS FROM READING THE SCRIPTURES
April 2015
Today during Sacrament Meeting, the Bishop issued a challenge for all families/Individuals to take time to read 2 pages of the Book of Mormon and to really study it (not just casually read). We have decided to take his challenge and counsel to heart and to do this as a family. We try to have family scripture study most nights (but it's usually only like 10 verses or so followed by a short discussion of what we read) but I'm looking forward to making our study time more purposeful and meaningful. I know that as we do this the promised blessings (from our Prophets) will be fulfilled. Some of those blessings are:
* A strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments
* Our spirit of Reverance will increase
* Mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow
* A stronger testimony of the son of God
* An added measure of the spirit of the Lord in our lives and homes
* We will enjoy the things of the Lord
* Power to stay on the straight and narrow path
* Power to avoid deception
* A greater power to resist temptation
* We will have peace, joy and happiness
* Faith, hope and charity will abound in our homes
* Righteousness will increase
* Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents
* Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom
* The spirit of contention will depart
I am grateful for the teachings of the gospel and for the writings of the Book of Mormon to help us along our journey of mortality. I'm excited to dive deeper into its teachings with the kids and to see these promised blessings pour into our lives.
ISAIAH 8: 20
Nov 2015
I recently was re-reading my Scripture Journal and thought I'd share something I wrote last week as I was reading in Isaiah ch. 8. A question for the reading that was presented was "In verse 20, what is one test we can use to avoid spiritual deception?" The answer that Isaiah gives is if "they speak not according to the law or to the testimony." So basically if their words are not in harmony with the preaching of Christ's gospel. I then came across a quote by Ezra Taft Benson that went a bit further and he gives three tests that we can use to avoid being deceived. They are:
1) What do the standard works say about it?
2) What do the latter day Presidents of the church have to say on the subject - particularly the living Prophet
3) The Holy Ghost - the test of the Spirit. Moroni 10:5 tells us that by the Spirit we may know the truth of ALL things. Of course this test can only be freely effective if one's channels and communication with God are clean, virtuous and uncluttered with sin.
We then had the opportunity to put this to the test during our morning Enrichment time! Ben didn't see any problem with some of the words that he was using (they weren't swear words, but "ugly" words that were used to put down others) and so we looked up with the standards were for language in For the Strength of Youth and discussed how it specifically stated that "Speak kindly and positively about others. Choose not to insult others or put them down, even in joking. Avoid gossip of any kind and avoid speaking in anger." We then turned to what the prophets have said about language over the years and how they counsel us to use our language to uplift and edify ourselves and those around us. We talked about how the ancient prophets in the Bible used their words to beget mighty miracles - So if it is by words that miracles are commanded and things are created – should we not consider the power of our words in our everyday lives? We looked up verses on how Jesus spoke to others and saw how he made others feel good and lifted them up. So if we want to truly be Christlike, we should be seeking to build and to lift. It is impossible to imagine Christ going up to his friends calling them names or insulting them just in joking. His tongue was tamed and only filled with hope and love.
I also found this super cute poem and we committed that in our family, we wanted to be "builders" and not "wreckers":
BUILDERS OR WRECKERS
I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swing a beam and a sidewall fell.
I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled,
As the men you'd hire if you had to build?"
He gave me a laugh and said "No indeed!"
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do."
And I tho't to myself as I went my way,
Which of these two roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the labor or tearing down?
-Unknown
A BISHOP'S CHALLENGE
June 2016
Written by Ben... So, earlier this month, our bishop gave all the Teachers and Priests a
challenge: to read the Book of Mormon before Trek (don't quote me on the
exact date).
Now, at first I wasn't going to do it (because, quite frankly, I've never had a hunger to read the scriptures), but then our bishop mentioned, and I quote "I'll be taking everyone who finishes on time to go get burgers and ice cream."
So, right then is where I got my motivation.
The first few days went by and I totally 'Forgot' about it, but just three days ago, I was outside on the porch with my mom whining to her on how I haven't had the motivation to write on my novel lately, and how it really really sucks.
So she then starts to go on, saying "Maybe you should start reading the Scriptures every morning. Maybe that will help."
Being a teenager, I totally blew that idea out of the way.
How was reading the scriptures supposed to help me write a novel?
But a few moments later I look over at her, saying "So, you're saying that if I read the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father will give me motivation?"
She nods, "Uh-huh, I promise."
I was feeling desperate, so I promised myself to start reading the next morning.
I woke up pretty early the following morning: 8:45-ish.
I grabbed my phone, headed upstairs, and sat down next to my mom (who was already doing her study).
I then, without saying a single word, pulled up the Book of Mormon on my phone and began to read.
At first I was only going to do ONE chapter.
Well. . . that first chapter turned into a second chapter.
Then a third.
A fourth.
And a fifth.
I didn't know why, but I actually craved to learn more about the word of God.
It didn't feel like a chore.
Or a burden.
So, after five chapters, I put my phone out and decided to pray.
I prayed for motivation to write on my novel, and stuff like that.
And what do ya know? I instantly had the urge to write.
I felt happy and peaceful.
And throughout the course of the whole day, I was able to map out the rest of my novel.
Not to mention how awesome I felt.
The next day I woke up almost around the same time.
I rushed downstairs, grabbed my phone, and began reading.
This time I only really aimed for two chapters (I felt an urge to write still).
But, those one or two chapters, turned into another five.
Again, for the rest of the entire day, I felt motivated to write.
I also felt happy and peaceful. . .
I definitely have a testimony about reading the scriptures now.
I know reading them will seriously help you out and will automatically shape your day out to be great.
I also know, without a doubt, that reading the scriptures everyday will help you overcome trials and blockings ~ Ben
President Russell M.Nelson gave a challenge to:
1. Study everything Jesus SAID and DID in the Old Testament
2. Study His LAWS as recorded in the New Testament
3. Study His DOCTRINE as recorded in the Book of Mormon
4. Study His WORDS in the Doctrine and Covenants
He promised that as we took the time to study these verses, that our Love for Christ and for God's Laws would grow beyond what we could currently imagine.
I have been taking on this challenge and can already feel my testimony increase of the Savior. This week most of my studying was about how Christ is our Advocate unto the Father. It has been strengthening my testimony of how much Heavenly Father loves us! He WANTS ALL of his children to return to His presence and he knew that wouldn't be possible without a Savior. Christ has the power to make intercession for each one of us - to be OUR Advocate and plead before the Father on our behalf that He has already paid the price for our sins. All because He LOVES us so much!
So last Sunday (Fast Sunday), as I was praying and pondering and studying I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson that said: "We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit...The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures." This really touched me! A Prophet of God has told us what the MOST IMPORTANT thing we can do with our time - WOW!!! My 20-40 minutes of scripture study in the morning is good, BUT that's not immersing myself in them or giving them them my highest priority or importance! I was not following the counsel of a Prophet of God! Then I got to thinking that if the scriptures were truly so important to me, I would run to them any chance I could (vs. running to the computer or my phone or the TV, etc... because when I do that, my actions are showing God that these things are more important to me) Soooo... I issued myself a challenge that for one week, whenever I had "free time" (where I would normally hop on the computer or my phone or TV) I would choose to study the scriptures/Conference Talk/Teachings of the Prophets instead and see how the week goes... As you can imagine, I felt uplifted, encouraged, happy, peaceful, ready to take on anything that life threw at me (I was equipped with the exact words to share with Ben as we had hour long talks each day about his doubts and questions - and I also used this precious study time to research more questions Ben was asking). I learned so much about acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, about Personal Revelation, about finding answers to our questions, about Humbling ourselves, and looking for precious Principles hidden within the stories of the scriptures! (Now if I'm being honest, there were a few times at the end of a long day that I would think "Man! I'd love to just sit and relax in front of the TV!! hahah...but I turned to more study instead and you know what - once I started reading those first words, I was hooked again and the TV had no allure over me!)
Finding the Principles! A few weeks ago I was reading a conference talk by Elder Richard G. Scott and it was all about Revelation - and I loved it! One thing that stuck out to me was that of finding PRINCIPLES during our Scripture Study (a Principle is truth that works in any situation). As I dug further into this concept, I came across an analogy about a gold miner. It went on to explain that the rocks (that the gold veins are encompassed in) are necessary and nice but what the Miner is really there for is the GOLD - and that he has to dig deeper and chip away the rock to get to it. Same with our Scriptures - the stories that we read are nice, but what we're really after are the PRINCIPLES that they hold! This made so much sense to me and got me looking at the stories that I'm so familiar with in such a different light! I have even gone so far as to get a separate "Principles Journal" that I am writing these discovered truths in. The very first time I attempted looking for the principles, I decided to just continue reading where I was currently at - Moroni ch. 1 - which happens to be only 4 verses long. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find the principles but as I really pondered the story that was being told, I was able to chip it away and find the underlying truths that it held. Those truths that I gained from these 4 short verses were:
1. Journals are written for our posterity's benefit
2. Stand up for Christ, no matter the consequence
As I've continued incorporating this deliberate act of seeking out the Principles, my little journal is quickly filling up with beautiful truths that will help guide my life.
Ben here... So I was seeking an answer for my normal, everyday life and I
didn't know what to do to receive it. So my mom suggested that I pray,
read the scriptures and ponder my question. I agreed and the next
morning I started off my scripture study with a prayer, asking
specifically the question that had been on my heart. After reading 5
chapters in the Book of Mormon, I got my answer clear as day!! I was so
astonished! It was so cool to know that God is aware of me and that he
really answered my question! I promise that if you ask with Faith, you
can receive and answer by reading scriptures, praying and pondering.
While studying 3rd Nephi 1, I read how the people begin to forget about the signs and wonders that they have (already) seen and heard and they are "less astonished" at further signs and wonders that they are shown/given. I found this very relatable to me! If we don't write down the signs and wonders given to us from God - it is very easy to forget them over time (if even at the time we think it is so significant and influential that we'll NEVER forget!) So what do we need to do? WRITE DOWN SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES! Not only for ourselves to reflect back on BUT also for others to read about and grow from our personal faith and experiences.
During my Scripture study one morning I was reading in Alma 37 about how the Lord uses Small Things to accomplish Great Works and I read an accompanying quote from our Prophet - Russell M. Nelson that really spoke to me. It said: "What are the precious , simple things of the gospel that bring clarity and purpose into our lives? What are the gospel flecks of gold whose patient accumulation over time will reward us with the ultimate treasure - the precious gift of eternal life?.... The gospel is SIMPLE and we should strive to make our lives similarly simple."
I pondered on what those small flecks of gold in my life are/could be in my life and came up with:
- Daily reading, pondering and studying of the scriptures
- Weekly FHE
- Weekly church attendance and partaking of the Sacrament
- Fulfilling my calling
- Daily personal, couple and family prayer
- Regular Enrichments with the kids
- Diligently teaching the kids (and remembering that daily chunks of reading with Nathan WILL BRING great results!)
- Spending time with the family
- Making Family Memories
- Working on Family History
This list of things are fairly simple and small on their own, but if accumulated (over my lifetime) can assist me in accomplishing a great work and rewarding me with the "Ultimate Treasure" as President Nelson calls it!
I (mom) was asked to give the Spiritual Thought at one of the (many) meetings I've attended in the last 2 weeks and thought I'd share it here as it's one that is great to be reminded from time to time. I took it Proverbs 3:5-6 which read:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
In those verses we are given 2 Admonitions (To Trust in the Lord and to Acknowledge him), 1 Warning (Not to lean unto our own understanding) and 1 Promise (If we do these things, he shall direct our Paths <-- all of them, not just one).
I then went on to share the visual that Sister Bonnie Cardon gave in General Conference a couple of years ago from her Talk titled "Trust in the Lord" - based on these same scripture verses. She says that when we physically lean (one way or the other) we become off centered and out of balance and that the same is true when we spiritually lean (unto our own understanding), we become not centered on Christ. She finishes up her talk by stating HOW we can stay centered on Christ, and those are: (1) Feast upon the words of Christ (2) Pray (3) Serve others. As we do these things and really come to know our Savior, we will be better able to Trust in Him.
I recently joined a 30 day challenge of "Heaven Journaling" - which is when you take a specific question to the Lord each day in prayer and then flip open your scriptures randomly and read until you receive an answer OR if you felt inspired to read in a particular book/section to go there and read until you get an answer. Then you write down all of the thoughts and impressions and then close your session with another prayer. I have done this off and on over the past couple of years but I hadn't done it in a while and so when this 30 day challenge popped up, I decided I'd like to do it! I have LOVED getting such direct personal revelation daily! My questions have ranged from broad (like: What do you want me to learn today?) to more specific (like: Should we join the Saints and Scholars Homeschool Co-op? or How can I be the kind of mother August needs? and "What can I do to always be prepared for my new calling as the 2nd Counselor in the Stake YW Presidency?"). One morning I asked "What should I teach in Enrichment today?" and before I even finished my prayer, THE PRIESTHOOD came very directly into my mind. With Nathan receiving the Priesthood in a couple of weeks, I felt that we should be focusing on that even moreso until then. So I spent that morning studying all about the Priesthood and shared my thoughts with the kids during Enrichment. I LOVE that the Heavens are still opened to us today! I have a very strong testimony of personal revelation and that Heavenly Father is there to guide us and direct us in our paths and he wants us to inquire of him with our questions - large or small, broad or specific and HE WILL answer us! The saying goes "If you want to talk to God, then Pray. If you want God to talk to you, then read the scriptures!"
So last Sunday (Fast Sunday), as I was praying and pondering and studying I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson that said: "We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit...The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures." This really touched me! A Prophet of God has told us what the MOST IMPORTANT thing we can do with our time - WOW!!! My 20-40 minutes of scripture study in the morning is good, BUT that's not immersing myself in them or giving them them my highest priority or importance! I was not following the counsel of a Prophet of God! Then I got to thinking that if the scriptures were truly so important to me, I would run to them any chance I could (vs. running to the computer or my phone or the TV, etc... because when I do that, my actions are showing God that these things are more important to me) Soooo... I issued myself a challenge that for one week, whenever I had "free time" (where I would normally hop on the computer or my phone or TV) I would choose to study the scriptures/Conference Talk/Teachings of the Prophets instead and see how the week goes... As you can imagine, I felt uplifted, encouraged, happy, peaceful, ready to take on anything that life threw at me (I was equipped with the exact words to share with Ben as we had hour long talks each day about his doubts and questions - and I also used this precious study time to research more questions Ben was asking). I learned so much about acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, about Personal Revelation, about finding answers to our questions, about Humbling ourselves, and looking for precious Principles hidden within the stories of the scriptures! (Now if I'm being honest, there were a few times at the end of a long day that I would think "Man! I'd love to just sit and relax in front of the TV!! hahah...but I turned to more study instead and you know what - once I started reading those first words, I was hooked again and the TV had no allure over me!)
Now, at first I wasn't going to do it (because, quite frankly, I've never had a hunger to read the scriptures), but then our bishop mentioned, and I quote "I'll be taking everyone who finishes on time to go get burgers and ice cream."
So, right then is where I got my motivation.
The first few days went by and I totally 'Forgot' about it, but just three days ago, I was outside on the porch with my mom whining to her on how I haven't had the motivation to write on my novel lately, and how it really really sucks.
So she then starts to go on, saying "Maybe you should start reading the Scriptures every morning. Maybe that will help."
Being a teenager, I totally blew that idea out of the way.
How was reading the scriptures supposed to help me write a novel?
But a few moments later I look over at her, saying "So, you're saying that if I read the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father will give me motivation?"
She nods, "Uh-huh, I promise."
I was feeling desperate, so I promised myself to start reading the next morning.
I woke up pretty early the following morning: 8:45-ish.
I grabbed my phone, headed upstairs, and sat down next to my mom (who was already doing her study).
I then, without saying a single word, pulled up the Book of Mormon on my phone and began to read.
At first I was only going to do ONE chapter.
Well. . . that first chapter turned into a second chapter.
Then a third.
A fourth.
And a fifth.
I didn't know why, but I actually craved to learn more about the word of God.
It didn't feel like a chore.
Or a burden.
So, after five chapters, I put my phone out and decided to pray.
I prayed for motivation to write on my novel, and stuff like that.
And what do ya know? I instantly had the urge to write.
I felt happy and peaceful.
And throughout the course of the whole day, I was able to map out the rest of my novel.
Not to mention how awesome I felt.
The next day I woke up almost around the same time.
I rushed downstairs, grabbed my phone, and began reading.
This time I only really aimed for two chapters (I felt an urge to write still).
But, those one or two chapters, turned into another five.
Again, for the rest of the entire day, I felt motivated to write.
I also felt happy and peaceful. . .
I definitely have a testimony about reading the scriptures now.
I know reading them will seriously help you out and will automatically shape your day out to be great.
I also know, without a doubt, that reading the scriptures everyday will help you overcome trials and blockings ~ Ben
AN APOSTLE'S CHALLENGE
April 2017
President Russell M.Nelson gave a challenge to:
1. Study everything Jesus SAID and DID in the Old Testament
2. Study His LAWS as recorded in the New Testament
3. Study His DOCTRINE as recorded in the Book of Mormon
4. Study His WORDS in the Doctrine and Covenants
He promised that as we took the time to study these verses, that our Love for Christ and for God's Laws would grow beyond what we could currently imagine.
I have been taking on this challenge and can already feel my testimony increase of the Savior. This week most of my studying was about how Christ is our Advocate unto the Father. It has been strengthening my testimony of how much Heavenly Father loves us! He WANTS ALL of his children to return to His presence and he knew that wouldn't be possible without a Savior. Christ has the power to make intercession for each one of us - to be OUR Advocate and plead before the Father on our behalf that He has already paid the price for our sins. All because He LOVES us so much!
A PROPHETS COUNSEL
May 2017
So last Sunday (Fast Sunday), as I was praying and pondering and studying I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson that said: "We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit...The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures." This really touched me! A Prophet of God has told us what the MOST IMPORTANT thing we can do with our time - WOW!!! My 20-40 minutes of scripture study in the morning is good, BUT that's not immersing myself in them or giving them them my highest priority or importance! I was not following the counsel of a Prophet of God! Then I got to thinking that if the scriptures were truly so important to me, I would run to them any chance I could (vs. running to the computer or my phone or the TV, etc... because when I do that, my actions are showing God that these things are more important to me) Soooo... I issued myself a challenge that for one week, whenever I had "free time" (where I would normally hop on the computer or my phone or TV) I would choose to study the scriptures/Conference Talk/Teachings of the Prophets instead and see how the week goes... As you can imagine, I felt uplifted, encouraged, happy, peaceful, ready to take on anything that life threw at me (I was equipped with the exact words to share with Ben as we had hour long talks each day about his doubts and questions - and I also used this precious study time to research more questions Ben was asking). I learned so much about acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, about Personal Revelation, about finding answers to our questions, about Humbling ourselves, and looking for precious Principles hidden within the stories of the scriptures! (Now if I'm being honest, there were a few times at the end of a long day that I would think "Man! I'd love to just sit and relax in front of the TV!! hahah...but I turned to more study instead and you know what - once I started reading those first words, I was hooked again and the TV had no allure over me!)
WORDS OF AN APOSTLE
May 2017
Finding the Principles! A few weeks ago I was reading a conference talk by Elder Richard G. Scott and it was all about Revelation - and I loved it! One thing that stuck out to me was that of finding PRINCIPLES during our Scripture Study (a Principle is truth that works in any situation). As I dug further into this concept, I came across an analogy about a gold miner. It went on to explain that the rocks (that the gold veins are encompassed in) are necessary and nice but what the Miner is really there for is the GOLD - and that he has to dig deeper and chip away the rock to get to it. Same with our Scriptures - the stories that we read are nice, but what we're really after are the PRINCIPLES that they hold! This made so much sense to me and got me looking at the stories that I'm so familiar with in such a different light! I have even gone so far as to get a separate "Principles Journal" that I am writing these discovered truths in. The very first time I attempted looking for the principles, I decided to just continue reading where I was currently at - Moroni ch. 1 - which happens to be only 4 verses long. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be able to find the principles but as I really pondered the story that was being told, I was able to chip it away and find the underlying truths that it held. Those truths that I gained from these 4 short verses were:
1. Journals are written for our posterity's benefit
2. Stand up for Christ, no matter the consequence
As I've continued incorporating this deliberate act of seeking out the Principles, my little journal is quickly filling up with beautiful truths that will help guide my life.
ASK IN FAITH
Oct 2017
3rd NEPHI 1
Nov 2017
While studying 3rd Nephi 1, I read how the people begin to forget about the signs and wonders that they have (already) seen and heard and they are "less astonished" at further signs and wonders that they are shown/given. I found this very relatable to me! If we don't write down the signs and wonders given to us from God - it is very easy to forget them over time (if even at the time we think it is so significant and influential that we'll NEVER forget!) So what do we need to do? WRITE DOWN SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES! Not only for ourselves to reflect back on BUT also for others to read about and grow from our personal faith and experiences.
FLECKS OF GOLD
June 2018
During my Scripture study one morning I was reading in Alma 37 about how the Lord uses Small Things to accomplish Great Works and I read an accompanying quote from our Prophet - Russell M. Nelson that really spoke to me. It said: "What are the precious , simple things of the gospel that bring clarity and purpose into our lives? What are the gospel flecks of gold whose patient accumulation over time will reward us with the ultimate treasure - the precious gift of eternal life?.... The gospel is SIMPLE and we should strive to make our lives similarly simple."
I pondered on what those small flecks of gold in my life are/could be in my life and came up with:
- Daily reading, pondering and studying of the scriptures
- Weekly FHE
- Weekly church attendance and partaking of the Sacrament
- Fulfilling my calling
- Daily personal, couple and family prayer
- Regular Enrichments with the kids
- Diligently teaching the kids (and remembering that daily chunks of reading with Nathan WILL BRING great results!)
- Spending time with the family
- Making Family Memories
- Working on Family History
This list of things are fairly simple and small on their own, but if accumulated (over my lifetime) can assist me in accomplishing a great work and rewarding me with the "Ultimate Treasure" as President Nelson calls it!
PROVERBS 3:5-6
September 2018
I (mom) was asked to give the Spiritual Thought at one of the (many) meetings I've attended in the last 2 weeks and thought I'd share it here as it's one that is great to be reminded from time to time. I took it Proverbs 3:5-6 which read:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
In those verses we are given 2 Admonitions (To Trust in the Lord and to Acknowledge him), 1 Warning (Not to lean unto our own understanding) and 1 Promise (If we do these things, he shall direct our Paths <-- all of them, not just one).
I then went on to share the visual that Sister Bonnie Cardon gave in General Conference a couple of years ago from her Talk titled "Trust in the Lord" - based on these same scripture verses. She says that when we physically lean (one way or the other) we become off centered and out of balance and that the same is true when we spiritually lean (unto our own understanding), we become not centered on Christ. She finishes up her talk by stating HOW we can stay centered on Christ, and those are: (1) Feast upon the words of Christ (2) Pray (3) Serve others. As we do these things and really come to know our Savior, we will be better able to Trust in Him.
HEAVEN JOURNALING
September 2018
I recently joined a 30 day challenge of "Heaven Journaling" - which is when you take a specific question to the Lord each day in prayer and then flip open your scriptures randomly and read until you receive an answer OR if you felt inspired to read in a particular book/section to go there and read until you get an answer. Then you write down all of the thoughts and impressions and then close your session with another prayer. I have done this off and on over the past couple of years but I hadn't done it in a while and so when this 30 day challenge popped up, I decided I'd like to do it! I have LOVED getting such direct personal revelation daily! My questions have ranged from broad (like: What do you want me to learn today?) to more specific (like: Should we join the Saints and Scholars Homeschool Co-op? or How can I be the kind of mother August needs? and "What can I do to always be prepared for my new calling as the 2nd Counselor in the Stake YW Presidency?"). One morning I asked "What should I teach in Enrichment today?" and before I even finished my prayer, THE PRIESTHOOD came very directly into my mind. With Nathan receiving the Priesthood in a couple of weeks, I felt that we should be focusing on that even moreso until then. So I spent that morning studying all about the Priesthood and shared my thoughts with the kids during Enrichment. I LOVE that the Heavens are still opened to us today! I have a very strong testimony of personal revelation and that Heavenly Father is there to guide us and direct us in our paths and he wants us to inquire of him with our questions - large or small, broad or specific and HE WILL answer us! The saying goes "If you want to talk to God, then Pray. If you want God to talk to you, then read the scriptures!"
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO
May 2017
So last Sunday (Fast Sunday), as I was praying and pondering and studying I read a quote by Ezra Taft Benson that said: "We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit...The MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures." This really touched me! A Prophet of God has told us what the MOST IMPORTANT thing we can do with our time - WOW!!! My 20-40 minutes of scripture study in the morning is good, BUT that's not immersing myself in them or giving them them my highest priority or importance! I was not following the counsel of a Prophet of God! Then I got to thinking that if the scriptures were truly so important to me, I would run to them any chance I could (vs. running to the computer or my phone or the TV, etc... because when I do that, my actions are showing God that these things are more important to me) Soooo... I issued myself a challenge that for one week, whenever I had "free time" (where I would normally hop on the computer or my phone or TV) I would choose to study the scriptures/Conference Talk/Teachings of the Prophets instead and see how the week goes... As you can imagine, I felt uplifted, encouraged, happy, peaceful, ready to take on anything that life threw at me (I was equipped with the exact words to share with Ben as we had hour long talks each day about his doubts and questions - and I also used this precious study time to research more questions Ben was asking). I learned so much about acquiring Spiritual Knowledge, about Personal Revelation, about finding answers to our questions, about Humbling ourselves, and looking for precious Principles hidden within the stories of the scriptures! (Now if I'm being honest, there were a few times at the end of a long day that I would think "Man! I'd love to just sit and relax in front of the TV!! hahah...but I turned to more study instead and you know what - once I started reading those first words, I was hooked again and the TV had no allure over me!)
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