Divine Process (DN VE1)

Peter (2 Peter 1) teaches us about divine qualities. Looking at this as a process gives some interesting insights.
1. We start out with faith which is the first principle of the gospel. Alma discusses how we can retain this faith by planting a seed of the hope of faith.
2. To this we add virtue. We can think of this as cleanliness and purity. We need to work on removing those habits that are not pleasing to God.
3. The next quality is knowledge. We need to be seeking knowledge and be teachable. Here we learn about the gospel and can gain wisdom to strengthen our testimonies.
4. Temperance comes next. Another word for this is self-control. We need to "bridle our passions" and become masters of our addictions and weaknesses.
5.We then need to have patience with ourselves and others. We need to be humble, penitent, and forgiving.
6. The next stage of this process is godliness. We hear often that we should "put off all ungodliness." We should desire to do good continually and not have malice towards others. The word that comes to mind is to be sanctified, or to be made holy. We do this with covenants.
7. Peter says that we need next to have brotherly love. We need to care for each other as we have promised in our baptismal covenants.
8. Finally, we need charity, which is a higher order of love. It means we see others as the Lord would and desire to serve them. We also desire to do the service of God (D&C 4).

Alma 7:23-24 adds some additional qualities to this process. He says we need be submissive and easy to be entreated. In other words, be open to the promptings of the spirit and be will to do what is asked. We also need to be long-suffering and diligent in keeping the commandments. And we need to be prayerful and grateful.

 I have decided to work on charity through the first of these: to be more open to the spirit and be willing to do what is asked. To accomplish this I need to also work on my scripture study and being more sincere in my prayers.

Sacred Service (GW VE6)

Last weekend at Stake Conference, one of the major themes was temples and family. With the temple, I was pondering the meaning of the word Sacred. After doing some research found that the root meanings include "dedicated," "holy," and "binding." It is derived also from words that mean "to make holy or consecrate." The word sanctify is derived from different words with a similar meaning as this.

Service is derived from roots meaning "to perform work on" as well as "obedience" (which as a side note is derived from a similar root as audience meaning "to listen and perceive"). When I think of service, I also think of sacrifice. While sacrifice in a general sense means "something given up for the sake of another," its roots come from the same word a sacred.

The temple is a sacred place where we make covenants, are sanctified, and perform service. Temple work is a culmination of all these things and the climax of charity. We know that every soul will have an opportunity to hear the gospel, whether it is in this life or in the spirit world. They will have a chance to accept or reject it, but in order to gain exaltation, they must have sacred ordinances performed. We are able, by proxy, to do this work for them and to seal our families together for eternity.

I think this is one of my favorite pieces of the gospel. It is one of the reasons I know that the truthfulness of the gospel has been restored on the earth. Temple work is not new and is mentioned in the New Testament by Paul. It is sacred, though, and personal. The experiences we have in the temple are between us and the spirit. For these reasons, it is difficult to express the emotional and spiritual value of it, but for me it is somewhere where peace, joy, and love meet.

Service and Individual Worth (GW VE5)

Today during Stake Conference broadcast, we heard from M. Russell Ballard. He shared the story of Woodruff Wilson's last vision of Joseph Smith and others in heaven being in a hurry because, being in the last dispensation, there was little time to get everything done.

With the thought that we should all be in a hurry, Elder Ballard talked about the value of a soul and then gave 4 things we need to focus on:

1) Strengthen Home and Family;

2) Strive to Protect and Save our own souls and other church members;

3) Strive to save the souls of those that are not yet members [through gospel-centered homes and looking for ways to serve others]; and

4) Strive to save souls who have departed this life [through genealogy and temple work].

He also pointed out that the atonement makes the blessings of eternal life possible. He shared a metaphor of individual worth being like a seed that grows into an apple tree. Finally, he reminded us that those of us that have received the gospel are expected to share it with others; however, ultimately, we are accountable for our own souls.

Sharing the gospel with others is one of the greatest gifts we could give to another. If we love them, why wouldn't we want to offer them hope, peace, and the promised blessings of eternal life? And why is it so hard to share this amazing gift? As a convert, I try to look back and remember what it was like when I was investigating, how odd this story of a 14 year old boy was, and why I had never heard of such things before.

I remember being skeptical of the Book of Mormon, and reading as much as I could to see what was really on the pages of this book. But after reading and pondering I knew that the words could not lead the soul to do anything but good. I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet.

I hope those that read my blog that aren't members of the church will plant a seed of faith to ask and find out for themselves that this gospel of happiness and individual worth is true. For those that are reading this blog and are members, let's take is opportunity this year to reread the Book of Mormon and strengthen our testimonies, our families, and our individual worthiness.

Serving in the Community (GW VE4)

Through my work, I serve the community. Even though I get paid, I like to think that I help to make people's lives a little better and safer through research and data management. I have worked on projects that help to find sand for beach replenishment as well as help to keep our water supply healthy.

Over the years, I have also served in the community through a number of organizations. Whether it wrapping gifts for underprivileged children, raising money to eradicate IDD, or helping out with a Girl Scout troop, it has always been a desire of my heart to be able to help others. I haven't always understood why, but always knew it was the right thing to do. After gaining a testimony of the gospel, things have become much clearer.

We are all trying to make it back to our Heavenly Father and to become like Him. We can do this by serving one another and using our talents to help each other. Sometimes serving others is difficult, especially when it doesn't seem to be appreciated. I have felt that way a few times in my life. I know, though, that my efforts don't go without being noticed by my Heavenly Father, and I can only hope that I can make a difference in someone's life.

Reflections for a New Year

It's a new year and I'm hoping for 2012 to be a new start. I have never been big on celebrating New Years Eve. Maybe it is just that December 31st is just not the time I tend to think about it being a "New Year." Just because it is the date that our paper calendar on the wall ends and we have to remember for the next 2 months what the correct year is on our checks doesn't make it significant for me.

I do like to take the time to reflect on the past year and January 2012 is becoming a month of cleanup and catching up, as well as getting some rest. I also have some goals, but really don't want to jinks them. I will definitely be revisiting them in a few weeks, but for now, I am going to tie up loose ends on my blog this month.

2011 was definitely a rough year for me. I was in the hospital 2 hours from home for 60 days of the year from the complications of my kidney transplant in July of 2010, was hooked up to an IV through May, and then had a fight with Guillian-Barre syndrome, which I wouldn't wish on anyone. I have been blessed that the second half of 2011 went much smoother and have been home. I was also able through the whole year to work a full 40 hours, and November 30th marked the final time I needed to apply for my PG license exam.

I completed the Value Experiences for Knowledge and Choice & Accountability, have 3 more Value Experiences to write up for Good Works, and I am working on finishing the Old Testament so I can start the Book of Mormon for both Sunday School and for the Virtue value of the Young Women's Progress. I also have been working over the past 2 years on the Value Projects and I am hoping to finish and post some of the write ups for those.

So lots to keep me busy and good things to look forward to in 2012.

Serving through Church (GW VE3)

In the church we have a number of opportunities to serve others. When we are baptized, we make a covenant to "bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things..."(Mosiah 18:8-9)

One of the ways we do this is through Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching. In the church, members are paired up with a companion. The priesthood pair up and visit the families of the ward while the ladies visit each other once a month. We bring a spiritual message and check on the needs of the individuals or families we are assigned.

The church also has periodic service projects and opportunities to serve both within the church and the community as a whole. When there is a major disaster, the church members are there helping to clean up and bring needed supplies to the area.

We also serve through our callings. Depending on the calling, our influence and ability to serve can vary. Nevertheless, we are able to teach and inspire those we are asked to serve through the spirit.

Service in our Families (GW VE2)

It is important to serve those that are the closest to us. And not only serve them but encourage them in positive endeavors.

A week and a half ago, we surprised my in-laws by decorating there house for Christmas. And this week, we went to a concert at Chiles and helped to support not only family but other youth from church and the community as a whole.

Sometimes, though, it is the small things that can make a large impact. Whether it is cooking a dinner when your spouse has had a rough day, playing with a child, or just listening to a friend, random acts of kindness become small reflections of our love for each other and help us to grow closer to each other.

We also must learn to ask for help as well as unselfishly help when asked and to be patient with others. We were placed in families for a reason. The primary one is to help us learn and grow. But these relationships will also follow us in the next lifetime, so even if we don't understand each other right now, we need to learn to also accept our personality differences and help each other progress.