The minute Brad and I heard this talk, it was instantly one of our favorites. This talk really meant a lot to me. I feel like a lot of the great people in my life never held "important" positions or had fancy titles, but they were always going about doing good, serving those around them, and loving being a disciple of Christ. Shiblon is also one of the individuals that helped inspire our family motto that I mentioned earlier, "Do it because you want to, not because you have to." I love that his father didn't have to worry about him because he did what was right for right's sake. He sacrificed his time, talents and effort to help lift others because of his love for God and love of those around him. He was living the gospel because he loved to and found joy in doing so, rather than being compelled to.
I also really liked this quote, "In a world where praise, position, power, accolades, and authority are sought on every side, I honor those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile, those who are motivated by a love of God and their neighbors, those great women and men who are 'more anxious to serve than to have dominion.'" This talk was a good reminder and made me remember to make sure my desires for the actions I do are pure - that I do things right for right's sake. I want to make sure my motives are pure, that I am truly good and without guile.
"In our pursuit of me and mine, have we forgotten Thee and Thine?"
Thanks for your great thoughts! I also thought of the many great examples we have in our own family of people who were "truly good and without guile". All of our grandparents have been great examples of this to me. I think of all of the great things that our grandparents did, and how we never really heard about a lot of those things until they actually passed away.
I think sometimes in our Church, people get caught up in the positions that they have held. It seems that some look at it as those who are most worthy or righteous get the "best" callings. But, as I look at the examples in our family, I see that positions and callings have nothing to do with being a great disciple of Jesus Christ. Just like Elder Ringwood said,"...the service that counts the most is usually recognized by God alone."
This was a great talk! There were many great character traits used to describe people who are truly good and without guile. As I read this talk, I felt like being without guile came down to a couple of things: 1. Make sure that the reasoning behind your actions are to please Heavenly Father 2. Remember and keep your baptismal covenants.
At the beginning of his talk, Elder Ringwood said that his motivation was for titles and authority, and that it began innocently. I thought that was interesting. With it being an "innocent" beginning, it makes me think that this is something that we need to be aware of and self evaluate on a regular basis. I then love his quote that says, "The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the desires of our hearts can be transformed and our motives can be educated and refined." Even if we find ourselves with the wrong motivation, we can educate and refine those motivations until they are for the right reasons. As we do this, "we begin the process of becoming new creatures." The new creatures part made me think of putting aside the natural man, and becoming a peculiar people. I guess I never realized how important it is to be without guile in the process of putting off the natural man and becoming more like our Heavenly Father.
This talk really made me ponder on where my priorities are in life, and what motivates me to do what I do. Personally, I have always loved the verses dedicated to Shiblon, a soul who truly was "without guile".
To me, the idea of being "truly good and without guile" reflects the element of humility. Humility is a Christlike attribute I have been pondering lately, because I think at times, I don't truly think about what it means. I loved when Elder Ringwood said that people that are truly good and without guile are "more anxious to serve than to have dominion." Humility to me is not only recognizing the ways that the Lord has blessed and touched my life, but constantly making an effort to bless and touch the lives of those around me, without hopes of an earthly reward. Coinciding with this idea, Elder Uchtdorf once stated that, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking less about yourself." I think that one major element of humility or being "truly good and without guile" is being able to look outward, worrying more about the needs of others than your own.
Love this talk. I have many same thoughts but here they are again anyway... ;) In my life I have gone back and forth from wishing I were famous and being grateful I'm not. If I were famous, people would notice me, appreciate my talents, mention how they're related to me, and have old friends come out of the wood works etc. Haha super lame, I know! But in the end, I am so so grateful I'm not. When we get to heaven, those famous people aren't going to be elevated above the rest of society like they are now. Like Tiffanie mentioned, some of the BEST people I know, never get the recognition I feel they deserve. For example, the grandparents. Or sweet people in the ward. I seriously love Brother Skifton to pieces but he's never been in the limelight or had some huge calling. The Dyers- they're practically family to us but no one else in the ward knows how special they make us feel. THESE are the real stars in our lives. That love they show us for no reason other than they actually love us. And of course this applies to more than just showing people you love them. Its been kind of fun to sit back and spy out who the people are in each ward that serve behind the scenes. I should probably join them instead of spying on them... *Side note that I do appreciate the people that are famous and choose to live a respectable life- they are still good too. Elizabeth Smart, the Romneys, Santa, etc.
Also mentioned before, "the service that counts most is usually recognized by God alone." Can't sum it up better than those few words.
You brought up some great examples of people we know who are truly good and without guile. I love how you said "That love they show us for no reason other than they actually love us." You know when you see these people serving others that there is no alternative motivator behind their actions. They aren't doing it because they want something, are hoping to promote themselves or their cause, etc. They are doing it just based on love.
The minute Brad and I heard this talk, it was instantly one of our favorites. This talk really meant a lot to me. I feel like a lot of the great people in my life never held "important" positions or had fancy titles, but they were always going about doing good, serving those around them, and loving being a disciple of Christ. Shiblon is also one of the individuals that helped inspire our family motto that I mentioned earlier, "Do it because you want to, not because you have to." I love that his father didn't have to worry about him because he did what was right for right's sake. He sacrificed his time, talents and effort to help lift others because of his love for God and love of those around him. He was living the gospel because he loved to and found joy in doing so, rather than being compelled to.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked this quote, "In a world where praise, position, power, accolades, and authority are sought on every side, I honor those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile, those who are motivated by a love of God and their neighbors, those great women and men who are 'more anxious to serve than to have dominion.'" This talk was a good reminder and made me remember to make sure my desires for the actions I do are pure - that I do things right for right's sake. I want to make sure my motives are pure, that I am truly good and without guile.
"In our pursuit of me and mine, have we forgotten Thee and Thine?"
Thanks for your great thoughts! I also thought of the many great examples we have in our own family of people who were "truly good and without guile". All of our grandparents have been great examples of this to me. I think of all of the great things that our grandparents did, and how we never really heard about a lot of those things until they actually passed away.
DeleteI think sometimes in our Church, people get caught up in the positions that they have held. It seems that some look at it as those who are most worthy or righteous get the "best" callings. But, as I look at the examples in our family, I see that positions and callings have nothing to do with being a great disciple of Jesus Christ. Just like Elder Ringwood said,"...the service that counts the most is usually recognized by God alone."
This was a great talk! There were many great character traits used to describe people who are truly good and without guile. As I read this talk, I felt like being without guile came down to a couple of things: 1. Make sure that the reasoning behind your actions are to please Heavenly Father 2. Remember and keep your baptismal covenants.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of his talk, Elder Ringwood said that his motivation was for titles and authority, and that it began innocently. I thought that was interesting. With it being an "innocent" beginning, it makes me think that this is something that we need to be aware of and self evaluate on a regular basis. I then love his quote that says, "The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the desires of our hearts can be transformed and our motives can be educated and refined." Even if we find ourselves with the wrong motivation, we can educate and refine those motivations until they are for the right reasons. As we do this, "we begin the process of becoming new creatures." The new creatures part made me think of putting aside the natural man, and becoming a peculiar people. I guess I never realized how important it is to be without guile in the process of putting off the natural man and becoming more like our Heavenly Father.
This talk really made me ponder on where my priorities are in life, and what motivates me to do what I do. Personally, I have always loved the verses dedicated to Shiblon, a soul who truly was "without guile".
ReplyDeleteTo me, the idea of being "truly good and without guile" reflects the element of humility. Humility is a Christlike attribute I have been pondering lately, because I think at times, I don't truly think about what it means. I loved when Elder Ringwood said that people that are truly good and without guile are "more anxious to serve than to have dominion." Humility to me is not only recognizing the ways that the Lord has blessed and touched my life, but constantly making an effort to bless and touch the lives of those around me, without hopes of an earthly reward. Coinciding with this idea, Elder Uchtdorf once stated that, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking less about yourself." I think that one major element of humility or being "truly good and without guile" is being able to look outward, worrying more about the needs of others than your own.
Thank you for tying humility into this talk. That really does define the characteristics of those who are truly good and without guile.
DeleteLove this talk. I have many same thoughts but here they are again anyway... ;)
ReplyDeleteIn my life I have gone back and forth from wishing I were famous and being grateful I'm not. If I were famous, people would notice me, appreciate my talents, mention how they're related to me, and have old friends come out of the wood works etc. Haha super lame, I know! But in the end, I am so so grateful I'm not. When we get to heaven, those famous people aren't going to be elevated above the rest of society like they are now. Like Tiffanie mentioned, some of the BEST people I know, never get the recognition I feel they deserve. For example, the grandparents. Or sweet people in the ward. I seriously love Brother Skifton to pieces but he's never been in the limelight or had some huge calling. The Dyers- they're practically family to us but no one else in the ward knows how special they make us feel. THESE are the real stars in our lives. That love they show us for no reason other than they actually love us. And of course this applies to more than just showing people you love them. Its been kind of fun to sit back and spy out who the people are in each ward that serve behind the scenes. I should probably join them instead of spying on them...
*Side note that I do appreciate the people that are famous and choose to live a respectable life- they are still good too. Elizabeth Smart, the Romneys, Santa, etc.
Also mentioned before, "the service that counts most is usually recognized by God alone." Can't sum it up better than those few words.
You brought up some great examples of people we know who are truly good and without guile. I love how you said "That love they show us for no reason other than they actually love us." You know when you see these people serving others that there is no alternative motivator behind their actions. They aren't doing it because they want something, are hoping to promote themselves or their cause, etc. They are doing it just based on love.
Delete