Scripture Thought 9/14/09
1 Nephi 3:21
When I read this scripture one word stood out - PERSUADE. Nephi used his knowledge of the language, his understanding of his brothers, and most importantly, I think he used the power of the priesthood. He did not threaten, get excited, or use force. He calmly presented what he knew, what the spirit was whispering and reasoned with is brothers.
This reminded me a great deal of my mission. When we were invited into peoples homes, we did not go there with the intent of arguing with them, proving them wrong in any way, but our intent was to persuade them with the word of God. If we presented the gospel in a manner that was calming and peaceful, the spirit would do the rest.
Unfortunately, there were times that we were invited in and the only intent of those whom we were visiting was to argue. They did not want to talk or reason, they wanted to bible bash. We really need to be careful with that. We know that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth. The precepts and principles taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint will give us what we need to return to the pressence of our Heavenly Father. However, many of those same precepts and principles are taught in other churches as well, they are just not taught completely or in a unified manner. They are mingled with interpretations of man. We need to focus on our likeness, encourage that which is good, and celebrate as brothers and sisters seeking the kingdom of God.
We let the spirit testify of the rest and pray that they will receive it. That is what happened here. Nephi shared, testified, and exhorted. Where he lacked, the spirit of the Lord picked up.
When I read this scripture one word stood out - PERSUADE. Nephi used his knowledge of the language, his understanding of his brothers, and most importantly, I think he used the power of the priesthood. He did not threaten, get excited, or use force. He calmly presented what he knew, what the spirit was whispering and reasoned with is brothers.
This reminded me a great deal of my mission. When we were invited into peoples homes, we did not go there with the intent of arguing with them, proving them wrong in any way, but our intent was to persuade them with the word of God. If we presented the gospel in a manner that was calming and peaceful, the spirit would do the rest.
Unfortunately, there were times that we were invited in and the only intent of those whom we were visiting was to argue. They did not want to talk or reason, they wanted to bible bash. We really need to be careful with that. We know that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth. The precepts and principles taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint will give us what we need to return to the pressence of our Heavenly Father. However, many of those same precepts and principles are taught in other churches as well, they are just not taught completely or in a unified manner. They are mingled with interpretations of man. We need to focus on our likeness, encourage that which is good, and celebrate as brothers and sisters seeking the kingdom of God.
We let the spirit testify of the rest and pray that they will receive it. That is what happened here. Nephi shared, testified, and exhorted. Where he lacked, the spirit of the Lord picked up.
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