Sunday thoughts, jots, and tittles. . .

Sacrament Meeting:
A little over a month ago was the first time I had been to the temple in almost five years. Every time a temple trip would come up, I would always have a reason not to go, volleyball, prom, school project, didn't have a ride, etc. Looking back now, I realize that they were nothing but a bunch of excuses. I wish that I had taken advantage of those temple trips before. When I walked into the Provo temple, the first feeling that assaulted me was a sense peace quickly followed by this feeling of Heavenly Father welcoming me back. It felt amazing, I knew then that my Heavenly Father loves me very much, and He is so happy that I now know that, that I know what my Individual Worth is.

We need to learn to be in the world, but not of it. The New York temple is located in the middle of the city, surrounded by sky scrappers and other buildings, with people protesting outside and cabs honking. But as soon as you step onto temple grounds, it's as if those things don't even matter, as if you can't hear anything but the sound of the spirit.

Joseph Smith did many things, but what he was best at was listening. If he hadn't listened to the spirit when reading James 1:5, he never would have restored the church to the Earth, we wouldn't have the blessings of the temple or the priesthood. Listening can be the easiest thing to do, but it can also be the hardest thing to do. People always want to share their news and talk, but people need to listen to be of help. After listening however, you must take action.

Sunday School:
Christ compares the Pharisees to being like a cup that is clean on the outside but dirty on the inside.
Matthew 21: 17-22; The fig tree gives the illusion of bearing fruit.
John 12:1-8; Judas was giving the illusion that he cared and was worried about the poor.
Matthew 21:1-11; Christ doesn't put on any pretenses. For Him, it was what it was; he was humble and meek. Christ rode a colt, the son of a donkey, the most humble of ways, to come into Jerusalem. This was a representation of who Christ is and was.
Matthew 21: 23-27; Fear of man, not God.
Matthew 21:28-32; The first son, there was no deception, there was no expectations whereas the second son said he would go and do and then did not. When we make covenants, and then balk on them when it comes down to it, God does not take that lightly. Intentions are great, but the must be followed through.

"There is so much good in the worst of us, there is so much bad in the best of us that it behooves us not to talk about the rest of us."


Young Women's:
In this life, through our journey, Heavenly Father doesn't want us to wing it, he wants us to plan it out and be prepared.

Accepting Jesus Christ isn't something that comes right off the bat, it is something that takes a lifetime to achieve.
The Lord cannot allow the slightest degree of tolerance when it comes to sin. We cannot be allowed into the Celestial Kingdom if we are sinners.
Heavenly Father has devised a plan in which he can maximize the number of children that can return to live with Him again.
Your body is like a recording device, it changes with each decision that we make. When we are resurrected, our body will reflect every decision that we have made here on Earth, what is it that my body will reflect?
To live in the Celestial Kingdom, you must be baptized, confirmed a member of the church and then married/sealed in the temple. Whether these are done in person, or done by proxy, it must be done. Everyone has the right to choose if they want to accept the gospel or not.