Well, another week...of miracles...and other stuff like
that. Elder Johnson and I gave our first training together in a Zone
Conference. We had a lot of fun. We talked about some things that were
mentioned in Elder Bednar's talk from october 2008 general conference. We are
needing to learn how to receive revelation and how to teach our investigators
to do the same. Revelation is THE principle of salvation (emphasis added to a
quote from the Bible Dictionary on Revelation). Without revelation, we cannot
return to the Kingdom because, frankly, we never learned how to in the first
place!
As an object lesson, we used this electric pad used for
physical therapy and had the Elders all get in a line. When there was contact
between them, the circuit was completed and EVERYONE could feel the electricity
pulsing through us. If there was one person that made a break, no one could
feel it. Sometimes our prayers are there, but are just said for the sake of
being said. We kneel down at night out of habit and, half asleep, mumble
something we are grateful for and ask for energy enough for the next day.
We need more than that. Elder Bednar explains very well the
connection between the creation of all things and the purpose of Prayer. Before
everything was created physically, it was created spiritually. When we pray in
the morning, we should attempt to spiritually create our day. Test your faith,
and prove it to be strong. Then throughout the day as we realize that creation
of the day being physically MANIFEST (that's an important word right there, pay
attention to it) we should express our sincere gratitude. This connects our
prayers and INCREASES OUR FAITH because we see the realization of our desires
and efforts combined in our understanding of WHO is actually doing this. It's
not us. We are only tools in HIS hands to accomplish something greater than
ourselves. We should therefore be willing to submit to the enticings of the
spirit and become saints through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
For those who read this, especially the mothers, you should
remember that your prayers are most often and most powerfully answered in the
range of your Priesthood Power, or STEWARDSHIP (there is a difference between
authority to act in the name of the lord and the power whereby we become His
disciples. The honorable stewardship entitled "Mother" empowers you
to spiritually affect and influence your children according to the will of our
Heavenly Father. We can therefore positively conclude that the most successful
(a hard word to define and an important word to ponder) individuals in their
callings are the ones who respect the agency of those in their reach, but by
faith provide the necessary opportunities and the powerfully persuasive example
whereby those individuals are INSPIRED (this word, again, is easily bound to
the doctrines of Revelation and the Holy Ghost, the member of the Godhead who
manages the distribution of that revelation).
If you are a leader in the church (which you very likely are
in some way or another) Revelation should be what you are looking for to
benefit others around you.
I LOVED reading and pondering this topic, and it really
helped me to appreciate seeing my mom and dad today, who throughout my life
have shown me so much about what it really means to be a disciple of our Lord
and Master.
I know He lives, and I know that because He lives, we have
all power given to us over the challenges of the world, all on the condition of
sincere repentance. He is our Redeemer. I leave this testimony in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
PS...happy mothers day picture with the mates in the
apartment...
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