I read a chapter out of 2 Kings today. It was a hard chapter for me to read, because I didn't understand a lot of it, and the names were really hard to pronounce. But I did get something out of it anyways. I try and read books of scripture that I normally don't think to read every so often, and today it was out of 2nd Kings.
Verses 18-19 were what stood out to me and actually made sense. It talks about how the people of Assyria had their gods destroyed, and how those "gods" were just workings of man, not the true and living God that we worship. And that got me thinking again, how easily it is to sometimes worship other things of man, besides Heavenly Father. It's not just statues that people worship these days. It's anything that keeps us from doing our duty of serving one another and our Heavenly Father. TV, internet, sports, crafts, whatever. If we put those before Heavenly Father, we are just the same as the people of Assyria. Worshipping that of man rather than that of God.
Reading verses like that are helping me put back into perspective what is most important in my life right now, and of course I say Heavenly Father and the church. But do I always act that way? It's helping me look at my life and see what I can adjust to be a better daughter of God.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Day 113
This week I'm focusing on talks by Elder Russel M. Nelson. Today I read a talk about prayer. How to pray, what to pray about, and why we have prayer.
I know prayer is a topic that we all know a lot about and continue to talk about in church. Because it's so imporant! Prayer is our communication to Heavenly Father. We can actually talk to Heavenly Father whenever we need or want to!
I know sometimes I really could do better at praying. Especially at night, sometimes while I say my personal prayers I'm already so tired I fall asleep in the middle of them. I always feel guilty about that, but sometimes I wonder if Heavenly Father gets a chuckle out of that, listen to my thoughts wander and eventually shut down because I'm so tired. Oops.
But I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to pray whenever I need to. Alma taught in the Book of Mormon that we should be constantly praying to Heavenly Father, whether it's just thanking him, or telling him about something. He is our Father, and wants to know how we are just like any parent! I like to think that sometimes when I pray that yes, I should be respectful and formal because he is a higher being, but I also like to know that he loves me as a daughter and I can talk to him about anything. When I really open up and talk to Heavenly Father, that's when I feel like I have the most meaningful prayers.
I know prayer is a topic that we all know a lot about and continue to talk about in church. Because it's so imporant! Prayer is our communication to Heavenly Father. We can actually talk to Heavenly Father whenever we need or want to!
I know sometimes I really could do better at praying. Especially at night, sometimes while I say my personal prayers I'm already so tired I fall asleep in the middle of them. I always feel guilty about that, but sometimes I wonder if Heavenly Father gets a chuckle out of that, listen to my thoughts wander and eventually shut down because I'm so tired. Oops.
But I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to pray whenever I need to. Alma taught in the Book of Mormon that we should be constantly praying to Heavenly Father, whether it's just thanking him, or telling him about something. He is our Father, and wants to know how we are just like any parent! I like to think that sometimes when I pray that yes, I should be respectful and formal because he is a higher being, but I also like to know that he loves me as a daughter and I can talk to him about anything. When I really open up and talk to Heavenly Father, that's when I feel like I have the most meaningful prayers.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Day 112
I just read a short article on Elder Ballard's thoughts on helping a testimony continue to grow. He said our testimonies need to constantly be nourished in order for us to keep them.
It reminded me a lot of a plant. You can't keep a plant alive by simply keeping it in your home. You have to water it. Put it in the sun. It's the same with our testimonies. Even though I know I have one, I can't just keep it to myself, or not do my regular scripture study, or go to church on a regular basis. I need all of that in order for my testimony to continue to grow. And I want it to grow! Everytime I read the scriptures, or learn something new (which is daily, I think) I feel that much closer to my Heavenly Father, and feel his love even stronger than before. It's because of the testimony I have in Him and Jesus Christ that I can find happiness every day. That I have a purpose in this life, and know that I will have a purpose in this next life as well.
It reminded me a lot of a plant. You can't keep a plant alive by simply keeping it in your home. You have to water it. Put it in the sun. It's the same with our testimonies. Even though I know I have one, I can't just keep it to myself, or not do my regular scripture study, or go to church on a regular basis. I need all of that in order for my testimony to continue to grow. And I want it to grow! Everytime I read the scriptures, or learn something new (which is daily, I think) I feel that much closer to my Heavenly Father, and feel his love even stronger than before. It's because of the testimony I have in Him and Jesus Christ that I can find happiness every day. That I have a purpose in this life, and know that I will have a purpose in this next life as well.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Day 111
Since I read a talk about families yesterday, I decided to read some scriptures about them as well. I read Jacob 3 today.
He was talking about how the Lamanites have become more righteous than his brethren, the Nephites. He talked about how the Lamanites had better family units going on. The husbands loved their wives and the wives loved their husbands. The parents loved their children and the children loved has their parents. They were bringing up their children to be good people, while the Nephites were setting bad examples to their children. Jacob warned that because of how the Nephites were bringing up their children, it would one day be a sin on the parents' heads because they planted those seeds of wickedness in their children.
Reading that helped me realize once again how important being a good example at all times is. You never know who is watching. These children were watching their parents and all the bad things they did, and took them to be what was normal and what was needed to be done.
I know that everyone has free agency, but parents do teach their kids at a young age whether they realize it or not. I need to work on remembering that I am always an example to those around me.
He was talking about how the Lamanites have become more righteous than his brethren, the Nephites. He talked about how the Lamanites had better family units going on. The husbands loved their wives and the wives loved their husbands. The parents loved their children and the children loved has their parents. They were bringing up their children to be good people, while the Nephites were setting bad examples to their children. Jacob warned that because of how the Nephites were bringing up their children, it would one day be a sin on the parents' heads because they planted those seeds of wickedness in their children.
Reading that helped me realize once again how important being a good example at all times is. You never know who is watching. These children were watching their parents and all the bad things they did, and took them to be what was normal and what was needed to be done.
I know that everyone has free agency, but parents do teach their kids at a young age whether they realize it or not. I need to work on remembering that I am always an example to those around me.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Day 110
Today I read a talk by Elder Ballard about families and keeping the bonds of a family strong in these last days.
I know I've been taught that the family is one of the most important parts of the plan. The church functions because of the strength of the family. I know that growing up and supporting my family I have now is just as important as the family I plan on helping raise in the future.
The world is doing everything it can to bring down the family, to break it up, to make it seem like it's something silly. But it's not! I know that growing up in the family I did has helped mold me into the person I am today. It was by loving parents that I learned the gospel, and now I have a testimony of my own.
I know the family is a unit God approves of, and created himself. I want to continue defending the importance of it and to never be ashamed of standing up for it.
I know I've been taught that the family is one of the most important parts of the plan. The church functions because of the strength of the family. I know that growing up and supporting my family I have now is just as important as the family I plan on helping raise in the future.
The world is doing everything it can to bring down the family, to break it up, to make it seem like it's something silly. But it's not! I know that growing up in the family I did has helped mold me into the person I am today. It was by loving parents that I learned the gospel, and now I have a testimony of my own.
I know the family is a unit God approves of, and created himself. I want to continue defending the importance of it and to never be ashamed of standing up for it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day 109
I just read the first chapter of Malachi. I don't really ever think or sometimes even like to read out of the book of Malachi or Revelation because they scare me a little and make me nervous. Mostly because the writing is along the lines of great destruction and endless woe. I know that only applies to the wicked, but still, I need to continue to try and be the best I can so that I won't have anything hanging over my head when judgement day comes.
This chapter I read all seemed to be the Lord telling everyone that even though many will try and hide from him, say that they never knew him, he will bring upon them his wrath because he knows our hearts, and knows our stories. He knows if we've ever known about the gospel and what we've chosen to do with it. He is the ultimate judge. We can't hide from him.
His name will be heard everywhere, and ever knee will bow and tongue will confess that he is the King of Kings. Some may say that sounds a little arrogant, but it's not. It's the Lord giving justice to those who have fought to defend his name their whole lives, who have tried their best to live his commandments. It's the wicked who will be running for their lives.
It was an interesting chapter. I need to read stuff like that more often to remember that Malachi is talking about the days I'm living in right now. Am I doing what I need to be doing?
This chapter I read all seemed to be the Lord telling everyone that even though many will try and hide from him, say that they never knew him, he will bring upon them his wrath because he knows our hearts, and knows our stories. He knows if we've ever known about the gospel and what we've chosen to do with it. He is the ultimate judge. We can't hide from him.
His name will be heard everywhere, and ever knee will bow and tongue will confess that he is the King of Kings. Some may say that sounds a little arrogant, but it's not. It's the Lord giving justice to those who have fought to defend his name their whole lives, who have tried their best to live his commandments. It's the wicked who will be running for their lives.
It was an interesting chapter. I need to read stuff like that more often to remember that Malachi is talking about the days I'm living in right now. Am I doing what I need to be doing?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 108
I just read a talk by Elder Ballard about Daughters of God. He talked about the importance of motherhood, and how others can show their appreciation to mothers byt doing small and simple things.
It was a great talk and I greatly respect mothers, and look forward to the day when I will be one myself. I do believe it is one of the greatest joys on earth, and right now I'm doing all I can to continue to prepare to me a good mother.
I feel like what Elder Ballard mentioned for others to do to show their appreciation to mothers can also be things we show others in general that we appreciate them. I think so often we get caught up in our busy lives that we forget that small and simple things can go a long ways with others. We like to know that our efforts aren't being ignored, and we need to remember that other people struggle too. This was a great talk to remind me of that.
It was a great talk and I greatly respect mothers, and look forward to the day when I will be one myself. I do believe it is one of the greatest joys on earth, and right now I'm doing all I can to continue to prepare to me a good mother.
I feel like what Elder Ballard mentioned for others to do to show their appreciation to mothers can also be things we show others in general that we appreciate them. I think so often we get caught up in our busy lives that we forget that small and simple things can go a long ways with others. We like to know that our efforts aren't being ignored, and we need to remember that other people struggle too. This was a great talk to remind me of that.
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