I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from The Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity - the pure love of Christ - will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness. - President Marion G. Romney
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Living Scripture-Let Him Do It with Simplicity by Elder L. Tom Perry
For this week, we'll read this talk by Elder Perry and discuss what we've learned from the reading.
The Lord has given us a beautiful plan about how we can return to Him, but the completion of our mortal journey requires spiritual fuel. We want to emulate the five wise virgins, who had stored sufficient fuel to accompany the bridegroom when he came (see Matthew 25:6–10). What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings.
As Elder William R. Bradford taught at this pulpit: “In righteousness there is great simplicity. In every case that confronts us in life there is either a right way or a wrong way to proceed. If we choose the right way, we are sustained in our actions by the principles of righteousness, in the which there is power from the heavens. If we choose the wrong way and act on that choice, there is no such heavenly promise or power, and we are alone and are destined to fail” (“Righteousness,” Liahona, Jan. 2000, 103; Ensign, Nov. 1999, 85).
The Plan of Salvation --at it's core --is really so simple! And I think all of us can really over-complicate our lives without needing to. I like the simple idea that choosing the right yields blessings. They don't always come in the way we want them to, but they still come.
I also liked where he talked about being old and how He and Elder Wirthlin had both seen the ups and downs of life and had witnessed that it is cyclic. But that above all, 'The best is yet to be'.
I needed this talk. I loved this talk. A whole bunch I did.
"We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."
This was one of my favorite thoughts from this talk. One of the things I'm learning, as the years pass by, is that even everyday life is fairly unpredictable. Our job is to just trust and act in faith. I've begun to feel that there aren't always "right" and "wrong" choices -- what is "right" and "wrong" is whether we choose to have faith in Christ or not.
I really enjoyed his description of Thoreau on Walden Pond. It made me want to read the book. Such a great talk.
"In righteousness there is great simplicity." Perfect.
"We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."
I loved this part as well, Julie. It's so amazing that as we walk the streets of life we do not know what is around the next corner.
But because if we have faith and trust we know that the great things will be greater because we know they come from a Father who loves us and is happy for us.
The difficult will be easier because we know we have a Father who loves us, and will sustain us through the tough times and find countless ways to bless us.
Okay, my favorite part was the simplicity of it all. The two quotes that have given me the most to think about are (and I hope I am not repeating - I am posting and then reading the comments, sorry if I am duplicating anyone):
*"Eat nutiritous food, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. When you do these things, you remain free harmful addictions and have control over your life." I am not addicted to any 'harmful' substances. I've never done drugs and I've never been drunk. But, am I addicted to sugar? To food in general? This one probably got to me because I am working on losing some of the weight that I have gained in the last year.
*"I have listened to men standing in the pulpit...urging the people not to run into debt; and I believe that the great majority of all our troubles today is caused through the failure to carry out that counsel." This is just a good reminder for us. Especially for us, right now. My husband started a business and money is tight. We have dramatically cut our spending but it could probably be cut more. It makes me think of what he says later about how well-managed families don't pay interest, they earn it. Right now, we are not earning interest. I have plans to grow a garden and be more self sufficent in the coming year, and this is a good reminder for me as to why we need to.
I just read the comments, and I love how different parts of the talk spoke to each of us. Looking forward to reading more talks and discussing. Thanks for the opportunity!
6 comments:
My favorite part is where he says this:
The Lord has given us a beautiful plan about how we can return to Him, but the completion of our mortal journey requires spiritual fuel. We want to emulate the five wise virgins, who had stored sufficient fuel to accompany the bridegroom when he came (see Matthew 25:6–10). What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings.
As Elder William R. Bradford taught at this pulpit: “In righteousness there is great simplicity. In every case that confronts us in life there is either a right way or a wrong way to proceed. If we choose the right way, we are sustained in our actions by the principles of righteousness, in the which there is power from the heavens. If we choose the wrong way and act on that choice, there is no such heavenly promise or power, and we are alone and are destined to fail” (“Righteousness,” Liahona, Jan. 2000, 103; Ensign, Nov. 1999, 85).
The Plan of Salvation --at it's core --is really so simple! And I think all of us can really over-complicate our lives without needing to. I like the simple idea that choosing the right yields blessings. They don't always come in the way we want them to, but they still come.
"In righteousness there is great simplicity."
This was one of my favorite parts.
I also liked where he talked about being old and how He and Elder Wirthlin had both seen the ups and downs of life and had witnessed that it is cyclic. But that above all, 'The best is yet to be'.
I needed this talk. I loved this talk. A whole bunch I did.
"We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."
This was one of my favorite thoughts from this talk. One of the things I'm learning, as the years pass by, is that even everyday life is fairly unpredictable. Our job is to just trust and act in faith. I've begun to feel that there aren't always "right" and "wrong" choices -- what is "right" and "wrong" is whether we choose to have faith in Christ or not.
I really enjoyed his description of Thoreau on Walden Pond. It made me want to read the book. Such a great talk.
"In righteousness there is great simplicity." Perfect.
"We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."
I loved this part as well, Julie. It's so amazing that as we walk the streets of life we do not know what is around the next corner.
But because if we have faith and trust we know that the great things will be greater because we know they come from a Father who loves us and is happy for us.
The difficult will be easier because we know we have a Father who loves us, and will sustain us through the tough times and find countless ways to bless us.
Okay, my favorite part was the simplicity of it all. The two quotes that have given me the most to think about are (and I hope I am not repeating - I am posting and then reading the comments, sorry if I am duplicating anyone):
*"Eat nutiritous food, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. When you do these things, you remain free harmful addictions and have control over your life." I am not addicted to any 'harmful' substances. I've never done drugs and I've never been drunk. But, am I addicted to sugar? To food in general? This one probably got to me because I am working on losing some of the weight that I have gained in the last year.
*"I have listened to men standing in the pulpit...urging the people not to run into debt; and I believe that the great majority of all our troubles today is caused through the failure to carry out that counsel." This is just a good reminder for us. Especially for us, right now. My husband started a business and money is tight. We have dramatically cut our spending but it could probably be cut more. It makes me think of what he says later about how well-managed families don't pay interest, they earn it. Right now, we are not earning interest. I have plans to grow a garden and be more self sufficent in the coming year, and this is a good reminder for me as to why we need to.
I just read the comments, and I love how different parts of the talk spoke to each of us. Looking forward to reading more talks and discussing. Thanks for the opportunity!
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