Slight Haitus

So. My laptop died for 2 weeks and I haven't been able to type notes.

Staring now (well, today-ish) I'm going to focus on typing up my journals (I have about six right now). From there I'll occasionally post an entry of notes for you to read through and comment on.

Comments are welcomed! Let's discuss something - especially if you have a question!

I hope your Sunday was as relaxful as mine was. It was rather peaceful - considering it went from being chilly to hot!

April 17, 2013 Wednesday – Institute

7 Seals

1) White horse, person (?) with bow, crown, conquered – Enoch

Doctrine & Covenants 77

White, red, black, pale

Revelations 4:6, to Doctrine & Covenants 77:1-2

4 beasts: heaven, paradise of God, happiness of man, creeping things

  Doctrine & Covenants 77:4 Eyes: knowledge

  Sea of glass

  Revelations 21: 22-24

     - we will bring our glory to it

Twenty and Four Elders

Book of 7 seals

  - Earth will be for 7 thousand years after the Fall

In all things we have to have faith

6 days to work 1 to rest

  - 6 thousand years the earth worked, the last it will rest

7 seals

2) War, red horse, Flood (book p. 458 55-7)

3) Famine, Abraham, Joseph in Egypt

4) Death, hell, war, Famine, 1,000 BC to death of Lord

5) Lord’s birth to 1,000 AD

6) 1,000 – 2,000(ish)

    Rev. 7:1 to Doctrine & Covenants 77:9

       Elias (a tittle) – a forerunner

       Rev. 7:4-8 to Doctrine & Covenants 77:11

   Rev. 8:1-3, 6-12, 13 to Doctrine & Covenants 77:12

The Calm before the storm

Ch. 12 – The War in Heaven

(“The Screwtape Letters” – C.S. Lewis)

  Rev. 9 to Doctrine & Covenants 77:13

      Rev. 9:11

      Beginning of the 7^th seal

Rev. 10: book to Doctrine & Covenants 77:14

What did John restore? Keys

Rev. 11 to Doctrine & Covenants 77:15

    2 witnesses

      v. 7-10, 11

Manuel page 461 (55-23)

    - Savior comes in Red: how he came out of the tomb

Rev. 16:20

    - Earth will be as it once was

        - Pangea/Paleag (Genesis)

Manuel page 469 (56-12)

     - Earth passes through stages of change

     - The Earth obeys its laws

     - Rev. 21:1

Page 470 (56-20)

    - Saints should be optimists

October 1981 Elder Maxwell’s first talk

Rev. 22:20

Be hopeful and excited of this

Wednesday September 18, 2013

Institute

1 Nephi 19 – 2 Nephi 3

19:18

 18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would ^aremember the Lord their Redeemer.

Have the plates so that they could remember the Lord their redeemer

We remember the Lord when we gather together to read the scriptures

We learn better by hearing stories and example rather than having it given to us directly

Scriptures show us how to live the principles

Scripture stories teach us better

Much like the parables – they were taught for people to understand better

19:23

 23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the ^abooks of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet ^bIsaiah; for I did ^cliken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our ^dprofit and learning.

What are some ways we can liken the scriptures to ourselves?

Try and put yourself in the position – how would you react, what would you feel?

When we’re put out of our comfort zone that is when we improve and respond as we truly are

If you’re not paddling, you’re going backwards – we have to be constantly moving

    Service can help you get out of your comfort zone

    Going on a mission

    Trying something new

    Going to school

    Marriage

    Moving out

“You’ll never learn if you never leave the nest”

    Helping with missionary work

    Be ready to answer questions

“Read the scripture as if the Lord were speaking to us in a personal manner.”

P. 43 Manuel – questions

    What significance does this particular event or principle have for me today?

Isaish is hard for anyone to understand – we have to try

1 Nephi 20:10

 10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of ^aaffliction.

A lot of people fall when they meet a trial

    EX: addictions, drugs, illnesses, financial, school, death

Refined – place metal through fire, then beat out the impurities

Furnace of affliction – the fire burns off all the impurities and the pure stuff sinks to the bottom

We get many chances if we don’t make it through the trial the first time

We have a God of many chances – he doesn’t give up on us

P. 45 – Elder Hales

    ‘Constant, intense pain is a great consecrating purifier that humbles us and draws us closer to God’s Spirit.’

    “What dost Thou want me to learn from these experiences?”

    ‘[The] purifying process of testing [is] to be endured in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s own way.’

Most of our trials were chosen for us – which is comforting

       – some we inflict on ourselves

Your eyes change when you’re in pain

1 Nephi 19:23

1 Nephi 21: 6-13 – Symbls that represent the Savior’s love for us

6 And he said: It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the ^atribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a ^blight to the ^cGentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.

 7 Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful.

 8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee ^amy servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

 9 That thou mayest say to the ^aprisoners: Go forth; to them that sit in ^bdarkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their ^cpastures shall be in all high places.

 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my ^ahighwaysshall be exalted.

 12 And then, O house of Israel, behold, ^athese shall come from far; and lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

 13 ^aSing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and ^bbreak forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his^cafflicted.

    - Give thee for a light

    - Mercy upon his afflicted

    -

V. 14-17

14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

 15 For can a ^awoman forget her sucking child, that she should not have ^bcompassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may ^cforget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the ^apalms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

 17 Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made thee ^awaste shall go forth of thee.

    - we are in graven upon the palms of his hands

22: 1-2 How can we understand the words of Isais? By the voice of the spirit

22:3 should these propiechies be considered temporal or spiritual? Both

22: ? Where will Israel be scattered? All over

22: 5 Why will Israel be scattered? They harden their hearts against the Holy one of Israels

22: 6-8, 12 What does he mean when he prophesizes that Israel will someday be nursed by the Gentiles? ‘will bring them out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together’

22:14 what will happen to those who fight against Israel? ‘All that fight against Zion [Israel] shall be destroyed’

22: 13, 16 How will the great and abominable church be destroyed? ‘They shall war among themselves and suffer the wrath of God’

The Great and abominable church is all others

22:17 How will the Lord ensure that the righteous do not parish because of the wicked? ‘He will preserve the righteous by His power,  … even unto the destruction of their enemies’

22:20-21 Who is the prophet like unto Moses who would be raised up by the Lord? ‘The Holy One of Israel’

22:24-26 How will Satan be bound during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ? ‘Because of the righteousness of His people, Satan has no power … and the Holy One of Israel reigneth’

“When Satan is bound in a single home, the millennium has begun in that home” (Teaching of Spencer W. 

Kimball, 172

Chapter 7

2 Nephi 1

Book “1776”

Book “The 7 or 8 miracles that saved America”

Book “Bulletproof Washington”

The American Revolution

2 Nephi 2

      The Creation, The Fall, The Atonement

God plans everything ahead of time

Why was the Fall necessary for the Plan?

     We wouldn’t be here

     We had to know good from evil

     To multiply and replenish the earth

There was one plan presented – not two – and an alternate proposal

Lucifer and Michael (separate sides)

Jehova – unchanging

The Fall was good

After the Fall came the Atonement

       The problem solver for everything

The Fall – the 2/3ds vrs the 1/3

Page 51 – underlined Atonement

What do we to do to take full advantage of the atonement?

      It is INFINITE

      “I came not into the world to condemn man, but to save it” – scripture John 3:16 – 17

Things to act and things to be acted upon

2 Nephi 2: 26-27 – act yourself

Don’t let people make decisions for you

If you’re just sitting in the water, the water is acting for you

Christ is there with you every step of the way when things get hard

When we’re in the depths of despair the Lord comes and carries you

   ‘Eat; The journey is too hard for you,’

We are to act, not just be acted upon

We have the power to act and to choose on how to react to specific situations

Be grateful for people when they teach you

People can’t make us feel a certain way – it’s up to us to choose what we feel

No one can make you anything – angry, offended, sad – you choose to be those things

You can choose what to do with the emotion

You can choose how you deal with things

Acted upon usually have negative outcomes – you have to act to have an happy outcome

How can you be someone who acts, instead of being acted upon?

    ‘What would Jesus do?’

    Get out of yourself

    Try and get out and help others

    Make decisions before you get into situation

Find something good about everybody around you

Try and be more like the Savior

Assignment

For my Religious class this week I had to find my favorite talk from the most recent General Conference. At first I was loathe to do it - how could I pick my favorite talk? It seemed impossible. Then, earlier this evening, while at Institute, my teacher (Sister Stacey) let me look through her Ensign, where all the talks are published. I picked one from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The talk that I chose was random. However, as I sat here, typing up my paper tonight, I realized how close to home it was. While writing it I realized what an impact it's message has had on me and my own life. I would strongly recommend reading the talk before continuing to read my own paper on it. The paper had to be at least 500 words - I manged 1,184 in less than 45 minutes.


(Quick Notes: sorry for the last paragraph. I know it's long, but it's a story.)

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/the-hope-of-gods-light

The title of the talk is, "The Hope of God's Light".

The talk that I chose from last General Conference was President Uchtdorf’s talk, “The Hope Of God”. It was the first talk in the fourth session on Sunday morning. In it he outlines that while life may be dark and have many trials it is our goal to overcome those times. We are here to overcome the doubt and fear that might arise in our lives during moments of trial or weakness. He also talks about how we need to feel that we are not alone in this world to faces its many challenges alone. There are always people there to help us on our way; likewise, we are here to help others to make it through their own dark, frightening tunnels and back into the light. Most importantly, we are here to feel loved. We need to know that there are people who love us in this life, those who will be there for us when things go astray or wrong. Feeling loved is one of the biggest points that he outlines in his talk.

In his talk, President Uchtdorf divides it into sections; the first one is labeled “A Room Filled with Darkness”. I think that this applies to everyone’s life. We all have rooms hidden away in our lives that are full of all the hurt and suffering that we’ve been through. It also holds all the disappointments that we’ve faced; the doubts we may have had about ourselves and the fears that once held us in dark rapture. We need to know that those dark rooms can be filled with light and love again. Those are only brief, passing moments in our lives. How we choose to cope and learn from them is how we brighten the room and banish the darkness from our lives. The gospel of the church gives us that hope, love, joy and understanding. It’s the brightest light we can fill our rooms with. When we begin to fill our room with light we need to keep that light burning bright. This often means forgiving those who were once unforgivable. In order for us to move on, we need to let go of the grip the past may have on our lives and move forward. When we do this we add another bright light to our room’s arsenal. We need to know that the darkness is still out there – that it does exist, but we do not have to dwell there. We know that the light exists and that is where we should choose to dwell. He talks of how the healing process begins when we move away from the darkness and towards the light, the hope of something brighter in our lives.

The next section in his talk is entitled “Light Cleaveth Unto Light”. In it he describes how only good things can come from good things, or as he put it, “Light unto light”. No darkness can seep in when we have our lights burning brightly before us. He tells us that, if we are in the dark, we must actively search out the light and come to know it. Sitting around, “waiting for someone to flip a switch”, rarely happens. If we want our lives to change, we have to actively seek out that change and embrace it. He then outlines a plan to help us open our eyes to the hope of God’s light.

“Light Overcomes Darkness,” is the next section outlined. He speaks about how we all makes mistakes, forget things, falter in our paths and stumble. When these things begin to happen we need to turn towards the light and rely on its guidance to bring us out of the dark. No matter what happens, the light will always overcome the darkness. No matter how deep things might be, or how hurt and angry we are, if we place our faith and trust in the Lord we will overcome that darkness and live in the light.

The final section in his talk, “Come to the Light” is just what it is. While we might feel, and even be enveloped in darkness we need to know that the light is always there. He invites us to seek openly for the Lord and His light. When we find him, through study and prayer, we will have a warm and brilliant light that will continually surround us.

What I learned from this is that we need to continually overcome the darkness and the burdens that might leave us breathless in our trials. Those trials are fleeting moments in our lives. When we overcome them and enter into the light we will be able to live in the light and love of our Heavenly Father.

In my own life I’ve faced many struggles and trials. Each day I pray to Heavenly Father to help me endure and make it through. Last month I was visiting Salt Lake City for the first time. I arrived Saturday evening at midnight. I was feeling sick already, but I prayed to Heavenly Father that, if I had to be extremely sick, let me be sick on Monday. I had an interview on Wednesday and needed at least Tuesday to try and find the location of the interview. But most importantly, I prayed to be sick on Monday because I needed to be at church on Sunday. I had to make it through the three-hour block and back to my hotel without getting sick. If he would let me make it through my plane ride and through church on Sunday, I would gladly be sick on Monday. I made it safely to Salt Lake on Saturday. Sunday morning I was feeling ill, but I got into the city. I was able to walk around Temple Square on a perfect Easter Sunday and take pictures of the Temple. I was able to find my sister and we were able to go to church together. That night, I thanked Heavenly Father for letting me attend my meetings, and especially to see and visit the Temple. I went to sleep, content that the day had gone well. I woke up Monday morning at eight a.m., feeling sick to my stomach! My prayers had been answered. I was able to make it to Utah, make it to church, and get sick, then have time to recover before my interview. Through the trial of Monday I prayed that Heavenly Father would keep me close as I endured the pain I was in. Later on, while visiting the Temple Bookstore I found a card with the poem, “The Footprints” written on one side and a picture of the Savior on the other. It stunned me, because each time I face a trial, I think of how the Lord is holding me in his arms while walking down the road. I know that each time I feel like the darkness is winning, all I have to do is remember that this isn’t a time of darkness. This is a time when the Lord is holding me in his arms, safe from the raging storm around me.

Wednesday March 13, 2013

Institute - Last Night

Hebrews

p. 381 and 382 - "The Life and Teaching of the Apostles" (manual)

Hebrews - what the Law of Moses really meant
46.5 2nd paragraph in manual
   "One of the great contributions of the book of Hebrews is that is shows the ever-present role of Jesus Christ in men's lives. While the scriptures are replete with references to Jesus' atoning sacrifice, to his resurrection from the dead, and to his ascension into heaven, they do not deal at length, as Hebrews does, with the ongoing work of the Redeemer now. That is what Hebrews is all about.
Law of Moses - Law of Performances

Ch. 1:1-3
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high"
  V. 2 WORLD'S - plural = many
Who is Jesus Christ?
 - upholder of all things
 - purged our sins
 - sat on Right hand of God

Ch. 4: 12-13
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
 - The Word of God: quick, powerful, sharper than 2-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit . . .
 - footnote 12a - (1)Alma 31:5; (2) Doctrine and Covenants 6:2; (3) Doctrine and Covenants 11:2; (4) Doctrine and Covenants 12:2; (5) Doctrine and Covenants 14:2; (6) Doctrine and Covenants 33:1
(1) "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them - therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

(2) "Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words."

(3) "Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word."

(4) "Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore, give heed unto my word."

(5) "Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word."

(6) "Behold, I say unto you, my servants Ezra and Northrop, open ye your ears and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, whose word is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of the joints and marrow, soul and spirit; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The truth cuts into you
Virtue also means power - substitute it in Alma 31:5
  "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them - therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the power of the word of God."

"True doctrine, understood, changed attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior . . . That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel." - Boyd K Packer

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
- footnote b
  - quick = living
    - "The word of God is living"

Doctrine and Covenants 1:30
"And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually"
You cannot place limits on God

Doctrine and Covenants 85:6
"Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest"
 - The Spirit fills the room

Have you ever felt the spirit pierce your heart?

Hosea 6:5
"Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth."

The spirit of God is a loving thing
The spirit is a diviner of thoughts and the heart

John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
 - The Word = Jesus Christ
 - Joseph Smith Translation "In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God."

Word of God is a descerner of thoughts and intents of our hearts

Hebrews 4:13
"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
You can't hide from God

"Guys, he's Jehovah, what do you not get?"

(1) 1 Nephi 8:30 and (2) 1 Nephi 15:23-24
(1) "But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree."
 - The Iron Rod is the Word of God

Doctrine and Covenants 6:16
"Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest they thoughts and the intents of thy heart."
  - God knows thy thoughts only

Heavenly Father gives us the benefit of a doubt
If you move forward, he's pleased
God sees everything we can be
  - he wants us to move forward

Alma 7:10, 11, 12
"And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."
 - Christ suffered ALL for us
 - Succor = runs to; he knows how to run to us - to comfort us

Christ suffered Gethsemane, then suffered all those pains again while on the cross

Christ was the only one every truly alone in this world

"The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness", Boyd K. Packer, October 1995 talk
 - "Christ's work will never be done until everyone, except the sons of Perdition, has accepted his word."

Hebrews 4:14-16
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
 - we have that great high priest

Being tempted is part of life

What does Paul mean to "hold fast to our profession"?
 - Profession - what you've learned

The Prophet is the high priest of the Earth
Stake President is high priest of his stake

p. 383 (picture) robes of the high priest

President Kimball, "We hold the keys"

God is infinite

What does "to come boldly to the throne of grace" mean to you?
 - go without fear

You can never go out of the bounds of the Atonement
 - The Atonement is Infinite

Elder Holland, "There is no place so dark that the atonement cannot shine"
 - April 2012 Conference talk

Doctrine and Covenants 98:40
"And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven."

If you don't forgive someone, it hurts you more in the long run

"It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines." - Elder Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard", April 2012 talk

Hebrews 5:4
"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."

Who can have/hold the Priesthood?
    Men
Priesthood is the power and authority of God - They perform his will
 - sacrament - every week
 - blessings

Hebrews 6:1-2
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
"Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement."
  V. 1 footnote, not leaving

Do you get to heaven by works or faith?
   Both

"His Grace is Sufficient" - talk by Brad Wilcox (on YouTube)

Why did Christ pay for us?
     - to get us on a higher plane

Mosiah 2:20, 23-24, 25
". . . if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace with another. . . . . . Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you."

Moses 1:39
"For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

President Uchtdorf, "You Matter to Him"

Boyd K. Packer, "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness"
  - "Christ's work was not done . . . called to his mission"

How can we obtain perfection?

Hebrews 6:10-12
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the Saints, and do minister.
"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

p. 386 Perfection is an achievable goal (46-25)
 - "Being perfect means to triumph over sin."

Saying 'no'

p. 386 (44-26) Why do we procrastinate?
p. 386 (46-28)
 - A deep abiding testimony is of great assistance in becoming perfect

Hebrews 8:10-12
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
"And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
 - all shall know the Lord
 - when we repent, He will remember our sins no more

Old Testament = Old Covenant
New Testament = New Covenant

Hebrews 9:11
"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building"
  - the tabernacle is of Christ
 - good things are to come
V. 12
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
 - the Savior went in once and obtained redemption for all of us

"An High Priest of Good Tidings to Come" - Elder Holland talk on YouTube, 5 minutes

How is he a high priest of good things to come in your life?

"An High Priest of Good Things to Come" - Elder Holland, 1999 October talk (and recently)
 - story of his car in the snow
 - "There is help and happiness to come"
 - "Don't give up"

Wednesday September 26, 2012

Change up! (These entries were never really meant to be in any form of order)

Institute - taught by Sister Stacey <3

The sermon on the Mount (continued)

Matthew 5: 20-26

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to they brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Agree with tine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Don't play with fire

   Fire = Anger

Don't react out of anger

Anger is a secondary emotion

    -what caused it?

        -hurt, embarrassed, afraid

V. 28

But I say unto thee, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Understanding principles

Know that families are Eternal

Judge yourself on little things - it will make the bigger things possible

V. 34-37

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Neither shalt thou swear by the head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

V. 39

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

   When someone puts you down, turn the other cheek

Control yourself

V. 43-44

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine emeny.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

It's easy to forgive when you look back - not in the moment

Pray for those who give opposition

Don't look for abuse

   V. 48 'commanded to be perfect'

      Be ye therefore ^bperfect, even as your ^cFather which is in heaven is ^dperfect.

1 Nephi 3:7

V. 48 B footnote: perfect = complete, finished, fully developed

                           perfect: when you know you're doing something wrong, you change

Chapter 6

Hypocrisy

God's laws are for our benefit

When you're caught in sin - you deflect

Alms - broken heart, contrite spirit, tithing

  V. 5-7

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

When you do right, you will receive your ward

Vengeance is the Lord's

   - forgive and pray for those who harm you

Ch. 7: 1-5

V. 6

V. 12 Do unto others that which you would do unto yourself

V. 20

   Fruits = talents, your righteous actions

The wise man and the Foolish man

Helaman 5:12 - The Rock

Introductions

This blog has been created for the sole purpose of posting the notes I take at church, Institute, or other church functions.

I am part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Layman's name: Mormon

These are the things that I thought stood out while people were giving their talks. I'll include the topic (if they stated it) and all the snippets I wrote down during their talk.

I'll also be posting notes I took during classes: Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society.

This is just for fun, and to re-go through all the notes that I've taken over the years. I'll start with the most recent and post backwards. However I'll probably take a post each week fort the current notes.

As stated before: This Is For FUN!

This is not to cause friction or heated-debates. If you want to debate, please do so keeping in mind that we all have different opinions. You are entitled to yours. Please don't thrust your ideas at someone. We all have the right to think differently.

I appreciate any comments or questions you might have as well. Don't feel hesitant to ask them or send me a private e-mail. I'll answer any question as best as I can, and if I can't I'll find someone who can, or send you a link to the best source.

About Me:

I'm a University student, doing the Pathway Program offered through BYU-I. It's an online program that helps those who are unable to attend a full out college. I find it fun, although loathe the whole "chat forum" aspect.

I currently live with my parents still, because finding a stable job right now is the pits. I will be moving out as soon as I can afford to (which isn't looking too likely at the moment).

I graduated from Gordon College in Barnesville back in 2012 with an Associate's Degree in Fine Arts - specifically in Theatre.

Theatre: I love it! Working backstage is my all-time favorite place to be when not in church! I've done crew, lighting, sound, and stage management - which is what I'd love to do professionally.

I play the piano fairly well, mostly show tunes and movie soundtracks. (The Classics still throw a wrench in my playing.)

I sing when I'm in the shower and my sister doesn't complain - which is hardly. I'm trying to get back to where hitting a really high F isn't a problem anymore. As before what I usually sing is show tunes, movie soundtracks, or whatever happens to be in my head at the moment. (This has tended to be boy bands, and recently though I don't know why, Spice Girls.)

My iPod has a little bit of everything except rap and country - that one Reba song from the TV show doesn't count!

That's me in a nut.