By Their...
I have had some interesting conversations as of late, that have started me wringing out the old sponge. I hope that the run off makes sense.
We have all heard or read the statements, "by their actions/works/fruits/labors ye shall know them." Who are these people we are talking about and what shall we know of them?
Are these the people who go to church every Sunday?
Are these the people who talk the talk when it comes to advice and correction?
Are these the people who recount how their ancestor did this or that or were known for being here or there?
Or is there more?
I have been thinking about these and many others for a long time. Though the characteristics mentioned above are not bad, I don't think they are complete. It takes more than just going to church, reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, doing our genealogy, (though these things all help), to be classified by Actions/Works/Fruits/Labors.
We have to do something with what we learn in church on Sunday. We need to follow through and apply what we read in the scriptures. We need to take action when prompted during our prayers. We need to continue the greatness our ancestors started.
We are a known to be a covenant people. That means that we promise to do something. As we do, we will be blessed. We cannot expect any of the above to work, if we are not actively doing our part. We have to work at it every day, all the time, whenever there is a moments lull.
I guess I could go to the Primary answers: We cannot expect to pray for help on a test if we have not done our part and studied. We cannot pray for help in finding lost keys and then sit on the couch and watch TV. We have to do our part.
It does not matter what it is, priesthood blessings, prayers, relationships, understanding, insight, homework, improvement in skill, etc... We have to do something if we are to receive help for all of the mentioned. A priesthood blessing does not materialize unless we are doing all that we can do. Our prayers are not answered unless we continue to seek the answer ourselves. Relationships don't develop, unless we do something to help them. The same goes for all of these things.
Oh and by the way, sometimes the doing requires sacrifice. It requires us to step outside our comfort zone, give up things we want to do so that we might do the things He wants us to do (that whole His will, not ours thing), or as we read in Matt. 10:39, 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, and 17:33, "He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
What is it you want? What are you looking for? Then do it, make the adjustments, step out of the zone, serve, and get lost.
We have all heard or read the statements, "by their actions/works/fruits/labors ye shall know them." Who are these people we are talking about and what shall we know of them?
Are these the people who go to church every Sunday?
Are these the people who talk the talk when it comes to advice and correction?
Are these the people who recount how their ancestor did this or that or were known for being here or there?
Or is there more?
I have been thinking about these and many others for a long time. Though the characteristics mentioned above are not bad, I don't think they are complete. It takes more than just going to church, reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, doing our genealogy, (though these things all help), to be classified by Actions/Works/Fruits/Labors.
We have to do something with what we learn in church on Sunday. We need to follow through and apply what we read in the scriptures. We need to take action when prompted during our prayers. We need to continue the greatness our ancestors started.
We are a known to be a covenant people. That means that we promise to do something. As we do, we will be blessed. We cannot expect any of the above to work, if we are not actively doing our part. We have to work at it every day, all the time, whenever there is a moments lull.
I guess I could go to the Primary answers: We cannot expect to pray for help on a test if we have not done our part and studied. We cannot pray for help in finding lost keys and then sit on the couch and watch TV. We have to do our part.
It does not matter what it is, priesthood blessings, prayers, relationships, understanding, insight, homework, improvement in skill, etc... We have to do something if we are to receive help for all of the mentioned. A priesthood blessing does not materialize unless we are doing all that we can do. Our prayers are not answered unless we continue to seek the answer ourselves. Relationships don't develop, unless we do something to help them. The same goes for all of these things.
Oh and by the way, sometimes the doing requires sacrifice. It requires us to step outside our comfort zone, give up things we want to do so that we might do the things He wants us to do (that whole His will, not ours thing), or as we read in Matt. 10:39, 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, and 17:33, "He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
What is it you want? What are you looking for? Then do it, make the adjustments, step out of the zone, serve, and get lost.
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