I Believe. And I still have a great deal to believe
I wasn't sure I had much to report on this week, but life always changes in twinkling of an eye. Door open, flood waters rise, choices are made, the wind blows, and we still put our pants on one leg at a time. I think I will start with my thoughts the past two weeks.
Many of them have been combined with words from conference, James 1:5 and our testimony meeting today. I guess we could carry it on to movies I have watched and our discussion in High Priest group as well. Let's see where my ramblings take us.
Words from Sister Bonnie Oscarson's talk have stuck with me all week. It did not matter what I was reading, pondering, or studying. I kept hearing her words, Know vs Believe. When I hear reference to James 1:5 it is hard not to think about Joseph Smith. It is part of his life, my life, and many others. But the more I study this verse, it is more than just the boy Joseph Smith. It is where we need to start as well.
Joseph was raised to be a God fearing man. They read the scriptures, talked about seeing His hand in their lives, and taught to know that He was real. But, did they really believe it? Joseph knew the scriptures, but had to come to a point in his life where he believed they were true. He knew there was a God, but had to come to believe that He was real. That belief lead to him kneeling in the grove and vocally calling upon Him.
We must do the same. In testimony meeting today, I heard young children say, "I know..." They knew their parents loved them, that Jesus loved them, that President Monson is the prophet, but do they really believe it? Do they live according to that belief? We, like Joseph, must go through this growing process. We must have it before we pray for the first time. Once we pray, we then build upon it. It isn't just about Joseph and the Book of Mormon. It is about God. Do we know He is our Father? Do we believe it? Then Jesus Christ, do we know He is our Brother? our Savior? our Redeemer? Do we believe it? Can we pray to God the Father in Christ's name? Then we add another principle. We go through the same process.
In priesthood class today, we discussed what had to be going through the minds of the 12 as they moved with Jesus to Gethsemane. We know that they had confessed their knowledge of Christ being the Son of God, but did they believe it. Do you think they would have stayed awake if they truly comprehended what they were being asked to witness? I struggle in my own life to comprehend it. I can see how they would struggle as well.
As He was taken, bound, tried, beaten, spit up on, nailed to a cross, and humiliated in front of hundreds, do you think they questioned their belief? We know that some did. Even after He had risen, there were some who doubt until they could see. They knew He had talked about it, but they had not moved to true belief.
Where are we in our believe? Do we know? Do we believe? Do we live according to that belief?
As we continue to progress in this mortal experience, I hope that we will continually build upon our knowledge and live according to our belief.
Go back and read, study, ponder, and apply the talk by Sister Oscarson.
OK, on we the week.
It has been pretty normal around here. Work, sleep, work, polo, sleep, and maybe a little eating in the middle.
The Queen and I attended our first annual Sprunch. It was fun to just sit and visit with our ward, neighbors, and friends. We all shared incredible edibles at the same time. I am starting to recognize and know faces and names at last. Now the twinkling has happened and it may all change again. We will see what happens next weekend when the Stake is re-organized/dissolved.
The Professor is working furiously to keep up with everything going on. It has been kind of nice to have a little break from weekly planning/leading of meetings on Sunday. She has been able to focus on her classroom and classes. I guess that changed today as she went back to the Sunday routine.
Tall Man has been quiet. He did accept a new job to start in May. I think I mentioned that. He came down our way for the weekend to attend a performance and hang with friends. It was nice to have him hang with us a little as well, but bats are ridiculous.
SnackPack is all about getting those annoying little credits. He is working hard to keep up with it all as try-outs are being performed, election interviews and selections are taking place, and he still has to keep up with polo and homework. He is trying to get it all into a routine, but his life changes in a twinkling just as mine does.
Other than that, life is good. We just do what is required, sometimes just squeaking by to the next sun rise, but that is what we do, right?
Until next week. Peanut Butter and Bananas.
Many of them have been combined with words from conference, James 1:5 and our testimony meeting today. I guess we could carry it on to movies I have watched and our discussion in High Priest group as well. Let's see where my ramblings take us.
Words from Sister Bonnie Oscarson's talk have stuck with me all week. It did not matter what I was reading, pondering, or studying. I kept hearing her words, Know vs Believe. When I hear reference to James 1:5 it is hard not to think about Joseph Smith. It is part of his life, my life, and many others. But the more I study this verse, it is more than just the boy Joseph Smith. It is where we need to start as well.
Joseph was raised to be a God fearing man. They read the scriptures, talked about seeing His hand in their lives, and taught to know that He was real. But, did they really believe it? Joseph knew the scriptures, but had to come to a point in his life where he believed they were true. He knew there was a God, but had to come to believe that He was real. That belief lead to him kneeling in the grove and vocally calling upon Him.
We must do the same. In testimony meeting today, I heard young children say, "I know..." They knew their parents loved them, that Jesus loved them, that President Monson is the prophet, but do they really believe it? Do they live according to that belief? We, like Joseph, must go through this growing process. We must have it before we pray for the first time. Once we pray, we then build upon it. It isn't just about Joseph and the Book of Mormon. It is about God. Do we know He is our Father? Do we believe it? Then Jesus Christ, do we know He is our Brother? our Savior? our Redeemer? Do we believe it? Can we pray to God the Father in Christ's name? Then we add another principle. We go through the same process.
In priesthood class today, we discussed what had to be going through the minds of the 12 as they moved with Jesus to Gethsemane. We know that they had confessed their knowledge of Christ being the Son of God, but did they believe it. Do you think they would have stayed awake if they truly comprehended what they were being asked to witness? I struggle in my own life to comprehend it. I can see how they would struggle as well.
As He was taken, bound, tried, beaten, spit up on, nailed to a cross, and humiliated in front of hundreds, do you think they questioned their belief? We know that some did. Even after He had risen, there were some who doubt until they could see. They knew He had talked about it, but they had not moved to true belief.
Where are we in our believe? Do we know? Do we believe? Do we live according to that belief?
As we continue to progress in this mortal experience, I hope that we will continually build upon our knowledge and live according to our belief.
Go back and read, study, ponder, and apply the talk by Sister Oscarson.
OK, on we the week.
It has been pretty normal around here. Work, sleep, work, polo, sleep, and maybe a little eating in the middle.
The Queen and I attended our first annual Sprunch. It was fun to just sit and visit with our ward, neighbors, and friends. We all shared incredible edibles at the same time. I am starting to recognize and know faces and names at last. Now the twinkling has happened and it may all change again. We will see what happens next weekend when the Stake is re-organized/dissolved.
The Professor is working furiously to keep up with everything going on. It has been kind of nice to have a little break from weekly planning/leading of meetings on Sunday. She has been able to focus on her classroom and classes. I guess that changed today as she went back to the Sunday routine.
Tall Man has been quiet. He did accept a new job to start in May. I think I mentioned that. He came down our way for the weekend to attend a performance and hang with friends. It was nice to have him hang with us a little as well, but bats are ridiculous.
SnackPack is all about getting those annoying little credits. He is working hard to keep up with it all as try-outs are being performed, election interviews and selections are taking place, and he still has to keep up with polo and homework. He is trying to get it all into a routine, but his life changes in a twinkling just as mine does.
Other than that, life is good. We just do what is required, sometimes just squeaking by to the next sun rise, but that is what we do, right?
Until next week. Peanut Butter and Bananas.
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