Comment, Start Thinking
I woke up this morning to find some one had commented on a post. I have been thinking about the comment all day long. It coincides with another response I received to email earlier in the week. Thus, I just reply.
The comment was on one of my scripture thoughts. It presented a thought that I guess I had never really thought about, but is something I need to think about more.
The thought was on 1 Nephi 8:26-27
I commented about how important it is to avoid going to the building, how we need to teach our children to hold fast to the iron rod so they don't get lost, how we are to help those we love see that true happiness is in the fruit, not looking down upon it from above. These are things we all want to do and teach. It is important to figure out how to do so. I have some thoughts on that, it is just the application that I struggle with.
This mornings comment was sharing a quote about the same two verses, but from a different view point. The quoted statement was something to the effect that in today's world, instead of helping our youth avoid the building, we need to help them get out of the building. That is a scary thought for sure. Again it is the application of the matter.
In recent meetings, there has been a large focus on this very subject, but I always thought it was about helping our youth, adults, members, loved ones, avoid the building, but in truth it could be about helping them get out. That is what the Atonement is all about. We are to help them see that the fruit is work the effort.
Anyway, the theme of the meetings I have attended is all about personal revelation. If the we plan our activities and meetings in such a fashion that they invite the spirit, we can easily facilitate teaching those within our stewardship how to recognize and receive personal communication/revelation from the spirit. This is and has been the goal of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for very long time. Unfortunately, many are still stuck in a rut of planning activities and meetings that entertain instead of invite the spirit.
So, the question is how do we do this? How do we facilitate such environments? How hard is it? How much effort do we need to put in to it?
The answer to that question, at least in part, came earlier this week. I have heard from a reliable source that one way the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been doing this as of late is through summer camps. One such summer camp has had 22,131 young women and 29,986 families attend this summer between the 1st of May and the 1st of September. At this camp, there are some 150 service missionaries that care for the grounds. Most start in early April and work through the end of September. There are a few who will remain on site the entire year. They clean stoves, tables, toilet, bunks, windows, and more. They clear trails, sponsor challenge courses, cut, haul, and stack wood for fires. They remove the trash from every site while removing themselves from the world we live in. All this, that those in attendance may have and inviting environment.
So far I have only mentioned the few that serve there and a full time basis. With those 52,117 individuals came a countless number of volunteer leaders. Some did not attend, but spend countless hours making sure that everything was just right so they could attend. Games, activities, booklets, themes, thoughts, testimonies, and more were shared and give that it might happen.
From this example, I learn that it is more than just an effort, it is a full time job. We don't do it alone, we do it as a community of believers, testifying, strengthening, living, pleading, begging, and providing that others might have an opportunity, see a shining light, feel a burning within and know that they are royal offspring of a loving Father in Heaven. That they might know for themselves that He is real and there for them.
Amazing isn't it? Let help them avoid the pit falls. But if they falter, then lets make sure they understand that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they can walk over that gulf of misery, get back on track and taste of the fruit. It is not easy, but is possible. And better, yet, this principle does not just apply to the youth, it applies to all of God's children. It does not matter how lost they are, what floor of the building they are on, they can return to him. Christ has provided the way. Through one's faithfulness, they participate in said miracle.
May we all find that miracle in our lives.
The comment was on one of my scripture thoughts. It presented a thought that I guess I had never really thought about, but is something I need to think about more.
The thought was on 1 Nephi 8:26-27
I commented about how important it is to avoid going to the building, how we need to teach our children to hold fast to the iron rod so they don't get lost, how we are to help those we love see that true happiness is in the fruit, not looking down upon it from above. These are things we all want to do and teach. It is important to figure out how to do so. I have some thoughts on that, it is just the application that I struggle with.
This mornings comment was sharing a quote about the same two verses, but from a different view point. The quoted statement was something to the effect that in today's world, instead of helping our youth avoid the building, we need to help them get out of the building. That is a scary thought for sure. Again it is the application of the matter.
In recent meetings, there has been a large focus on this very subject, but I always thought it was about helping our youth, adults, members, loved ones, avoid the building, but in truth it could be about helping them get out. That is what the Atonement is all about. We are to help them see that the fruit is work the effort.
Anyway, the theme of the meetings I have attended is all about personal revelation. If the we plan our activities and meetings in such a fashion that they invite the spirit, we can easily facilitate teaching those within our stewardship how to recognize and receive personal communication/revelation from the spirit. This is and has been the goal of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for very long time. Unfortunately, many are still stuck in a rut of planning activities and meetings that entertain instead of invite the spirit.
So, the question is how do we do this? How do we facilitate such environments? How hard is it? How much effort do we need to put in to it?
The answer to that question, at least in part, came earlier this week. I have heard from a reliable source that one way the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been doing this as of late is through summer camps. One such summer camp has had 22,131 young women and 29,986 families attend this summer between the 1st of May and the 1st of September. At this camp, there are some 150 service missionaries that care for the grounds. Most start in early April and work through the end of September. There are a few who will remain on site the entire year. They clean stoves, tables, toilet, bunks, windows, and more. They clear trails, sponsor challenge courses, cut, haul, and stack wood for fires. They remove the trash from every site while removing themselves from the world we live in. All this, that those in attendance may have and inviting environment.
So far I have only mentioned the few that serve there and a full time basis. With those 52,117 individuals came a countless number of volunteer leaders. Some did not attend, but spend countless hours making sure that everything was just right so they could attend. Games, activities, booklets, themes, thoughts, testimonies, and more were shared and give that it might happen.
From this example, I learn that it is more than just an effort, it is a full time job. We don't do it alone, we do it as a community of believers, testifying, strengthening, living, pleading, begging, and providing that others might have an opportunity, see a shining light, feel a burning within and know that they are royal offspring of a loving Father in Heaven. That they might know for themselves that He is real and there for them.
Amazing isn't it? Let help them avoid the pit falls. But if they falter, then lets make sure they understand that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they can walk over that gulf of misery, get back on track and taste of the fruit. It is not easy, but is possible. And better, yet, this principle does not just apply to the youth, it applies to all of God's children. It does not matter how lost they are, what floor of the building they are on, they can return to him. Christ has provided the way. Through one's faithfulness, they participate in said miracle.
May we all find that miracle in our lives.
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