3. Prepare to be worthy to enter the temple and to participate in temple ordinances. Read Alma chapter 5. Make a list of the questions Alma asks. Answer the questions for yourself, and make a list of the things you can and will do to prepare yourself to be pure and worthy to enter the temple and receive all the blessings our Heavenly Father has promised His beloved daughters.
October 31, 2010
~ Questions in Alma 5 ~
(v.6) 1. Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? 2. Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? 3. Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?
(v.10) 4. On what conditions are they saved? 5. What grounds had they to hope for salvation? 6. What is the cause of their being loosed from...the chains?
~ Answers ~
It is good to think on the examples of others and come to realize that God loves me too and He is still a God of miracles. If He blessed those before me He can and will bless me too.
~ Questions in Alma 5 ~
(v.14) 7. Have ye spiritually been born of God? 8. Have ye received his image in your countenances? 9. Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
(v.15) 10. Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? 11. Do you look forward with an eye of faith and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
(v.16) 12. Can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
(v.19) 13. Can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? 14. Can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
(v.26) 15. If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
(v.27) 16. Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? 17. Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? 18. That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
(v.28) 19. Behold, are ye stripped of pride?
~ Answers ~
These questions certainly do give one a whole lot to think about. I truly hope I am on the right path and that I have the image of God engraven in my countenance.
According to Alma and the whisperings of the Spirit, here are some things I need to do to be worthy to enter the temple and recieve all of my promised blessings: be humble, repent, serve others, study the life of Christ, serve God, fast, pray, have a pure heart and clean hands, allow myself to have a change of heart, let the Spirit into my life, be faithful, trust God, look toward eternity, endure to the end.
This seems like a long list but I am already doing many of them. The trick is to keep doing them so that I can stand blameless before God on the last day and be welcomed into His presencs. What a glorious day that will be!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
GOOD WORKS PROJECT
March 2010
My project is: To better my homemaking skills. I will collect new recipes, make new and different foods from all the "usuals," become better at following recipes, plan ahead, and make family dinner a priority -- that is, dinner sitting down together in our home.
My plan to carry out my project is:
1. Complete my recipe collection.
2. Select 10 new recipes and make them exactly according to directions.
3. Perpetuate the habit of family dinner by having it ready by 6:30 or earlier each night.
4. Plan several menus for the week or month and shop for ingredients.
October 30, 2010
My evaluation of the project is: Making dinner for my family or others or sharing treats with others has brought be much joy. I love seeing the finished results of the food I cook and I love having others enjoy what I make. As I continue to make meals I will be serving my family and showing them my love, I will be saving us money, and I will be helping to improve our diets - because what is made in the home is almost always healthier. This project has been fun to do because it helps me improve a skill and talent I enjoy while serving others - which makes service fun for me!
My project is: To better my homemaking skills. I will collect new recipes, make new and different foods from all the "usuals," become better at following recipes, plan ahead, and make family dinner a priority -- that is, dinner sitting down together in our home.
My plan to carry out my project is:
1. Complete my recipe collection.
2. Select 10 new recipes and make them exactly according to directions.
3. Perpetuate the habit of family dinner by having it ready by 6:30 or earlier each night.
4. Plan several menus for the week or month and shop for ingredients.
October 30, 2010
My evaluation of the project is: Making dinner for my family or others or sharing treats with others has brought be much joy. I love seeing the finished results of the food I cook and I love having others enjoy what I make. As I continue to make meals I will be serving my family and showing them my love, I will be saving us money, and I will be helping to improve our diets - because what is made in the home is almost always healthier. This project has been fun to do because it helps me improve a skill and talent I enjoy while serving others - which makes service fun for me!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Faith #1
1. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn about faith from the scriptures and living prophets. Read Hebrews 11; Alma 32:17–43; Ether 12:6–22; and Joseph Smith—History 1:11–20. Read two general conference talks on faith. Exercise your own faith by establishing a habit of prayer in your life. Begin by regularly saying your morning and evening prayers. After three weeks of following this pattern, discuss with a parent or leader what you have learned about faith and how daily personal prayer has strengthened your faith. In your journal express your feelings about faith and prayer.
October 24, 2010
~ Learn about Faith ~
* Hebrews 11 - faith is things hoped for; we must believe in God and He will reward us though sometimes those rewards come after this life. Paul gives us many examples of people who had great faith so that we can better understand it. My favorite is regarding Sara who never lost faith and hope that she would have children because the Lord had promised her. I feel like I am in her shoes right now. I too have been promised and now I must be patient, always believing that the blessing will come.
* Alma 32:17-43 - faith is things hoped for; we must nourish our faith with great care by praying and recognizing blessings that come to us, attending church and the temple, reading scriptures, etc.; faith takes works/actions.
* Ether 12:6-22 - again faith is things hoped for; miracles come about because of faith.
* JSH 1:11-20 - Joseph Smith had great faith to know that if he prayed God would give him an answer; his faith was so great he was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ.
* "Faith in Adversity" by Rafael E. Pino (Ensign, May 2009) - the family has faith that if they do their part they will be with their daughter again; faith requires us and helps us accept the will of God under trying circumstances; the atonement can take away our pain and sorrow; if we have faith nothing can go permanently wrong; faith gives us confidence to face and endure adversity.
* "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Kevin W. Pearson (Ensign, May 2009) - faith requires action and is developed by obedience and gives us enormous spiritual power; faith and fear cannot coexist and fear is destructive while faith is power!
October 24, 2010
~ Learn about Faith ~
* Hebrews 11 - faith is things hoped for; we must believe in God and He will reward us though sometimes those rewards come after this life. Paul gives us many examples of people who had great faith so that we can better understand it. My favorite is regarding Sara who never lost faith and hope that she would have children because the Lord had promised her. I feel like I am in her shoes right now. I too have been promised and now I must be patient, always believing that the blessing will come.
* Alma 32:17-43 - faith is things hoped for; we must nourish our faith with great care by praying and recognizing blessings that come to us, attending church and the temple, reading scriptures, etc.; faith takes works/actions.
* Ether 12:6-22 - again faith is things hoped for; miracles come about because of faith.
* JSH 1:11-20 - Joseph Smith had great faith to know that if he prayed God would give him an answer; his faith was so great he was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ.
* "Faith in Adversity" by Rafael E. Pino (Ensign, May 2009) - the family has faith that if they do their part they will be with their daughter again; faith requires us and helps us accept the will of God under trying circumstances; the atonement can take away our pain and sorrow; if we have faith nothing can go permanently wrong; faith gives us confidence to face and endure adversity.
* "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" by Kevin W. Pearson (Ensign, May 2009) - faith requires action and is developed by obedience and gives us enormous spiritual power; faith and fear cannot coexist and fear is destructive while faith is power!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Book of Mormon ~ 3 Nephi 22:1
October 18, 2010: Isaiah speaks of the last days (or next life) and says that the barren woman shall rejoice because of her children. Do you suppose this is an analogy or actuality? Dave and I are trying so hard to get our children here. If I can take this scripture literally then it gives me great hope that I will have children and I know I will rejoice on that day for I long to fulfill this quintessential part of being a woman.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
FAITH PROJECT
June 26, 2010
My project is: To think of faith as a seed as I help plant, care for, and harvest a vegetable garden.
My plan to carry out my project is:
1. Prepare the ground by clearing the weeds and tilling the soil.
2. Plant the seeds in the ground and fertilize.
3. Water and weed several times a week.
4. Harvest and eat the vegetables as they grow and ripen.
October 10, 2010
My evaluation of the project is: If you compare my little garden to faith, every vegetable demonstrated its own degree of faithfulness. The peppers and onions grew very well and responded to nourishment I gave them; their faith is strong. The carrots had days where they struggled but faithfully pulled through. The tomatoes started off strong but withered in the end despite the good nourishment they received. The pumpkins grew well but never produced fruit and therefore were good for nothing. The watermelon never did grow. The corn grew and flourished despite the lack of nourishment - they found their own. I hope my faith can be like the corn, onions, or peppers, grown tall and strong and full of fruit.
My project is: To think of faith as a seed as I help plant, care for, and harvest a vegetable garden.
My plan to carry out my project is:
1. Prepare the ground by clearing the weeds and tilling the soil.
2. Plant the seeds in the ground and fertilize.
3. Water and weed several times a week.
4. Harvest and eat the vegetables as they grow and ripen.
October 10, 2010
My evaluation of the project is: If you compare my little garden to faith, every vegetable demonstrated its own degree of faithfulness. The peppers and onions grew very well and responded to nourishment I gave them; their faith is strong. The carrots had days where they struggled but faithfully pulled through. The tomatoes started off strong but withered in the end despite the good nourishment they received. The pumpkins grew well but never produced fruit and therefore were good for nothing. The watermelon never did grow. The corn grew and flourished despite the lack of nourishment - they found their own. I hope my faith can be like the corn, onions, or peppers, grown tall and strong and full of fruit.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Faith #3
3. Living gospel principles requires faith. Read about faith in the Bible Dictionary or True to the Faith. Faith in the Savior Jesus Christ leads to action. Choose a principle such as prayer, tithing, fasting, repentance, or keeping the Sabbath day holy. In your own home or another setting, plan and present a family home evening lesson about how faith helps you live that gospel principle. If possible, ask a family member to share an experience that has strengthened his or her faith. Share your own experiences as well. In your journal write down one of those experiences and describe your feelings about faith.
October 3, 2010
* Bible Dictionary, "Faith": required for salvation, strong faith is developed through obedience to the gospel, principle of action and power (by it one can heal the sick and more), brings an assurance of things hoped for
* Faith in the Savior leads to action: Paying Tithing
I love the scriptures in Malachi where the Lord promises to open the windows of Heaven and pour out more blessings than we can hold if we pay our tithing. I have always believed that and I have seen it in my life. As I prepared to serve a mission, in just a few short months I went from having very little in savings to having enough to pay for nearly one-third of my mission. I know this was a blessing because I have always striven to be a full tithe payer.
October 3, 2010
* Bible Dictionary, "Faith": required for salvation, strong faith is developed through obedience to the gospel, principle of action and power (by it one can heal the sick and more), brings an assurance of things hoped for
* Faith in the Savior leads to action: Paying Tithing
I love the scriptures in Malachi where the Lord promises to open the windows of Heaven and pour out more blessings than we can hold if we pay our tithing. I have always believed that and I have seen it in my life. As I prepared to serve a mission, in just a few short months I went from having very little in savings to having enough to pay for nearly one-third of my mission. I know this was a blessing because I have always striven to be a full tithe payer.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Book of Mormon ~ 3 Nephi 12:25
October 2, 2010: This is kind of an odd scripture counseling us to agree with our adversary or we might end up in prison. Normally, I would read right past it but today I totally see the application. My boss at work is my adversary - he has changed so many good things and has made my job very stressful. Lately, I have gotten into a few tiffs with him. But, as Christ says here, I must agree with my adversary quickly so that he cannot find any way to toss me into prison, or fire me. I tell you, this won't be easy but I know it must be done and I can do it because my Savior wants me to.
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