16 October 2011

Sacrament Meeting
Slow down and focus on the adverse situation.
Simplicity in it's finest!
Our relationship with God is the most important thing and it is the most vital thing. Learn of Him, pray to Him, and have meaningful time alone with him.
Our relationship with our family is the next most important relationship. Do things together. Remember that 'love' is spelled 'T-I-M-E.'
Our relationship with our fellow man is another important relationship. We will build these one at a time.
The last important relationship is the one that we have with ourselves. Get to know yourself better; learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you.

Matthew 4:1-11
    "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
     And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.
     And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
     But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
     Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
     And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
     Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
     Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
     And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
     Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve,
     Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."
Three times Christ was tempted by Satan, and three times He used the scriptures to say no.
The scriptures are our tools; they are like a handbook for us to use.
Scriptures are like night vision goggles, they give us light when times are dark.
Great power can come from memorizing scriptures; it can help us to change.
We are free; we are the ones who ultimately make the choice to choose good or bad.
Ponder the scriptures, don't just read them.
Blessings that come from scripture study:
    -You agitated soul may become calmed
    -You are able to accelerate physical healing
How do you personally use your scriptures? Do you mark them? Do you use all the standard works?
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To learn from the Spirit, we must listen
Doctrine and Covenants 6:15, 22-23-
   "Behold, thou knowest that thou has inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;
     Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
     Did I not speak peace unto your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?
The Spirit will teach, testify, and inspire us to do good, if we but ask.
Satan wants us to doubt and question; he does not want to know the truth.
Moroni 7:12-17
    "Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
     But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired by God.
     Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
     For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
     For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
     But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."
The voice of the Spirit is still and small; it is felt more than it is heard!
Have patience.
You get better and better as you practice. Remember to go to the scriptures for your answers.
Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9-
    "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
     But behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
     But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me."
If a decision is good, we will be at peace with our decision; if we feel bad about it or a dark cloud descends upon us, it is of the Devil.
Be patient, answers do not come quickly!