Much to Ponder
I don't know if any of you have had a chance to read January's issue of the Ensign yet. I would recommend it. Maybe you are still reading last months. I know that I have not taken the chance to finish reading it either. However, I just so happen to have January's issue next to my bed. There is some good stuff there.
President Uchtdorf has some very insightful thoughts to share with us. He talks about the Kirtland era of church history. You know we really don't think about our pioneer ancestors enough. We talk about them all the time. We hear talks about them and their experiences all the time. However, do we really think about them, about the lessons they learned and how we can apply them to our own lives?
When the temple was built in Kirtland, their were any marvelous recordings and experiences. Yet, with in just a few short years, many had gone from strong members of the church, to those who fought against the church. How could that happen? The more I read the more I realized how easy it can be. It does not take much. Just a few little murmurings. Those lead to more and pretty soon that is all we know. Shortly there after, that is all our children know and our children's children. The cycle continues unless someone breaks it by over coming the natural man.
Well, I guess that or we can prevent it from happening in the first place. I love the new set up of the Ensign. At the end of the article, there is a little snippet for the youth. Take a look at the self evaluation they have listed there. It is a good one.
- Do I desire to believe? Do you? Are you in this plan for yourself or just along for the ride until no one is looking, you feel you are not obligated anymore, or until you can escape? Where is your belief? What is it that you really want to believe?
- Do I fast and pray for a stronger testimony? I have to give this some thought myself. I often wonder if I am fasting and praying enough. I wonder if I am truly putting my heart and soul in to the fast. How about you?
- Do I read and ponder the scriptures each day? This one is personal. Only you know. I know that I strive to do so every day. It is not always easy to give it my full attention. I have to force myself to do so. I have to make it a priority in my life. If I don't, other things will fill in the blanks and short circuit my testimony. I encourage you to make it a priority.
- Do I try to keep the commandments each day? For some, this is harder than it sounds. Do you really look at the commandments of the Lord and strive to obey. The key word here is obey. In today's world, it is so easy to make justifications.
- Do I try to follow the promptings from the Holy Ghost? If you are doing the previously mentioned items, it will be easier to hear the Holy Ghost. Once we have heard, it then becomes important to act. The Gospel is not a fan sport. It requires active participation. We cannot sit on the sidelines and expect it to happen. We must keep it fresh, play after play. We must stay on our toes. The Lord will bless us as we do. He will show us how to continue moving forward, if we will do our part.
Are you still in the game? What are you doing to define your own personal testimony?
President Uchtdorf has some very insightful thoughts to share with us. He talks about the Kirtland era of church history. You know we really don't think about our pioneer ancestors enough. We talk about them all the time. We hear talks about them and their experiences all the time. However, do we really think about them, about the lessons they learned and how we can apply them to our own lives?
When the temple was built in Kirtland, their were any marvelous recordings and experiences. Yet, with in just a few short years, many had gone from strong members of the church, to those who fought against the church. How could that happen? The more I read the more I realized how easy it can be. It does not take much. Just a few little murmurings. Those lead to more and pretty soon that is all we know. Shortly there after, that is all our children know and our children's children. The cycle continues unless someone breaks it by over coming the natural man.
Well, I guess that or we can prevent it from happening in the first place. I love the new set up of the Ensign. At the end of the article, there is a little snippet for the youth. Take a look at the self evaluation they have listed there. It is a good one.
- Do I desire to believe? Do you? Are you in this plan for yourself or just along for the ride until no one is looking, you feel you are not obligated anymore, or until you can escape? Where is your belief? What is it that you really want to believe?
- Do I fast and pray for a stronger testimony? I have to give this some thought myself. I often wonder if I am fasting and praying enough. I wonder if I am truly putting my heart and soul in to the fast. How about you?
- Do I read and ponder the scriptures each day? This one is personal. Only you know. I know that I strive to do so every day. It is not always easy to give it my full attention. I have to force myself to do so. I have to make it a priority in my life. If I don't, other things will fill in the blanks and short circuit my testimony. I encourage you to make it a priority.
- Do I try to keep the commandments each day? For some, this is harder than it sounds. Do you really look at the commandments of the Lord and strive to obey. The key word here is obey. In today's world, it is so easy to make justifications.
- Do I try to follow the promptings from the Holy Ghost? If you are doing the previously mentioned items, it will be easier to hear the Holy Ghost. Once we have heard, it then becomes important to act. The Gospel is not a fan sport. It requires active participation. We cannot sit on the sidelines and expect it to happen. We must keep it fresh, play after play. We must stay on our toes. The Lord will bless us as we do. He will show us how to continue moving forward, if we will do our part.
Are you still in the game? What are you doing to define your own personal testimony?
Comments