Lighting It Up through Scriptures: 7 Days of Reading from the Book of Mormon for 20 Minutes

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

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1975/04/trust-in-the-lord?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

 

 

Day 2 (October 24, 2014)  "Behind our best self is Christ"

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

Application:  I want to convey a feeling of sincere appreciation to each person I interact with. 

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"

Verses that Light Up My Life
"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.

10 Songs That Light Up Your Life

 

 

 

1. Good Time--Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen

 



This song reminds me of my physic's group "Magnitude" driving to great harvest for breakfast after finishing physics early.

 

 

2. Elle Me Dit--Mika

 

Crazy Impromptu College Dance Parties at Monticello--this one definitely gets better the more you pretend you can sing in French and the wilder you dance!

 

3. Into the Fire--The Scarlet Pimpernel

 



I almost went to wrestle with grizzly bears after singing this song.  "Never hold back your step for a moment!  Never doubt that your courage will grow!  Hold your head even higher and into the fire we go!"

4. OREO Wonderfilled--Owl City

 



I almost cried when I realized how much an Oreo could change someone's life.  Especially after playing the big bad wolf in 1st grade, this song just gets me every time.  (Listen with Milk, Oreos, and a Friend to share with for full effect)

 

5. Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations

.

.

Who doesn't love a song with Buttercup in it?  Whether it reminds you of the 3 amigos singing "my little buttercup" to a bunch of cowboys, a princess and prince battling ROUS's in the Fire Swamp, or even calling your sister cupcake when you grew up, this song will make you smile!

 

6. In Christ Alone--The Promise Keepers

 



"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  --John 16:33

 

7. Good Feeling--Flo Rida

 



Why do I see my roommates running around my car 10 times and then jumping through the window when the light turns green?  No idea!  But good feeling:)

 

8. Don't Stop the Dancing--Manian ft. Calprit

 



Early morning work outs and dancing in the car with my little sister!

 

9. Gravity--Zlatna Ognevich

 



Blue Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Unicorns, Zero Gravity, and a Beautiful Ukranian girl coming out of a flower singing about love and dreams? Something about this has to make you grin!

 

10.  I'm in a Hurry (and don't know why)--Alabama

 



Let's be honest--we hurry and worry way too much.  Nothing like a little country song to remind you about the truly important things in life:)

 

Music will light up your life! (Especially if you sing and dance to it:)  If you have a song that lights up your life then let's hear it and maybe we'll do a part II sometime:)











Becoming Dreamers of the Day

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”

― T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph

 

"We are not limited by our capabilities, we are limited by our vision, belief and determination.  If you have a dream, diligently work for it, and steadfastly believe in it, the world will shape itself around you to give you the opportunity to make your dreams come true.  The truth is not that we are limited, but that we limit ourselves."  --St. C

You have great power to accomplish what you seek with all your heart.  But you must first find your dream and then daily engage your whole heart in believing in it, and all your might and mind in achieving it.  You must become a dreamer of the day.

 

Become a Dreamer of the Day

 

1. Define your dreams

There are dreams we want bad enough that they stir our souls when we think of them.  It takes a little reflection, brainstorming, and even talking with others to really find the dreams that stir our souls, but these are the ones worth finding and the ones worth writing down.  They will shape your daily actions and give purpose and meaning to each hour and minute in your life.

Those devoid of dreams in life are much the same as Alice in the woods....Lost
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.

"I don't much care where –" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

 

Application: Discover and make a physical representation of the dreams that stir your soul.  Write them down on a piece of paper as a personal mission statement, make a photo collage, or even start a blog.  You must physically define your dreams before you can really focus on living them.

This movie highlights what matters most in my life--people.  In particular, relationships with family, friends, and God.

 

 

2. Nourish your Dreams

 
Dreams are alive.  When nourished by pondering and planning they expand inside your soul, when starved by our neglect or inaction they fade away into disappointing, mournful, "might have beens".  Dreams will bring about miracles in your life when they reach fruition, but you must make the diligent daily effort to nourish them and weed out your doubts and uncertainties.  Each day you must take the time to feel the importance of your dreams and plan how that will change your daily life.  Find the dreams you feel are right when you think about them each day.  Nourish your dreams daily and you will feel them expand your soul.  

Application:  Pray about, ponder, and plan each day until your dreams come alive inside you and you have a firm hope that they will become a reality.

 

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" --Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm"

 --Winston Churchill

 

3. Pay the Price

Dreams are realized through action.  It is the consistent application of action in pursuit of our dreams that changes our souls and brings our dreams into being.  But what is the price?  Maybe it's different for each of us but I want to describe 3 ways I feel I "pay the price" to make my dreams come true:
 

1.  Make a consistent effort--When you aren't moving toward your dreams you almost always are moving away from them.  Let your dreams develop into daily patterns of thought, hope, and action.  Daily action will dispel doubt and give you hope as you pursue your dreams.  Honestly ask yourself, "What am I doing each day to achieve my dream?"
 

2.  Never give up--I have never had faith in a dream that was not first challenged by some trial or hardship before being confirmed and having my dream realized.  You must learn to pass through failure, pain, and disappointment without losing your passion for your dream or giving up.  A runner struggles through pain and hardship during the race, but those who continue to believe in themselves and keep moving their legs will inevitably find themselves crossing the finish line of their dreams. My unfailing source of hope when my own limitations and lack of power become painfully clear is my faith in Christ's limitless and all powerful atonement to enable, empower, and change my life.  I believe in a power beyond my own is at work whenever I participate in the miracle of becoming and realizing my dreams.
 

3. Prioritize your dream

Want and Desire it more than anything else.  Life will demand you spend your time on things other than your dreams.  In even more difficult times, life will require you to choose between dreams.  Know what dreams are most important to you and make time for them.  This may start by becoming more efficient in what you do or cutting out frivolous entertainment like TV and movies.  But some dreams will require even deeper sacrifices.  You might have to sacrifice sleep, switch jobs, spend less time on your studies, or less time at social events.  The balance is different in each person, but each of us can feel when the currency of our time is being spent on the our deepest dreams and when it is not.
 

Application:  Decide what dream is most important to you right now and prioritize it by making adjustments in your life that enable you to pay the price for that dream.  Then work for it consistently without giving up when your faith to achieve your dream is tested.

 

Become a dreamer of the day. It is only when dreaming that we are truly awake.  Define your dreams, cultivate your dreams, and pay the price to make them come true.  Miracles will occur, dreams will come true, and you will become what you were meant to be!

 

Here's my favorite video clip of all time that talks about the price of achieving a dream that I hold dear as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints: the dream of becoming like Christ and helping others to do so through baptism--a personal promise to follow Christ--and daily faith and hope in his Atonement--his personal sacrifice for each of our sins, pains, sicknesses, and infirmities that gives him perfect understanding and power to help us overcome all things and perfect us in all things.

 

 

10 Daily Habits that will change your life!

1. Write in a gratitude journal.  You'll feel loved and more confident as you recognize the good in your life.

 

2. Work-out or Exercise.  Once I asked one of my most confident and outgoing friends what helped him build his confidence.  He said the one thing that helped him the most was working out every day.  I am amazed at how much my stress goes down when I run twice a week!

3. Get 8 hours of sleep regularly.  An hour or two of extra sleep can make every waking hour more productive and is well worth the sacrifice and investment.

3. Do something you are afraid of or that is hard.  Doing hard things is how we discover who we are and the quickest way to become someone better.

4. Make a new friend.  Strangers make us uncomfortable but friends make us confident.  Start turning the tables and realize, "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet"

As I joined a hospital to work as a volunteer they introduced me to a policy that I've never forgotten called the 10/5 rule.  The rule is that when you are 10 feet away from someone you make eye contact and smile, and when you are 5 feet away you say hello or greet them.  Try doing this for a week and you'll be surprised at how many more lives you touch each day!

5. Love someone.  You can help each person you meet feel loved in some way and the more you do it the more power you will have to change their lives for the better.  One of the greatest things to be confident in is your ability to make life better for others.

6. Go on a date each week.  Men and women complement each other and make each other better people--take time to develop a more meaningful relationship each week.  (This is still a daily habit because planning the date, setting it up, and other details occur on a daily basis)

Maybe sticking your straw in your date's drink without asking
and finishing it off isn't the best idea....but maybe it is? 
I think I'll have to try this one out and let you know how it goes:)

7. Learn something new.  One day while eating pizza with a friend, we suddenly were hit with a curiosity about what a certain animal ate.  We asked the waitress who didn't know, but then my friend pulled out his phone and found the answer in seconds.  He told me later that one of the things he thought was most amazing about modern technology was that it allowed us to immediately answer our curiosities and questions.  Ever since then I've found myself taking responsibility for my learning, becoming a more curious person, and finding more answers to my questions. I keep a learning journal that I write in most nights.

Yeah--I'm pretty serious about learning....;)

8.  Say kneeling, audible, heartfelt prayers.  God is your Heavenly Father and will help you feel his love for you, listen to your prayers, and give you guidance through your thoughts and feelings when you ask with sincerity of heart and an intent to act on the guidance you receive.

9. Read from the scriptures 20 minutes each day and record your impressions.  Scriptures contain the eternal truths that will show us all things that we need to do to find true happiness and become our best selves.  Recording will help you recognize the inspiration that comes to you and act on it.

10.  Attend Church meetings and go to the Temple weekly.  Keeping these commandments and others from God will bring a happiness and strength into your life that will become evident after you have exercised the faith to live them despite busy schedules or other obstacles.

 

Each of these habits has made a difference in my life and will do the same in yours!

 

P.S. I think dancing like crazy to  your favorite song each day is another splendid habit to have.  It may not be life changing in and of itself, but learning to laugh at yourself and have fun definitely is:)

The First Embers

“The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it is possible.”
― Rich DeVos

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
― Corrie ten Boom

"Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win. By fearing to attempt."
- William Shakespeare
"First doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith"  --President Uchtdorf
 

 

A living prophet testifies of the power of hope: