Watching with All Perseverance

David A Bednar gave a talk in Apr 2010 that I want to listen to again, “Watching with All Perseverance”, MP3

A summary of the talk by the speaker.

I pray for the guidance of the Holy Ghost as I describe a spiritual early warning system that can help parents in Zion to be watchful and discerning concerning their children. This early warning system applies to children of all ages and contains three basic components: (1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children, (2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children, and (3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon. Parents who do these things faithfully will be blessed to recognize early signals of spiritual growth in or challenges with their children and be better prepared to receive inspiration to strengthen and help those children.

"Immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you"

"Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you." Alma 34:31

This is the scripture that came to my mind as I read the talk by Vaughn J. Featherstone in Oct 1980, "Forgive Them, I Pray Thee".  I just found it from the comment of R. Gary in this post by Clean Cut.

The Lord is merciful.  He requires our heart.  He is mighty to save.

Voice-of-the-Spirit

There is nothing like the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit. I must pare off those branches that would choke out the ones that will bear good fruit. I must choose the best things in my life, leaving behind the better and the good. I am so grateful for prayer and the scriptures. For good songs and the welcome of home. God is great. He is mighty to save.

The Man I Want To Be

I heard this on the radio yesterday for the first time.  Lyrics  below.

God, Im down here on my knees
Cause its the last place left to fall
Beggin for another chance
If theres any chance at all
That you might still be listenin
Lovin and forgivin guys like me
Ive spent my whole life gettin it all wrong
And I sure could use your help cause from now on

I wanna be a good man
A do like I should man
I wanna be the kind of man the mirror likes to see
I wanna be a strong man
And admit that I was wrong, man
God Im asking you to come change me
To the man I wanna be

Theres anyway for her and me to make another start
Could you see what you could do
To put some love back in her heart
Cuz it going to take a miracle
After all Ive done to really make her see

That I wanna be a statement
I wanna be a great man
I wanna be the kind of man that she shes in her dreams
God, I wanna be your man
And I wanna be her man
God, I only hope she still believes
In the man I wanna be

Well, I know this late at night that talk is cheap
Lord, dont give up on me

I wanna be a givin man
I wanna really start livin man
God, Im asking you to come change me
To the man I wanna be

When I Do Good...

“When I do good I feel good, when I do bad I feel bad, that’s my religion.”  Abraham Lincoln

Lord, I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief

Last night my wife shared the lesson of Sunday School with me. (I teach primary so I don't get to attend.) They learned about Naaman. I was impressed that an outsider to Israel would have enough faith to come to Israel to be healed of his leprosy. He was willing to go on the word of one of the servants of his wife. He was willing to listen to his own servant when the experience did not go as he expected it to. He humbled himself to go and wash in Jordan. He received his reward.

This morning I dropped off my oldest son and some of his friends to their first day of seminary. I have fond memories of attending seminary. I have four older brothers and sisters. For me it was a coming of age; a cool thing to do. It was during my seminary years that I gained my own testimony of Jesus Christ and his church.

I have been reflecting on whether or not I would have the faith I have now if it were not for my upbringing and nurturing. Where else can I find a belief system that challenges me as the Mormon one does? It asks me to obtain my own answers to the fundamental questions. It asks me to commit to God and my fellow believers through baptism and other covenants. It asks me to serve and give and grow. I get callings that I would not have had the disposition to do otherwise. The Lord has given his all. He asks nothing less of us.

There was a man that brought his mute son to the disciples of Jesus to be healed.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:14-29)

Like the father, like Naaman, I must step out with faith. This life is for us to see if we will do what God wants us to do in the face of not knowing. So I cry out to God, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief".

Opening Our Hearts

Lately, I have been thinking about testimony. How it is obtained and retained and increased. My mind went to a talk I thought Elder Bednar gave. When I searched, I found this talk.

Gerald N. Lund, “Opening Our Hearts,” Ensign, May 2008, 32–34 MP3

"Because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost" Moroni 8:26

Elder Lund refers to Elder Bednar's talk. The one he gave to Church Educational System educators given on February 3, 2006.

"Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. … Ultimately, … the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter."

David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith,” Liahona, Sep 2007, 16–24

To have the comfort of the Spirit of the Lord I must yield to His enticings. He will never force my heart.

Blessed By Adversity

It is hard to feel sorry for myself when I hear a story like Gary Ceran.

Early in the morning of one Christmas Eve, Gary Ceran’s life was drastically and forever altered. On this day, a terrible traffic accident took the lives of his wife and two of his children. Who was the at-fault driver of the other vehicle? What would your reaction be toward this person? How would you deal with this tragedy on a personal level?

From Conversations on the Mormon Channel. Download the MP3 here.

Some pressing appointment, perhaps?

We all have the same amount of time in each day. Each person is equal in this. What is it we use our time for?

I am reminded of a scene in the Count of Monte Cristo. Edmund has been in a political prison for five years when a floor stone pops up and Abbe Faria comes up. He has been in prison for 11 years. For the last five years he has been digging a tunnel to what he thought was the external wall. Abbe had narrowed down the possible directions to the external wall to two and had chosen the wrong one. This is where the clips (0:45-1:30) picks up.

"With two of us, we could dig in the opposite direction. And with both of us together, then of course we could possibly do it in um...oh...8 years. [Edmond laughs] Ohh... and does something else demand your time? Some pressing appointment, perhaps?" Edmund helps Abbe dig for years in return for lessons in reading, writing and more advanced learning.

What does it matter if I decide to take up a project that takes 20 years? As long as it is worthwhile. There is a calculus that occurs in my life whether I want it to or not. I eventually get what I want. The trick is to choose that which will bring lasting happiness instead of only immediate pleasure. 1 2

"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;" D&C 58:27