Taste Testers
Not really sure where I am going to this week. It has been just an average week. Work, Meetings, Sleep, more Meetings. In between it all I have been trying to figure out a better routine. I am just not very good at it.
As I sit here now, there is so much going through my head. We had good discussion this afternoon in Priesthood. We had good messages in Sunday School and Sacrament as well. My mind is still pondering these discussions. However, one thought keeps coming to me as I sit her now. "Taste Testers"
Yep, that is it. Good discussion, good thought. I guess it has a little to do with Bishop Waddell's message from conference, Elder Bednar's message from conference, and sitting down and really thinking about my observance of the Sacrament. Then this morning it our Bishop asked in interesting question. He asked us, "What percentage of our ward do you think really reads the scriptures on a regular basis, whether as a family or even individually?" Good question. We determined it is probably the same percentage of members who show up each week.
Then in Sunday School another message made me think of the same thing. In fact, I had made a note in the manual of my personal study guide trying to figure out how we do what President Benson discusses here. "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in...The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."
I guess it all started coming together. Bishop Waddell talked about the difference in people who made it to the Tree of Life and partook of the fruit there of. Those that just tasted it, were suddenly ashamed as they were mocked by the scoffers from the Great and Spacious Building. But those who ate and continued to feast upon the fruit, gave no heed to the scoffers.
Then Elder Bednar talked about the importance of three covenants. Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Sacrament. I have been thinking a great deal about the words of his talk, but more importantly about the words of the prayer. The emblems of the Sacrament are blessed with the purpose of sanctifying our souls "...that they may eat..."
So how do we change from the inside out? We have to bring Christ into our lives. We must eat of his word on a daily basis. We do so that we might remember Him, let Him into our hearts, inspire and guide us through the witness of His spirit that will always be with us, if we partake. We must take it in, digest it, ponder it, "Learn, Listen, and Walk", to quote another talk from conference.
When we do so, the light within us glows. We may not change locations or circumstances, but we will change. With that change, our strength to endure, to be, to do, will change. We will see the world around us in a different light. We find Faith, Hope, and Charity. We become sanctified souls unto Christ.
Be more than a Taste Tester.
This week has been kind of crazy. The Queen was given a long weekend that she really did not plan on having. But she made the most of it. She worked her tail off getting ready for guests in the week to come. And for someone who does not like to shop, she spent a great number of hours shopping this week.
The Professor gained a really nice Farmer's Tan, as she was on recess duty and put in charge of umpiring fifth grade softball tourney. When she was not at school, she was dining with her team of teachers and honoring those who are hanging up the old school whistle this year.
Tall Man spent the week working, moving, planning, and near death experiences. We are glad his is still with us. Though bruised, we know his heart is still beating. He has pictures, just ask him.
SnackPack has been kind of lonely. His side kick took a road trip and left him hear to work. He has been doing a great deal of that. Today we had the honor of seeing him Ordained. Now we start the whirlwind journey of making new covenants and such. The week to come will be filled with milestones.
I hope your week is full of great things as well.
As I sit here now, there is so much going through my head. We had good discussion this afternoon in Priesthood. We had good messages in Sunday School and Sacrament as well. My mind is still pondering these discussions. However, one thought keeps coming to me as I sit her now. "Taste Testers"
Yep, that is it. Good discussion, good thought. I guess it has a little to do with Bishop Waddell's message from conference, Elder Bednar's message from conference, and sitting down and really thinking about my observance of the Sacrament. Then this morning it our Bishop asked in interesting question. He asked us, "What percentage of our ward do you think really reads the scriptures on a regular basis, whether as a family or even individually?" Good question. We determined it is probably the same percentage of members who show up each week.
Then in Sunday School another message made me think of the same thing. In fact, I had made a note in the manual of my personal study guide trying to figure out how we do what President Benson discusses here. "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in...The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."
I guess it all started coming together. Bishop Waddell talked about the difference in people who made it to the Tree of Life and partook of the fruit there of. Those that just tasted it, were suddenly ashamed as they were mocked by the scoffers from the Great and Spacious Building. But those who ate and continued to feast upon the fruit, gave no heed to the scoffers.
Then Elder Bednar talked about the importance of three covenants. Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Sacrament. I have been thinking a great deal about the words of his talk, but more importantly about the words of the prayer. The emblems of the Sacrament are blessed with the purpose of sanctifying our souls "...that they may eat..."
So how do we change from the inside out? We have to bring Christ into our lives. We must eat of his word on a daily basis. We do so that we might remember Him, let Him into our hearts, inspire and guide us through the witness of His spirit that will always be with us, if we partake. We must take it in, digest it, ponder it, "Learn, Listen, and Walk", to quote another talk from conference.
When we do so, the light within us glows. We may not change locations or circumstances, but we will change. With that change, our strength to endure, to be, to do, will change. We will see the world around us in a different light. We find Faith, Hope, and Charity. We become sanctified souls unto Christ.
Be more than a Taste Tester.
This week has been kind of crazy. The Queen was given a long weekend that she really did not plan on having. But she made the most of it. She worked her tail off getting ready for guests in the week to come. And for someone who does not like to shop, she spent a great number of hours shopping this week.
The Professor gained a really nice Farmer's Tan, as she was on recess duty and put in charge of umpiring fifth grade softball tourney. When she was not at school, she was dining with her team of teachers and honoring those who are hanging up the old school whistle this year.
Tall Man spent the week working, moving, planning, and near death experiences. We are glad his is still with us. Though bruised, we know his heart is still beating. He has pictures, just ask him.
SnackPack has been kind of lonely. His side kick took a road trip and left him hear to work. He has been doing a great deal of that. Today we had the honor of seeing him Ordained. Now we start the whirlwind journey of making new covenants and such. The week to come will be filled with milestones.
I hope your week is full of great things as well.
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