Listening to Learn...

This week we had to listen to to a very good talk about listen to learn. Russell M Nelson gave the talk in the April 1991 conference. This was a great talk. I think it hits home because of the pathway program. I listen so I can learn. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to do the program because I already have a degree, why do I need another one? As I prayed and heard the voice it didn't seem to matter that I had a degree, I had to do this. I could not even figure out what course to take. As the weeks got closer to start the classes I knew that family history genealogy was what I needed to study. 

I again am listening to learn. I may not know the exact reason why I need to follow that path yet but it will make sense later. I was so happy that I will be able to follow this path no matter what. because the Lord has told me this is it. 

So listen to learn, no matter what the voice says it is for a reason.

Clustering...

Clustering is such a great to cross reference the scriptures. I love that I can find them so easily in the footnotes. A few months back we had a conference at our ward and the speaker told us about an App he uses, called LDS scripture citation index. This gives you a good reference to each scripture and even talks given on those scriptures. It has been so helpful when trying to prepare a talk or even share at school this semester.

This week for school we talked about 3 Nephi 12-17. 3 Nephi 13:9-13 stands out to me right now. Starting at verse 9, After this manner therefore pray ye, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

This is the same as Matthew 6:9-13, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

While they aren't exactly the same they are almost the same and when you use the scriptures you can cross reference them easily. I love clustering when you want to figure out where things are and how to show non Mormons.

Things I've learned...Pondering

1 Nephi 11:1 For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen,and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen,  and upon which had before set my foot.

As you ponder with intent you will get what you desire. However sometimes what we desire is not what we need. When you get the answer of "no" you need to ponder and figure out why the answer was a no or just accept it and the answer to why will come to you. Even at times we get the answer of yes, we still have a lesson to be learned. We must endure the bad to get to the good. We have to understand that we will endure to the end no matter if we have an easy or hard time getting to the end. The scriptures are a great way to help us to see this simple but true lesson.

Learning

My classes have been a good way to reflect on faith. Faith is more than what you follow. Faith is linked to you as a person. Faith is what we need to endure what we are dealt. No matter if it is a simple trial or a hard one. Our faith is what gets us to the end result.

We may not understand why we go through these trials. The hard ones we sometimes go through so we can help someone else get through it. Sometimes we go through it grow as a person. When we have issues with faith it usually a person thing not a Lord thing. We are people in the world instead of of the world. We tend to follow what happens in the world instead of trying to be the light of the world.

Over the last few weeks I have watched a few close friends go through some very hard things. The worst so far is having to watch a young mother prepare to bury her 7 week old son. She has great support from many and is doing well but I know part of her is questioning. I'm questioning why. As the time passes she may get answers, she may not. As her faith is tested i know she has a strong testimony in the Lords work so I'm sure her faith will remain safe. As the outsider looking in I can offer my prayers for her continued comfort and offer any support I can to her and her family.

As my own faith has seen some trials I have been able to get through them with the knowledge that my heavenly father has a plan even if I may not understand why. I just made sure that I kept reading and trying to get a better understanding of the plan of salvation. We all have a plan for us from heavenly father. He supports us, even when we don't follow him. He still keeps us with him. He never gives up on us, so why give up on him.

Just a few thoughts over the last few weeks.

Right back at it...

With the start of the semester I'm going to be adding some posts maybe weekly. It all depends on how I decide to do my assignment that week...

This week in our studies we read Alma 30-35. As I studied I figured out what I would teach (talk about in class). I continued to study the block of scriptures and Alma 30 really stuck out to me.

Someone at work had put on the History Channel and it was on an alien show. This lead to the subject of if we are alone in the universe. I managed to change it to a conversation about how things were created.

Someone said can you believe in Christ and not the Devil? The group of us that were there agreed the answer is no. I asked about the fact that several religious groups talk about an anti-Christ...for the most part we agreed that many times in history we could see an anti-Christ. Some disagreed as they have never seen it in their time.

As read more of the chapter, I became enraged (might change that word) that people could really think the word of God is not true. I don't know what could truly cause this thought. I know people who have not lost their faith through so really hard and tragic times. I feel if they could go through their trials and tribulations and mange to keep their faith then what could have been so bad for someone to not have it?

This brings into my thoughts the plan of salvation. God has a plan for all of us. We may not know what that plan is or even understand why we must go through the hard time. We have to endure to the end to understand the full plan that the Lord has for us. We need to keep in mind that the Lord does truly know what we can handle so we need to just work through it.

I look forward to continued growth this semster.

Keeping the Temple Clean

In our lesson this week we read about keeping the Temple pure and clean. In case you don't know the Temple is your body. We need to stay clean in pure. this is in everything we do. Eating, what we do to our body and even what we say. We need to speak without using profanity. I admit I get caught up in the moment and things come out that shouldn't. I always feel bad after. I usually say a prayer to be mindful to not do it again.

The hard part for me is there is a sarcus ear piercing you can get that has proven to help with migraines. I get them bad and was thinking about getting them. However I have not gotten a clear answer if it would be something that would be okay per church standards. It's not totally visible but it is in an odd spot. Not the norm...I so want to be migraine free. I keep praying for the answer. A friend of mine just got it done and I'm waiting to hear how her migraines are in a little bit.

Sharing the Gospel

Let me start this with it has been 11 months since I was on my own blog. I really should do it more. I haven't even looked at my friends blogs in that long. I guess it has been easier to just be on Facebook.

I am in the Pathways program through BYU-Idaho. This has been a great program that has given me great strength in my growth with the gospel. This week instead of teaching someone within my house or talking to people at work about school I have decided to make a blog post.

This week in class we went over several chapters in the Book of Mormon but what stuck out the most was Enos. His soul hungered. What does this mean? To me it is that he was struck with the feeling of he had to make that change so that he could go to to Heaven and be with his family forever. He was forgiven of his sins based off his faith. He did not need to see the Lord or have proof of him he just knew that he would be ok and be able to preach to his people and get things right.

The big thing is he went to the Lord in prayer. This is so powerful. He prayed for a day and night. He knew that his life was not right and had to have this "confession" with the Lord. We all know that the Lord knows and sees all but he knew he needed to make things right. We are taught to go to the Lord in prayer. We start our day with prayer and end our day with prayer. This is important, we need to thank the Lord for the day before us and then we need to welcome the challenges or trials that may have occurred through the day and figure out how we are going to get through them and be thankful that we have the Lord with us to help us get through these things. We don't have to understand everything right away but with time we can get the understanding as to why things are how they are. Answers don't always come fast. Enos was blessed that he was able to get his forgiveness in that short time. Enos made the changes he needed to make to become a great person before the Lord so that he could rejoice in the mortal becoming the immortal when the time is right.