The Gift Of The Gospel

I absolutely love Seminary! It has taught me so much, and continues to broaden my perspective and strengthen my testimony of the truths of the Gospel!

These are some things I enjoyed from Seminary today. 

"While some information has merit, as members of the Church we have access to the source of pure truth, even God Himself. We would do well to search out answers to our problems and questions by investigating what the Lord has revealed through His prophets. With that same technology today, we have at our fingertips access to the words of the prophets on nearly any subject. 

...What has [God] taught us about personal happiness and fulfillment through His prophets?" ~Kevin R. Duncan

A story shared from the Friend:

Mike and his younger brothers, Eric and Tom, liked to go hiking with their dad. Dad always said he knew the mountains like the back of his own hand. He had grown up walking the same paths with his own dad, who was a sheepherder. 

One summer day [the boys] were excited to reach the top of the trail—a high meadow filled with fresh green grass and flowers of just about every color. And so they took off running through the trees at top speed, even though they were tired from their morning’s hike. They wanted to burst onto that meadow like jackrabbits.

'Stop when you get to the meadow,’ Dad called after them. ‘I’ll meet you there.’ They ran ahead, each trying to get in front of the others. [They forgot] Dad’s instruction. They ran in circles through the deep grass, jumping and dodging, whooping and hollering and tagging each other. Then Eric had an idea. ‘Let’s race all the way across the meadow!’ 

Tom hesitated. They couldn’t see the far side of the clearing because a grassy hill obscured their view. But Mike wasn’t worried. ‘I think this is the same meadow we came to last summer,’ he assured his brothers. They gathered back at the trees. ‘Ready!’ Eric shouted. ‘Set! GO!’ The wind felt fresh and cool on Mike’s cheeks and in his hair, and the faster he ran, the more wind he got. Soon he was leading the race. He felt like he could run forever. 

‘STOP!’ a voice bellowed like thunder behind them. All three boys stopped immediately. They turned and saw Dad running toward them from the edge of the meadow. ‘Come back here beside me,’ Dad called, more gently this time. The boys obeyed. [Then] they walked together across the meadow. As they topped the little hill, Dad suddenly stopped. Just a few paces ahead of them, a sheer cliff dropped down at least 20 or 30 feet. If they had been running, there was no way they could have seen it in time to stop. 

‘We could have died,’ Mike said softly. 

‘Well, maybe. I’m sure glad you stopped running even though I didn’t have time to explain. Sometimes we have to obey first and ask questions later!’ 

‘Especially when someone else knows what’s coming, and you don’t,’ Mike said.” (Ana Nelson Shaw, “Stop!” Friend, June 2005).

What we truly are in our heart will inevitably be revealed in our thoughts, words, and behaviors. The real truth about a man cannot be kept secret. ~Seminary

What a gift the gospel is in my life! I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to learn and grow from Seminary and other spiritual lessons.

Keep smiling,

~JS

Explain, Share, Testify

How can you make your life experiences better?

1. Remember why you are doing what you are doing
2. Ask yourself how you can help yourself and others
3. Reach out to others and be an example

"Explaining will help you understand the principles of the gospel. If you can explain a concept clearly, you have learned it well.

Sharing will help you and others see the connection between what you are learning from the scriptures and your own life today.

Testifying invites the Spirit so that your testimony can be strengthened and so that others can gain a testimony too."

I love the quote shared by Spencer W. Kimball about sharing our light with others. 

"Where we carry the lantern to light the path of others, we light our own way." 

This is a powerful reminder to be courageous and share our light with others. Each day, there may be something that someone you know (or a stranger) needs to hear. And what better way to learn it than by examples of others? As we do our part in life to explain, share, and testify, we will be filled with the Spirit and not only light the path for others, but also light our own way. We will be led on the path that we need to go, and the Spirit will guide us in the footsteps of Christ. 

~JS

Share The Joy

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation...

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days, weeks and months passed.One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'



Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy. Today is a gift, that is why it is called 'The Present'.

What a powerful story! And an incredible lesson to be learned. Our happiness, when shared, is doubled. When we share joy, our joy is magnified and we can be filled with the light of Christ. Let us all strive to be filled with charity, which is the most pure love, a love which never fails.

~JS

Seek To Ponder

"By pondering, we give the Spirit an opportunity to impress and direct. Pondering is a powerful link between the heart and the mind. As we read the scriptures, our hearts and minds are touched. If we use the gift to ponder, we can take these eternal truths and realize how we can incorporate them into our daily actions. 
…
“Pondering is a progressive mental pursuit. It is a great gift to those who have learned to use it. We find understanding, insight, and practical application if we will use the gift of pondering” ~Marvin J. Ashton, There Are Many Gifts

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere hearts, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." Moroni 10:3-4

As we seek to ponder the Lord's words, and not just read them, we will be filled with the Spirit, and He will guide us to the path of true conversion. Seek to be filled with the Savior's light by pondering the divine truths taught in the Book of Mormon. As we "seek learning even by study and also by faith" (see D&C 88:118; 109:7), we will be filled with the Spirit. Our testimonies will be strengthened as we feast on the words of the Book of Mormon (see 2 Nephi 32:3), and we will have the capability to share it with others.

~JS :)

Exercise Faith in Christ

What can I do today to exercise greater faith in Jesus Christ?

My goal:
To spend less time on a screen, wasting away my time, and accomplish better things in life.

How am I going to achieve this goal? 

Through faith in Christ, I can do all things. I have been blessed with the power to forgive, and be forgiven. This doesn't just mean forgive others, it also includes forgiving myself. The power of the Atonement is real, and it is incredibly strong. It helps me to overcome all the hard trials in life, by exercising faith in Christ, and by choosing to repent.

I need to work on setting a time limit on my screen time, and choose to only participate in uplifting things that build me up. By doing so, and setting this goal, I can become better, and just by setting goals I can learn new things. God has given me an opportunity to grow and learn through faith, and that is what I am going to do. I am determined to become more like my Father, my Brother, and ultimately, overcome the natural man.

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." Mosiah 3:19

~JS

Even As I Am

"What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." 3 Nephi 27:27

Christlike Attributes

Humble

Obedient

Healer

Kind

Teacher

Courageous

Servant

Submissive

Selfless

Full of Love

What opportunities did I have yesterday to be like the Savior?

Yesterday I had the opportunity to serve my stepsisters and do their dishes. I haven't really had a very good relationship with them, but the service resulted in a smile and hugs. :) Service = Success!

How could I be more like the Savior today?

By being full of love and selfless. I have found myself judging others lately, and it has become a bad habit. To become more like the Savior, I need to choose to love others, despite their weaknesses, and not judge them to myself.

What works of the Savior could I do tomorrow, at school or at home?

Every day I have the opportunity to be Christlike, whether I realize it or not. What I need to do right now is work on my thoughts, for my thoughts turn into actions, and if I don't control them, then they will lead to bad decisions.

“That man is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ. This has nothing to do with earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” Ensign, Dec. 1988, 2).

Today, I choose to be selfless!

-JS

I Choose To Love!

This week, I have been thinking about love, and its great effect on us. As I read scriptures for Seminary today, I came across many that involved love.

First, Doctrine and Covenants 6:19, 30.

"Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity.

...Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward."

These things listed all involve love. Doing good is an act of love towards others, and towards our Heavenly Father, who loves us. Serving others = Serving God (see Mosiah 2:17).

Next, the Beattitudes, found in 3 Nephi 12:3-12.

"...blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To be poor in spirit is to be humble. Humbling ourselves and coming unto Christ are acts of our love for our Father in Heaven and Christ.

 "...blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

When we mourn, we are often showing that we care for others. Especially when we "mourn with those that mourn" (see Mosiah 18:9). Caring for others is loving others.

"...blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

 To be meek is to be patient and calm. Choosing to act with patience is choosing to act with love.

"...blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost."

By hungering and thirsting after righteousness, we are gaining a sincere desire to live righteously. By sincerely trying to live righteously, we are showing love for our Heavenly Father.

"...blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Showing mercy to others is showing love. When we are merciful, we are acting in love.

"...blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

When we are pure in heart, our desires, intents and actions are pure. By being pure in heart, we acting in love.

"...blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

Choosing to be a peacemaker is a hard decision. But when we do, we are choosing to love others through our decision, no matter what the consequences are.

"...blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven."

As Latter-Day Saints, we are God's chosen people. When we choose to follow God's commandments, even in persecution, we are showing our love and devotion to God.

And finally, 3 Nephi 12:22-25, 27-30, 43-45.

Verses 22-25 talk about loving others, despite their actions. We need to love others as ourselves.

Verses 27-30 talk about controlling our thoughts and desires. As we control our thoughts and passions, we will be filled with love.

Verses 43-45 talk about loving our enemies, and doing good to others, despite their actions. Again, love others, and sincerely try to be loving.

As we choose to love, we choose to fill our lives with the light of Christ, for the light of Christ is centered on love. Each Christlike attribute has something to do with love. Love is a powerful thing. Love can change the world. Today, I choose to LOVE!

-JS