Receive, Believe, See
Good Morning -
I hope this post finds you all well, alert, and attentive on this bright Sabbath Day! Here, the wind is blowing, the skies are blue, and the chill factor sets us at about 34 degrees. Perfect for walking to church.
This week has been filled with crazy weather patterns. The snow decided to drop right in the middle of the valley instead of north or south. I understand that those further west of us received even more than we did. For the first time in the 20+ years of living in this area, some of my children experienced their very first snow day. I don't know that it was because of the amounts, but more because of the road safety and congestion. I just sat here in my office and worked from home.
I know that I have already talked to some of you about my pondering this week, but the specific verse of thought comes from Ether 12:5
"And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not."
Small verse, but lots of thought provoking.
First my thoughts dwelt on the word "prophesy". What does that mean? Does it mean that only a Prophet can do it? Sometimes, I think we get caught up in those first 6 letters and think Prophet, so it does not pertain to us. But I beg to differ.
When we are influenced by the power of the Holy Ghost, we do can prophesy. The world dictionary says that prophesy is defined as "say that something will happen in the future". Synonyms are predict, foretell, forecast, foresee, forewarn of, prognosticate(not a word I would ever use), or divine.
Because of the actions taken or not taken by the people in Ether's time, he was able to SEE where they were headed. We are told here that he told of great and marvelous things; some good, some bad. The challenge was that they did not SEE, therefore they did not BELIEVE.
How does that pertain to us?
I believe that we have the same right to prophecy as Ether did. It does not have to pertain to the body of "the church", but it can pertain to our lives and the paths we are on, the paths we should/could follow, and the good and bad that can come from it. The challenge is SEEING and BELIEVING.
I believe that prophecy comes to us through the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ.
My question is, do you BELIEVE? Do you SEE? Do we SEE and choose not to BELIEVE because we don't like what we SEE? Do we harden our hearts to what is before us and turn the other way? If so, my question is WHY? What whispering of the adversary are we listening too?
Is it that we don't feel capable? that we don't feel worthy of? that we don't feel the effort is worth it, on our behalf or the behalf of someone else? that we don't feel that following the path we SEE will have any value, to us or others? Or maybe we just don't SEE far enough down the path, therefore we are afraid to follow and therefore cease to BELIEVE?
These are all ploys of the adversary. He is trying to get us to discount the value, worth, potential, grandness, or marvelous outcome of what is being set before us. He knows that if we follow, we will be one step closer to our Savior and Eternal Life with God the Father. He will do everything thing he can to have us devalue ourselves and those things that are being revealed to us. Please don't fall for it. You can "prophesy".
Second - now that we know we can, the hard part is being different from the people in the time of Ether. We must BELIEVE, move forward in FAITH, even if we don't see the end of the road, we move towards the good of what we do SEE.
It does not matter what area of life we are receiving revelation about. The pattern is the same. We have to BELIEVE, TRUST, have FAITH in what is being revealed. Sometimes we are able to see far, others we are only able to see a few feet in front of us. That is OK, just keep moving towards that which is good.
Third - SEE yourself as God SEES you. SEE the path as God SEES the path. This is probably the hardest part. We have to humbly submit to the fact that we do not know all the God knows. We do not always SEE the entire picture, the full value, the complete worth of what is being revealed to us. We have to turn from our natural tendencies and follow our spiritual insights. However, to do so, we have to have a better relationship with God, with Christ, and with the Holy Ghost so that they can be with us continually.
This is why we are asked to search the Scriptures, to Pray, to renew our Covenants each Sabbath Day, and follow Him. When we do so, His promise is sure. I invite you to join me in such daily pursuits.
Our Week -
The Queen spend another fun filled week in the windy city. It was a shorter week for her, but productive. Now we will see what comes of it. She flew out on Monday, back on Thursday. We have enjoyed having her home this weekend.
The Professor built up the courage to face parents and students this week only to experience her first "Snow Day" where it was all cancelled. She took advantage of the day and did some de-junking. Now she gets to build up the courage for a "Make-up Day".
Tall Man battled the hazardous conditions and felt the fall out of those who got "Snow Days". Ehl-Bo passed a milestone in this new adventure of hers and moved to phase 2, "the battle of cravings".
Puddin and Lady Hawkins were in and out last weekend. It sounds like their week has been eventful. Lady Hawkins is adjusting to a new work schedule and they are both seeing some light on the path they are following. It was good to catch up with them.
SnackPack is enjoying the experience of life. There are many ups and downs, but he is taking them in stride. He came home this weekend to just hang out for a while. It has been good to have him here.
Love you all.
I hope this post finds you all well, alert, and attentive on this bright Sabbath Day! Here, the wind is blowing, the skies are blue, and the chill factor sets us at about 34 degrees. Perfect for walking to church.
This week has been filled with crazy weather patterns. The snow decided to drop right in the middle of the valley instead of north or south. I understand that those further west of us received even more than we did. For the first time in the 20+ years of living in this area, some of my children experienced their very first snow day. I don't know that it was because of the amounts, but more because of the road safety and congestion. I just sat here in my office and worked from home.
I know that I have already talked to some of you about my pondering this week, but the specific verse of thought comes from Ether 12:5
"And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not."
Small verse, but lots of thought provoking.
First my thoughts dwelt on the word "prophesy". What does that mean? Does it mean that only a Prophet can do it? Sometimes, I think we get caught up in those first 6 letters and think Prophet, so it does not pertain to us. But I beg to differ.
When we are influenced by the power of the Holy Ghost, we do can prophesy. The world dictionary says that prophesy is defined as "say that something will happen in the future". Synonyms are predict, foretell, forecast, foresee, forewarn of, prognosticate(not a word I would ever use), or divine.
Because of the actions taken or not taken by the people in Ether's time, he was able to SEE where they were headed. We are told here that he told of great and marvelous things; some good, some bad. The challenge was that they did not SEE, therefore they did not BELIEVE.
How does that pertain to us?
I believe that we have the same right to prophecy as Ether did. It does not have to pertain to the body of "the church", but it can pertain to our lives and the paths we are on, the paths we should/could follow, and the good and bad that can come from it. The challenge is SEEING and BELIEVING.
I believe that prophecy comes to us through the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ.
My question is, do you BELIEVE? Do you SEE? Do we SEE and choose not to BELIEVE because we don't like what we SEE? Do we harden our hearts to what is before us and turn the other way? If so, my question is WHY? What whispering of the adversary are we listening too?
Is it that we don't feel capable? that we don't feel worthy of? that we don't feel the effort is worth it, on our behalf or the behalf of someone else? that we don't feel that following the path we SEE will have any value, to us or others? Or maybe we just don't SEE far enough down the path, therefore we are afraid to follow and therefore cease to BELIEVE?
These are all ploys of the adversary. He is trying to get us to discount the value, worth, potential, grandness, or marvelous outcome of what is being set before us. He knows that if we follow, we will be one step closer to our Savior and Eternal Life with God the Father. He will do everything thing he can to have us devalue ourselves and those things that are being revealed to us. Please don't fall for it. You can "prophesy".
Second - now that we know we can, the hard part is being different from the people in the time of Ether. We must BELIEVE, move forward in FAITH, even if we don't see the end of the road, we move towards the good of what we do SEE.
It does not matter what area of life we are receiving revelation about. The pattern is the same. We have to BELIEVE, TRUST, have FAITH in what is being revealed. Sometimes we are able to see far, others we are only able to see a few feet in front of us. That is OK, just keep moving towards that which is good.
Third - SEE yourself as God SEES you. SEE the path as God SEES the path. This is probably the hardest part. We have to humbly submit to the fact that we do not know all the God knows. We do not always SEE the entire picture, the full value, the complete worth of what is being revealed to us. We have to turn from our natural tendencies and follow our spiritual insights. However, to do so, we have to have a better relationship with God, with Christ, and with the Holy Ghost so that they can be with us continually.
This is why we are asked to search the Scriptures, to Pray, to renew our Covenants each Sabbath Day, and follow Him. When we do so, His promise is sure. I invite you to join me in such daily pursuits.
Our Week -
The Queen spend another fun filled week in the windy city. It was a shorter week for her, but productive. Now we will see what comes of it. She flew out on Monday, back on Thursday. We have enjoyed having her home this weekend.
The Professor built up the courage to face parents and students this week only to experience her first "Snow Day" where it was all cancelled. She took advantage of the day and did some de-junking. Now she gets to build up the courage for a "Make-up Day".
Tall Man battled the hazardous conditions and felt the fall out of those who got "Snow Days". Ehl-Bo passed a milestone in this new adventure of hers and moved to phase 2, "the battle of cravings".
Puddin and Lady Hawkins were in and out last weekend. It sounds like their week has been eventful. Lady Hawkins is adjusting to a new work schedule and they are both seeing some light on the path they are following. It was good to catch up with them.
SnackPack is enjoying the experience of life. There are many ups and downs, but he is taking them in stride. He came home this weekend to just hang out for a while. It has been good to have him here.
Love you all.
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