Today I am studying the next chapter in sunday school. My ward will be discussing chapter 41 this week.
It is an interesting title. I was curious to see what these chapters would be about. I decided to get a head start by listening to the chapters on my phone while taking a shower.
Tip: I am a slow reader and impatient. Listening to suggested chapters is a good way to start to get in the mood to study. From there I pick certain chapters or verses that caught my attention and go into them more deeply. You can listen to chapters of scriptures as well other resources in English as well as many other languages through the church's Gospel Library app. It's Free!
This week is 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus.
In these chapters I noticed a lot of talk about the world and about sin.
1 Timothy 4 talks about "latter times" or basically life at present day. In the chapter Paul tells of how men will be seduced by "spirits and doctrines of the devil". Then he reminds the reader that people are good at heart if they will follow Christ. If they will follow christ they can know all things. Godliness is goodness.
Paul asks Timothy to work and teach, he says "neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery." in verse 14. He is talking about the priesthood here, a power and gift from god, authority to act in his name. The priesthood is really a tremendous gift. It gives me hope and comfort. I feel safe to know that the Church is lead by those who are called by God and given permission to act in his name. I can trust in leaders if they are men of God. If I know that God has sent them into my life to guide me.
Sometimes it can be hard to choose God in Today's world. Paul asks us not to waste our youth. "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Tim 4:12) I remember being young and having to choose to be faithful when many were making worldly choices. For me it was relatively easy because I had been raised in the gospel of Jesus Christ by a loving family. For many it is more difficult. We don't naturally want to be different. We don't want to be made fun of. But it is much easier is we do not despise it. I never regretted choosing good. I never hated being pure. We are often naturally curious to know what it is like on the other side of our choices. We wonder "what if". It is better to wonder "what if" than to think "I wish I hadn't".
In 2 Timothy 3, Paul speaks more of latter day men. He tells of their egotistical nature and unrighteous choices. In Verse 7 he says, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." The study guide asks what this means and how we can be sure our learning brings us to truth. This scripture reminded me of a quote I love by T.S. Elliot "Where is the life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" In society today I have noticed that a lot of people work for the wrong reasons. Many work to gain money or stature. Many study to appear civilized or intelligent. Men desire to deceive and work to compete. Many hearts are cold and selfish. They work for their own cause. They work to be better, not better than they were yesterday but better than everyone else. I have been guilty of this.
I dropped out of school because I couldn't pick a major. I was wasting time and money. I also had a boyfriend far away that I wanted to visit, so I needed to work up money to buy a plane ticket. Today, I still consider my education half done. Sometimes I want to study because I like to study. Often times I want to go back to school for my own sense of self worth. I feel like I am less than so many others. I feel like I need to go back and "make something of myself". I need to get a bachelors and then a masters and then cure some kind of worldwide trauma or invent something or make an incredible discovery. I need to accomplish more to keep up with so many who have accomplished so much. It is good to be learned and it is good to make a positive difference, but it must be for the right reasons. As I stress about where I am in my life right now and all the things I haven't done, I am missing out on opportunities. There are ways all around me to apply what I have already learned. If I do not use or share the information I already know I have not knowledge. And if I do not act upon the knowledge I have already received I am not wise. If I run around stressed and working to accomplish something to build myself up, I am not living. I have seen teachers before who know a lot of things but make bad choices. I have seen smart and talented students lose scholarships or athletic opportunities because they chose to drink and drive or use illegal drugs.
Some people "are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." That truth is that Jesus Christ is our savior and through him we can be saved. Baptism in his name by those who are in authority is the gateway to purity.
As children of God we must seek purity. He needs us to be pure in order for us to return to his presence. Paul speaks to his son Titus about purity in Titus 1:15-16 "Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
The truth is that we are made pure through the blood of Christ. Sometimes we are distracted by things of this world, but the things of this world will not last. Money and fame is gone in the blink of an eye, but Christ is eternal. He paid a price we can not pay. The world does not always believe or accept his sacrifice, but he did. He is real.
2 Timothy 1:7-8
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"
John 8:31-32
Friday, October 30, 2015
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Anxiously engaged in a good cause
Doctrine and Covenants 58:27
Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness
Truly Good and without Guile ~ Elder Michael T. Ringwood
"In a world where praise, position, power, accolades, and authority are sought on every side, I honor those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile, those who are motivated by a love of God and their neighbors, those great women and men who are more anxious to serve than to have dominion"
"The service that counts most is usually recognized by God alone"
Of Things That Matter Most ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most"
"Let's be honest; it's rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia-- even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives."
"There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions"
1 Kings 19:12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice"
Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness
Truly Good and without Guile ~ Elder Michael T. Ringwood
"In a world where praise, position, power, accolades, and authority are sought on every side, I honor those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile, those who are motivated by a love of God and their neighbors, those great women and men who are more anxious to serve than to have dominion"
"The service that counts most is usually recognized by God alone"
Of Things That Matter Most ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most"
"Let's be honest; it's rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia-- even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives."
"There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions"
1 Kings 19:12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice"
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Chapter 21: Principles of Temporal and Spiritual Welfare
The next lesson in Relief society in my ward (After Fast Sunday) is to be Chapter 21 from the manual/book "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson".
For gospel study today I decided to read and study it.
Tip: If you don't know what to study for your daily gospel study, a great place to start is by preparing for Sunday by studying the lessons ahead of time. Technically we should be doing that every week, but it seems few do. I know that I have a hard time remembering. Here are some resources for this year (2015) Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson ~ This one is for Relief Society and Elders Quorum. Also there is the New Testament Class Member Study Guide ~ for gospel doctrine. You might have to contact a leader in your ward to know which chapter your ward is studying for the week.
With every chapter of this book I become more and more impressed with Ezra Taft Benson. He really accomplished a lot in his life and was a good, hardworking, insightful, and humble man. He was in a stake presidency during the depression when the Church introduced a new welfare plan called the Church Security Plan. It was created "to help people to help themselves"
Ezra Taft Benson quoted Heber J. Grant in a talk about the church's Welfare program. He explained the purpose of the program, that being "to set up, insofar as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift, and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our church membership."
I love this philosophy. It is just like the ancient Chinese proverb 484 "If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime."
Think about how this changes when you are dealing not with just a man, but him and his wife and his children. This type of teaching does not just change a lifetime, but generations. If a father and mother learn righteous principles of hard work and personal financial responsibility, they pass it on to their children, and so on. This promotes strength and productivity. It creates progress and most importantly, sustainability. A program of handouts for the poor can not be sustained, it can not grow. It only leads to millions hungry searching for hands to feed them, when all hands are empty.
"The strength of the Church welfare program lies in every family following the inspired direction of the Church leaders to be self-sustaining through adequate preparation. God intends for his saints to so prepare themselves that the church as the lord has said may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world." Ezra Taft Benson
I know there are some who would like to believe that heaven is a big comfy chair in a mansion in the clouds where one can rest all day while being fed grapes without having to lift a finger. I don't want to believe that. I find truer joy in working, in creating, in accomplishing, in pondering and understanding. Joy is not found in idleness. We must work to do good, then we receive it.
D&C 6:33 "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap, therefore, if ye sow good, ye shall also reap good for your reward."
What does this mean for you?
I am 25 years old. I am currently unemployed. I have to be careful with spending. I had saved up a lot while I was working so I am very fortunate to not need to ask my parents or anyone else for help. I have a phone where I pay as I go. I travel by foot or bus. I'm renting a cheap apartment with quite a few things I am not used. I grew up in a very cushy lifestyle, though I didn't know it at the time. You might be as well! I now have concrete floors, no working fridge or cupboard space. Some creepy roommates (cockroaches, millipedes, weird snail things that climb up my walls, spiders and such). I take cold showers. It's the only option. Sometimes if I shower just at the right time, the sun has heated up the water tank enough that is comes out almost room temperature. I never thought that would feel as good as it does now-a-days. Needless to say, the first few days were difficult. Now I have gotten used to it. Mostly I am just grateful for everything I have. I am especially grateful for my parents who taught me to work hard and endure challenges. They have brought me up in such a way that I am eager to get back to work. I really want to work because I don't want to be a burden to anyone else, and I am running out of money!
There are some who can not help themselves. They might be sick, old, or have mental difficulties. Loved ones work a extra hard to take care of them. But all those who are able should be wiling to work and progress. When we personally work for our possessions they have more worth to us.
Ezra Taft Benson ~ "Energetic purposeful work leads to vigorous health, praiseworthy aceivement, a clear conscience, and refreshing sleep. Work has always been a boon to man. May you have a wholesome respect, for labor whether with head, heart, or hand. May you ever enjoy the satisfaction of honest toil... You will never wish or dream yourself into heaven. You must pay the price in toil, in sacrifice, and righteous living."
Speaking of self-sufficiency, in a section of this chapter gardening is encouraged. This is something I was not expecting but fits in perfectly.
Last week my boyfriend and I went to the cinema. We watched "The Martian". It was pretty good, especially in 3D, though I didn't appreciate one particularly bloody scene....ANYWAY, The story is about an astronaut who gets left behind on mars by his team when their studies are interrupted by a huge storm. He safely makes it to a refuge they had there stocked with supplies. He quickly realizes he doesn't have enough food to survive until the next nasa trip to Mars. Luckily he is a botanist. He knows how to make things grow. He intelligently designs a green house and is able to grow potatoes. Though I have never heard of anyone growing potatoes on mars, and it's probably not a true story, it's still amazing. I wouldn't know the first thing about growing potatoes. If I were in a food crises with no grocery store, I wouldn't know what to do!
Ezra Taft Benson ~ "An almost forgotten means of economic self-reliance is the home production of food. We are too accustomed to going to stores and purchasing what we need. By producing some of our food we reduce, to a great extent, the impact of inflation on our money. More importantly, we learn how to produce our own food and involve all family members in a beneficial project..."
The chapter continues to talk about food storage and avoiding debt. I won't go into to that right now because my study time is up for the day, but you are more then welcome to read about it yourself from the book. Just scroll up and click the link titled "Chapter 21".
I just want to finish by saying that our heavenly father wants us to have joy. Like an earthly father he wants to see us succeed. Sometimes he stands back a little because he wants us to know that we can do it and he wants us to become stronger. We may not always appreciate the hardships we face, but if we do it right, our trials become the cocoons of life and transform us into something much more divine and beautiful. I know that God exists. I know that he is our father. I know that righteous work brings great joy. I know that through Christ's love and sacrifice we can be changed. It is our duty to reach out to others and helps them grow, just as others help us do the same.
Thanks for your time, enjoy your day.
With love,
Erin
For gospel study today I decided to read and study it.
Tip: If you don't know what to study for your daily gospel study, a great place to start is by preparing for Sunday by studying the lessons ahead of time. Technically we should be doing that every week, but it seems few do. I know that I have a hard time remembering. Here are some resources for this year (2015) Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson ~ This one is for Relief Society and Elders Quorum. Also there is the New Testament Class Member Study Guide ~ for gospel doctrine. You might have to contact a leader in your ward to know which chapter your ward is studying for the week.
With every chapter of this book I become more and more impressed with Ezra Taft Benson. He really accomplished a lot in his life and was a good, hardworking, insightful, and humble man. He was in a stake presidency during the depression when the Church introduced a new welfare plan called the Church Security Plan. It was created "to help people to help themselves"
Ezra Taft Benson quoted Heber J. Grant in a talk about the church's Welfare program. He explained the purpose of the program, that being "to set up, insofar as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift, and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our church membership."
I love this philosophy. It is just like the ancient Chinese proverb 484 "If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime."
Think about how this changes when you are dealing not with just a man, but him and his wife and his children. This type of teaching does not just change a lifetime, but generations. If a father and mother learn righteous principles of hard work and personal financial responsibility, they pass it on to their children, and so on. This promotes strength and productivity. It creates progress and most importantly, sustainability. A program of handouts for the poor can not be sustained, it can not grow. It only leads to millions hungry searching for hands to feed them, when all hands are empty.
"The strength of the Church welfare program lies in every family following the inspired direction of the Church leaders to be self-sustaining through adequate preparation. God intends for his saints to so prepare themselves that the church as the lord has said may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world." Ezra Taft Benson
I know there are some who would like to believe that heaven is a big comfy chair in a mansion in the clouds where one can rest all day while being fed grapes without having to lift a finger. I don't want to believe that. I find truer joy in working, in creating, in accomplishing, in pondering and understanding. Joy is not found in idleness. We must work to do good, then we receive it.
D&C 6:33 "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap, therefore, if ye sow good, ye shall also reap good for your reward."
What does this mean for you?
I am 25 years old. I am currently unemployed. I have to be careful with spending. I had saved up a lot while I was working so I am very fortunate to not need to ask my parents or anyone else for help. I have a phone where I pay as I go. I travel by foot or bus. I'm renting a cheap apartment with quite a few things I am not used. I grew up in a very cushy lifestyle, though I didn't know it at the time. You might be as well! I now have concrete floors, no working fridge or cupboard space. Some creepy roommates (cockroaches, millipedes, weird snail things that climb up my walls, spiders and such). I take cold showers. It's the only option. Sometimes if I shower just at the right time, the sun has heated up the water tank enough that is comes out almost room temperature. I never thought that would feel as good as it does now-a-days. Needless to say, the first few days were difficult. Now I have gotten used to it. Mostly I am just grateful for everything I have. I am especially grateful for my parents who taught me to work hard and endure challenges. They have brought me up in such a way that I am eager to get back to work. I really want to work because I don't want to be a burden to anyone else, and I am running out of money!
There are some who can not help themselves. They might be sick, old, or have mental difficulties. Loved ones work a extra hard to take care of them. But all those who are able should be wiling to work and progress. When we personally work for our possessions they have more worth to us.
Ezra Taft Benson ~ "Energetic purposeful work leads to vigorous health, praiseworthy aceivement, a clear conscience, and refreshing sleep. Work has always been a boon to man. May you have a wholesome respect, for labor whether with head, heart, or hand. May you ever enjoy the satisfaction of honest toil... You will never wish or dream yourself into heaven. You must pay the price in toil, in sacrifice, and righteous living."
Speaking of self-sufficiency, in a section of this chapter gardening is encouraged. This is something I was not expecting but fits in perfectly.
Last week my boyfriend and I went to the cinema. We watched "The Martian". It was pretty good, especially in 3D, though I didn't appreciate one particularly bloody scene....ANYWAY, The story is about an astronaut who gets left behind on mars by his team when their studies are interrupted by a huge storm. He safely makes it to a refuge they had there stocked with supplies. He quickly realizes he doesn't have enough food to survive until the next nasa trip to Mars. Luckily he is a botanist. He knows how to make things grow. He intelligently designs a green house and is able to grow potatoes. Though I have never heard of anyone growing potatoes on mars, and it's probably not a true story, it's still amazing. I wouldn't know the first thing about growing potatoes. If I were in a food crises with no grocery store, I wouldn't know what to do!
Ezra Taft Benson ~ "An almost forgotten means of economic self-reliance is the home production of food. We are too accustomed to going to stores and purchasing what we need. By producing some of our food we reduce, to a great extent, the impact of inflation on our money. More importantly, we learn how to produce our own food and involve all family members in a beneficial project..."
The chapter continues to talk about food storage and avoiding debt. I won't go into to that right now because my study time is up for the day, but you are more then welcome to read about it yourself from the book. Just scroll up and click the link titled "Chapter 21".
I just want to finish by saying that our heavenly father wants us to have joy. Like an earthly father he wants to see us succeed. Sometimes he stands back a little because he wants us to know that we can do it and he wants us to become stronger. We may not always appreciate the hardships we face, but if we do it right, our trials become the cocoons of life and transform us into something much more divine and beautiful. I know that God exists. I know that he is our father. I know that righteous work brings great joy. I know that through Christ's love and sacrifice we can be changed. It is our duty to reach out to others and helps them grow, just as others help us do the same.
Thanks for your time, enjoy your day.
With love,
Erin
Hello Again
Those who know me, know I am not a consistent blogger.
Every once in a while, I start up a blog and after a few posts abandon it.
So here's to a new start, hopefully I can make this one last.
My plan is to blog my daily gospel study. Mostly I'm doing this to be accountable to something, and to keep me motivated. Daily scripture/gospel study can be surprisingly difficult. We all know it is important but somehow we let it slip through the cracks of life, squashed by other priorities that probably truly should be classified as distractions rather than priorities.
My secondary goal is to translate what I write into other languages. I love learning languages but am finding conventional methods to be tedious. Hopefully this will be a new way to practice that I find much more interesting.
If I can somehow lift someone's day or provide new insights to others through my blog posts, that will be the true fruits of this labor. I want to grow and lift others with me while doing so.
I don't claim to be an extraordinary scholar or high achieving intellect. If you saw how many times I have used spell-check already it would be enough to prove that previous statement. Despite all that, I believe we can all learn something from one another. I am just a young humble woman trying to understand a confusing world, hopefully you can find something inspiring here.
Enjoy your studies, personal gospel studies I mean. They will change your life.
With love,
Erin
Every once in a while, I start up a blog and after a few posts abandon it.
So here's to a new start, hopefully I can make this one last.
My plan is to blog my daily gospel study. Mostly I'm doing this to be accountable to something, and to keep me motivated. Daily scripture/gospel study can be surprisingly difficult. We all know it is important but somehow we let it slip through the cracks of life, squashed by other priorities that probably truly should be classified as distractions rather than priorities.
My secondary goal is to translate what I write into other languages. I love learning languages but am finding conventional methods to be tedious. Hopefully this will be a new way to practice that I find much more interesting.
If I can somehow lift someone's day or provide new insights to others through my blog posts, that will be the true fruits of this labor. I want to grow and lift others with me while doing so.
I don't claim to be an extraordinary scholar or high achieving intellect. If you saw how many times I have used spell-check already it would be enough to prove that previous statement. Despite all that, I believe we can all learn something from one another. I am just a young humble woman trying to understand a confusing world, hopefully you can find something inspiring here.
Enjoy your studies, personal gospel studies I mean. They will change your life.
With love,
Erin
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