Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence

Yesterday, I ran into a friend that I had not seen in a long time. I love these kinds of reunions! We met in our home ward about seven years ago. She became a part of our family. The girls saw her as an aunt figure, someone they could play with and trust. I saw her as a friend and a wonderful role model for our children. Anyway, she moved and then we moved and life carried on.

I think yesterday's reunion was a little like Ammon's with Alma. It was so good to see her.

Anyway, in our conversation, she referred me to a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

"Cast Not Away Therefore Thy Confidence." (click here or here).

Here are some things Elder Holland teaches:

"First of all, revelation almost always comes in response to a question, usually an urgent question—not always, but usually. In that sense it does provide information, but it is urgently needed information, special information."

"Lesson number two is closely related. It is that in the process of revelation and making important decisions, fear plays a destructive, sometimes paralyzing role...That is the second lesson of the spirit of revelation. After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don’t fear, don’t vacillate, don’t quibble, don’t whine. ... With the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet. In the words of Joseph Smith, “Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!"

"The third lesson from the Lord’s spirit of revelation ...is that along with the illuminating revelation that points us toward a righteous purpose or duty, God will also provide the means and power to achieve that purpose. Trust in that eternal truth. If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it. That is true of joining the Church or raising a family, of going on a mission, or any one of a hundred other worthy tasks in life."

So, this morning, I read Elder Holland's talk. I loved it!  Reading his words gives me absolute confidence to follow the spirit's direction especially. Particularly after the spirit has given me a deifinite answer. And boy, has  anxiety and doubt crept...maybe more like stormed in after answers had come. I do not need to tvivla (This word most accurately describes what I am trying to say. It is Swedish for doubt, but it means more that the word doubt in English.) Hesitate. Vacillate. Rethink. JUST MOVE FORWARD.

I think, because anxiety and depression have been a difficult burden, and yet these two things have played a vital role in my faith and coming to know Christ, Elder Holland's words give me direction and clarity to hold to those feelings of the spirit.

HOLD ON TIGHT!

MOVE FORWARD WITH FAITH!

And then I as I do, I will SEE and FEEL the confidence of the Lord.

DO WHAT THE SPIRIT DIRECTS  and

DON'T LOOK BACK or QUESTION the feelings that came.

Because that lays weedy seeds of doubt that quickly overtake my mind and heart.

The beauty of living prophets is that THEIR WORDS ARE TRUE!  From God! I can follow them and KNOW that they will ALWAYS lead me to a happy life. NEVER to a place of unhappiness.

Patience...and Faith

I am appreciating the line from Preach My Gospel - Developing Christlike Attributes:

"Patience is related to hope and faith - You must wait for the Lord's promised blessings to be fulfilled."

And in the patient waiting is the doing. Moving in the direction that we feel the Lord would have us move, trusting that His promised blessings will come.

I believe that the rocks and bumps and summits our family has been climbing is teaching us this very principle.

My testimony is firmer in this thing: That I can trust the Lord because His promised blessings DO come.

Sink into the Heart

I am currently reading in the book of Mosiah.

A quick summary of where I am...

Abinadi, a prophet sent to call the people and more particularly a wicked king to repentance, has been captured,  imprisoned, and now tied up, is presented to the king.

His BOLD declaration of God's call to repentance and promises for the people and the king  if they choose to repent or not to repent mulls around and hardens the hearts of the wicked priests.

They try to slay him.

But, because he has not finished delivering God's message to the king, no one can touch him.

So, bound before the king, prophet Abinadi declares redemption through Jesus Christ. Repentance and Salvation.

Okay, so for the purpose of this post...

I was struck by a couple of verses where Abinadi BOLDY tells them the condition of the their hearts...

Mosiah 12:27

"Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise..."

Mosiah 13:7
"Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities..."

Mosiah 13:11
"And now I read unto you the remainder of the acommandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts..."

I was struck by the contrast of the condition of the heart of righteous King Benjamin and his people. 

Before he turns over his reign to his son, he too preaches repentence and redemption through Christ to his people.

Preparing them for his message he declares:

Mosiah 2:9
"My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. "

First they are instructed to use their senses.

And they do...

And, in contrast to the wicked king and his people, we read:

Mosiah 4:2
"And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men."

Mosiah 5:2
"And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

And this change of heart caused for outward actions...and the people covenant to follow Christ.

And again with the heart...

Mosiah 5:7
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters."

finally...

Mosiah 5:11,12,13
"11 ... therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts.

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts...
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"
 
There is something peaceful and enriching about letting Christ sink deep into my heart...

...something beautiful about REMEMBERING to retain HIS name in my heart

...and something POWERUL and SAFE, KNOWING HE is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIGHT.

I know that He makes the heart soft...

When I REMEMBER Him, and He is sunk into my heart, I am softer and kinder...patient and more understanding...

I am His.

So, tomorrow, I'll try again to rememember...

Knowing that when I forget...which I do too often as life busies around me...

I can trust in His perfect atonement...and repent and try again...

And when I do, I will feel His love just as King Benjamin's people did.

Bishop's Counsel

I was reading some counsel I had received some years ago from a good Bishop. He counseled me in a blessing not to demand perfection of life, of myself and of others.

I have been pondering on that throughout the day. Wondering why I am slow in learning these things. Moving has brought a change of thought, heart and spirit. I feel like I am more maleable.

I am just learning how to apply this principle.

The fear of "appearances" is starting to slough off.

My love for Heavenly Father has grown and I know Him and trust Him. I am trying to listen to Him better. And follow Him quicker.

So, while I feel sad that I have taken what seems a lifetime to listen and heed this counsel, I am on the road to repair and new living.