Light comes into our lives from reading the Book of Mormon and other scriptures. The following post is 7 day example showing how these books bring light into my life.
Light specific to the personal circumstances of each reader is available to all who will pray, read, ponder, and act.
Application: Pray sincerely to know truth, Read the Book of Mormon and other scriptures, Ponder its personal application to you, Act on the principles and insights you gain
Day 1 (October 23, 2014) "Acting in the strength of the Lord"
"And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage."
--Helaman 5:24
Verses That Light Up My Life
"And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction. Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God" --Helaman 3:35
"And because of their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in there own strength; wherefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands" --Helaman 4:13
When we live righteously we don't have to act in our own strength; we can act in the strength of the Lord.
"Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”
--Elder Holland ("None were with Him")
I feel peace when I pray and work in faith. Doubting and worrying and fearing have never led me to success. Believing and working in faith, though, can create miracles. I've never been able to be my best self without praying first. I'm pretty bad when it's me against the world but if I know God is behind me then the odds don't seem too bad. Sometimes it feels like you are standing in fire and more often than not it hurts. Prayer, acting in faith, and putting God first really can help us feel peace even in the midst of trial. Life is a lot like walking into a fire, but when we are prepared it isn't so bad. As a matter of fact, we can have bad things happen, but still feel peace when we are living close to God.
Quotes!
"Two people can do anything if one of them is God" --Unknown
Talks
"Trust in the Lord" --Marion G Romney
Verses That Light Up My Life:
"Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the brining down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb"
This reminds me of the quote "Behind every great man stands a great woman" but with the twist that the "Behind your best self, stands God and Jesus Christ". We are our best selves when we humbly live the gospel and are strengthened and cleansed by the atonement. It's interesting because when we are at our best we have the least reason to be boastful and the most reason to be grateful to God who is making it possible to be our best self.
Day 3 (October 24, 2014) "Relationship with God 1st!"
Impressions
Your relationship with God can teach you a lot about your relationships with others:
- Reach out daily
- Share important parts of your life in honesty
- Trust the other person will do his/her part as you do yours
- Don't lose faith when help or answers to overcome obstacles don't come when you expect
- Sensitive to the will of God and seek to serve him daily
- Ask as guided by the spirit for things God is willing to grant, don't demand or force.
- Express sincere gratitude first
Quote
"Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says 'Make me feel important'. Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life. No matter how busy you are you must make the other person feel important."
--Mary Kay Ash (Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics)
Hero Spotlight
Mary Kay Ash
- Entrepreneur who believed "the Golden Rule" to be the central principle to her company and marketing plan.
- Advocated "praising people to success"
- Slogan "God first, family second, career third"
"that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart..."
--Hel 7:14
Shows even the best men have exceeding sorrow and must pour out unto God to find comfort, direction, and peace.
"I will not show unto the wicked of my strength...save it be unto those who repent of their sins, and hearken unto my words" --Hel. 7:8
Shows repentance and righteousness are clear requirements to receiving strength from God.
"[speaking of Moses parting the Red Sea] if God gave unto this man such power, then why should ye dispute among yourselves..." --Hel 8:12
Shows how remembering scriptures and great people can help me to choose an attitude of faith over one of doubting and disputing.
I feel peace when my daily actions reflect my commitment to first, develop a relationship with God; second, develop a relationship with family/friends; third pursue a career I'm passionate about; and fourth, build a body I'm proud of and maintain a regular exercise plan. I feel peace when I pour out my soul to God. I feel faith when I remember the lives of my personal Heroes looking at their pictures on my goal poster and reading their books and blogs. I feel relationships flourish when you learn to reach out to God and apply similar principles to reach out to others.
Day 4 (October 26, 2014)
Verses That Light Up My Life
"Behold here is money; and also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou wilte tell us, and acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made with him. But Nephi said unto them: O ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye stiffnecked people"
Shows money and even physical deliverance are not of greatest importance.
I feel that as I focus first on knowing God and living so I can qualify for eternal life and have the blessings of the atonement that I am able to find peace and love in all situations.
Day 5 (October 27, 2014)
Verses That Light Up My Life
"let there be a famine in the land to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn to thee."
I know that when I'm in times of trouble or figurative famine that turning to God is the best way to find the peace and strength I need to overcome it. I am grateful for struggles that help me to learn to live more perfectly and come closer to my Father in Heaven!
Day 6 (October 28, 2014)
Verses That Light Up My Life
"And may God grant, in his great fullness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works"
I've often thought about the question "If God loves me why don't I feel his love?" I know God's love is like a sun that never sets, but we can't feel it if we sit inside the house all day. It's there shining down on us, but if we want to feel it then we must act in faith. As we pray sincerely, study God's word, serve others, and seek to live as Christ lives we will begin to feel that love well up inside us. As we repent and put God first in our daily thoughts and actions we satisfy the conditions requisite to receive grace through the atonement of Christ. God's love and strength is available to all, but each of us must choose to receive that love and strength by choosing to repent.
Day 7 (October 29, 2014)
Verses That Light Up My Life
'An if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits"
I know that when I desire to come unto Christ that there must be a complete commitment. True repentance is never just a change of one sin or behavior. It's a commitment to put God first in all areas of your life. Suddenly it's not just giving up a bad habit, but it's also ceasing to be unkind, ceasing to be late, ceasing to neglect your nightly and morning prayers, ceasing to be idle. Repentance leaves no room for justification. It is a complete commitment to give your best effort to put God first in your life. It includes prayer, study, service, renewing covenants, and seeking to do good of your own free will and choice. When you're sincerely striving to put God first in every aspect of your life then you will feel the power of the atonement come and lift you up.
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