Monday, June 24, 2019

Patience


https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/neal-a-maxwell_patience/

Patience is not indifference. Actually, it means caring very much but being willing, nevertheless, to submit to the Lord and to what the scriptures call the “process of time.”

I loved this quote because it made me think of the many times my love and concern for someone else caused me to feel impatient and a desire to impose my timetable. 


"Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His. Either way we are questioning the reality of God‘s omniscience as if, as some seem to believe, God were on some sort of postdoctoral fellowship and were not quite in charge of everything."

Sometimes this is so hard because of my inability to see time as the Lord sees time. It feels like another hour is forever and I feel such desire for the pain or discomfort to end now. It is hard when it is hard to endure the timing of the Lord. But my experience is his timing is always right- in hindsight. 

"Patience is not only a companion of faith but is also a friend to free agency. Inside our impatience there is sometimes an ugly reality: We are plainly irritated and inconvenienced by the need to make allowance for the free agency of others. In our impatience—which is not the same thing as divine discontent—we would override others, even though it is obvious that our individual differences and preferences are so irretrievably enmeshed with each other that the only resolution which preserves free agency is our patience and longsuffering with each other. " 

Longsuffering with others seems a very different word than patience but really waiting on others and being patient with their stuff, no matter the cause is allowing them the same agency and time to grow and develop we all wish others would allow us. It seems like "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

"No wonder the Savior said that His doctrines would be recognized by His sheep, that we would know His voice, that we would follow Him (John 10:14). We do not, therefore, follow strangers. Deep within us, His doctrines do strike the promised chord of familiarity and underscore our true identity. Our sense of belonging grows in spite of our sense of separateness; for His teachings stir our souls, awakening feelings within us which have somehow survived underneath the encrusting experiences of mortality."

Monday, June 10, 2019

Miracles

To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.

https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives

I want to review three examples of asking in faith in meaningful prayer and discuss the lessons we can learn from each one of them. As we speak of prayer, I emphasize the word ​meaningful.​ Simply saying prayers is quite a different thing from engaging in meaningful prayer. I expect that all of us already know that prayer is essential for our spiritual development and protection. But what we know is not always reflected in what we do. And even though we recognize the importance of prayer, all of us can improve the consistency and efficacy of our personal and family prayers.

https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/general-conference/2008/04/ask-in-faith

Concerning Rebekah’s prayer, Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: “May I now take our common ancestor, Rebekah, as a pattern for what her daughters in the Church today can do? … When Rebekah was troubled and needed divine guidance she herself took the matter up with the Lord, and he spoke to her in reply. The Lord gives revelation to women who pray to him in faith” (in Conference Report, Tahiti Area Conference 1976, 16).

https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/manual/old-testament-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-10

Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon,​​​​ and regular time committed to temple and family history work.

https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives

Trials can purify our hearts

Following His plan and becoming a builder of the kingdom require selfless sacrifice. Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, … purifies our hearts … and makes us more tender and charitable, … and it is through … toil and tribulation, that we gain the education … which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.”​​​​ These purifying trials bring us to Christ, who can heal us and make us useful in the work of salvation.

https://www.lds.org/languages/eng/content/general-conference/2016/04/what-shall-we-do

Ether 12: 27 ​And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ​​​weakness​. I ​​​give​ unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ​​​grace​ is sufficient for all men that ​​​humble​ themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ​​​weak​ things become strong unto them.

Weakness can become strong through faith during trials

Psalms 34: 
17 ​​The righteous​ cry, and the ​​Lord​​ heareth, and ​​​delivereth​ them out of all their troubles.
19 ​Many ​are​ the ​​​afflictions​ of the righteous: but the ​​Lord​​ delivereth him out of them all.

Afflictions come to all

Notes from conversation after accident

Get a list of things other people could do for me

Family
Ward
Work

Get a person in each to be the contact person

Self care can be 5 minutes or 10 minutes don't make it so hard. Intentional about it and make it my own place.

Voice mail with daily report- Email to daily report

Picnic table conversation FHE about Life Changed this day and how are you feeling about ?

Some of it will get better and some won't  We can't change it. What can we change?

We will get through it because that is what families do

African Proverb says

If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.