The Real Meaning of Christmas

Remember how I said I was a cry baby? Well..yeah:

 

May you all take a moment during this busy season to remember exactly why we are celebrating.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Do animals have spirits?

A friend basically asked me this question. I wanted to share my reply:

We DO believe that animals have spirits (as well as plants and any "living" object -so basically everything if you want to get technical and include atoms)
Now with having a spirit comes all the same laws and commandments of God that we have - including their agency.
We often don't think about this - because we just expect them to do what they are supposed to do - plants grow and produce fruit every year at certain times of the year, certain bugs help keep plants healthy, etc.
But plants, animals, and other living things CHOOSE to follow God's laws and commandments. They are just so "pure" and righteous that they follow God perfectly.
There is the parable where god "rebukes" the tree for disobeying him and not producing fruit. While this is a parable, it is also something that could quite literally happen. A tree CAN refuse to produce fruit - but it simply won't because it obeys God.
So I hope that helps answer your question somewhat. I wasn't exaclty sure about what you meant by "Pure Spirit of God" but yes - animals, and every living thing, have spirits.

 

Anyone else have thoughts to add? I would love to hear

Thoughts

Earlier today – well only about an hour ago – I was depressed beyond imagination again. But this time it was really odd and almost scary – I was so depressed, but I was sitting there thinking “This isn’t so bad. I don’t have to be happy. I’m not super happy, but I’m also not crying and in a horrible mood – just more blah. I could live an entire life ‘blah’ like this”

Yes, honestly, I really was thinking that. And I have no idea why. Soon as I caught myself thinking like that – I decided I needed to go take a nice hot bath and listen to some conference talks to get me out of this horrible situation.

I listened to this talk by Elder Scott. It was just what I needed – I had some new insights, but mostly just refreshing reminders of my potential.

I’m a cry baby

I decided that today. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. I say it because I think the past month…maybe longer, I haven’t been able to go to church without SOMETHING making me just bawl.

Today it was sacrament meeting. It was the Primary Program. I’ve never cried for a primary program before. But I did today. You could really feel the spirit through them very very strong today.

I was teary eyed the entire time, but when it really hit was when Faith got up to sing. Faith is my friend Emily’s little sister – she was born blind. She has an amazing voice and often sings solos, but today was a special one. She sang the primary song “I’ll Walk With You” which if you don’t know it, is about how people may be different, but I”LL be the person to not treat you different…I”LL be your friend. It just touched my heart because here you have Faith, who has always been blind and who is such an example to everyone she meets, singing this song. Yes, I bawled.

Then it hit me again hard at the end….when they got up to sing “I know that my Redeemer Lives" They sang this version, which I love:

It didn’t help that one of the little boys standing in the front singing was crying. He must’ve been only 5 or 6, and he was up there rubbing his eyes with his fists as he was singing, trying to keep from crying.

 

I know that my redeemer lives. He does live. He lives and comforts me, heals me, blesses me, protects me, guides me, loves me, carries me, counsels me.

He is my Savior, whom I owe my entire life too.

I love Him with all of my heart.

Great Quote…

A friend had this as his status on Facebook today…needless to say I copied it It is an AMAZING quote and really makes you think.

‎"My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure."

It helps me, at least, to realize what’s more important in life….dwelling on failing, or being ok with it, learning from it, and moving on.

Charity Never Faileth

We watched this video for Family Home Evening tonight….I absolutely love this talk. It’s something we all need to remember:

Broken Things to Mend

Mormon Messages

I just love these. Every other day or so, I get on to youtube and watch more of them. I’m sure everyone is getting annoyed on facebook of the youtube links I keep posting, but I don’t care. They are great messages and everyone needs to here them. Here are a few of my favorites:

 

Visit the Mormon Messages Youtube channel HERE

Institute - How I love Thee

I can't even begin to describe how much I love institute. I mean really, it's just not long enough each week. My class is tiny, only 6 kids this last time and I knew every single one of them except one. But it is SO spiritual. I gain SO many insights, promptings, teachings, knowledge, everything, from just an hour and a half. And I wish it was longer than that. Really, the time flies.

We were studying the first five chapters of D&C today - focusing on missionary work but more importantly, missionary work in the family - including ancestors. We talked about the hearts of the children turning to their fathers - The keys Elijah reveals to us, basically chapter 2 and chapter 4.

If it weren't so late and I weren't so exhausted, I would be explaining a lot more in detail about the class. Maybe i'll add more tomorrow - but I just had to write this down while I still remembered this feeling fresh in my mind. Really, surrounding yourself in the Gospel of Christ brings the most joy you will ever feel.

Go to institute. You. Will. Love. It.

My Daily Feast

As I'm sure to many of you out there as well, I at times have a difficult time reading the scriptures. Not that it's difficult to DO it, but that it's difficult sometimes to understand and comprehend what is going on. There are days that I read my scriptures, but feel as though I haven't gained as much as I would have liked because I didn't fully understand everything. So I added a new thing to my daily study to help keep me uplifted throughout the day - listening to conference talks. At least one a day, often more (such as the three I listened to today)

They are straightforward, from modern day prophets and apostles, easy to understand. It's still God's doctrines, principles, etc. just in plainer words for our generation that's not quite as educated. :) Here were two from today that I loved.

http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/continue-in-patience?lang=eng#

http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/the-rock-of-our-redeemer?lang=eng

Great Talk, Great Quote

http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,538-1-3310-1,00.html

LOVE this talk from President Monson. This quote stood out to me the most, I love it dearly. From Camelot, King Arthur declares:

"We must not let our passions destroy our dreams"

The Infinite Atonement

As I have been reading this book, The Infinite Atonement, it was discussing how our world is the most wicked and not any other world. It got me thinking, how righteous and faithful those other worlds must be. Do their scriptures talk of our world as such a wicked, horrible world? Christ came to OUR world - and yet we still have so much unbelief. Those other worlds, those other people, have such faith to believe that Christ came and suffered for our sins - the people in our world witnessed it and yet still don't believe. But those numerous other creations out there do believe.

It also made me think how much trust the Lord has in me. Some people can say we are the most wicked and were in Heaven which was why we were sent here. But I know I was sent to the most wicked world because my God has faith and trust in ME. I fought valiantly in the war in Heaven. I know this because I am here on THIS world - none other - and at this significant time, nonetheless. I have been given the greatest responsibility in Heaven. I need to shape up and start acting more like a daughter of God - I need to bring more of the Lord's other valiant servants who have lost their way back into the Gospel!

Need a pick-me-up?

Education Week - Ron Bartholomew: Understanding Principles of Revelation

In order to receive revelation, you must learn to recognize the spirit. D&C 8:2-The Holy Ghost will DWELL in our heart, not just speak to it.

The spirit speaks to us through a STILL SMALL VOICE - Not some BIG revelation, no matter HOW important the revelation is.

The voice of the spirit is a voice you FEEL more than you HEAR.

To receive revelation, it's best to be completely free from distraction, from the outside world, from movement, from a wandering mind. Early in the morning is always best! You must have EXTERNAL as well as INTERNAL quiet:

• Find your own "sacred grove" (this includes a time, not just a place)
• Eliminate external noise to communicate with the Holy Ghost
• Eliminate internal noise in our soul

Remember to RECORD all your impresssions.

When revelation is received:

1. Receive a GENERAL impression to the heart.
2. Write down that impression and respond to it (act upon it, study it our more, do the service, etc.)
3. A more specific instruction will come to your mind
   • We often don't get the specific instruction because we don't record and respond.
4. Continue to ask for more clarification if needed or for more revelation.
   • The Lord usually saves the best impression for last - we have to do & follow those first impressions to receive the "bigger" ones.

D&C 9:8-9 - If it is right, we will have the burning in our bosom. If it is wrong, we will have a stupor of thought and not be able to write the impression.

D&C 6:23- The most frequent confirmation of the spirit comes to us as a peaceful feeling.

D&C 11:13 - It is an enlightenment of the mind.

To receive revelation:

1. Find a quiet place (both internal and external)
2. Seek for the spirit for what it is - still, small, peaceful, edifying.
3. Discern THAT spirit (you could be deceived otherwise).
4. Utilize the process (Impression, write down, act, confirm)

For Brother Bartholomew's powerpoints on this and other topics, click on the link below:

https://docs.google.com/#folders/folder.0.0B9AaVdkyYcZHOTg5MzgxZGEtMzVlNC00ZWRjLThkMTctOTRmODVmMzBkMWM1

Education Week: Randall Bird - Revelation

We cannot receive revelation for others unless we have the correct authority to do so (i.e. bishop, parent, patriarch, prophet, etc.)

Satan uses our feelings to try and deceive us.

Understanding Revelation

1) Revelation is the process God uses to  communicate intelligence (light and truth) to man. (D&C 93:29, 36)

2) This light and knowledge is communicated in a spirit-to-spirit process.

3) Revelation is the foundation the church is built upon.

4) Revelation is the only way to know God in His ways.

5) There are counterfeit revelations; They can com from Satan or from our own emotions.

 

Principles that govern the giving and receiving of revelation:

1) It is the Lord and not us who determines who receives the revelation, when it is given, how it is given, and what is revealed.

2) Most revelation comes from the quiet whisperings of the spirit; The big dramatic experiences are the exception rather than the rule.

3) We can foster a climate where revelation is more readily given when we meet personal conditions the Lord expects of our children.

4) When we try to force revelation or insist it come in a certain way, we can be easily deceived.

5) The Lord expects us to develop spiritual self-reliance; it is a slothful and not a wise servant who must be commanded in all things.

6) Revelation is often given in increments - not all at once, but in small portions.

7) The spirit does not cause us to act in ways that are bizarre or out of harmony with the sacred nature of God.

Education Week 2010 - Michael King "Faith"

So my first class my very first day I went to with my mom. I'm just going to post the notes I took from the class and if I have any thoughts about the notes, I"ll add those. Let me know if you would like more!

Faith - a confidence based on evidence that motivates you to act.

Mysteries - the secret or sacred covenants that we receive from the Lord.

Levels of Faith

1) Investigator Level

Hope - Desire to believe it's true

Action - Willingness to try out if it is true

Confirmation - Evidence on the feeling level

2) Testimony Level

Hope - Belief or more sure hope

Action - Willingness to live truths one believes to be true

Confirmation - Evidence on behavioral level

3) Power Level

Hope - Knowledge & assurance of things not seen

Action - Willingness to do whatever God requires

Confirmation - Experiences on feeling, knowing, and sensory levels

4) Perfection

Hope- Knowledge that one will become like God

Action - Live as God lived

Confirmation - Becomes like God

 

Alma 36:16 - We need to accept his mercy, we need to be willing to go and repent and come again unto Him.

We have a  constant need for the atonement - we need to put all our trust & faith in the atonement.

If we study our scriptures daily, we will "plant" the word into our hearts. We need this daily reminder that we cannot do this without the Lord.

To make God the Center of our Faith, we need to know:

1)He actually exists (not believe but KNOW)

2) A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes (He is a man - we are made in His image)

3) An actual knowledge that the course of life which we are pursuing is according to His will.

New Blog!

Making posts rather than adding to a page is a lot easier for me, so I started this new blog to be my spiritual thoughts blog! Hopefully now I'll add posts a lot more often since this will be a lot easier for me, and everyone can make comments on the individual posts rather than on the whole long page! Enjoy!