I loved the picture of the two cans, one empty and one filled. When we and our homes are filled with the spirit and gospel truth we have the power to withstand outside forces of the world. Do we know how important the spirit is? It says all families are different but even one person seeking truth can make a difference. Each one of us have that power! "Families are the Lord's workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel." -Robyn
I really liked the same quote: "One place where we best seek to be filled with light and truth is in our own homes.... Families are the Lord’s workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel. We come into our families with a sacred duty to help strengthen each other spiritually." I love how no matter what stage in life (child, sibling, parent, etc.) we have sacred duty to strengthen those around us. And I love that it is a workshop, since I am definitely not perfect and always trying to improve.
Another great point was where she said we need to seek quiet moments to find guidance and direction. I think too often I forget to find those quiet moments and sometimes forget to have those quiet moments after I pray to listen for the answers that are being given. So that is something I want to work on.
Also, agree with Robyn! Loved the example of the soda cans (what a great visual!)
Great points Morgan and Robyn! Those both really stuck out to me too. Another quote that hit me pretty strongly was "With the privilege of that gift (the Holy Ghost) comes the responsibility to seek truth, to live the truth we know and to share and defend the truth." The word responsibility hit me pretty hard, and made me stop and ask myself, "Am I taking this responsibility seriously?"
We have known some people who have been pretty strong in the Church (or who appeared to be) who have fallen away from the Church recently. We have also witnessed in some recent news events/social matters that people have pulled away from the Church. I'm not trying to judge or point fingers, but learn through what I have witnessed to make myself stronger. A couple of questions that I had were: 1. What happened, where was the disconnect? 2. What can I do to keep myself from falling away? The big thing that kept coming to me as I read this talk is that we need to make sure that we are spiritually strong, so we can then be a spiritual strength to our families and then to the world. By constantly seeking for the truth, we are making sure that our "soda can" is full, and no matter what the outside forces of the world may do, we will be able to stand up and stay true to what we believe.
I love what you girls have all said. It makes it hard to find something new. I was also struck by the quote about the gift of the Holy Ghost, that it is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to seek truth, to live the truth we know and to share and defend truth. For decades now we have been told to stand for "light and truth" or to stand "for righteousness sake" but it seems now that teaching by example is not enough, we must also defend truth. Another thought I had went along with the quote about Elizabeth: "But the life she was experiencing was anything but what would strengthen such a belief." I think that we all will encounter people who will challenge our belief and testimony. Sometimes those people are more educated than we are and appear smarter. It can be quite intimidating and Elizabeth herself said that she felt that she could not have defended her belief if she tried. Remembering that Satan seeks to "dilute, distort and destroy the truth of the gospel and to keep us separated from that truth" if we will just hold on to what truth we have, we can weather the storms. Sometimes our lack of time is not of our choosing, but when we get the time, if we study our scriptures and take time to find a quiet place to pray and listen, the Lord will answer us. I liked that President Uchtdorf says that God will answer our questions. This, to me, goes beyond answering our prayers. Lastly, I liked that she had the thought, "Do not bury your testimony in the ground". Our testimonies are a source of strength to ourselves and to those who hear us bare them. Always take the opportunity to bare your testimony. So...I challenge each of you to bare your testimony for the next three months. ;)
I liked the quote mom already used "But the life she was experiencing was anything but what would strengthen such a belief."
I am still struck by what Bro. Mortensen posted on Facebook. He talked about how when he was on his mission, he became very frustrated with people rejecting his message because they were content with the happiness they had in their lives. There was much more waiting for them, but they didn't care. He then stated that he realized there were things that he had grown content with in the gospel and he didn't care about getting to the next level of happiness. He obviously wanted to make this change in his life so he could experience greater happiness.
We are told that we will learn "line upon line, precept upon precept" and that if we decide that we "have enough" those things that we have been given will be "taken away" (2 Nephi 30:28).
We can push harder in many areas of the gospel and there is always a new level of happiness we can achieve until we have been perfected through Christ. We need to make the effort though.
It made me think about the soda can analogy. It is great that the full can was full of good things, but without the pressure, not only would the full can be able to crumple, but the good stuff would loose its fizz.
We should make sure that we are always striving to get to the next level so that we can be protected, progress, and more fully enjoy the good things of the gospel.
I loved the picture of the two cans, one empty and one filled. When we and our homes are filled with the spirit and gospel truth we have the power to withstand outside forces of the world. Do we know how important the spirit is?
ReplyDeleteIt says all families are different but even one person seeking truth can make a difference. Each one of us have that power!
"Families are the Lord's workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel."
-Robyn
I really liked the same quote: "One place where we best seek to be filled with light and truth is in our own homes.... Families are the Lord’s workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel. We come into our families with a sacred duty to help strengthen each other spiritually." I love how no matter what stage in life (child, sibling, parent, etc.) we have sacred duty to strengthen those around us. And I love that it is a workshop, since I am definitely not perfect and always trying to improve.
ReplyDeleteAnother great point was where she said we need to seek quiet moments to find guidance and direction. I think too often I forget to find those quiet moments and sometimes forget to have those quiet moments after I pray to listen for the answers that are being given. So that is something I want to work on.
Also, agree with Robyn! Loved the example of the soda cans (what a great visual!)
Great points Morgan and Robyn! Those both really stuck out to me too. Another quote that hit me pretty strongly was "With the privilege of that gift (the Holy Ghost) comes the responsibility to seek truth, to live the truth we know and to share and defend the truth." The word responsibility hit me pretty hard, and made me stop and ask myself, "Am I taking this responsibility seriously?"
ReplyDeleteWe have known some people who have been pretty strong in the Church (or who appeared to be) who have fallen away from the Church recently. We have also witnessed in some recent news events/social matters that people have pulled away from the Church. I'm not trying to judge or point fingers, but learn through what I have witnessed to make myself stronger. A couple of questions that I had were: 1. What happened, where was the disconnect? 2. What can I do to keep myself from falling away? The big thing that kept coming to me as I read this talk is that we need to make sure that we are spiritually strong, so we can then be a spiritual strength to our families and then to the world. By constantly seeking for the truth, we are making sure that our "soda can" is full, and no matter what the outside forces of the world may do, we will be able to stand up and stay true to what we believe.
I love what you girls have all said. It makes it hard to find something new. I was also struck by the quote about the gift of the Holy Ghost, that it is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to seek truth, to live the truth we know and to share and defend truth. For decades now we have been told to stand for "light and truth" or to stand "for righteousness sake" but it seems now that teaching by example is not enough, we must also defend truth.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought I had went along with the quote about Elizabeth: "But the life she was experiencing was anything but what would strengthen such a belief."
I think that we all will encounter people who will challenge our belief and testimony. Sometimes those people are more educated than we are and appear smarter. It can be quite intimidating and Elizabeth herself said that she felt that she could not have defended her belief if she tried. Remembering that Satan seeks to "dilute, distort and destroy the truth of the gospel and to keep us separated from that truth" if we will just hold on to what truth we have, we can weather the storms. Sometimes our lack of time is not of our choosing, but when we get the time, if we study our scriptures and take time to find a quiet place to pray and listen, the Lord will answer us. I liked that President Uchtdorf says that God will answer our questions. This, to me, goes beyond answering our prayers.
Lastly, I liked that she had the thought, "Do not bury your testimony in the ground". Our testimonies are a source of strength to ourselves and to those who hear us bare them. Always take the opportunity to bare your testimony. So...I challenge each of you to bare your testimony for the next three months. ;)
I liked the quote mom already used "But the life she was experiencing was anything but what would strengthen such a belief."
ReplyDeleteI am still struck by what Bro. Mortensen posted on Facebook. He talked about how when he was on his mission, he became very frustrated with people rejecting his message because they were content with the happiness they had in their lives. There was much more waiting for them, but they didn't care. He then stated that he realized there were things that he had grown content with in the gospel and he didn't care about getting to the next level of happiness. He obviously wanted to make this change in his life so he could experience greater happiness.
We are told that we will learn "line upon line, precept upon precept" and that if we decide that we "have enough" those things that we have been given will be "taken away" (2 Nephi 30:28).
We can push harder in many areas of the gospel and there is always a new level of happiness we can achieve until we have been perfected through Christ. We need to make the effort though.
It made me think about the soda can analogy. It is great that the full can was full of good things, but without the pressure, not only would the full can be able to crumple, but the good stuff would loose its fizz.
We should make sure that we are always striving to get to the next level so that we can be protected, progress, and more fully enjoy the good things of the gospel.
I like your thought about the good stuff still needing fizz.
Delete