Sunday, November 28, 2010
Week 11 focus- Being Creative
To be creative...is to be able to be inspired and see in your mind, something that does not exist. It is having a vision in your mind and then acting upon that vision with determination, faith, energy and passion to bring forth that which does not exist into something that does.
The dictionary defines creativity as the ability to generate innovative ideas and manifest them from thought into reality.
Creativity is an attribute of diety and finds it root in the creation. It is a gift from God bestowed upon all God’s children. It is a gift given to us to express ourselves. Using this gift of creativity not only prepares us more fully for the eternities, but brings freedom and joy in life.
Creativity comes from the Latin term ‘creo’ “to create, make".
Being creative means challenging yourself every day. It means searching for inspiration in even the most mundane situations and places. It means you’re not afraid to ask what appears to be a stupid question. It means creating without self criticism. Being creative means you’re thinking.
Here are some creative habits that would be helpful to increase your creative abilities:
• Make creative time, play time. Whether it’s a few minutes a day, or a few hours a week, make time for yourself to paint, quilt, write, blog, sew, take random pictures, or anything that gets your creative juices flowing. . By turning creative time into play time, your creativity will spark more frequently and your creative abilities will grow and develop into talents that will bless not only your life but the lives of those around you..
• Let your mind wander. I’m good at this. Probably to the extreme. If I spent less time thinking and more time doing I could accomplish much more than I do. Our brains are incredible thinking machines capable of creating things you and I can hardly imagine right now. It is during this thought process that our brains are free to do what they do best: create new ideas. So letting your brain wander and think about anything and everything at once is a great habit to get into.
• Just do it. Have a creative idea for something? Seen something you really want to make? Make it a reality right now. Don’t wait. The more you get into the habit of jumping on your creative thoughts, the sooner you will enjoy the outcome of your creativity. For me, having a whole list of things I really want to do becomes overwhelming and stressful. Doing things as the thought comes brings freedom, joy and peace into my life.
• Writing down ideas is great for maintaining creativity and reminds you of what you want to have happen.
• Challenge yourself each day. Creativity drives us as human beings to solve problems. If we take a break from solving problems our creativity will become dull over time. Creating a new challenge to creatively solve each day is the perfect way to keep your creativity sharp. Come up with a problem (you do your laundry too slow, you’re not organized, etc.) and then think up a creative way to solve that problem. Keep your creativity sharp and it will be strong when you really need it.
• Celebrate your accomplishments. Whenever you come up with a creative idea and follow through with it, treat yourself to something you love. Rewarding yourself for creative accomplishments is a habit that will not only improve your willingness to be creative when things get rough, but doing so will also make you feel great. Don’t think about celebrating, just do it.
• Expand your abilities. Learn new things. Take a class. Actively seek out and develop new creative abilities. Spend a bit of time everyday searching for ways to expand your creativity.
I recently watched Alice in Wonderland with Sari. The dialog in the new movie is a little different. This is the original. I love it!
“There is no use trying,” said Alice. “One can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” — Lewis Carroll
Here are some more quotes that should inspire you:
“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” — Albert Einstein
“‘You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou
“The stone age didn’t end because they ran out of stones.” – unknown
THEY GOT CREATIVE!!!
"My dear sisters, I have a simple faith. I believe that as you are faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, as you draw closer to Him in faith, hope, and charity, things will work together for your good. I believe that as you immerse yourselves in the work of our Father—as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others—God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment.
As spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father, happiness is your heritage.
You are choice daughters of our Heavenly Father, and through the things you create and by your compassionate service, you are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall.
God loves you."
-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
To be creative means to be in love with life. Being creative means that you love life enough, to want to make it more beautiful, for yourself, and those around you. It means you want to use this divine attribute to make your world a better place. GO TO IT!!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Week 10 focus: Prayer
The scriptures are clear on our responsibilities concerning prayer. Repeatedly we are admonished to "pray always," that Satan will not gain power over us and tempt us beyond our ability to resist.
One of my favorite scriptures on prayer can be found in Alma 37:37
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night, lie down unto the Lord that he might watch over you in you sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
These are blessings that we all yearn for, not only for ourselves but also for our families.
I love how the Bible dictionary defines prayer:
As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.
The Savior always sets us an example and a pattern We learn two important lessons about prayer from the Savior's experience in Gethsemane. First, following his prayer we are told that an angel appeared unto him, strengthening him. Sometimes when we wish for a certain situation to be resolved or made right or prevent it from happening, it is in our own best interest to be blessed instead with peace or understanding or additional knowledge or comfort or courage or increased faith or strength to bear up to our challenges. Our Heavenly Father who is all-knowing, all-wise, and who loves us very much, will always answer our prayers, but perhaps not as we would wish in the moment. Remembering only our mortal existence, we sometimes fail to see things in an eternal perspective. The second thing we learn from Christ's prayer in Gethsemane is that he prayed, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42.) What a lesson for those of us who desire to be Christlike. Christ desired to do the Father's will. Even in the premortal life we have record of Christ, the Beloved Son, saying, "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever." (Moses 4:2.)
Following his address at the Sermon on the Mount (and the similar discourse given to the Nephites), the Savior taught the disciples how to pray and concluded by giving them an example that has come to be known as the Lord's Prayer. In both instances, the disciples were instructed to pray to their Father "who art in heaven" and to pray that "thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10; 3 Nephi 9:10.)
Often it is as we commune with our Heavenly Father through prayer that things become clear in our own minds. As we commune with him and seek to have his will done in our lives, we take time to reflect on the counsel and instruction he has already given us through the scriptures. In fact, Christ tells us that when "my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you."(John 15:7.) The Lord told Nephi, son of Helaman, that because "thou . . . hast not sought thine own life, but has sought my will," whatever he asked would be done. Nephi knew the Lord's will and the Lord knew Nephi. He knew that Nephi would "not ask that which is contrary to my will." (Helaman 10:4-5. It is our responsibility then to learn the what the will of the Father is for each of us individually. Perhaps that is why Nephi told us to "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." He also taught us that the Spirit can teach us to pray. (2 Nephi 32:3, 8.) This idea is reinforced in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God." (D&C 46:30.) So perhaps a good exercise for us would be that after we have expressed our gratitude for our many blessings would be to ask the Father to bless us with the Holy Ghost that we might know what we should pray for. Paul taught the importance of praying with the spirit, "We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26.)
"Perfect prayer is offered to God the Eternal Father, in the name of his Only Begotten Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Most of us are well aware that God the Father is the ultimate object of our worship and that our prayers should be directed to him. And we know that we are to pray to Father in the name of the Son. But perhaps we are not quite so familiar with the idea that our prayers, in order to meet the divine standard, should be prompted, guided, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In other words, prayers should be carried out under the direction of the third member of the Godhead. “He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh” (D&C 46:30). “And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done. But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask” (D&C 50:29–30 But we generally are unable to discern what is most critical in our lives, what thoughts and feelings and yearnings lie deep within our soul and are not readily accessible to the conscious mind. We need help. We need mediation. And that is where the Comforter, the Revelator, comes in. The Holy Ghost can, if we are open and teachable and patient, make known to us the things of greatest import, the things upon which God would have us ponder and reflect and pray over. If we will be still, if we will be quiet, if we will be attentive, if we will be sensitive during and after our prayer, we may find our words reaching beyond our thoughts, just as occurred in the New World during the visit of the risen Lord to the Nephites: “And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire” (3 Nephi 19:24). What a joy to have the Lord inspire us in how we should pray and what words we should speak! Prayer thereby becomes not only petitionary but marvelously instructive, for we often learn something from what we find ourselves saying. Can we see that in this way prayer becomes a major avenue of revelation? Can we see how prayer can open us to the mind of God? Can we fathom the abiding joy that settles upon the heart as our Lord and God reveals himself to us and reveals us to ourselves? As Truman G. Madsen wisely wrote many years ago: “One begins mortality with the veil drawn, but slowly he is moved to penetrate the veil within himself. He is, in time, led to seek the ‘holy of holies’ within the temple of his own being.” Do we grasp what sweet privileges can come to the Saints of the Most High when they slow down, pause, reflect, and listen in their prayers? Inspired prayer entails speaking, listening, conversing, communing. Prayer in the Spirit is an entrance, a passageway, to life in the Spirit." (Robert Millet)
We must learn that answers to our prayers are always given in our best interests. A loving Heavenly Father responds to his children in ways that are best for them and for their growth. The scriptures tell us that he will give us that thing "which is right" (3 Nephi 18:19) and "that is expedient for [us]" (D&C 88:64). “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10; D&C 101:16) is pretty important counsel to us.
I have always loved the story of Amanda Smith. This incident took place following the massacre at Haun's Mill in October 1838. Many had been brutally killed, but Amanda survived and returned to the scene in search of her husband and three sons. From a distance she saw one of her older sons carrying a younger brother and she cried out, "Oh! My Alma is dead!" Her son replied, "No, mother, I think Alma is not dead. But father and brother Sardius are killed." Later Amanda was to record in her journal:
What an answer was this to appall me! My husband and son murdered; another little son seemingly mortally wounded; and perhaps before the dreadful night should pass the murderers would return and complete their work!
But I could not weep then. The fountain of tears was dry; the heart overburdened with its calamity, and all the mother's sense absorbed in its anxiety for the precious boy which God alone could save by his miraculous aid.
The entire hip joint of my wounded boy had been shot away. Flesh, hip bone, joint and all had been ploughed out from the muzzle of the gun which the ruffian placed to the child's hip through the logs of the shop and deliberately fired.
We laid little Alma on a bed in our tent and I examined the wound. It was a ghastly sight. I knew not what to do. It was night now. . . .
The women were sobbing, in the greatest anguish of spirit; the children were crying loudly with fear and grief at the loss of fathers and brothers; the dogs howled over their dead masters and the cattle were terrified with the scent of the blood of the murdered.
Yet was I there, all that long, dreadful night, with my dead and my wounded, and none but God as our physician and help. Amanda, in her anguish, cried to her Heavenly Father as might a child in trouble cry to her earthly father. Her cry for help was simple, short, and to the point. From her faithful, believing heart she cried, "Oh my Heavenly Father, what shall I do? Thou seest my poor wounded boy and knowest my inexperience. Oh Heavenly Father, direct me what to do!" Immediately she received an answer and was directed as if by a voice.
Nearby was a slippery-elm tree. From this I was told to make a slippery-elm poultice and fill the wound with it. . . . I removed the wounded boy to a house, some distance off the next day, and dressed his hip; the Lord directing me as before. I was reminded that in my husband's trunk there was a bottle of balsam. This I poured into the wound, greatly soothing Alma's pain. . . .
So Alma laid on his face for five weeks, until he was entirely recovered—a flexible gristle having grown in place of the missing joint and socket, which remains to this day a marvel to physicians. (The Women of Mormondom, pages 122-128.)
I believe that one of the "keys" to our prayers is to remember that we are praying to our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants the best for us. The more we become familiar with his power, his knowledge, and his ways, the more we will desire to seek to do his will. Then whatever our challenge or adversity may be, we will receive from him all that is needed in order for us to "go forth in the strength of the Lord."
There are many scriptures about prayer. All are instructive. They help us better understand prayer and how to pray, and give us examples of those who prayed in a variety of situations and circumstances. This week I invite you to search them out. Evaluate how you pray and determine to apply these principles to your prayers so that the Lord can better direct your life and the lives of your families.
One of my favorite scriptures on prayer can be found in Alma 37:37
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night, lie down unto the Lord that he might watch over you in you sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
These are blessings that we all yearn for, not only for ourselves but also for our families.
I love how the Bible dictionary defines prayer:
As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.
The Savior always sets us an example and a pattern We learn two important lessons about prayer from the Savior's experience in Gethsemane. First, following his prayer we are told that an angel appeared unto him, strengthening him. Sometimes when we wish for a certain situation to be resolved or made right or prevent it from happening, it is in our own best interest to be blessed instead with peace or understanding or additional knowledge or comfort or courage or increased faith or strength to bear up to our challenges. Our Heavenly Father who is all-knowing, all-wise, and who loves us very much, will always answer our prayers, but perhaps not as we would wish in the moment. Remembering only our mortal existence, we sometimes fail to see things in an eternal perspective. The second thing we learn from Christ's prayer in Gethsemane is that he prayed, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42.) What a lesson for those of us who desire to be Christlike. Christ desired to do the Father's will. Even in the premortal life we have record of Christ, the Beloved Son, saying, "Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever." (Moses 4:2.)
Following his address at the Sermon on the Mount (and the similar discourse given to the Nephites), the Savior taught the disciples how to pray and concluded by giving them an example that has come to be known as the Lord's Prayer. In both instances, the disciples were instructed to pray to their Father "who art in heaven" and to pray that "thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10; 3 Nephi 9:10.)
Often it is as we commune with our Heavenly Father through prayer that things become clear in our own minds. As we commune with him and seek to have his will done in our lives, we take time to reflect on the counsel and instruction he has already given us through the scriptures. In fact, Christ tells us that when "my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will , and it shall be done unto you."(John 15:7.) The Lord told Nephi, son of Helaman, that because "thou . . . hast not sought thine own life, but has sought my will," whatever he asked would be done. Nephi knew the Lord's will and the Lord knew Nephi. He knew that Nephi would "not ask that which is contrary to my will." (Helaman 10:4-5. It is our responsibility then to learn the what the will of the Father is for each of us individually. Perhaps that is why Nephi told us to "feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." He also taught us that the Spirit can teach us to pray. (2 Nephi 32:3, 8.) This idea is reinforced in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith: "He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God." (D&C 46:30.) So perhaps a good exercise for us would be that after we have expressed our gratitude for our many blessings would be to ask the Father to bless us with the Holy Ghost that we might know what we should pray for. Paul taught the importance of praying with the spirit, "We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26.)
"Perfect prayer is offered to God the Eternal Father, in the name of his Only Begotten Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Most of us are well aware that God the Father is the ultimate object of our worship and that our prayers should be directed to him. And we know that we are to pray to Father in the name of the Son. But perhaps we are not quite so familiar with the idea that our prayers, in order to meet the divine standard, should be prompted, guided, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In other words, prayers should be carried out under the direction of the third member of the Godhead. “He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh” (D&C 46:30). “And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done. But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask” (D&C 50:29–30 But we generally are unable to discern what is most critical in our lives, what thoughts and feelings and yearnings lie deep within our soul and are not readily accessible to the conscious mind. We need help. We need mediation. And that is where the Comforter, the Revelator, comes in. The Holy Ghost can, if we are open and teachable and patient, make known to us the things of greatest import, the things upon which God would have us ponder and reflect and pray over. If we will be still, if we will be quiet, if we will be attentive, if we will be sensitive during and after our prayer, we may find our words reaching beyond our thoughts, just as occurred in the New World during the visit of the risen Lord to the Nephites: “And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire” (3 Nephi 19:24). What a joy to have the Lord inspire us in how we should pray and what words we should speak! Prayer thereby becomes not only petitionary but marvelously instructive, for we often learn something from what we find ourselves saying. Can we see that in this way prayer becomes a major avenue of revelation? Can we see how prayer can open us to the mind of God? Can we fathom the abiding joy that settles upon the heart as our Lord and God reveals himself to us and reveals us to ourselves? As Truman G. Madsen wisely wrote many years ago: “One begins mortality with the veil drawn, but slowly he is moved to penetrate the veil within himself. He is, in time, led to seek the ‘holy of holies’ within the temple of his own being.” Do we grasp what sweet privileges can come to the Saints of the Most High when they slow down, pause, reflect, and listen in their prayers? Inspired prayer entails speaking, listening, conversing, communing. Prayer in the Spirit is an entrance, a passageway, to life in the Spirit." (Robert Millet)
We must learn that answers to our prayers are always given in our best interests. A loving Heavenly Father responds to his children in ways that are best for them and for their growth. The scriptures tell us that he will give us that thing "which is right" (3 Nephi 18:19) and "that is expedient for [us]" (D&C 88:64). “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10; D&C 101:16) is pretty important counsel to us.
I have always loved the story of Amanda Smith. This incident took place following the massacre at Haun's Mill in October 1838. Many had been brutally killed, but Amanda survived and returned to the scene in search of her husband and three sons. From a distance she saw one of her older sons carrying a younger brother and she cried out, "Oh! My Alma is dead!" Her son replied, "No, mother, I think Alma is not dead. But father and brother Sardius are killed." Later Amanda was to record in her journal:
What an answer was this to appall me! My husband and son murdered; another little son seemingly mortally wounded; and perhaps before the dreadful night should pass the murderers would return and complete their work!
But I could not weep then. The fountain of tears was dry; the heart overburdened with its calamity, and all the mother's sense absorbed in its anxiety for the precious boy which God alone could save by his miraculous aid.
The entire hip joint of my wounded boy had been shot away. Flesh, hip bone, joint and all had been ploughed out from the muzzle of the gun which the ruffian placed to the child's hip through the logs of the shop and deliberately fired.
We laid little Alma on a bed in our tent and I examined the wound. It was a ghastly sight. I knew not what to do. It was night now. . . .
The women were sobbing, in the greatest anguish of spirit; the children were crying loudly with fear and grief at the loss of fathers and brothers; the dogs howled over their dead masters and the cattle were terrified with the scent of the blood of the murdered.
Yet was I there, all that long, dreadful night, with my dead and my wounded, and none but God as our physician and help. Amanda, in her anguish, cried to her Heavenly Father as might a child in trouble cry to her earthly father. Her cry for help was simple, short, and to the point. From her faithful, believing heart she cried, "Oh my Heavenly Father, what shall I do? Thou seest my poor wounded boy and knowest my inexperience. Oh Heavenly Father, direct me what to do!" Immediately she received an answer and was directed as if by a voice.
Nearby was a slippery-elm tree. From this I was told to make a slippery-elm poultice and fill the wound with it. . . . I removed the wounded boy to a house, some distance off the next day, and dressed his hip; the Lord directing me as before. I was reminded that in my husband's trunk there was a bottle of balsam. This I poured into the wound, greatly soothing Alma's pain. . . .
So Alma laid on his face for five weeks, until he was entirely recovered—a flexible gristle having grown in place of the missing joint and socket, which remains to this day a marvel to physicians. (The Women of Mormondom, pages 122-128.)
I believe that one of the "keys" to our prayers is to remember that we are praying to our Heavenly Father who loves us and wants the best for us. The more we become familiar with his power, his knowledge, and his ways, the more we will desire to seek to do his will. Then whatever our challenge or adversity may be, we will receive from him all that is needed in order for us to "go forth in the strength of the Lord."
There are many scriptures about prayer. All are instructive. They help us better understand prayer and how to pray, and give us examples of those who prayed in a variety of situations and circumstances. This week I invite you to search them out. Evaluate how you pray and determine to apply these principles to your prayers so that the Lord can better direct your life and the lives of your families.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
week 9 focus: sleep
From birth, we spend a third of our lives asleep! Sleep is something we all do because we simply can’t operate without it. A National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Sleep in America poll found that 74% of American adults are experiencing a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more, 39% get less than 7 hours of sleep each weeknight and more than one in three (37%) are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with daily activities. Animal studies have even shown that sleep is necessary for survival. The normal life span of rats is 2-3 years. However, rats deprived of sleep live for only about 3 weeks. Charles Czeisler of Harvard has noted that going without sleep for 24 hours or getting only 5 hours of sleep a night for a week is the equivalent of a blood alcohol level of .01 percent! The bottom line is this: If you don’t get enough sleep at night, you don’t function at full capacity during the day.
Sleep is a complicated phenomenon that scientists don’t fully understand. It affects our physical and mental health and is essential for the normal functioning of all the systems of our body, including the immune system. It is a dynamic process in which our brains are active. During sleep, there are 2 distinct states that alternate in cycles and reflect differing levels of neuronal activity. Each state is characterized by a different type of brain wave activity. These phases consist of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). NREM is subdivided into 4 more groups: stage 1 (light sleep, 5-10% of total sleep time), stage 2 (40-50% of total sleep time), and stages 3 and 4 (deep sleep, together represent up to 20% total sleep time). REM sleep represents 20-25% of the total sleep time. The stages of NREM and REM sleep cycle over and over again during a night’s sleep. A complete sleep cycle, from beginning to end, usually takes about 1 ½ hours. This cycle repeats up to 4-5 times per 8 hour sleep.
The average amount of sleep experts generally recommend is between 7-9 hours per night for adults, teenagers require 8-10 hours, and children need 10-12. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:
1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.
Here are a few tips from the NSF for healthier sleeping habits:
1. Establish a consistent schedule for the time you go to bed and wake up.
2. Learn how much sleep you need to awake feeling refreshed, and be sure to get it.
3. As soon as you get out of bed, get into some daylight. Light helps our bodies know when it’s time to wake up.
4. Schedule some “down time” before you go to bed, so you can be relaxed enough to fall asleep.
5. Don’t fall asleep with the TV on. The flickering light will interfere with your restful sleep. Better yet, don’t delay bedtime to watch TV or surf the internet.
6. Always avoid all-nighters. A good night’s sleep will be of more use to you than last minute cramming will.
7. Never drive when you are sleepy.
So this week, let's "cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that [we] may not be weary; arise early, that [our] bodies and [our] minds may be invigorated." (Doc. & Cov. 88:124)
Sweet Dreams!
Sleep is a complicated phenomenon that scientists don’t fully understand. It affects our physical and mental health and is essential for the normal functioning of all the systems of our body, including the immune system. It is a dynamic process in which our brains are active. During sleep, there are 2 distinct states that alternate in cycles and reflect differing levels of neuronal activity. Each state is characterized by a different type of brain wave activity. These phases consist of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). NREM is subdivided into 4 more groups: stage 1 (light sleep, 5-10% of total sleep time), stage 2 (40-50% of total sleep time), and stages 3 and 4 (deep sleep, together represent up to 20% total sleep time). REM sleep represents 20-25% of the total sleep time. The stages of NREM and REM sleep cycle over and over again during a night’s sleep. A complete sleep cycle, from beginning to end, usually takes about 1 ½ hours. This cycle repeats up to 4-5 times per 8 hour sleep.
The average amount of sleep experts generally recommend is between 7-9 hours per night for adults, teenagers require 8-10 hours, and children need 10-12. The Harvard Women’s Health Watch suggests six reasons to get enough sleep:
1. Learning and memory: Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory through a process called memory consolidation. In studies, people who’d slept after learning a task did better on tests later.
2. Metabolism and weight: Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
3. Safety: Sleep debt contributes to a greater tendency to fall asleep during the daytime. These lapses may cause falls and mistakes such as medical errors, air traffic mishaps, and road accidents.
4. Mood: Sleep loss may result in irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness. Too little sleep can also leave you too tired to do the things you like to do.
5. Cardiovascular health: Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
6. Disease: Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.
Here are a few tips from the NSF for healthier sleeping habits:
1. Establish a consistent schedule for the time you go to bed and wake up.
2. Learn how much sleep you need to awake feeling refreshed, and be sure to get it.
3. As soon as you get out of bed, get into some daylight. Light helps our bodies know when it’s time to wake up.
4. Schedule some “down time” before you go to bed, so you can be relaxed enough to fall asleep.
5. Don’t fall asleep with the TV on. The flickering light will interfere with your restful sleep. Better yet, don’t delay bedtime to watch TV or surf the internet.
6. Always avoid all-nighters. A good night’s sleep will be of more use to you than last minute cramming will.
7. Never drive when you are sleepy.
So this week, let's "cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that [we] may not be weary; arise early, that [our] bodies and [our] minds may be invigorated." (Doc. & Cov. 88:124)
Sweet Dreams!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Week 8 focus- Service
Since the days of Adam, God has admonished his people to watch over and care for one another. Cain was admonished in part because he did not see himself as his brother’s keeper.
The Savior taught His disciples to strengthen each other and to feed His sheep and in this last dispensation we are encouraged in D&C 81:5 to, ‘succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
For a good share of my life I’ve pondered on the question, “What is Charity?” My studies have taught me that Charity is actually a gift from God that is bestowed upon us when we have done all that we can do to be our brothers keeper. There is much more to being a charitable person than we may realize. I haven’t achieved it yet, but I pray for it.
1 Cor. 13:3 states:
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
I would have thought that giving all your goods to the poor would be charity. What’s lacking?
Charity is an attitude rather than simply a description of action.
In 1 Cor. 13:4-7 we read:
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
"Above all the attributes of godliness and perfection, charity is the one most devoutly to be desired. Charity is more than love, far more; it is everlasting love, perfect love, the pure love of Christ which endureth forever. It is love so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him." (Bruce R McConkie,Mormon Doctrine, p121)
Since charity, according to Moroni is the pure love of Christ, we should not be surprised to find that Jesus embodied all the characteristics of charity.
His mortal ministry alone stands as a testimony that He suffered long, and was kind;
He envied not; He vaunted not himself, was not puffed up,
He did not behave himself unseemly, He was always tactful, well mannered and modest.
He sought not his own, He was not interested in praise or reward, in fact many times after He performed a miracle He said, ‘Tell no man.’
He was not easily provoked, thought no evil; if He would have had one bad thought the plan of salvation would have been frustrated.
He rejoiced not in iniquity, but rejoiced in the truth;
He bore all things, believed all things, hoped all things, endured all things.
As Nephi declared, ‘wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.’ (1 Ne. 19:9).
Then Jesus said, ‘Ye shall do the work which ye see me do.’
Christ was the epitome of charity. I hope at some point in my life I might achieve it but I think I’m running out of time. Let’s help one another!
As women in Zion, ours is the task of shepherding, of ministering, of nourishing and nurturing, of being instruments of the Saviors love.
Let’s pray to have a heart filled with charity. If we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts we will be inspired to see the needs of those around us and know what we need to do to meet those needs.
The Savior is our exemplar in living these principles. He taught and blessed and forgave and healed individuals, according to their specific needs.
We have a stewardship over those on our visiting teaching beats and in our various callings, but charity does not end there, it should permeate our lives and our relationships with everyone that we come in contact with. It should be there when we are in heavy traffic, or in a long line at the grocery store. It should be there when we are judged unfairly or when we begin to have feelings that there is nothing left in us to give.
The Savior was effective in blessing individual lives because He loved them unconditionally.
If we are filled with charity we will see beauty and goodness in everyone we associate with no matter where they stand in relation to perfection or maturity or station in life.
The Scriptures tell us that ‘charity NEVER faileth.’
Spencer W. Kimball:
There may be someone who will say, ‘Well, we know a man or a woman who can never be touched.’ Of course he or she can be touched. He or she can always be blessed and helped! There is the promise of scripture. It reads, ‘Charity never faileth.’ (1 Cor. 13:8.) Never! Charity, applied long enough, never fails to work its miracle either in the individual, in us, in both of us, or in others around the individual.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Helping Others Obtain the Promises of the Lord,” Ensign, June 1983, 5)
When Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society he said, "I now turn the key in behalf of ALL women. This society is organized,’according to your natures...You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to those sympathies within you. If you live to these privileges..... the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. If this society listen to the counsel of the almighty through the heads of the Church, they shall have power to command queens in their midst..."
The Father and the Son set us the ultimate example in showing us how to love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."
It has been said that it wasn’t nails that held the Savior to the cross but His love for all mankind.
Moroni prayed, ‘And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity’ (Ether 12:33-34).
It is our responsibility to develop charity in our own lives
Moroni 7: 47-48
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
We need to help each other, to unitedly seek for the pure love of Christ and strive to become all that Heavenly Father wants us to be, both individually and collectively.
Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, said of the Relief Society:
‘This institution is a good one.....We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another, and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together."
I pray for and look forward to that day.
This week our focus is on serving those around us. Let’s pray each day that our hearts will be filled with charity and specifically ask to be led to where we can be windows to the Savior's love, to those who need to feel His love in their lives, but perhaps most of all let’s work on developing a heart “so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him." (BRM)
Two of the greatest blessings that come to us from developing the gift of charity, this pure love of Christ, are perfectness and peace.
D&C 88:125
And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.
The Savior taught His disciples to strengthen each other and to feed His sheep and in this last dispensation we are encouraged in D&C 81:5 to, ‘succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.
For a good share of my life I’ve pondered on the question, “What is Charity?” My studies have taught me that Charity is actually a gift from God that is bestowed upon us when we have done all that we can do to be our brothers keeper. There is much more to being a charitable person than we may realize. I haven’t achieved it yet, but I pray for it.
1 Cor. 13:3 states:
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
I would have thought that giving all your goods to the poor would be charity. What’s lacking?
Charity is an attitude rather than simply a description of action.
In 1 Cor. 13:4-7 we read:
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
"Above all the attributes of godliness and perfection, charity is the one most devoutly to be desired. Charity is more than love, far more; it is everlasting love, perfect love, the pure love of Christ which endureth forever. It is love so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him." (Bruce R McConkie,Mormon Doctrine, p121)
Since charity, according to Moroni is the pure love of Christ, we should not be surprised to find that Jesus embodied all the characteristics of charity.
His mortal ministry alone stands as a testimony that He suffered long, and was kind;
He envied not; He vaunted not himself, was not puffed up,
He did not behave himself unseemly, He was always tactful, well mannered and modest.
He sought not his own, He was not interested in praise or reward, in fact many times after He performed a miracle He said, ‘Tell no man.’
He was not easily provoked, thought no evil; if He would have had one bad thought the plan of salvation would have been frustrated.
He rejoiced not in iniquity, but rejoiced in the truth;
He bore all things, believed all things, hoped all things, endured all things.
As Nephi declared, ‘wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.’ (1 Ne. 19:9).
Then Jesus said, ‘Ye shall do the work which ye see me do.’
Christ was the epitome of charity. I hope at some point in my life I might achieve it but I think I’m running out of time. Let’s help one another!
As women in Zion, ours is the task of shepherding, of ministering, of nourishing and nurturing, of being instruments of the Saviors love.
Let’s pray to have a heart filled with charity. If we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts we will be inspired to see the needs of those around us and know what we need to do to meet those needs.
The Savior is our exemplar in living these principles. He taught and blessed and forgave and healed individuals, according to their specific needs.
We have a stewardship over those on our visiting teaching beats and in our various callings, but charity does not end there, it should permeate our lives and our relationships with everyone that we come in contact with. It should be there when we are in heavy traffic, or in a long line at the grocery store. It should be there when we are judged unfairly or when we begin to have feelings that there is nothing left in us to give.
The Savior was effective in blessing individual lives because He loved them unconditionally.
If we are filled with charity we will see beauty and goodness in everyone we associate with no matter where they stand in relation to perfection or maturity or station in life.
The Scriptures tell us that ‘charity NEVER faileth.’
Spencer W. Kimball:
There may be someone who will say, ‘Well, we know a man or a woman who can never be touched.’ Of course he or she can be touched. He or she can always be blessed and helped! There is the promise of scripture. It reads, ‘Charity never faileth.’ (1 Cor. 13:8.) Never! Charity, applied long enough, never fails to work its miracle either in the individual, in us, in both of us, or in others around the individual.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Helping Others Obtain the Promises of the Lord,” Ensign, June 1983, 5)
When Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society he said, "I now turn the key in behalf of ALL women. This society is organized,’according to your natures...You are now placed in a situation in which you can act according to those sympathies within you. If you live to these privileges..... the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates. If this society listen to the counsel of the almighty through the heads of the Church, they shall have power to command queens in their midst..."
The Father and the Son set us the ultimate example in showing us how to love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."
It has been said that it wasn’t nails that held the Savior to the cross but His love for all mankind.
Moroni prayed, ‘And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity’ (Ether 12:33-34).
It is our responsibility to develop charity in our own lives
Moroni 7: 47-48
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
We need to help each other, to unitedly seek for the pure love of Christ and strive to become all that Heavenly Father wants us to be, both individually and collectively.
Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, said of the Relief Society:
‘This institution is a good one.....We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another, and gain instruction, that we may all sit down in heaven together."
I pray for and look forward to that day.
This week our focus is on serving those around us. Let’s pray each day that our hearts will be filled with charity and specifically ask to be led to where we can be windows to the Savior's love, to those who need to feel His love in their lives, but perhaps most of all let’s work on developing a heart “so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him." (BRM)
Two of the greatest blessings that come to us from developing the gift of charity, this pure love of Christ, are perfectness and peace.
D&C 88:125
And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.
Each day this week ask Heavenly Father to bless you with an opportunity to serve. Watch the miracles happen and record them in your journal.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Week 7 focus- Temple Worship
We live in a wonderful time when temples are beginning to dot the earth. What must the ancient Saints think as they view this dispensation! In ancient Israel only one man, the high priest, a descendant of Aaron, could pass through the veil of the temple into its most holy place and only on one day a year. We have the opportunity and blessing of being in the Celestial room of the temple as often as we desire. Every nationality, men and women, can pass through the veil and enter this most holy place. What wonder must the ancients feel as they see thousands of women daily entering into the temples and sitting in its most hallowed places? How blessed we are, not only to have a temple in our midst but to be able to partake of all of the ordinances of the Holy Priesthood and to be the recipients of the blessings that follow participation in those ordinances. As we enter the temple filled with gratitude for this great blessing it will enhance our temple experience and leave us open to the teachings of the Holy Ghost.
D&C 58:9
The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that He would prepare a feast of the finest things, “Ye a supper of the house of the Lord, well prepared, unto which all nations shall be invited.”
During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke of this feast in a parable:
Luke 14:14 - 23
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him,” I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused”. (Too busy)
And another said,” I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” (Work to do)
And another said,” I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” (Family responsibilities)
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt (the lame) and the blind”.
And the servant said, “Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room”.
And the Lord said unto the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel (urge) them to come in, that my house may be filled”.
Sometimes our lives become so busy that we realize it’s been quite some time since we’ve been to the temple. We know the feast is waiting, and we sense our need for its spiritual nourishment, but there is ground to see and oxen to prove, family responsibilities, and we ask to be excused. Yet the parable testifies that the Lord truly desires that his house be "filled."
Here are some questions we might ask ourselves as we attend to temple worship:
When you go to the Temple what do you want to have happen?
What can we do to better prepare ourselves to receive the feast that is available for us in the temple?
Prayer is an important part of our preparation.
Mosiah 18:12
‘O Lord, pour out thy spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart. And when he had said these words the spirit of the Lord was upon him’.
Anciently sacrifices were taken to the temple. With the death of Jesus the law was fulfilled and blood sacrifice was no longer required but Christ said that there was still a sacrifice that we needed to make.
Do you remember what it was? What is our sacrifice today?
A broken heart and a contrite spirit.
3 Nephi 9:19 - 20
And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
What does it mean to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit?
Remorse for sin and in a spirit of repentance.
How would taking a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the temple enhance our temple worship?
D&C 136:33
For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite...
According to the dictionary enlighten means:
1. to give information or understanding to; instruct; edify.
2. to free from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition.
3. to give spiritual or religious revelation to.
4. Poetic, to shed light on, illuminate.
5. Impart skills or knowledge to.
6. To make clear and more comprehensible.
7. Clarify mysteries.
In the temple the Lord opens the windows of heaven, not only to pour out blessings upon us but to let us look in.
There are many ways to prepare our minds to receive the Lord’s teaching, but I think the best of all is to go to the temple hungering after insight and knowledge.
How do we get the most out of the Temple ceremony?
We must be alert, and attentive,(devoted) and reverent.
Reverence isn’t just about being quiet. The dictionary uses words like, respect, awe, meek, humble, adoring, submissive, and solemn.
If these words reflect our attitude, we are prepared to receive.
Perhaps we could ask ourselves these questions as we ponder the covenants:
What can I do to better keep this covenant in my life?
What are some things I need to change?
Do I have feelings or attitudes in regards to this covenant that are not in harmony with God?
I think as we ponder we will realize that there is always room for change. As we ponder and ask the Father to make known our weaknesses and enlighten our minds, the spirit will speak to us, we will know what we need to do to better keep the covenants we are making, by so doing we will improve and our lives will be blessed.
The Lord tells us that his house is a house of learning. He desires that as we leave we be filled with knowledge. Because we are taught through symbols in the temple, it is sometimes hard to understand and receive all the truth the Lord desires we obtain. We must learn how to learn through symbols. Much of our ability to receive the power of the temple depends on what we do when we are outside its walls. Christ suggested a formula for temple worship that can help us. We find this formula in 3 Nephi 17.
Jesus had spent the day teaching the Nephites and Lamanites at the temple. It had been a full day, and at its conclusion he said, "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time" (3 Nephi 17:2).
As you leave the temple are you ever accompanied by that feeling? You just don’t understand all you’ve experienced and been taught.
The Savior understands our weakness and teaches us what to do. We are not to be discouraged, doubtful, or apathetic.
The Savior tells us to do five things: "Therefore, [1] go ye unto your homes, and [2] ponder upon the things which I have said, and [3] ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and [4] prepare your minds for the morrow, and [5] I come unto you again" (3 Nephi 17:3).
Many times we only do the first of the Savior’s suggestions—we simply go home. Yet, if we desire that our next incoming to the temple be more powerful, we must ponder upon our temple experience. (Which means to deeply reflect.) We must show the Lord our desire to receive the full benefits of his teaching by sincerely asking him to help us understand.
D&C 43:34
Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.
We can study the scriptures with the temple in mind. The scriptures bear testimony of the temple. As you do this what seemed to be simple scriptures like:
3 Nephi 14:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -will have added meaning to you.
Why is it of utmost importance that we return to the Temple as often as we can?
“The process of purifying and sanctifying is accelerated in the temple.” Joseph B Wirthlin
What are the blessings associated with this wonderful feast?
D&C 97:12-16
Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion—
For a place of thanksgiving for all saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices;
That they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon you.
And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
Isaiah speaks of the protective powers of the Temple.
2 Nephi 14:6
"And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge (a fortress), and a covert from storm and from rain"
And if that isn’t enough our church leaders have told us that our loved ones would be protected from evil influences.
Can we afford to go just every month or two?
One of the greatest desires of my heart is to have a home where my children can come and be refreshed and find peace and comfort.
I LOVE IT when they come home. I spend hours planning food & menus. It’s a feast every day. We love to sit around and eat and visit and enjoy each other.
When the forces of the world bear down on us like a hot summer day and we feel we cannot bear it any longer, the Lord seems to say,
Come home. Sit in the shade of my house. Feel the breezes of my Spirit. Be refreshed. Drink from my fountain of truth.
Come home. Retreat into the safety of my house of refuge, swim in my healing river. And then when you leave it will be with greater strength and you can face the heat of the day.
When the forces of life beat upon us like a mighty storm, when the flood waters of trial or the pelting hail of day-to-day irritations leave us cold, discouraged, and looking for shelter, the Lord seems to whisper,
Come home. No hail penetrates the shingles of my house. The flood waters cannot sweep away its foundations. No worldly wind can chill your spirit here.
Come home, sit by my hearth and listen to my truths. Feast at my table.
Be warmed by the love of your Eternal Father.
Let's not just go through the temple but let the temple go through us. If we can do this we will come away endowed with love and inner peace, secure in our covenants, enlightened by revelation and eternal perspective, trusting in promised protection, and feeling assured of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their great plan of happiness.
Our focus this week is to attend the temple.
D&C 58:9
The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that He would prepare a feast of the finest things, “Ye a supper of the house of the Lord, well prepared, unto which all nations shall be invited.”
During his earthly ministry, Jesus spoke of this feast in a parable:
Luke 14:14 - 23
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him,” I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused”. (Too busy)
And another said,” I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” (Work to do)
And another said,” I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” (Family responsibilities)
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt (the lame) and the blind”.
And the servant said, “Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room”.
And the Lord said unto the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel (urge) them to come in, that my house may be filled”.
Sometimes our lives become so busy that we realize it’s been quite some time since we’ve been to the temple. We know the feast is waiting, and we sense our need for its spiritual nourishment, but there is ground to see and oxen to prove, family responsibilities, and we ask to be excused. Yet the parable testifies that the Lord truly desires that his house be "filled."
Here are some questions we might ask ourselves as we attend to temple worship:
When you go to the Temple what do you want to have happen?
What can we do to better prepare ourselves to receive the feast that is available for us in the temple?
Prayer is an important part of our preparation.
Mosiah 18:12
‘O Lord, pour out thy spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart. And when he had said these words the spirit of the Lord was upon him’.
Anciently sacrifices were taken to the temple. With the death of Jesus the law was fulfilled and blood sacrifice was no longer required but Christ said that there was still a sacrifice that we needed to make.
Do you remember what it was? What is our sacrifice today?
A broken heart and a contrite spirit.
3 Nephi 9:19 - 20
And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
What does it mean to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit?
Remorse for sin and in a spirit of repentance.
How would taking a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the temple enhance our temple worship?
D&C 136:33
For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite...
According to the dictionary enlighten means:
1. to give information or understanding to; instruct; edify.
2. to free from ignorance, prejudice, or superstition.
3. to give spiritual or religious revelation to.
4. Poetic, to shed light on, illuminate.
5. Impart skills or knowledge to.
6. To make clear and more comprehensible.
7. Clarify mysteries.
In the temple the Lord opens the windows of heaven, not only to pour out blessings upon us but to let us look in.
There are many ways to prepare our minds to receive the Lord’s teaching, but I think the best of all is to go to the temple hungering after insight and knowledge.
How do we get the most out of the Temple ceremony?
We must be alert, and attentive,(devoted) and reverent.
Reverence isn’t just about being quiet. The dictionary uses words like, respect, awe, meek, humble, adoring, submissive, and solemn.
If these words reflect our attitude, we are prepared to receive.
Perhaps we could ask ourselves these questions as we ponder the covenants:
What can I do to better keep this covenant in my life?
What are some things I need to change?
Do I have feelings or attitudes in regards to this covenant that are not in harmony with God?
I think as we ponder we will realize that there is always room for change. As we ponder and ask the Father to make known our weaknesses and enlighten our minds, the spirit will speak to us, we will know what we need to do to better keep the covenants we are making, by so doing we will improve and our lives will be blessed.
The Lord tells us that his house is a house of learning. He desires that as we leave we be filled with knowledge. Because we are taught through symbols in the temple, it is sometimes hard to understand and receive all the truth the Lord desires we obtain. We must learn how to learn through symbols. Much of our ability to receive the power of the temple depends on what we do when we are outside its walls. Christ suggested a formula for temple worship that can help us. We find this formula in 3 Nephi 17.
Jesus had spent the day teaching the Nephites and Lamanites at the temple. It had been a full day, and at its conclusion he said, "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time" (3 Nephi 17:2).
As you leave the temple are you ever accompanied by that feeling? You just don’t understand all you’ve experienced and been taught.
The Savior understands our weakness and teaches us what to do. We are not to be discouraged, doubtful, or apathetic.
The Savior tells us to do five things: "Therefore, [1] go ye unto your homes, and [2] ponder upon the things which I have said, and [3] ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and [4] prepare your minds for the morrow, and [5] I come unto you again" (3 Nephi 17:3).
Many times we only do the first of the Savior’s suggestions—we simply go home. Yet, if we desire that our next incoming to the temple be more powerful, we must ponder upon our temple experience. (Which means to deeply reflect.) We must show the Lord our desire to receive the full benefits of his teaching by sincerely asking him to help us understand.
D&C 43:34
Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds.
We can study the scriptures with the temple in mind. The scriptures bear testimony of the temple. As you do this what seemed to be simple scriptures like:
3 Nephi 14:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -will have added meaning to you.
Why is it of utmost importance that we return to the Temple as often as we can?
“The process of purifying and sanctifying is accelerated in the temple.” Joseph B Wirthlin
What are the blessings associated with this wonderful feast?
D&C 97:12-16
Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion—
For a place of thanksgiving for all saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices;
That they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon you.
And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
Isaiah speaks of the protective powers of the Temple.
2 Nephi 14:6
"And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge (a fortress), and a covert from storm and from rain"
And if that isn’t enough our church leaders have told us that our loved ones would be protected from evil influences.
Can we afford to go just every month or two?
One of the greatest desires of my heart is to have a home where my children can come and be refreshed and find peace and comfort.
I LOVE IT when they come home. I spend hours planning food & menus. It’s a feast every day. We love to sit around and eat and visit and enjoy each other.
When the forces of the world bear down on us like a hot summer day and we feel we cannot bear it any longer, the Lord seems to say,
Come home. Sit in the shade of my house. Feel the breezes of my Spirit. Be refreshed. Drink from my fountain of truth.
Come home. Retreat into the safety of my house of refuge, swim in my healing river. And then when you leave it will be with greater strength and you can face the heat of the day.
When the forces of life beat upon us like a mighty storm, when the flood waters of trial or the pelting hail of day-to-day irritations leave us cold, discouraged, and looking for shelter, the Lord seems to whisper,
Come home. No hail penetrates the shingles of my house. The flood waters cannot sweep away its foundations. No worldly wind can chill your spirit here.
Come home, sit by my hearth and listen to my truths. Feast at my table.
Be warmed by the love of your Eternal Father.
Let's not just go through the temple but let the temple go through us. If we can do this we will come away endowed with love and inner peace, secure in our covenants, enlightened by revelation and eternal perspective, trusting in promised protection, and feeling assured of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their great plan of happiness.
Our focus this week is to attend the temple.
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