Post # 141 – Come, Follow Me – Week # 38 -- Galatians -- “Walk in the Spirit”
Dear Family and
Friends
We are right down to
the tail end of this month of school. I hope all of your children are doing well
so far. It has been another busy month
for me at work. I have been working on all of the paperwork I need to get done
and some days it seems very overwhelming☹
On those days I am quite ready to give
up that part of my job and ask to go back to simply working with the children😊
I have always struggled with numbers and that is what makes the paperwork part
of my job extremely hard for me☹
I did this activity
with my preschoolers once which they got really excited to participate in –
science – another thing I am not really very good at, but I love doing it with
the children. I have to be really careful in doing science and arts and crafts
and cooking activities because I can not afford to replace my sleeve and glove (that
I have to wear for my lymphedema) more than the twice a year that it is needed.
With that said it is difficult to keep them very clean when you are doing these
types of activities which the children love
This activity that I did
with them was one of mixing colors together. I cut the tops off of two – 16oz.
soda bottles then taped them together with clear wide tape. I put a little bit
of water in the middle of the two bottle tops after I had taped them up. I let
each child have a turn to choose two colors and to tell me what color they
thought the two colors they chose would create😊
Some of them guessed right and some were really surprised to find out what
color the two colors they chose created😊
The next thing I did
was to put two drops of food coloring onto the opening of each bottle top and
closed the lids tightly. Then I made the bottle tops spin like a top and the
children were able to see the colors blending together to make a new color!!! 😊😊😊😊😊 they loved it!!! I don’t know if any
of you repurpose your trash, but it is something that I have been doing for
many years. I will try to share some more ideas with you all in some of my
later posts okay. 😊
I can’t remember if I
mentioned to you that I have been having some pain in my right knee for these
past few weeks. I finally got into see my primary care provider and they referred
my back to my specialist. I am excited
that I will be able to get my knee x-rayed to make sure it is still in place
and nothing in there is broken. The doctor said that I should be having no pain
at all after a total knee replacement, which is what I thought.
I have a pretty high
tolerance for pain, but this pain was so intense that I could hardly walk. This
coming from the knee that I did so well with after my surgery. It was the right
one you know that I struggled through my therapy with. I could not get the bend
to 100% no matter how hard I struggled. My brain had told my body when the pain
comes to stop moving – this went on for eight years, so my recovery was
hampered by my own brain.
My brain was trying
to protect my body from any further pain I guess😊
I am so very grateful to my Heavenly Father for creating our bodies in such a
great way! My physical therapist said that my body was in pain for so long that
it had its own way of protecting itself from further pain. Because it was doing
that for eight years maybe that was why I couldn’t push past the pain to gain
the proper bend in my knee that I needed☹
I found it quite
interesting to learn this and to think about it later on. i think I have mentioned
before that I have learned so much from having cancer, lymphedema, and having
had four major surgeries in such a short amount of time. I believe you can
either learn something from what comes into your life or you can let what comes
into your life run and beat you down☹
Well my dear family
and friends you have been so good to listen to my ramblings all through out my
posts. I hope that I have shared something that has been helpful to each one of
you in some small way. I do think it is time for us to get to our lesson. Are you
all ready??? Okay everyone, lets get started😊
Our instructor told us that scripture
study often leads to meaningful gospel discussions with family or friends, just
as it does in our class. He asked us this question: Did this happen for members
of your family during your study this week? Next, he asked us if anyone would
like to share their experiences. This may be something that you would like to
do with your family members and friends to help them to review last weeks’
lesson😊
The gospel of Jesus Christ offers liberty.
It has been said that studying
any book of scripture is easier when we know why it was written. To make this
easier it might be good thing for you to begin your lesson with your family ns friends
about Galatians with a question like one of these: “What do you think Paul’s
purpose was in writing this epistle?” or “What problem was Paul trying to
solve?” Now, get together with your family members and friends -- you could work
with each one of them to look for clues in in the following verses: Galatians
1:6–7; 3:1–5; 4:8–21.
Galatians 1:6-7
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel:
Galatians 3:1-5
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among
you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit
by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are
ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among
you, doeth he it by
the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Galatians 4:8-21
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are
known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye
desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not
injured me at all.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor
rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear
you record, that, if it had been possible,
ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you
the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they
would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected
always in a good thing, and not only when I
am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again
until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my
voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not
hear the law?
How is Paul’s message
relevant to us today? We must have faith. Paul told the Galatians that they there were
those among them that would ‘pervert the ways of Christ.’ This is true in our
day as well☹ sad, but very true! We only
receive the word of God through the Holy Ghost by our faith – we are taught
spirit to spirit. This was true in Paul’s day as well as in our day!
I believe that Paul was teaching them to internalize Christ into
their lives, just as we must do in our day as well. We have to watch out for
those who would ‘pervert the ways of Christ.’ We need to have faith and be
taught by the Holy Ghost😊 And we must learn of
Christ and take His teachings and apply them into our daily lives!
As I understand it, there were some of the Galatian Saints who didn’t
fully understand what Christ has done for them. They believed that they needed
to continue living the law of Moses. Now, to Paul, this was -- as it teaches us
in Galatians 5:1—like them living with a “yoke of bondage” in comparison to the
liberty that was being offered in the law of Christ
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage.
Our instructor told us that we do not generally face this
problem today, each one of us will face a similar choice between spiritual bondage
and that of liberty through Jesus Christ. One way to help your family members and
friends to explore Paul’s teachings about freedom and bondage, you may want to
ask them to name some attitudes and some actions that might lead to spiritual
bondage – what is spiritual bondage?
These may be our cultural practices, some bad habits that we may
have, our false beliefs passed from generation to generation, or we simply may
be focusing on our outward actions rather than our inward conversion. Just to
mention a few. According to Galatians 5:1, 13–14, how do we find freedom from spiritual
bondage?
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the
flesh, but by love serve one
another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Here are a couple of questions for you and
your gamily members and friends:
How
have you and / or your family members and friends experienced the liberty that
is promised in the gospel of Christ? Maybe you might want to ask your family
members and/or friends to share how they might respond to someone who feels
that living the gospel somehow limits their personal freedom and activities. The
gospel of Jesus Christ is a way of life – a good way of life😊
It could also be helpful to make it a
family goal to make a plan to practice some responses and then share with
others how living the gospel has been a blessing in your lives rather than it
being a restriction or a limitation of their personal freedoms as some people
may believe it to be. I am here to say that living the gospel of Jesus Christ
is truly a blessing every day that you live it. I don’t believe that in living
the gospel I have ever been limited or restricted in the things that I have
truly wanted to do😊
If we “walk in the Spirit,” we will receive
the “fruit of the Spirit.”
You know, there are so many people, just like
me, who struggle to recognize the influence of the Spirit in their lives. Galatians 5 can
help you and your family members and your friends to recognize the fruit of the
Spirit. You might start by asking your
family members and friends to search Galatians 5:22–25 to
find the words that Paul used to describe the fruit of the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also
walk in the Spirit.
Why do you think that
fruit is a good metaphor for the way the Spirit influences us? Maybe you could
have your family members and friends share how this fruit has been evident in
their lives or the lives of people they know. Here are some other resources that
were mentioned in class that you may want to check out: Matthew
7:16–18; John
14:26–27; Moroni
7:13–17; Doctrine
and Covenants 11:12–13; and the following
statements by President Gordon B. Hinckley:
18 A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
26 But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
12 And
now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
13 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;
The fruits of gospel
living.
President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: “How do we know the
things of the Spirit? How do we know that it is from God? By the fruits of it. If
it leads to growth and development, if it leads to faith and testimony, if it
leads to a better way of doing things, if it leads to godliness, then it is of
God. If it tears us down, if it brings us into darkness, if it confuses us
and worries us, if it leads to faithlessness, then it is of the devil.”
On another occasion,
President Hinckley said: “You recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the
fruits of the Spirit—that
which enlighteneth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and
affirmative and uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and
better deeds is of the Spirit of God. That which tears down,
which leads us into forbidden paths—that is of the adversary. I think it is just that plain, just
that simple” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley [2016], 121).
I found that it is true that sometimes we can learn about a
principle by learning about its opposite. Just like in Galatians 5:16–26, Paul contrasted “the works of the flesh” with “the fruit of
the Spirit.”
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
19 Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I
have also told you in
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with
the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit.
It would be good for you and your family members and friends to ponder
to what degree they each “walk in the Spirit,” you could reread Galatians 5:16–26 above together with your family and friends and then create a
personal assessment similar to the Attribute Activity on page 126 of Preach My Gospel.
you can find this activity here:
ATTRIBUTE
ACTIVITY
Read each item below carefully. Decide how true that statement
is about you, and choose the most appropriate response from the response key.
Write your response to each item in your study journal. Spiritual growth is a
gradual process, and no one is perfect, so you should expect to rate yourself
better on some items than on others.
Response Key
1
= never
2
= sometimes
3
= often
4
= almost always
5
1.
___
I believe in Christ and accept Him as my Savior. (2 Nephi 25:29)
2.
___
I feel confident that God loves me. (1 Nephi 11:17)
3.
___
I trust the Savior enough to accept His will and do whatever He asks. (1 Nephi 3:7)
4.
___
I firmly believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can be forgiven
of all my sins. (Enos 1:5–8)
5.
___
I have enough faith in Christ to obtain answers to my prayers. (Mosiah 27:14)
6.
___
I think about the Savior during the day and remember what He has done for me. (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77,
79)
7, ___ I
have the faith necessary to help make good things happen in my life or the
lives of others. (Ether 12:12)
8___ I know by the
power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. (Moroni 10:3–5)
9. ___ I have enough
faith in Christ to accomplish anything He wants me to do—even miracles, if
necessary. (Moroni 7:33)
10.
___ One of my greatest desires is to inherit eternal
life in the celestial kingdom of God. (Moroni 7:41)
11.
___ I am confident that I will have a happy and
successful mission. (Doctrine and Covenants 31:3–5)
14.
___
I feel a sincere desire for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people. (Mosiah 28:3)
15.
___
When I pray, I ask for charity—the pure love of Christ. (Moroni 7:47–48)
16.
___
I try to understand others’ feelings and see their point of view. (Jude 1:22)
17.
___
I forgive others who have offended or wronged me. (Ephesians 4:32)
18.
___
I try to help others when they are struggling or discouraged. (Mosiah 18:9)
19.
___
When appropriate, I tell others that I love them and care about them. (Luke 7:12–15)
20.
___
I look for opportunities to serve other people. (Mosiah 2:17)
21.
___
I say positive things about others. (Doctrine and Covenants 42:27)
22.
___
I am kind and patient with others, even when they are hard to get along with. (Moroni 7:45)
24.
___
I am clean and pure in heart. (Psalm 24:3–4)
25.
___
I have no desire to do evil but to do good. (Mosiah 5:2)
26.
___
I am dependable—I do what I say I will do. (Alma 53:20)
27.
___
I focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts and put unwholesome thoughts out of my
mind. (Doctrine and Covenants 121:45)
28.
___
I repent of my sins and strive to overcome my weaknesses. (Doctrine and Covenants 49:26–28)
30.
___
I feel confident in my understanding of gospel doctrine and principles. (Ether 3:19–20)
31.
___
I study the scriptures daily. (John 5:39)
32.
___
I earnestly seek to understand the truth and find answers to my questions. (Doctrine and Covenants 6:7)
33.
___
I receive knowledge and guidance through the Spirit. (1 Nephi 4:6)
34.
___
I love and cherish the doctrine and principles of the gospel. (2 Nephi 4:15)
35.
___
I wait patiently for the blessings and promises of the Lord to be fulfilled. (2 Nephi 10:17)
36.
___
I am able to wait for things without getting upset or frustrated. (Romans 8:25)
37.
___
I am patient and long-suffering with the challenges of being a missionary. (Alma 17:11)
38.
___
I am patient with the faults and weaknesses of others. (Romans 15:1)
39.
___
I am patient with myself and rely on the Lord as I work to overcome my
weaknesses. (Ether 12:27)
40.
___
I face adversity and afflictions calmly and hopefully. (Alma 34:40–41)
47.
___
I work effectively, even when I’m not under pressure or close supervision. (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–27)
48.
___
I focus my efforts on the most important things. (Matthew 23:23)
49.
___
I have a personal prayer at least twice a day. (Alma 34:18–27)
50.
___
I focus my thoughts on my calling as a missionary. (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2, 5)
51.
___
I set goals and plan regularly. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119)
52.
___
I work hard until the job is completed successfully. (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4)
53.
___
I find joy and satisfaction in my work. (Alma 36:24–25)
54.
___
When I pray, I ask for strength to resist temptation and to do what is right. (3 Nephi 18:15)
55.
___
I keep the required commandments to be worthy of a temple recommend. (Doctrine and Covenants 97:8)
56.
___
I willingly obey the mission rules and follow the counsel of my leaders. (Hebrews 13:17)
57.
___
I strive to live in accordance with the laws and principles of the gospel. (Doctrine and Covenants 41:5)
You could, say for example: for each item
listed in verses 19–23,
they could write a question such as “Do I envy my peers?” or “Do I feel love
every day?”
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as
I have also told you in
time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Your family members’ and friends’ answers
to their self-assessments should not be shared, but you could ask each of them
to share ideas or thoughts to help each other “walk in the Spirit.” If you
don’t have time to finish this activity, it may be well worth your while to
take another day or two to work on it together with your family members and
friends😊
you might even consider taking one character a week and studying it more in
depth😊
When we sow “to the Spirit,” we will reap
blessings in due time.
You know in studying Galatians 6:7–10 could
help you, your family members and friends to think more deeply about the
long-term consequences of each of your individual choices. Something that may
ne of help to you and them -- you could bring seeds of various kinds, along
with plants, fruits, or vegetables that grow from each of these seeds (or you could
bring pictures of these things).
You, your family members and friends could
work together to match each seed with the thing it produces. Then you could
read together with them verses 7–10 and
talk about what it means to sow “to [the] flesh” and “to the Spirit.”
The following message from Elder Ulisses
Soares might help as well😊
Sowing in the Spirit.
Elder
Ulisses Soares explained: “To sow in the Spirit means that all our
thoughts, words, and actions must elevate us to the level of the divinity of
our heavenly parents. However, the scriptures refer to the flesh as the
physical or carnal nature of the natural man, which allows people to be
influenced by passion, desires, appetites, and drives of the flesh instead of
looking for inspiration from the Holy Ghost. If we are not careful, those
influences together with the pressure of the evil in the world may conduct us
to adopt vulgar and reckless behavior which may become part of our character” (“Abide in the Lord’s Territory!” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 39).
It's time for more questions. Are you
ready with your answers??? What do we reap when we sow to the flesh? What do we
reap when we sow to the Spirit? (see Galatians 5:22–23).
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
You might consider asking your family
members and friends to ponder the spiritual blessings that they each hope to
receive. What “sowing” can they each do now to be prepared to receive those
blessings? You might even encourage them each one to write down their thoughts
and, then if they feel comfortable, to share them with the rest of your group😊
You know that some of your family members
and friends may feel “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9)—perhaps because they aren’t
sure their efforts are bearing fruit. A family discussion of Galatians 6:7–10 might
be helpful.
8 For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
10 As
we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household
of faith.
For your family members and friends😊 an
introduction to these verses may be for you to talk briefly about a time when you
needed patience when trying to grow something. What could your experience,
along with Galatians 6:7–10,
teach you and your family members and friends and each one of us about our
efforts to “walk in the Spirit”? (Galatians 5:25).
We made it through yet another lesson
together😊 I
hope, and I pray that each one of you have learned something from my sharing
this post and lesson with you. Let us each one, make it a goal to become more
like the Savior😊 let’s do our very best to emulate His
characteristics or attributes in our daily lives.
For this upcoming week you may want to encourage
your family members and friends to read the Epistle to the Ephesians, you could
tell them that in this epistle they will learn how they can “stand against the
wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
11 Put
on the whole armour of God, that
ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
As always,
remember who you are – you are each one a child of God!! You are either a son
or a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father. He knows you – each of you individually.
He knows your hearts’ desire😊 Keep studying your scriptures and
saying your prayer every day – the Lord loves to hear from each one of His
children!!! He is there for each one of us individually.
You are each
so amazing!!! And don’t you let anyone tell you any different!!
I challenge
each one of you to look yourself in the mirror and say to yourself – “I am a
child of God!” My Heavenly Father loves me!! He knows me individually. He knows
my needs. He knows my hearts’ desires. He hears and answers my prayers in His
own way and in His own time. I want to align my will with His will. I want to
learn how to become more Christ-like😊 Until my next post, each one of you
should make it a spectacular week!!!
