What We Take
It has been a week. I probably have added this earlier, but my schedule has been out of whack. I have been impressed how many times my thoughts have been turned to this subject as of late.
Last week, I mentioned that we had Stake Conference. Elder Franco was our presiding authority. He was the instrument of a great message. I was the recipient of amazing personal revelation. It has been some of his comments that I have been pondering.
At one point we were talking about death. Whether we want it to or not, it will happen to us. The way we live in this life will greatly affect the way we live after death. When we die, we don't take out houses, our cars, our salaries, our fancy pants or shoes. So, if that is that case, many ask what we should be collecting that will be allowed with us on the other side. According to Elder Franco or those who have instructed him, it all comes down to three things.
Who we are.
Ordinances.
Our relationship with our families and others.
It seems that my thoughts have been dwelling on the first. Who are we? Why is that important? Today, my thoughts go to several conversations I have add over the past few days.
We are sons and daughters of God.
As sons, we should also be holders of the priesthood. What does that mean? Do we live our lives in such a manner that this priesthood is a part of our lives and who we are?
One of the mentioned conversations was about hand/eye coordination and what it is. We talked about how people develop such coordination and why it would be important. One of the examples used to talk of some one using hand/eye coordination would be a basketball player. I have heard stories of players who carry a basketball with them everywhere they go. They roll the basketball in their hands, bounce it, spin it, and grip it. They become so familiar with the basketball, that it almost becomes an extension of their bodies. When they are playing, their control depends on that relationship. They have to know where the ball is, where it is going to go, and know how to protect it from others.
What kind of sons would we be if we knew and understood the priesthood with us in that way? Being a holder of the priesthood is more than just passing, preparing, or blessing the sacrament. It is more than taking the occasional opportunity to bless another. Like the basketball player, it should be an extension of us and what we do everyday. It is something we should use everyday. Are we? Is it a part of who we are?
As children of God, knowing who we are also includes knowing accepting, and living up to the same person God knows.
Another conversation or two that I have had seemed to focus on how we think of ourselves as well. One conversation seemed to focus on the importance of not beating ourselves up, putting ourselves down, and thinking less of ourselves because of mistakes we have made. When the time comes for us to stand before God the Father, what is he going to see? My mind is filled with visions of three people. Our Father in Heaven, us, and Jesus Christ. We are having a PPI. The questions will come, the judgment will take place, and we will know exactly what we did and did not do. Do you think we are going to spend a great deal of time talking about the negative? I don't see it going that way. Do I think that we will avoid mistakes all together? No, I see Christ at our side, pleading our case. "Yes Father, my brother hear made some mistakes. However, after making this mistake, this is what he learned about himself and who he is. This is how he acted differently the next time he found himself in the same situation and the next and the next. Note how he has changed over and over again. Each time aligning himself more and more with becoming one with us." We should put our focus on getting up and doing better each day, not pound ourselves for what we have done.
In this PPI, I don't see God the Father or Jesus Christ comparing us to our neighbor next door or anyone else for that matter. They know and see who we are. We have forgotten that. We need to find it again. We should not be worried about what others think we should be or what others think we are, unless those two are ONE with what God the Father and Jesus Christ think. We should see and be the same person they see. That is what is important. If we do not see or are not that person, we need to find them, make the changes, and become them.
Know who you are.
Last week, I mentioned that we had Stake Conference. Elder Franco was our presiding authority. He was the instrument of a great message. I was the recipient of amazing personal revelation. It has been some of his comments that I have been pondering.
At one point we were talking about death. Whether we want it to or not, it will happen to us. The way we live in this life will greatly affect the way we live after death. When we die, we don't take out houses, our cars, our salaries, our fancy pants or shoes. So, if that is that case, many ask what we should be collecting that will be allowed with us on the other side. According to Elder Franco or those who have instructed him, it all comes down to three things.
Who we are.
Ordinances.
Our relationship with our families and others.
It seems that my thoughts have been dwelling on the first. Who are we? Why is that important? Today, my thoughts go to several conversations I have add over the past few days.
We are sons and daughters of God.
As sons, we should also be holders of the priesthood. What does that mean? Do we live our lives in such a manner that this priesthood is a part of our lives and who we are?
One of the mentioned conversations was about hand/eye coordination and what it is. We talked about how people develop such coordination and why it would be important. One of the examples used to talk of some one using hand/eye coordination would be a basketball player. I have heard stories of players who carry a basketball with them everywhere they go. They roll the basketball in their hands, bounce it, spin it, and grip it. They become so familiar with the basketball, that it almost becomes an extension of their bodies. When they are playing, their control depends on that relationship. They have to know where the ball is, where it is going to go, and know how to protect it from others.
What kind of sons would we be if we knew and understood the priesthood with us in that way? Being a holder of the priesthood is more than just passing, preparing, or blessing the sacrament. It is more than taking the occasional opportunity to bless another. Like the basketball player, it should be an extension of us and what we do everyday. It is something we should use everyday. Are we? Is it a part of who we are?
As children of God, knowing who we are also includes knowing accepting, and living up to the same person God knows.
Another conversation or two that I have had seemed to focus on how we think of ourselves as well. One conversation seemed to focus on the importance of not beating ourselves up, putting ourselves down, and thinking less of ourselves because of mistakes we have made. When the time comes for us to stand before God the Father, what is he going to see? My mind is filled with visions of three people. Our Father in Heaven, us, and Jesus Christ. We are having a PPI. The questions will come, the judgment will take place, and we will know exactly what we did and did not do. Do you think we are going to spend a great deal of time talking about the negative? I don't see it going that way. Do I think that we will avoid mistakes all together? No, I see Christ at our side, pleading our case. "Yes Father, my brother hear made some mistakes. However, after making this mistake, this is what he learned about himself and who he is. This is how he acted differently the next time he found himself in the same situation and the next and the next. Note how he has changed over and over again. Each time aligning himself more and more with becoming one with us." We should put our focus on getting up and doing better each day, not pound ourselves for what we have done.
In this PPI, I don't see God the Father or Jesus Christ comparing us to our neighbor next door or anyone else for that matter. They know and see who we are. We have forgotten that. We need to find it again. We should not be worried about what others think we should be or what others think we are, unless those two are ONE with what God the Father and Jesus Christ think. We should see and be the same person they see. That is what is important. If we do not see or are not that person, we need to find them, make the changes, and become them.
Know who you are.
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