Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Give each class member a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Ask them to write down a difficulty or adversity they have experienced. When they have finished, have them write what they learned and how they grew from that adversity.

Explain that this lesson is about enduring adversity by turning to the Savior. Tell class members that later in the lesson they will have an opportunity to share what they have written down.

Prayerfully select the lesson material that will best meet class members needs. Encourage class members to share experiences that relate to the scriptural principles.

Briefly summarize the following events in Missouri. You may want to refer to Our Heritage, pages4549; the time line on page155 in this manual; and map 2 on page275 in this manual and page30 in the Class Member Study Guide.

After the Saints were driven from Jackson County in late 1833, they found refuge in nearby Clay County until they were asked to leave in 1836. From Clay County, they moved about 60 miles north and established the community of Far West and other smaller settlements.

The Church prospered for a time in northern Missouri. The population grew rapidly, and temple sites were dedicated in Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman. However, there continued to be conflicts among some of the Saints. Several leaders were excommunicated, including Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer.

In addition to dissension among some Church members, there continued to be conflicts with other residents in northern Missouri. In 1838, mobs and militia members began more attacks. On 25October, three Church members were killed during a battle at Crooked River, including DavidW. Patten, an Apostle. Two days later, Governor LilburnW. Boggs of Missouri issued an order that the Mormons must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state (History of the Church, 3:175).

On 30October, a mob of approximately 200 men killed 17 men and boys at Hauns Mill. The next day, Joseph Smith and approximately 50 other Church leaders were arrested on false charges. Most of these leaders were released within three weeks. However, six of them, including Joseph and Hyrum Smith, were detained despite their innocence. In November they were marched first to Independence, then to Richmond, and then to Liberty, where they were incarcerated in Liberty Jail until April 1839.

Conditions in Liberty Jail were harsh. The prisoners were kept in the lower level, which was like a dungeondark, cold, and unsanitary. The food was inadequate and filthy. The Prophet and his companions had only a little straw on the stone floor for their beds, with meager blankets for cover. The ceiling was so low that some of the brethren, including Joseph and Hyrum, could not stand upright. They were also under constant threat of death.

While the Prophet was imprisoned, about 8,000 Saints in Missouri were forced out of their homes as a result of the governors extermination order. Many of them were robbed, beaten, and killed by the mobs as they fled to the state of Illinois. The Prophet heard reports of the Saints suffering and pleaded with the Lord for help. In response, the Lord gave some powerful revelations. The Prophet included them in a letter to Church leaders in Quincy, Illinois, who were directing the Saints exodus from Missouri. Portions of these revelations are now sections 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Liberty Jail. While unjustly imprisoned here in 183839, the Prophet Joseph Smith received the revelations now recorded in D&C 121, 122, and 123.

Read D&C 121:16 with class members. What do these verses indicate Joseph Smith was feeling and thinking about at this time? What did he request of the Lord? What are your thoughts and feelings as you read Joseph Smiths pleadings with the Lord in these verses?

The Lords reply to Joseph Smiths prayer is given in D&C 121:733 and D&C 122. Read D&C 121:710 with class members. What did the Lord teach Joseph in these verses? How would you feel if these words were spoken to you? What can we learn about the Lord from this reply?

Point out that these revelations made Liberty jail, for a time, a center of instruction. The eyes of the saints were turned to it as the place whence would come encouragement, counselthe word of the Lord. It was more temple than prison, so long as the Prophet was there. It was a place of meditation and prayer. Joseph Smith sought God in this rude prison, and found him (B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:526).

Ask class members to think of their own trials as someone reads D&C 122:58. In what way has the Savior descended below all things? (See Alma 7:1112; D&C 19:1619.)

Explain that because the Savior descended below all things, He has a perfect understanding of all our trials. Speaking of the supreme suffering of the Savior, Elder NealA. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

As part of His infinite atonement, Jesus has borne the sins, griefs, sorrows, and, declared Jacob, the pains of every man, woman, and child (see 2Nephi 9:21). Having been perfected in His empathy, Jesus thus knows how to succor us. Nothing is beyond His redeeming reach or His encircling empathy. Therefore, we should not complain about our own lifes not being a rose garden when we remember who wore the crown of thorns! (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 89; or Ensign, May 1987, 72).

Do we experience any trials in which we cannot be comforted by the Savior? (See Hebrews 4:15.) How can a knowledge of the Saviors suffering help us be faithful in our own tribulations?

What can we do to more fully partake of the comfort and strength that Jesus offers through His Atonement? (See Hebrews 4:16; 1Peter 5:611.) How can prayer, humility, and faith in Jesus Christ help us receive strength during times of adversity?

Explain that adversity is part of Gods plan for our testing and growth during mortality. We came to earth knowing we would experience pain, trials, and other difficulties.

The Prophet Joseph Smith experienced so many afflictions that he said they have been my common lot all the days of my life; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation (D&C 127:2). In addition to the comfort and counsel the Lord gave the Prophet in Liberty Jail, there were many other occasions when the Lord taught him about adversity. The rest of this lesson examines these teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants.

What does the Lord reveal in the Doctrine and Covenants about the purposes of adversity? (Read the following verses with class members. Summarize the information on the chalkboard.)

D&C 98:12, 1415; 101:4; 136:31. (The Lord allows adversity to come into our lives to try us and to prove us to see whether we will abide in His covenant.) Why does the Lord want His people to be tried in all things?

D&C 101:12. (Some adversity is a result of our transgressions.)

D&C 122:7. (The Lord allows adversity to give us experience and help us grow.)

How can understanding these purposes of adversity help us endure it well? (D&C 121:8).

Some people incorrectly believe that all afflictions are punishments from God. What are the dangers of such a belief? Why is adversity not withheld from the righteous?

Emphasize that while transgression is one source of adversity, it is not the only source. Some adversity comes because even for the righteous there is an opposition in all things (2Nephi 2:11). Some adversity comes as a natural consequence of the frailty and corruptibility of the mortal body. Some comes because of accidents, because of our own choices that arent necessarily transgressions, and because of other peoples choicesthings that God can protect us from but sometimes does not because the basic gospel law is free agency and eternal development (SpencerW. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1973], 96). Adversity can also come to accomplish the Lords own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing (RichardG. Scott, in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16).

While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder HaroldB. Lee said that living the gospel of Jesus Christ is no guarantee that adversity will not come into our lives; but living the gospel does give us the strength and faith and power to rise above that adversity and look beyond the present trouble to the brighter day (quoted by A.Theodore Tuttle, in Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 15; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1967, 47).

For other scriptural teachings about the purposes of adversity, you may want to see 2Nephi 2:11; Alma 32:56; 62:41; and Helaman 12:13.

What counsel does the Lord give in the Doctrine and Covenants to help us when we experience adversity? (Read the following verses with class members. Summarize the information on the chalkboard. Select some of the questions to encourage discussion.)

D&C 24:8; 31:9; 54:10; 121:7. (Be patient in afflictions; they will be but a small moment; see also Alma 17:11.) How can we increase our patience to endure trials? In what sense did Joseph Smiths afflictions last for only a small moment? How can we come to see adversity from the Lords eternal perspective?

D&C 98:1. (Rejoice and give thanks.) Why should we give thanks to God even when we are experiencing trials? What are some blessings we continue to have even during the most severe adversity?

D&C 98:11. (We should remain obedient and cleave unto all good.) Why is it sometimes difficult to remain obedient when we experience adversity?

D&C 101:3638. (Care for the soul, not for the body, and seek the Lord.) How can we apply this counsel?

D&C 122:9. (We should not fear what man may do, for God will be with us forever; see also D&C 98:13.)

Why are some people embittered by trials while others grow and are strengthened? What can we do to face our trials and adversities better? (See Alma 62:4951.) What accounts in the scriptures have helped or inspired you during times of adversity?

What have others done to help you through adversity? How can we help others during their trials? How can we use what our own trials have taught us in helping others? What benefits can come from serving others when we are in the midst of our own trials? (See Luke 9:24; Galatians 6:2.)

What can we do if we feel ourselves become despairing and hopeless because of adversity? (See Alma 36:3.) How can we prepare now to be strong in future times when we may experience greater adversity?

What promises does the Lord give in the Doctrine and Covenants to those who are faithful in adversity? (Read some of the following verses with class members. Summarize the information on the chalkboard. Select some of the questions to encourage discussion.)

D&C 3:8; 24:8; 112:13; 122:4. (The Lord will be with us, stand by us, and heal us in our afflictions; see also Jacob 3:1; Mosiah 24:1314; Alma 36:27.) Why is it important to know the Lord will be with us in afflictions? What experiences have shown you that the Lord is with you during times of trial?

D&C 58:24; 101:3536; 103:12; 121:29; 127:4; 136:31. (Those who are faithful in tribulation will receive glory, joy, and other blessings.)

D&C 98:3; 122:7. (All things will work together for our good and to the Lords glory; see also D&C 90:24; 100:15; 2Nephi 2:2; Romans 8:28.) How can adversity be for our good?

Ask the assigned class members to tell briefly what they have learned and how they have grown from adversity (see Preparation, item 3). If you used the attention activity, invite other class members to share what they wrote. If you did not use the attention activity, invite other class members to tell what they have learned and how they have grown from adversity.

While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder JamesE. Faust said: In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiners fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd (in Conference Report, Apr. 1979, 77; or Ensign, May 1979, 53).

Elder MarionG. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens.

Finally, I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to my knees by adversity and affliction (in Conference Report, Oct. 1969, 60; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1969, 69).

D&C 121:8; 127:2. (Those who are faithful in affliction will be exalted.)

What can we do during our periods of trial to feel more fully the peace the Lord speaks of in D&C 121:7? (See also D&C 19:23.)

In April 1839, after the Prophet and his companions had been held in Liberty Jail for nearly five months, they were sent to Daviess County and then to Boone County for trial. While they were being moved to Boone County, the guards let them escape because some officials concluded that they could not be successfully prosecuted. Joseph Smith and the other prisoners then made their way to Illinois, where they joined their families and the rest of the Saints.

Encourage class members to read the revelations given in Liberty Jail in times of adversity. Testify that through the Atonement, Jesus Christ has borne our griefs. If we turn to Him, He will comfort and lift us even in our darkest days. Express your gratitude for the example of Joseph Smith in dealing with adversity and the willingness of Christ to help us endure and learn from adversity.

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Lesson 28: O God, Where Art Thou?

Addiction Recovery Program - A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing

As we studied and practiced the steps of recovery, we became familiar and comfortable with a life based on humility and acceptance of Gods will. Gone were the angry, confused times when, if we prayed at all, we prayed either in an attitude of stubborn self-will or whimpering self-pity. We began to live so our lives reflected the prophetic counsel of President Ezra Taft Benson:

The constant and most recurring question in our minds, touching every thought and deed of our lives, should be, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6.) The answer to that question comes only through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. Fortunate are those who so live that their being is filled with both (Jesus ChristGifts and Expectations, Ensign, Dec. 1988, 2).

In step 11, we made a lifelong commitment to seek one day at a time to know the Lords will and to have the power to carry it out. Our greatest desire was to improve our abilities to receive guidance from the Holy Ghost and to conduct our lives accordingly. This desire was such a great contrast to the attitudes we had when we were lost in our addictions.

If you were like us, before you began to recover you thought hope, joy, peace, and fulfillment would come from an earthly source. Whether this source was alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, dishonest spending, unhealthy eating, or codependencywhatever your particular addiction wasyour effort was to get by in a world where you felt confused, lost, and alone. When others tried to love you, perhaps you couldnt feel it. Their love was never enough. Nothing satisfied the hunger you felt. As you have lived the principles of recovery, however, your heart and life have changed.

You have begun to understand and appreciate your need for the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His role in your life and to treasure the Light of Christ. You have begun to realize you are not just talking to yourself when you feel your conscience guide you. Clumsy and unpracticed as you may have felt initially, you now pray to the Father in the name of Christ for a closer relationship with Him. You deliberately seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written (Ether 12:41).

You study the scriptures because they testify of Him in every instance, especially the Book of Mormon. In testimony after testimony, the prophets of the Book of Mormon describe seeking and finding a better understanding of the Father through the Holy Ghost. You have experimented on the scriptures and found them to be true. Prayer and meditation have become the lifeblood of your new life. Where prayer and meditation used to be a neglected duty, your hearts desire is now to kneel before your Father at least morning and evening and pour out your heart to Him in gratitude for Jesus Christ and for the Holy Ghost.

As you work through step 11, you will come to realize even more that through the Holy Ghost you will receive knowledge or revelation of the Fathers will for you. Through the Atonement, you will have the power (or grace) to carry out the will of the Father. You will know you are blessed and supported by three glorified individualsGod the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghostwho are united in power and purpose to bring to pass your immortality and eternal life.

You will grow in your ability to resist temptation as you study the scriptures and pray and meditate about them. Learning to receive revelation takes practice and patience. You can prepare yourself by studying what has been said by prophets and apostles and by trying to live according to their teachings. You can prepare by being ready to receive, write down, think about, and follow the guidance you receive. When you express gratitude to the Lord for the blessings you have received, your capacity to receive guidance will increase.

As you keep yourself free from your addictions, you will be more able to receive the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught:

The Holy Ghost will protect us against being deceived, but to realize that wonderful blessing we must always do the things necessary to retain that Spirit. We must keep the commandments, pray for guidance, and attend church and partake of the sacrament each Sunday. And we must never do anything to drive away that Spirit. Specifically, we should avoid pornography, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, and always, always avoid violations of the law of chastity. We must never take things into our bodies or do things with our bodies that drive away the Spirit of the Lord and leave us without our spiritual protection against deception (in Conference Report, Oct. 2004, 49; or Ensign, Nov. 2004, 46).

Prayer and meditation are powerful antidotes to fear and depression. You have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save (2 Nephi 31:19). Only by coming to the Father through Jesus Christ, in His name, with His Spirit upon you, can you continue to progress and grow spiritually. Step 11 represents a commitment to improve your relationship with God through a lifetime practice of seeking guidance daily and obeying the commandments.

Over the course of recovery, many of us learned to arise early and seek a period of quiet solitude for study and prayer. If you havent done so already, schedule time for prayer and meditation, perhaps in the morning. During this time you can put God first, before anyone or anything else in the day. Kneel if you are physically able. Pray, often aloud, to the Father, seeking the Spirit to guide you (see Romans 8:26). Then study, using the scriptures and the teachings of modern prophets to guide your meditation. Review your patriarchal blessing often. Prayerfully ponder the guidance you find in it. (If you have not received a patriarchal blessing, talk with your bishop about obtaining one.)

Writing will once again be a powerful tool of selfexpression and appraisal as you record your thoughts and feelings in a journal. You can also record impressions of counsel, comfort, and wisdom that come through the Holy Ghost.

When this precious time of private meditation has ended, do not cease to pray. Silent prayer, in the depths of your heart and mind, will become your way of thinking throughout your days. As you interact with others, as you make decisions, as you deal with emotions and temptationscounsel with the Lord. Invite and seek His Spirit to be with you continually, that you might be guided to do the right thing. (See Psalm 46:1; Alma 37:3637; 3 Nephi 20:1.)

In many ways, step 11 is a natural continuation of your efforts in step 10 to stay aware of the truth in your life. As you plan your days, go about your activities, and retire to bed at night, let your heart be drawn out in prayer to God continually. One idea is to take a thought from what you have read in your morning studies and meditate upon it frequently during your daily activities. This practice will help you keep your mind in tune with truth.

By nature, we all tend to be undisciplined, yet by looking to Jesus Christ and the example He has set, you will find the humility to continue submitting to the Father. Like the Savior, you will be able to say sincerely Thy will be done (Matthew 26:42) throughout the day. The Light of Christ will guide you and prepare you to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The companionship of the Holy Ghost will become more constant, and your ability to recognize and testify of truth will increase.

Study the following scriptures and statements of Church leaders. They will increase your understanding and help you learn. You can use these scriptures, statements, and questions for prayerful meditation, personal study, and group discussion.

Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (D&C 88:63).

Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:1719).

When you remember to be grateful for everything in your life, even the things you dont understand, you will be able to maintain the continual contact with God that Paul called praying without ceasing. Try to thank God throughout the day. How does this practice affect your closeness to the Spirit?

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do (2 Nephi 32:3).

In this verse, Nephi taught that when you feast on the words of Christ, these words will guide you in all you need to know and do. Picture how it would be to have Jesus Christ walk and talk with you all day long. Write about the feelings you have when you meditate on this image.

The Savior said I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost (D&C 8:2, emphasis added). . . . An impression to the mind is very specific. Detailed words can be heard or felt and written as though the instructions were being dictated. A communication to the heart is a more general impression (Richard G. Scott, Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led, Doctrine and Covenants and Church history symposium, August 11, 1998, 2).

As your understanding of personal revelation increases, you will recognize it more often and in a greater variety of ways. Write about how you have experienced impressions and revelations from the Lord.

I say unto you [these things whereof I have spoken] are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me (Alma 5:46).

Alma testified that when he prayed and fasted, his ability to receive revelation increased. Abstinence from your addiction can be considered a form of fasting. Write about how abstaining has increased your ability to have the spirit of revelation.

The idea that scripture reading can lead to inspiration and revelation opens the door to the truth that a scripture is not limited to what it meant when it was written but may also include what that scripture means to a reader today. Even more, scripture reading may also lead to current revelation on whatever else the Lord wishes to communicate to the reader at that time. We do not overstate the point when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist each of us to receive personal revelation (Dallin H. Oaks, Scripture Reading and Revelation, Ensign, Jan. 1995, 8).

Learning the language of the scriptures is a lot like learning a foreign language. The best way to learn is to immerse yourself in them, to read and study them every day. Write about a passage of scripture that has opened up to you and become a personal revelation to you.

Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works (Jacob 4:10).

Our prayers may have been ineffective in the past because we spent more time counseling the Lordtelling Him what we wantedthan seeking His will about our decisions and conduct. Think of a recent experience with prayer. Was it full of counsel to the Lord or from the Lord? Write about your willingness to listen for and receive His counsel to you.

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Step 11: Personal Revelation - Addiction Recovery Program

Introduction

Early in his life, DavidO. McKay experienced the peace that comes through communion with God. I remember lying [in bed] one night, he recalled, trembling with fear. As a child I was naturally, or unnaturally afraid of the darkness, and would frequently lie wondering about burglars, bug-a-boos, and unseen influences. So I lay this night completely unnerved; but I had been taught that God would answer prayer. Summoning strength I arose from the bed, knelt down in the darkness, and prayed to God to remove that feeling of fear; and I heard as plainly as you hear my voice this afternoon, Dont be afraid; nothing will hurt you. Oh, yes, some may saysimply the imagination. Say what you will, I know that to my soul came the sweet peace of a childs prayer answered. That is the faith which is inculcated into the minds of the [children] in every Latter-day Saint home throughout the land. I submit that where children are brought up in close communion with our Eternal Father that there can not be much sin or much evil in that home.2

In addition to seeking communion with the infinite3 when he was alone, President McKay rejoiced in worshiping with other Latter-day Saints. He told of a memorable experience he once had at a Church meeting:

One of the most impressive services I have ever attended was in a group of over eight hundred people to whom the sacrament was administered, and during that administration not a sound could be heard excepting the ticking of the clockeight hundred souls, each of whom at least had the opportunity of communion with the Lord. There was no distraction, no orchestra, no singing, no speaking. Each one had an opportunity to search himself introspectively and to consider his worthiness or unworthiness to partake of the sacrament. His was the privilege of getting closer to his Father in heaven. That is ideal!4

President McKay encouraged all Latter-day Saints to pursue this ideal in their worship services and in their personal lives. He said, To have communion with God, through his Holy Spirit, is one of the noblest aspirations of life.5

Inseparable from the acceptance of the existence of God is an attitude of reverence, to which I wish now to call attention most earnestly to the entire Church. The greatest manifestation of spirituality is reverence; indeed, reverence is spirituality. Reverence is profound respect mingled with love. It is a complex emotion made up of mingled feelings of the soul. [One writer] says it is the highest of human feelings. I have said elsewhere that if reverence is the highest, then irreverence is the lowest state in which a man can live in the world.

Reverence embraces regard, deference, honor, and esteem. Without some degree of it, therefore, there would be no courtesy, no gentility, no consideration of others feelings, or of others rights. Reverence is the fundamental virtue in religion. It is one of the signs of strength; irreverence, one of the surest indications of weakness. No man will rise high, says one man, who jeers at sacred things. The fine loyalties of life, he continues, must be reverenced or they will be foresworn [or rejected] in the day of trial.

Parents, Reverence, as charity, begins at home. In early childhood children should be trained to be respectful, deferentialrespectful to one another, to strangers and visitorsdeferential to the aged and infirmreverential to things sacred, to parents and parental love.

Three influences in home life awaken reverence in children and contribute to its development in their souls. These are: first, firm but Gentle Guidance; second, Courtesy shown by parents to each other, and to children; and third, Prayer in which children participate. In every home in this Church parents should strive to act intelligently in impressing children with those three fundamentals.6

Reverence directs thought toward God. Without it there is no religion.7

I look upon reverence as one of the highest qualities of the soul. An irreverent man is not a believing man.

Reverence indicates high culture, and true faith in deity and in his righteousness.8

I am prompted to place reverence next to love. Jesus mentioned it first in the Lords prayer: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. [Matthew 6:9.] Hallowto make holyto hold in reverence.9

If there were more reverence in human hearts, there would be less room for sin and sorrow and more increased capacity for joy and gladness. To make more cherished, more adaptable, more attractive, this gem among brilliant virtues is a project worthy of the most united and prayerful efforts of every officer, every parent, and every member of the Church.10

We pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. In our worship there are two elements: One is spiritual communion arising from our own meditation; the other, instruction from others, particularly from those who have authority to guide and instruct us. Of the two, the more profitable introspectively is the meditation. Meditation is the language of the soul. It is defined as a form of private devotion, or spiritual exercise, consisting in deep, continued reflection on some religious theme. Meditation is a form of prayer.

Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord. Jesus set the example for us. As soon as he was baptized and received the Fathers approval, This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, [Matthew 3:17] Jesus [went] to what is now known as the mount of temptation. I like to think of it as the mount of meditation where, during the forty days of fasting, he communed with himself and his Father, and contemplated upon the responsibility of his great mission. One result of this spiritual communion was such strength as enabled him to say to the tempter:

Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matt. 4:10.)

Before he gave the beautiful sermon on the mount, he was in solitude, in communion. He did the same thing after that busy Sabbath day, when he arose early in the morning, after having been the guest of Peter. Peter undoubtedly found the guest chamber empty, and when they sought [Jesus] they found him alone. It was on that morning that Peter said:

All men seek for thee. (Mark 1:37.)

Again, after Jesus had fed the five thousand he told the Twelve to dismiss the multitude, but Jesus went to the mountain for solitude. The historian says, when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matt. 14:23.) Meditation! Prayer!11

Let us make God the center of our lives. To have communion with God, through his Holy Spirit, is one of the noblest aspirations of life. It is when the peace and love of God have entered the soul, when serving him becomes the motivating factor in ones life and existence.12

We enter a chapel to worship the Lord. We want to partake of his Spirit, and by partaking of his Spirit we build up our own spiritual strength.13

Churches are dedicated and set apart as houses of worship. This means, of course, that all who enter do so, or at least pretend to do so, with an intent to get nearer the presence of the Lord than they can in the street or amidst the worries of a workaday life. In other words, we go to the Lords house to meet him and to commune with him in spirit. Such a meeting place, then, should first of all be fitting and appropriate in all respects, whether God is considered as the invited guest, or the worshipers as his guests.

Whether the place of meeting is a humble chapel or a poem in architecture built of white marble and inlaid with precious stones makes little or no difference in our approach and attitude toward the Infinite Presence. To know God is there should be sufficient to impel us to conduct ourselves orderly, reverently.

In this regard, as members of the Church in our worshiping assemblies, we have much room for improvement. Presiding authorities in stake, ward, and quorum meetings, and especially teachers in classes, should make special effort to maintain better order and more reverence during hours of worship and of study. Less talking behind the pulpit will have a salutary effect upon those who face it. By example and precept, children should be impressed with the inappropriateness of confusion and disorder in a worshiping congregation. They should be impressed in childhood, and have it emphasized in youth, that it is disrespectful to talk or even to whisper during a sermon, and that it is the height of rudeness, except in an emergency, to leave a worshiping assembly before dismissal.14

There are two purposes for which each chapel is constructed: first, that it might be the place where all may be trained in the ways of God, and second, that in it all might glorify our Father in heaven, who asks for nothing more of his children than that they might be men and women of such noble character as to come back into his presence.15

When you enter a church building, you are coming into the presence of our Father in heaven; and that thought should be sufficient incentive for you to prepare your hearts, your minds, and even your attire, that you might appropriately and properly sit in his presence.16

Let us not make Sunday a holiday. It is a holy day, and on that day we should go to the house of worship and seek our God. If we seek him on the Sabbath day, get into his presence on that day, we shall find it less difficult to be in his presence the following days of the week.17

The greatest comfort in this life is the assurance of having close relationship with God. The sacrament period should be a factor in awakening this sense of relationship.

the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till he come.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. [1Corinthians 11:2328.]

No more sacred ordinance is administered in the Church of Christ than the administration of the sacrament.

There are three things fundamentally important associated with the administration of the sacrament. The first is self-discernment. It is introspection. This do in remembrance of me, but we should partake worthily, each one examining himself with respect to his worthiness.

Secondly, there is a covenant made; a covenant even more than a promise. There is nothing more important in life than that. A covenant, a promise, should be as sacred as life. That principle is involved every Sunday when we partake of the sacrament.

I believe the short period of administering the sacrament is one of the best opportunities we have for . . . meditation.

Thirdly, there is another blessing, and that is a sense of close relationship with the Lord. There is an opportunity to commune with oneself and to commune with the Lord. We meet in the house that is dedicated to him; we have turned it over to him; we call it his house. Well, you may rest assured that he will be there to inspire us if we come in proper attune to meet him. We are not prepared to meet him if we bring into that room our thoughts regarding our business affairs, and especially if we bring into the house of worship feelings of hatred toward our neighbor, or enmity and jealousy towards the Authorities of the Church. Most certainly no individual can hope to come into communion with the Father if that individual entertain any such feelings. They are so foreign to worship, and so foreign, particularly, to the partaking of the sacrament.

I believe the short period of administering the sacrament is one of the best opportunities we have for meditation, and there should be nothing during that sacred period to distract our attention from the purpose of that ordinance.

We [must] surround this sacred ordinance with more reverence, with perfect order, that each one who comes to the house of God may meditate upon his goodness and silently and prayerfully express appreciation for Gods goodness. Let the sacrament hour be one experience of the day in which the worshiper tries at least to realize within himself that it is possible for him to commune with his God.

Great events have happened in this Church because of such communion, because of the responsiveness of the soul to the inspiration of the Almighty. I know it is real. President Wilford Woodruff had that gift to a great extent. He could respond; he knew the still small voice to which some are still strangers. You will find that when these most inspirational moments come to you that you are alone with yourself and your God. They come to you probably when you are facing a great trial, when the wall is across your pathway, and it seems that you are facing an insurmountable obstacle, or when your heart is heavy because of some tragedy in your life. I repeat, the greatest comfort that can come to us in this life is to sense the realization of communion with God. Great testimonies have come in those moments.

When you stop to consider the matter, you realize that there is nothing during the administration of the sacrament of an extraneous nature so important as remembering our Lord and Savior, nothing so worthy of attention as considering the value of the promise we are making. Why should anything distract us? Is there anything more sublime? We are witnessing there, in the presence of one another, and before him, our Father, that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, that we will always remember him, always, that we will keep his commandments that he has given us. Can you, can anybody living, who thinks for a moment, place before us anything which is more sacred or more far-reaching in our lives? If we partake of it mechanically, we are not honest, or let us say, we are permitting our thoughts to be distracted from a very sacred ordinance.

Let us make that sacrament hour one of the most impressive means of coming in contact with Gods spirit. Let the Holy Ghost, to which we are entitled, lead us into his presence, and may we sense that nearness, and have a prayer offered in our hearts which he will hear.18

Continue reading here:

Chapter 4: Elements of Worship

Beneath the slopes of Mt. Parnassus, the ancient Greek town of Delphi once flourished. Within the town, carved in gold letters on a marble temple, were three inscriptions said to contain the greatest wisdom known to man. The simplest of these inscriptions read merely, Know thyself.

Although centuries have left little kinship between the space-age world and the tranquil, glen-harbored Delphi, the search for self-knowledge has not ceased to occupy human beings. If anything, time has intensified the challenge of the Delphic inscription.

Self-understanding was never an easy prize, and this is particularly true today. We live in a rapid, changing world; an environment of scheduled necessity, transient phenomena, attention-diverting advertising and news. David Riesman, Erik Erikson, Hendrik Ruitenbeek, and numerous other sociologists warn of an identity crisisthe desperate search of millions for a stable identity and peace not offered by material things.

Revealed truths concerning mans origin and destiny give the Latter-day Saint a much sounder basis for self-knowledge than most people have. A testimony of the simple scripture Man was also in the beginning with God (D&C 93:29) should add peace to any life. Nevertheless, even dedicated Church members sometimes permit themselves a years-are-slipping-by-so-fast despair, complaining at the shallowness of life, worrying over the mundane.

It need not be so. Only when we fail to search inward and find the beauty of our divinely sired spirits does frustration become a habit. Contrarily, a greater understanding of our premortal heritage and possible postmortal inheritance enables us to view daily affairs in the light of eternity. Frustration diminishes.

The greatest lesson you can learn is to know yourselves, taught Brigham Young. You will then begin to learn more perfectly the things of God. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, p. 334.) The Prophet Joseph Smith used similar words in his King Follett Discourse at Nauvoo: If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves. (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 303.) The spiritual power and serenity of our great leaders come not only through a knowledge of God, but also through a closely related knowledge of self.

Self-knowledge is likewise an important element in the process of perfection. To his people in the Old World and later in the New, the Savior distilled the message of his Sermon on the Mount with the commandment, Be ye therefore perfect. (Matt 5:48. See also 3 Ne. 12:48.) To reach that ideal, we must know ourselves, for until we are conscious of our weaknesses, we cannot correct them; until we know our strengths, we cannot use them well.

The discovery of self is a profoundly spiritual experience, one that is possible for anyone willing to learn. It comes neither in a mystical, magical manner nor by casual effort, but it is made possible only through practical, concrete means. What are some of these means?

1. Diaries and journals. One of the simplest ways to greater self-understanding is to keep a personal journal. A journal becomes a map for inward searching, a net to capture moments of spiritual insight, a treasury of thoughts and plans. It can be used a thousand waysas a continuous letter of encouragement and caution to oneself, as a podium for argument and discussion about problems, as a planning table for goals. Try sketching yourself as others see you, or bear your testimony in writing. With imagination, the possibilities and rewards of keeping such a record are endless.

A diary can also be a key to inward searching, if only because it forces a daily meeting with self. We should every night call ourselves to an account, wrote the Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca. An elaborate record of daily life is not necessary; just a few lines will serve to review a days performance. For the rest of mortality, diaries will prove valuable in checking dates or surveying changes in personal attitude.

2. Self-questioning. The housewife who feels that her life is in a small box wedged between an oven, washer, and three peppy children may seek escape in television viewing or at a swimming pool, social club, or theater. The businessman, teacher, or scientist may get a wedged-in feeling and seek escape in the mountains or on the golf course.

A certain amount of such escape is necessary for everyone, but wouldnt it be better sometimes if we escaped into ourselves? A quiet hour of self-examination, goal-setting, and meditation on the eternal purpose of life can be far more therapeutic than the back nine.

Fine, you may say. If a quiet hour ever opens up in my busy schedule, Ill use it. This approach is certain to fail. Self-examination is like prayer. As Brigham Young said, You will find that those who wait till the Spirit bids them pray, will never pray much on this earth. (JD, vol. 13, p. 155.) Firmly commit a definite hour each week, find a quiet place, and hang a sign on the door: Worries and Trifles Not Allowed. Only then will such an hour pay at overtime rates.

Even when time and place are right, introspection can be difficult without a definite plan. For this purpose a list of actual questions could be used. Try writing answers to the following questions:

What is the source of my happiness? Am I happiest when engaged in self-directed activity? Or do my greatest joys come when serving others?

Do I know Jesus Christ? Does his gospel excite me? Do I have an active, hard-working faith in the Savior, or am I a lip-service Saint?

Have I a genuine love of all men? Not just tolerance, but the pure love of Christ?

Are my duties in the priesthood [or as a mother] being fulfilled, even magnified? How about home teaching?

Is the Holy Ghost operative in my life? Do I pray often, both alone and with my family? Do my prayers show gratitude? sincerity? humility?

Am I hard-working, industrious, and enthusiastic?

What specific steps can I take to improve my character?

If I were another person, would I enjoy being around myself? Am I cheerful, patient, radiant, kind?

Would I give my life for the Savior and his church? Very wellam I so giving my life?

Honest answers to such questions cannot help but reveal ones inner self. These questions, a personal list, or one of many published lists could be used.

A weekly hour of self-questioning should begin and end with secret prayer. Criticism is desirable, but it must be only self-criticism, and even that is best when tempered by reasonable patience. Perfection is a long, hard haul, not an overnight miracle.

3. The Franklin method. It was about this time that I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. So writes Benjamin Franklin, one of the United States founding fathers and first ambassadors, as he introduces the reader of his Autobiography to a plan for self-examination and improvement.

Franklin began by choosing what he felt were the twelve primary virtues, to which he later added humility. He proceeded to divide the ivory leaves of a memorandum book into thirteen rows and several columns. The columns were for the days of the week, the rows for each of the chosen virtues.

Before retiring each night, Franklin would search himself and his day with respect to each of the virtues, and mark by a little black spot every fault I found upon examination to have been committed respecting that virtue upon that day. In this manner he became aware of his weaknesses, and a clear view of desirable improvement was possible.

TEMPERANCE

Eat not to dullness.Drink not to elevation.

THE VIRTUES:

S

M

T

W

T

F

S

Temperance

T

Silence

Sl

X X

X

X

X

Order

O

X

X

X

X

Resolution

R

X

X

Frugality

F

X

X

Industry

I

X

Sincerity

Sn

Justice

J

Moderation

M

Cleanliness

Cl

Tranquility

T

Chastity

Ch

Humility

H

A plan for inward searching similar to Benjamin Franklins is an effective help to the Latter-day Saint striving for repentance and the other principles of the gospel. Becoming aware of needs is a large part of the battle.

It is interesting that Franklin began the plan only after concluding that his abstract resolutions and mere speculative conviction that he ought to do right were accomplishing little. Only a written plan could succeed. His evaluation of the method after years of using it is revealing:

I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined, but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish.

Are we able to say the same of our own faults?

4. Faith in Jesus Christ. No amount of inward searching will avail an individual much without an active faith in the living Savior. Countless men without the hopeful perspective of Christs plan have sought self-knowledge and improvement; often they have only concluded in frustration that perfection is unattainable. In one sense they were right. Man simply cannot perfect himself, by himself.

The surest way to self-knowledge is found in Christs words to Moroni: if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. (Ether 12:27.) The Savior also teaches us the way to overcome the faults we discover by inward searching: my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. (Ether 12:27. Italics added.)

It is from the example, life, and living inspiration of the Man of Galilee that men learn the path to perfection. Then, through faith, the path is walked. A faith of mere speculative conviction is not enough, however. True faith manifests itself in action.

How shall we learn to know ourselves? asked the German writer Goethe. By reflection? Never; but only through action. Strive to do thy duty; then shalt thou know what is in thee. It is not only in quiet hours of meditation that we discover ourselves, but also in hours of wearying toil, in service without reward, in smiles that hurt, in hungering, thirsting, striving, and seeking.

He who is willing to so strive embarks on a journey not unlike the odysseys of old. He will find shortcomings within himself he had never supposed were there. He will climb mountains not even visible from the low path of complacency and procrastination.

If the goal is pursued faithfully, he will find treasure at the journeys end. For every person has treasure from a preexistent past buried within his souldivine jewels waiting only to be polished to perfection by the Master.

Brother Porter attended Brigham Young University as a David O. McKay Scholar before accepting a recent call to labor in the Germany Central Mission. He is a member of the Albuquerque (New Mexico) Sixth Ward, Albuquerque East Stake.

Read the original here:

Searching Inward - ensign - lds.org

We live in stressful times. In addition to the taxing pressures of a fast-paced society and a struggling economy, many of us feel the shadow of terrorism or war lurking in the background of our lives. Unfortunately, when the intensity or frequency of the stress in our lives is excessive, our bodies take a beating: we become like a rubber band stretched to its maximum, ready to snap.

Because we as Latter-day Saints understand the sacred nature of the body (see 1 Cor. 6:1920), we know how important it is to maintain our mental and physical health. And in order to do this in todays world, we must learn how to manage stress. Gospel practicessuch as prayer, fasting, scripture study, service, priesthood blessings, and counseling with Church leaderscan be effective coping methods. Additional techniques include meditation, deep breathing, and exercise.

Regular exercise, which can be useful for anyone at any age or fitness level, is a healthy and highly effective approach to releasing the rubber band we have stretched tight in our lives. Exercise does not have to be unpleasant or intense to be useful for stress management. Most adults will find regular brisk walking to be a great tool in helping to soothe a stress-filled life. While 3060 minutes of walking is optimal, 1020 minutes can effectively serve as a calming balm. And when the going gets especially difficult, even a short 510 minute stroll can bring immediate stress relief.

Following is a list of six stress-reducing benefits of exercise:

Exercise can serve as a temporary diversion from our worries; escaping problems for short periods of time can revitalize and refresh us. Going for a bike ride or a walk around the block can afford temporary relief from the sting of stress and invigorate our bodies so we can again face the demands of the day.

Exercise strengthens our bodies and increases stamina. Research shows that even a short period of physical activity can lift our spirits, raise our metabolism, and counter feelings of fatigue. Furthermore, once we develop a reasonable level of fitness, we develop energy reserves that will allow us to participate more fully in work and play.

Exercise affords time for pondering and meditation. Walking, pedaling a stationary bike, or swimming laps requires little conscious thought. Therefore, exercise time can be used as a break to reflect and planvaluable ingredients for good decision making and stress management.

Physical exertion during the day promotes more restful sleep at night. Physical activity facilitates the release of tension, promotes muscle relaxation, and allows sleep to occur naturally. Generally, individuals who exercise regularly can relax more completely and sleep more soundly than those who are not active, especially when under stressful conditions.

Exercise also tends to improve self-esteem and engender feelings of confidence, which are especially important in times of uncertainty. Since consistent participation in an exercise program takes self-discipline and hard work, faithful exercisers know they have persevered and accomplished something worthwhile. In general, those who exercise have greater confidence in themselves.

Finally, regular exercise generates a healthier perspective on life. A study of more than 7,000 adults conducted at Brigham Young University showed that while adults who exercise have the same number of demands and pressures as those who dont exercise, exercisers perceive significantly fewer problems in their lives. Despite stressful circumstances, exercise brings a more positive outlook.

Exercise is not a cure-all; it will not eliminate stress or solve all of our problems. However, exercise will assist us in facing challenges with greater confidence and stamina. Because exercise so effectively releases tension built up in the body by stress, physical activity is something that should not be pushed aside in day-to-day life. Each of us has a right and a responsibility to take care of the body that the Lord has given us. When it comes to managing stress, maintaining health, and improving quality of life, exercise is well worth the effort.

Photography by Robert Casey

Originally posted here:

Move More, Stress Less! - ensign - lds.org

Posted byMike BennettonJune 17, 2011

Do the Ten Commandments need to be updatedor upheld?

You may have heard back in 2008 that Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti felt the Catholics seven deadly sins needed to be updated. According to the BBC report, he wanted to add things like environmental pollution, genetic manipulation, accumulating excessive wealth and drug trafficking and consumption to his new list. (The old list, including gluttony, greed and sloth, is traced back to Pope Gregory I in A.D. 590.)

What about the Ten Commandments? They are much older. They were given by God on Mount Sinai about 3,500 years ago. Actually, though, they are much older, considering that Abraham obeyed Gods commandments hundreds of years earlier (Genesis 26:5).

Did Jesus Christ replace or update them? Do they need an update today? Or do they provide timeless, foundational principles that help us know and choose right actionsand thoughtsover wrong behaviors and mind-sets? Do they help us see how to love our neighbors and how to love Godthe way He wants to be loved?

What the Bible says about the Ten Commandments

Jesus said He didnt come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, what we call the Old Testament today (Matthew 5:17-19). He didnt annul the Ten Commandments. He taught their deeper, spiritual application.

When asked which commandment was the greatest, He summarized the Ten Commandments and the whole Bible this way: You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37-40).

Jesus showed the spiritual intent of the Ten Commandments. The first four show how to love God the way He wants to be loved. The last six show how to love our neighbors.

Jesus also said, If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). When asked which commandments, He listed five of the Ten Commandments, along with the summary statement, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (verses 18-19).

The apostle Paul said, Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. For we know that the law is spiritual (Romans 7:12, 14). How can the natural, fleshly man learn and obey this holy, spiritual law? Paul showed that this is made possible through Jesus Christ and by being led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:25; 8:7-9, 14).

Jesus Christ not only paid the death penalty for our sins (Romans 5:9; 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19), He showed the way and will provide us help to follow Gods good and beneficial way of lifethe way of love. We must seek to change, to walk as He walks and to love as He loves (1 John 2:6; John 13:34). Paul shows that the law is designed to teach us how to love (Romans 13:9-10). Love is the spiritual intent of the law.

The problem is not the law, but our weak flesh. But through the Holy Spirit God helps us overcome that obstacle by writing the law in our hearts and minds as we diligently study and seek to obey His law (Hebrews 8:8-10). This is the heart of the New Covenant.

James also expands on the spiritual intent of the Ten Commandments. He called Gods law the royal law (James 2:8). How is it a royal law? It is the law of the Kingdom of God, and Jesus Christ will return as King of Kings in that Kingdom (Revelation 19:16).

James also called it the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25; 2:12). James compares the law with a mirror (1:23-25). Just looking in the mirrorjust knowing the perfect law of Godis not enough. We must use Gods help to make the changes in ourselves and show the love to others and God that the law shows us.

Not burdensome

Some have looked at Gods law as bondageas a heavy burden they feel God eventually sent Jesus to remove from us. But the Bible clearly shows the perfect, eternal, spiritual law of God is a law of liberty:

Which laws were superseded?

Physical circumcision is not part of the Ten Commandments and is clearly shown in the New Testament to have been superseded by spiritual circumcisiona change of heart (Romans 2:29). Later, the book of Hebrews shows that the sacrifices and temple rituals have been superseded by Christs sacrifice. They and the civil law (specific regulations necessary to govern the nation of Israel) generally cannot and need not be practiced by Christians today. But even these give us principles and lessons we can apply today.

The eternal spiritual law remains as the framework for a moral, godly life. The laws and principles taught throughout the Bible are consistent and still guide the Christian today.

What was the real bondage?

Jesus Christ made clear what the real burden and bondage is: Slavery to sin. The truth makes us free from slavery to sin (John 8:31-36).

Gods truth is revealed throughout the Bible, which Paul explained was given by inspirationliterally, God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Scriptures (what we call the Old Testament) are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (3:15).

So why does it seem Paul sometimes put down the law? Some of these passages take careful study, but most become clearer by considering some key arguments that Paul was making:

The apostle Peter recognized Pauls writings as Scripture, but acknowledged that Pauls epistles include some things hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16). In examining difficult-to-understand scriptures, remember that Paul also called the law holy, just and good (Romans 7:12). And he said, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Romans 6:1-2).

So, we can only be made right with God by the gracious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Nothing we can do can earn forgiveness. But after seeing how horrible sin isseeing how good and beneficial Gods laws areseeing how much God hates sin and how much He loves usthe only correct response is to do what Christ told the woman caught in adultery: Go and sin no more (John 8:11).

The Ten Commandments are a wonderful gift from God, and each is worthy of study and meditation. Read a short study of each commandment starting June 20, 2011, on the Daily Bible Verse Blog.

Here are links to the commandments:

The First Commandment: You Shall Have No Other Gods

The Second Commandment: You Shall Not Make a Carved Image

The Third Commandment: You Shall Not Take God's Name in Vain

The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day

The Fifth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Mother

The Sixth Commandment: You Shall Not Murder

The Seventh Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery

The Eighth Commandment: You Shall Not Steal

The Ninth Commandment: You Shall Not Bear False Witness

The Tenth Commandment: You Shall Not Covet

Mike Bennett coordinates the cogwa.org blogs and writes the Daily Bible Verse Blog.

Read this article:

The Ten Commandments for Today | Spiritual Meaning of Ten ...

Posted byTamara ValleyonJanuary 30, 2014

Ive always been in awe of trees. They are among the largest organisms in existence and can live for many hundreds of years. Recently, I listened to a piece on National Public Radio (NPR) that discussed some very interesting facts about trees. The piece explained how scientists have recently done research that disproves a common misconception about these colossal plants.

Most people think that once trees reach a certain height, they just stop growing (or at least slow down). But an international study has revealed that this is false. In fact, researchers found that the older trees get, the more air they filterwhich means they grow at a much faster rate than younger trees. The professor interviewed in the NPR report also said that these results have made some people think that trees, if placed in a world without extreme weather, drought or disease, would have unlimited growth potential, meaning that they could theoretically continue to grow forever.

We can learn spiritual lessons from the incredible creation that surrounds us. And theres a lot we can learn from trees. Here are three lessons to consider:

1. We are never finished growing spiritually.

Our ultimate goal is to become like Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13). The goal is not a singular event that can be checked off a list like baptism or memorizing a section of Scripture. The goal is to grow up in all things into Him who is the headChrist (verse 15). This goal of building Christ-like character is constantly at odds with our human nature and will be something to strive towards until the end (Galatians 5:17). We must continue to work towards it with the spiritual tools God has given us, like prayer, fasting, meditation, Bible study, service and fellowship with others of like mind.

There is no age or stage of life in which we do not need to continue growing spiritually!

2. We should try to understand our place in the spectrum of spiritual experience.

There will always be Christians who are more mature, wise or spiritually strong than we arelike those older trees that grow faster and produce more clean air than the younger ones. Instead of comparing ourselves to them in a negative way or feeling that we will never catch up to them spiritually, we should look at these producers of spiritual fruit as an example we can follow, in addition to following Christ. We must also remember what it says in 1 Peter 5:5: Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility. In addition, we cannot forget that those behind us on the same path towards the Kingdom are looking to us for similar guidance. Therefore, Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

3. Your unlimited growth potential can be completely realized in a perfect world!

Research has shown that most trees die because of environmental issues. In a perfect world, trees could continue living much longer. Like trees, we can be worn out by the world around us. It is only in the ideal environment of a world ruled by the Kingdom of God that wenot just those called today, but every person who chooses lifewill be able to really thrive, unhindered by the influence of evil (1 Corinthians 13:10; Revelation 20:10).

God will replace our human nature with His Spirit: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them (Ezekiel 36:26-27). The extraordinary blessings of a godly world and a truly yielded heart will enable every willing person to finally unlock his or her true unlimited growth potential.

Lets learn from the trees and remember that we should be like trees in one major way: We should keep growing!

To learn more about the tools God has given us to grow, read Prayer, Fasting and Meditation.

Tamara Valley is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Houston, Texas. She really likes trees.

View post:

Unlimited Growth Potential - COGWA Members

Posted bySusan Scott SmithonNovember 19, 2015

Christ taught that fasting would be a necessary element in Christians lives in order to accomplish Gods purpose for us.

Why, then, do we find it so difficult to do such an important thing?

It is not nearly so difficult for me to fast now that I am retired. Careful planning can identify days when the conditions are optimal to fast.

So, again, why is fasting often an infrequent and inconsistent (and sometimes dreaded!) part of our lives?

The last few times I fasted I tried to identify the common deterrents to fasting. I ended up focusing on a number of issues that are involved with the lack of physical food for a specific period of time:

So why do we undertake a task that can result in such unpleasant outcomes?

The Bible offers examples of fasting by different people for different reasons.

When Christ was asked why His disciples did not fast as Johns did, He said His disciples would have to fast when He was gone (Matthew 9:14-15). This shows us that fasting becomes more necessary the farther we are from our Savior. We fast to draw closer to God. When we are spiritually deprived, we need fasting to draw near to God (James 4:8).

In Mark 9:29 Christ pointed out that some problems, such as an unclean spirit, could only be dealt with through prayer and fasting. There are certain problems in our lives that can only be tackled with fasting.

David Registers blog post Why Fast? lists three major reasons for fasting: (1) Fasting helps us realize that we have no power of ourselves. (2) By fasting, we humbly admit that we dont know what to do. (3) Fasting causes us to look to God for His help.

So lets take the above physical effects of fasting and apply them to a fast of spiritual foodlack of prayer, Bible study and meditation:

Energy levelwe have no spiritual stamina for dealing with the day-to-day problems (let alone crises) that occur in our lives.

Physical consequenceswhen we are spiritually weak, we can experience frustration, anxiousness, worry and a feeling of helplessness.

Temptationwe tend to see our daily routines as problems, not opportunities.

Habitsthe easiest thing to do is to fall back into old habits, the way that we have dealt with problems in the past.

Comfortwe would rather commiserate with those who see things our way than strive to see things Gods way.

Countdownwe cant wait for the day to be over.

Just as we dread going without physical foodwe should loathe going without spiritual food!

When I skip prayer, Bible study and/or meditation for a day or more, I need to remember the spiritual consequences and reorient my ship so I can get back to the right direction.

None of us can afford a spiritual fast! We need the spiritual nourishment fasting provides!

To learn more about fasting, read What Is Fasting?

See the article here:

My Love/Hate Relationship With Fasting - COGWA Members

Posted byLeon LeonardonApril 17, 2015

The greatest problem Christians face is sin. We know the basic biblical teaching about sin:

We in the Church of God understand that prayer, Bible study and meditation are essential elements in overcoming sin. But there is another critical tool that must be employed on a consistent basisand it is probably the most difficult of all the tools. That tool is fasting!

Fasting should be an integral part of our Christian lives. God created food for our nourishment and pleasure. He knows how much we enjoy it. When we willingly fast for a time, we show God how serious we are about following and obeying Him.

In Leviticus 23:26-32 God commands His people to fast on the Day of Atonement.

But we see many examples of Gods people fasting outside of the Day of Atonement. Here are some of them:

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Early in His ministry, Jesus faced a titanic battle with Satanin which Satan tried to tempt Him to sin. Jesus knew He had to take drastic steps to prepare for this battle with Satan, and He spent 40 days and nights fasting in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1). This was necessary for Christ because He was going to face temptation greater than any normal person would ever face. The devil approached Jesus when He was physically weak, but spiritually strong and ready for battle.

Luke 4:4-13 records how Jesus successfully resisted Satans temptations. Fasting afforded our Savior the spiritual power to back up His perfect character with action. If Jesus Christ had to fast to resist sin, how much more do we have to!

In our daily war against sin, it is imperative that we not neglect this most powerful tool. Though fasting can be physically taxing, it can accelerate our spiritual growth and strengthen us in overcoming sin (Isaiah 58:6, 8).

Gods people should be imitating Christ and other great men and women of the Bible by using the awesome tool of fasting!

To learn more about this powerful tool, read What Is Fasting?

Read the rest here:

The Power of Fasting - COGWA Members

By Leo Babauta

The most important habit Ive formed in the last 10 years of forming habits is meditation. Hands down, bar none.

Meditation has helped me to form all my other habits, its helped me to become more peaceful, more focused, less worried about discomfort, more appreciative and attentive to everything in my life. Im far from perfect, but it has helped me come a long way.

Probably most importantly, it has helped me understand my own mind. Before I started meditating, I never thought about what was going on inside my head it would just happen, and I would follow its commands like an automaton. These days, all of that still happens, but more and more, I am aware of whats going on. I can make a choice about whether to follow the commands. I understand myself better (not completely, but better), and that has given me increased flexibility and freedom.

So I highly recommend this habit. And while Im not saying its easy, you can start small and get better and better as you practice. Dont expect to be good at first thats why its called practice!

These tips arent aimed at helping you to become an expert they should help you get started and keep going. You dont have to implement them all at once try a few, come back to this article, try one or two more.

Meditation isnt always easy or even peaceful. But it has truly amazing benefits, and you can start today, and continue for the rest of your life.

If youd like help with mindfulness, check out my new Zen Habits Beginners Guide to Mindfulness short ebook.

See original here:

Meditation - Zen Habits