Scripture Study

I've been trying to find different ways to help me study the scriptures more effectively. I was invited by my cousin to follow on Instagram bofm365 to study the Book of Mormon for the year. Although I haven't been as regular in keeping up, I love how they break down the chapters and give you a question to ponder as you read.

I also had been pinning scripture study journaling ideas on Pinterest, and I finally settled on a way that will help me track my thoughts as I study. I settled on The Red Headed Hostess' scripture journal templates. I like her format.

I mean I've always had a journal for my spiritual thoughts, I just wanted a better way to do it. I'm just about done writing in one journal, so with my new one I already cut and pasted some of the template into it. I can't wait to start on this new way of studying.

What's your method to studying the scriptures?

Stand as a Witness at ALL Times

A couple weeks ago, it seemed like the theme in Sacrament meeting (worship service) was about standing as a Witness. Stand as a Witness to God; Stand as a Witness to the Gospel. It has stuck in my mind since then and got me thinking, Am I standing as a witness to what I believe? Am I teaching my children to stand as a witness? As a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I made a covenant to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places. (Mosiah 18:9)

What does it mean to stand as a witness? To stand as a witness you first need to have a testimony of the Gospel and what it teaches. You also need a testimony of the scriptures and the knowledge that comes from reading them. If you don't, you need to pray for these testimonies and when you do the

Prayer

In my personal study I thought that I would concentrate on Prayer. This is a subject that I need improvement on. I will admit that I'm not the best at getting down on my knees every day to thank my Heavenly Father for the things that I need or have. It is something that I've committed to being better at. But I wanted to share my thoughts as I studied this topic, b/c there may be someone that needs to read this.

What is Prayer? - Prayer is our communicational life line with our Father in Heaven. It has a special language that we should use to show respect to our Heavenly Father. Elder Dallin H. Oaks (one of my favorite apostles) said, "We should address prayers to our Heavenky Father in words which speak of that language associated with love and respect and reverence and closeness." (1993 April Conference, The Language of Prayer) This was a fantastic talk by the way. I love how he mentions in this quote that the language should be in closeness. To me this means pray as if he was standing right next to you. For some that is hard to do and for others it's really easy. I'm stuck in between, but will get to that closeness.

When we are praying we should make it a special conversation and should do it in a private place, if we are doing it alone. Find a special spot where you won't be disturbed while pouring out your heart. In Matthew 6:6-7 this is what is says about praying in secret.

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into a thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to they Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking."

 Don't pray to gain an audience of others, but to have the audience of your Heavenly Father. We need to be sincere in our prayers or else they don't mean anything. Sometimes I feel like I'm repeating myself when I pray, but I try to be conscience of what I'm praying for, and how I'm praying. When we are praying from the heart then our prayers will be sincere and will be answered.

My other thought was when should we pray? Should I pray only in the morning or just at night? The answer is simple: ALWAYS.

In D&C (Doctrine and Covenants) 10:5 it says, "Pray always, that you may come of conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work."

I had never really noticed how the word 'conqueror' was spelled. I always would say conquer. I looked it up and it means self-mastery. So I read it again using self-mastery in its place and it made more sense. We need to pray to humble ourselves so that we can fight off Satan with Heavenly Father's help. By praying all the time it makes us stronger with the Lord, which leads me into the next scripture in Alma 13:28.

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering."

Not only should we be praying on our own, but with our families. When we pray as a family we become stronger. Just like the scripture in Alma is talking about. We need to take the time to pray as a family, because the world is not a place to out into without feeling the Lord's love and protection.

"Think of the power for good as you gather and thank God for all of his blessings. Think of the eternal significance of daily thanking him for each member of your family and asking him to guide and bless and protect each one. Think of the strength that will come to your family as, daily, one member or another pours out his or her soul in love to God for other family members." Elder John H. Gorberg (1982 April Conference, The Power of Family Prayer)

I've mentioned when we should pray, how we should pray, what about the why? Why should we pray? This was partially answered in D&C 10:5, to ask the Lord's help to overcome Satan. Why else are we praying for? For me it's to include Him in major life decisions. Like; should I marry this person? Is this the right school to go to? Should I take this job offer? Is this where my family should move to? We need to involve the Lord in our life to make it a richer, fuller life. I know that when we include Him in big decisions we feel at peace. It should also be to ask for his forgiveness, because we are not perfect and we need it.

In Mark 11:24-26 this is what it says about why we should pray.

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." 

Prayer is essential to our eternal progression. We need our Heavenly Father's help in this life. I know that I need to be more committed in communicating with him because I've seen the blessings that come from praying daily.

Missionary Moment

I wanted to get this down before I forgot.

For the last several weeks, I've been talking to a co-worker. We knew each other but just recently became friends since we bothe moved into the same suite and sat across from each other. she is such a sweet and generous person, that I have found a kindred spirit in her. She and I like many of the same hobbies and have enjoyed each other's company. 

Well in our many discussions we have talked openly about religion. She herself is a Christian and goes to church regularly and is teaching her little boy to love reading the Bible. She found out that I'm a Mormon and started asking me questions. I of course would answer and explain as best as I could so that she would understand what we are all about. Most of the time our conversations came up naturally, and so it has been easy to talk to her about what we all about. I told her that we believe that families are forever and she loved that concept. She said that most churches don't really talk about family. She also loves that I live what I'm taught and that I'm not contradicting my beliefs when I talk about it. I'm glad that I'm living in a way that is being noticed for good.

I have been able to share my testimony of a lot of the gospel principles with her and she has been very open it. I hope that I have planted a small seed, so that one day she will be ready to fully accept the gospel.

General Women's Conference

Tonight was the LDS General Women's Conference. All I really need to say is this.

 

I just want to share my testimony that I know the family is of God. I'm grateful that I have been married in the temple and have been sealed to my husband and beautiful children. I know that families are forever.

Tree of Life: Mist of Darkness

I've finally reached the last section of this chapter.

1 Nephi 8

vs. 23 - Mist of Darkness

At first this section was hard for me to study, I didn't know exactly where to start but after much contemplation the thoughts started to flow.

The mist of darkness is a representation of temptation. The devil is sneaky and will try to lead you away with temptations. We need to resist and not get side-tracked.

- 3 Nephi 18:18

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley gave some good advice, " You must keep control of your desires. For you there is no future in any course . . . Nonetheless, yielding to temptation can become like a wound that seems never to heal and always to leave an ugly scar." (2004 April conference, Stay on the High Road)

Keeping control of our desires is key. By keeping yourself in check you are warding off the temptation to sin. No one wants to sin.

"One of the great myths of life is when men think they are invincible. Too many think that they are men of steel, strong enough to withstand any temptation." - Pres. James E. Faust (2002 April conference, It Can't Happen to Me)

- Luke 8:13
- James 1:12

Elder W. Craig Zwick said this, "It requires courage to make good choices, even when other around us choose differently. As we make righteous choices day by day in little things, the Lord will strengthen us and help us choose the right during more difficult times." (2008 April conference, We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield)

It can be hard to be conscience of the choice you make, but it can also be rewarding. If your true desire is to not sin, then you will be blessed. The Lord wants us to come to him when the choices are hard. Find your knees and plead for his help. He wants us to.

- D&C 10:5

"We get side tracked by submitting to temptations that divert us past the bounds of safety. Satan knows our weaknesses. He puts attractive snares on our path at just those moments when we are most vulnerable." - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1990 Oct conference, The Straight and Narrow Way)

I know that I have been tempted at times to sway in the other direction, but when I do I go to the Lord and ask him to help me. I don't want to be walking through the mist of darkness alone because I can't always see what is out there. Stay conscience of your surroundings and steer clear of the things that will trip you up and bring you down to Satan's level. As Pres. Hinckley said we to say on the high road.

Tree of Life: Straight and Narrow Path

Today I will be sharing my thoughts on the Straight and Narrow Path.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 20 - Straight and Narrow Path

As I was reading, these were my thoughts about the straight and narrow path.

• the iron rod runs along side the path

• without either we cannot find our way home

• they lead us to eternal life

• we need to teach our children the importance of staying on the path

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom said this about the path, "No child needs to walk the path alone so long as we speak freely to our children of the plan of salvation." (2010 Oct conference, Stay on the Path)

I love how she says that we need to teach our children of the plan of salvation. By doing so I know that we are reinforcing them to understand that eternal life is the goal.

- D&C 68:25, 28

A hymn came to my mind as I read Sister Wixom's quote and that is Teach Me to Walk in the Light (177).

Teach me to walk in the light of his love;

Teach me to pray to my Father above;

Teach me to know of the things that are right;

Teach me, teach me to walk in the light

Come, little child, and together we'll learn

Of his commandments, that we may return

Home to his presence, to live in his sight

Always, always to walk in the light.

Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day

For loving guidance to show us the way.

Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight!

Gladly, gladly we'll walk in the light.

How simple are these words!?

We should also help others come to the path and help those who have lost their way. Our love for others will help us in this effort, because everyone deserves a chance at happiness for eternal life. 

- D&C 132:22

In order to teach and help others to stay on the path we need to do the same.

"How can we keep ourselves on the straight and narrow way? The Lord have the answer over and over again. We must learn the word of God by studying the scriptures and apply his word by praying daily to the Lord and serving our fellowmen." - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1990 Oct conference, The Straight and Narrow Way)

We should also be encouraging our youth to be virtuous which will keep them on the path. Help them to put on the whole ARMOR of GOD. 

Sister Mary N. Cook said, "Center your life on the Savior and develop daily habits of righteous living." (2009 April conference, A Virtuous Life - Step by Step)

Let us all strive to create and keep daily habits of righteous living so that we can help others and our families gain eternal life.