Post # 23 – Feeling a Disconnection
Dear Family
& Friends
I am so glad to be getting back to church, my life is so different -- almost disconnected -- without going to church each week. I didn't realize just how much I would miss church without going each week.I .miss my church family and friends as well as the lessons taught each week for my reflection during the following week
I have been
missing going to church since my surgery. It’s funny how going to church and
taking the sacrament each week – makes your week go so much better than when
you are not able to go for one reason or another.
I don’t know about each of
you, but I do notice a difference in my entire week when I am able to go to
church and take the sacrament. and renew my baptismal covenants each week.
"Just
imagine how blessed we are to know that God is a being with a body of flesh and
bones as tangible as ours, that we can worship a God who is real, whom we can
understand, and who has shown and revealed Himself and His Son to His
prophets—both prophets of old and prophets in these latter days. He is a God
who hears and answers our prayers; a God who watches us from heaven above and
is constantly concerned about our spiritual and temporal well-being; a God who
gives us agency to decide for ourselves to follow Him and obey His commandments
without coercion; a God who gives us blessings and allows us to face trials so
we can grow and become like Him."
—Elder
Adilson de Paula Parrella, "Essential Truths—Our Need to Act"
I love it when I can prepare by reading an studying ahead ad then be able to participate in the Sunday lessons and visit
with my church family – it just makes my week go so much better. I am more
hopeful and even calmer throughout the week. Yes, I know that all weeks are
better than others, but that is just a part of life. for me it is the most important thing that i do each week -- it is to go to church and partake of the sacrament.
"As we partake of the sacrament, we witness to God that we will remember His Son always, not just during the brief sacrament ordinance. This means that we will constantly look to the Savior’s example and teachings to guide our thoughts, our choices, and our acts."
—Cheryl A. Esplin, "The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul"
—Russell M. Nelson, "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Liveshttps://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/drawing-the-power-of-jesus-christ-into-our-lives?lang=eng"
I have been
studying on my own during my recovery time, trying to keep up with the lessons
each week, but its just not the same as when you are in class and can hear other
people’s remarks on the subject of the lesson and when you can add your little
bit of input – hoping that what you say is of some help to someone in
understanding the topic a little better. Or, at least, they might have a desire
to learn more about it on their own!
"There
is too much at stake for us as individuals, as families, and as Christ’s Church
to give only a halfhearted effort to this sacred work. Being a disciple of
Jesus Christ is not an effort of once a week or once a day. It is an effort of
once and for all."
—Elder
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?"
We are
studying the Old Testament this year and the lessons have been so interesting
each week to broaden my knowledge of the lessons found in this part of the
scriptures. I love the footnotes and the other scriptural helps that we have
available to us to help us with our learning and our understanding of what we
are learning.
"Even
with all of the mistakes, opposition, and learning that accompany our mortal
experience, God never loses sight of our eternal potential, even when we do. We
can trust Him “because God wants His children back.” And He has provided a way
through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Atonement “is the core of
the plan of salvation.”"
—Carole
M. Stephens, "If Ye Love Me, Keep My
Commandments"
https://www.lds.org/liahona/2015/11/sunday-afternoon-session/if-ye-love-me-keep-my-commandments?lang=eng
it has been so good to be able to read through the lessons and
then study the material during the week. With all the encouragement
to study the lessons and to attend church, I guess I need to get a little more
practice, so that I can get the habit and keep it for the rest of my life.,
studying so that I know the Lord's will for my life. study so that I can listen
to the prophet’s instructions for our lives. It is important for us to
attend all of our meeting whenever we can so that we can know for ourselves the
will of The Lord for our specific area and for our families as well. It
has been so good to be able to read through the lessons and then study the
material during the week.. it really helps my week go so much better when
I have been studying the scriptures consistently. Especially when I read and
study the Book of Mormon along with whatever our topic of study is😊
Moses taught
the Israelite's how to create an environment that would help them resist Satan’s
temptations. In Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 11: 18 – 21, Moses gives the Israelite's the
teachings of the Lord. he told them to keep all His statutes and His
commandments all the days of their lives, that it may be well with them. Moses did so many things, parting the red sea so that the illiterates could cross on dry ground. he gave us the commandments
"The
Lord has promised us that as we “search diligently, pray always, and be
believing, … all things [will] work together for [our] good” (D&C 90:24;
emphasis added). That doesn’t mean that everything will be perfect or that we
will not have any trials, but it does mean that everything will be okay if we
just “hang in there.” Ours is the opportunity to “be … an example of the
believers” (1 Tim. 4:12), and the Savior has promised that “all things are
possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). So believe in yourselves. Believe
that you are never alone. Believe that you will always be guided."
—Elaine
S. Dalton, "Believe!"
"Put
God first, regardless of the trials you face. Love God. Have faith in Christ,
and entrust yourself to Him in all things."
—Elder
Koichi Aoyagi, "Hold on Thy Way"
In verse 5 he
said that we should love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy might. He tells them to teach their children his
words, diligently – all day long, at home, and when you’re out and about with
them, when you get up in the morning and when you go to bed at night – teach
them about the Lord your God.
Then continuing
in chapter 6:10-12; 8:1-20 Moses tells them to remember the blessings the Lord
has blessed them with and to remember their covenants that they have made with
the Lord and to keep His commandments. if you have made covenants with the Lord, are you remembering them? are you remembering Him?
"I
testify that the Savior will never turn away from us when we humbly seek Him in
order to repent; will never consider us to be a lost cause; will never say, “Oh
no, not you again”; will never reject us because of a failure to understand how
hard it is to avoid sin. He understands it all perfectly, including the sense
of sorrow, shame, and frustration that is the inevitable consequence of
sin."
—Allen
D. Haynie, "Remembering in Whom We
Have Trusted"
I’ve learned
about Joshua, he was the prophet whom the Lord called to lead the people after
Moses. this picture is of Joshua being ordainded his prophetic call by Moses.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt
thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware
unto their fathers to give them.
"Immersion
in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment. The word of God
inspires commitment and acts as a healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or
disillusionment. When our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the
solution is repentance. Commitment and repentance are closely
intertwined."
—Quentin
L. Cook, "Can Ye Feel So Now?"
I study on my
own, but I do not get nearly as much out of my lessons by myself as I do when I
am at church with my church family. I am able to feel the spirit and to listen
to their comments and to share mine. It is not as effective when I study alone,
but it is important for me to continue my study of the gospel even when I am unable
to go to church. There is always so much to learn in the Lord’s words. Our Heavenly
Father has provided us the scriptures for our learning and our profit.
"My
brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact
gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts
is to touch heaven. As I close this morning, it is my prayer that in addition
to all else for which we are grateful, we may ever reflect our gratitude for
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to
life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do
our spirits go when we die? That gospel brings to those who live in darkness
the light of divine truth."
—Thomas
S. Monson, "The Divine Gift of
Gratitude"
Then when church is over, and we are on our way home, my
granddaughter and I share our lessons with each other. This has become a bit of
a tradition with the two of us, she is the only one that regularly goes to
church with me and I am so very grateful that she willingly does. I have been to
church all alone on many occasions and I much prefer to have someone go with me
– especially someone from my own family😊 She is
really good to help me understand things that I just don't get and I try to help
her as best as I can.
"In the kingdom of God, the search for truth is appreciated, encouraged, and in no way repressed or feared. Church members are strongly counseled by the Lord Himself to seek for knowledge. He said, “Seek ye diligently … ; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."
—Elder
Marcos A. Aidukaitis, "If Ye Lack Wisdom"
the Lord has counselled us to seek learning
out of the best books, the Lord encourages each of us to seek learning, even by
faith, and to seek that learning out of the best books. well, I don't know about
you but the scriptures are some pretty good books, the teachings of the
Prophets are some more pretty good books, the Sunday school manuals and study
guides are good places to seek learning. Joseph Smith said if any of you lack
wisdom, ask of the Lord. the Lord has commanded us that we search the
scriptures diligently. so, my challenge to you is -- to search the scriptures
diligently every day. write down what you are learning, then you can go back
later and see your improvement as you study by theme, topic, person, place,
gospel principle -- like faith, and so much more. just begin 0-15 minutes a day
and I promise you that you will want to study more and more, especially if you
are studying the Book of Mormon -- it lifts me up every day as I read and study
from it's pages.
"To all
wanderers who are seeking to find their way out of the trackless wilderness and
into the flowering, sunlit gardens, where the path is straight and the way
leads to life eternal, I would plead that you look to the source of all light
and knowledge, even God and his Son Jesus Christ; learn of them and keep their
commandments which they have given; for I testify that they live, that their
word is the truth, and there is no other way to happiness and eternal life than
through them."
—N.
Eldon Tanner, "Why Is My Boy Wandering
Tonight?"
With all the encouragement to study the
lessons and to attend church, I guess I need to get a little more practice, so
that I can get the habit and keep it for the rest of my life., studying so that
I know the Lord's will for my life. study so that I can listen to the prophet’s
instructions for our lives. It is important for us to attend
all of our meeting whenever we can so that we can know for ourselves the will
of the Lord for our personal lives. You can build a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father and your Savior, even Jesus Christ, through faith, prayer, fasting, scripture study and church attendance.
So be sure to read for at least ten minutes each day ( that is a good place to start, then increase your time as you are able) from your scriptures, but before you begin to study , don't forget to pray to your Heavenly Father that He will lend His Spirit to be with you as you study, and remember to read from the Book of Mormon every day as well. I know that it will bless your life as well as the lives of those you love. it really is worth any effort that you are willing to put into it.
Good luck and enjoy your reading and your studying, and don't let yourselves get to feeling disconnected -- enjoy the feeling you get when you are with your church family and when you are sharing your Sunday school lessons and gospel doctrine lessons with them. listen to what they all say and be sure to share your feelings on the subject as I a sure that you will get so much more our of your experience. Also, don't forget to pray before you begin your study of the scriptures, as well as during your study, and then pray when you are finished. this will help you keep the Spirit and the subject in the front of your mind throughout the day. I am going to leave you with this quote -- so until my next post,keep studying your scriptures and be sure to go to church this Sunday:)
"We need not walk by the shores of Galilee or among the Judean hills to walk where Jesus walked. All of us can walk the path He walked when, with His words ringing in our ears, His Spirit filling our hearts, and His teachings guiding our lives, we choose to follow Him as we journey through mortality. His example lights the way. Said He, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”"
—Thomas S. Monson, "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet"
No comments:
Post a Comment