This week in my Book of Mormon class we studied Mosiah 27 through Alma 7 and these chapters were chalked full of some great doctrine! In Mosiah 10 we learn about some of the false traditions that were handed down from generation to generation, which created a deep hatred among the Lamanites against the Nephites. This got me to thinking about how this happens in our life even today. There are certain families that refuse to speak to one another because of an incident years ago! This is foolish! "In latter-day revelation the Lord warned that Satan uses false traditions to take "away truth and light" (D&C 93:39).
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught what we should do when a family or cultural tradition conflicts with God's plan or standards. He counseled us to carefully examine our lives to determine what traditions may differ from the teachings of the Lord:
"Your Heavenly Father assigned you to be born into a specific lineage from which you received your inheritance of race, culture, and traditions. That lineage can provide a rich heritage and great reasons to rejoice. Yet you have the responsibility to determine if there is any part of that heritage that must be discarded because it works against the Lord's plan of happiness. You may ask how can one determine when a tradition is in conflict with the teachings of the Lord and should be abandoned? That is not easily done. I have found how difficult it is as I work to overcome some of my own incorrect traditions... Customs and traditions become an inherent part of us. They are not easy to evaluate objectively. Carefully study the scriptures and the counsel of the prophets to understand how the Lord wants you to live. Then evaluate each part of your life and make any adjustments needed. Seek help from another you respect who has been able to set aside some deeply held convictions or traditions that are not in harmony with the Lord's plan..."
He continues on to ask, "Is yours a culture where the husband exerts a domineering, authoritian role, making all of the important decisions for the family? That pattern needs to be tempered so that both husband and wife act as equal partners, making decisions in unity for themselves and their family...These are other traditions that should be set aside-any aspect of heritage:
That would violate the Word of Wisdom.
That is based on forcing others to comply by the power of station often determined by heredity.
That encourages the establishment of caste systems.
That breeds conflict with other cultures."
(In Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 112-113; or Ensign, May 1998, 86.)
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Prosaic Work Connects People and Changes Hearts
Chapter 21: The Meanings and Blessings of Family Work
Elder Neal A, Maxwell said, "We must look carefully, therefore, not only at life's large defining moments but also at the seemingly small moments. Even small acts and brief conversations count, if only incrementally, in the constant shaping of our souls."
Few things in life are as small, simple, or of seemingly little value as the everyday tasks we do for family members.
"Family members may not notice the cumulative impact of these small moments, but the daily repetition of words and actions that accompany such work help form basic character, virtues, and beliefs."
"Family work thus reveals a profound potential to strengthen and heal relationships. Performing mundane yet essential tasks for those who cannot do so for themselves can create, in the absence of pride, a precious connection between giver and receiver. As we figuratively touch each other at the simple level of everyday need, routine acts of service begin to mend feelings and foster unity."
BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
2012
Elder Neal A, Maxwell said, "We must look carefully, therefore, not only at life's large defining moments but also at the seemingly small moments. Even small acts and brief conversations count, if only incrementally, in the constant shaping of our souls."
Few things in life are as small, simple, or of seemingly little value as the everyday tasks we do for family members.
"Family members may not notice the cumulative impact of these small moments, but the daily repetition of words and actions that accompany such work help form basic character, virtues, and beliefs."
"Family work thus reveals a profound potential to strengthen and heal relationships. Performing mundane yet essential tasks for those who cannot do so for themselves can create, in the absence of pride, a precious connection between giver and receiver. As we figuratively touch each other at the simple level of everyday need, routine acts of service begin to mend feelings and foster unity."
Successful marriages and families: proclamation principles and research perspectives
By: Hawkins, Alan J..BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
2012
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Revelation with Enos and The New Era June 2014
In Enos 1:10 Enos states that the voice of the Lord came into his mind. It is important to remember that revelation comes in many different ways. Some of the ways that it may come to you may be through: thoughts, impressions, and feelings (D&C 6:15 and 8:2-3).
President Boyd K. Packer said, "Answers to prayers come in a quiet way. The scriptures describe that voice of inspiration as a still, small voice. I have come to know that inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound. Put difficult questions in the back of your minds and go about your lives. Ponder and pray quietly and persistently about them. The answer may not come as a lightning bolt. It may come as a little inspiration here and a little there, 'line upon line, precept upon precept' (D&C 98:12). Some answers will come from reading the scriptures, some from hearing speakers. And, occasionally, when it is important, some will come by very direct and powerful inspiration. The promptings will be clear and unmistakable" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 28, 30; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 19-21)."
I absolutely love this quote because he talks about so many fundamental things that we must learn and be reminded of in regards to revelation. Prophet Joseph Smith shares his explanation of how the Lord communicates with us by saying, "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus" (History of the Church, 3:381).
In The New Era June 2014 edition there is an article titled, "Eight Reasons for Revelation." The eight reasons that they discuss, include: testify, prophesy, comfort, uplift, inform, restrain, confirm, and impel. Each one of these has it's own qualities and characteristics to identify it with. This is a great article to help you determine whether you are truly receiving revelation or not and how you can identify it when it comes. At the beginning of the article, Elder Dallin H. Oaks states, "You have already received revelations, and you can receive more revelations because communication from God to men and women is a reality." I loved this quote because I think that it is important for us to remember that we truly do have the opportunity to communicate with our Heavenly Father and we do indeed receive revelation in our lives.
President Boyd K. Packer said, "Answers to prayers come in a quiet way. The scriptures describe that voice of inspiration as a still, small voice. I have come to know that inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound. Put difficult questions in the back of your minds and go about your lives. Ponder and pray quietly and persistently about them. The answer may not come as a lightning bolt. It may come as a little inspiration here and a little there, 'line upon line, precept upon precept' (D&C 98:12). Some answers will come from reading the scriptures, some from hearing speakers. And, occasionally, when it is important, some will come by very direct and powerful inspiration. The promptings will be clear and unmistakable" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 28, 30; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 19-21)."
I absolutely love this quote because he talks about so many fundamental things that we must learn and be reminded of in regards to revelation. Prophet Joseph Smith shares his explanation of how the Lord communicates with us by saying, "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus" (History of the Church, 3:381).
In The New Era June 2014 edition there is an article titled, "Eight Reasons for Revelation." The eight reasons that they discuss, include: testify, prophesy, comfort, uplift, inform, restrain, confirm, and impel. Each one of these has it's own qualities and characteristics to identify it with. This is a great article to help you determine whether you are truly receiving revelation or not and how you can identify it when it comes. At the beginning of the article, Elder Dallin H. Oaks states, "You have already received revelations, and you can receive more revelations because communication from God to men and women is a reality." I loved this quote because I think that it is important for us to remember that we truly do have the opportunity to communicate with our Heavenly Father and we do indeed receive revelation in our lives.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Prayer and Sanctification of Marriage
Chapter 19 Sanctification and Cooperation: How Prayer Helps Strengthen Relationships in Good Times and Heal Relationships in Bad Times
"When people perceive something as sacred, it changes the way they treat it. For example, workers who defined their work as a "calling" reported missing fewer days than those who defined it as a "job" or a "career" (Wrzesniewski, McCauley, Rozin, & Schwartz, 1997). Also, Mahoney and colleagues (2005) reported that those who viewed their bodies as sacred placed a higher priority on daily physical exercise."
"A key aspect of coming to view a relationship as sacred is to first include God as an active member of the relationship. Ecclesiastes 4:12 refers to a type of "threefold cord" bond that is established when God is included in the partnership when it states, "A threefold cord is not quickly broken."Many couples report such an inclusion of God in their relationship. Butler and Harper (1994) found that for some religious couples, God is more involved in the marriage than any mortal individual."
BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
2012
"When people perceive something as sacred, it changes the way they treat it. For example, workers who defined their work as a "calling" reported missing fewer days than those who defined it as a "job" or a "career" (Wrzesniewski, McCauley, Rozin, & Schwartz, 1997). Also, Mahoney and colleagues (2005) reported that those who viewed their bodies as sacred placed a higher priority on daily physical exercise."
"A key aspect of coming to view a relationship as sacred is to first include God as an active member of the relationship. Ecclesiastes 4:12 refers to a type of "threefold cord" bond that is established when God is included in the partnership when it states, "A threefold cord is not quickly broken."Many couples report such an inclusion of God in their relationship. Butler and Harper (1994) found that for some religious couples, God is more involved in the marriage than any mortal individual."
Successful marriages and families: proclamation principles and research perspectives
By: Hawkins, Alan J..BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University
2012
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