The Holy Ghost

Mark 1:12

12. “And immediately the Spirit

 took Him into the wilderness”

Principle: Go where the Holy Ghost directs you

 I really liked this particular scripture. It says that the Spirit took Him (Christ) into the wilderness. Not only did Christ listen to the Spirit and immediately go where it directed him, but it was, of all places, the wilderness. Sometimes the Holy Ghosts directs us to areas that may seem unpleasant or to places we just don’t want to go. Sometimes that is simply to visit someone who we may not get along with, moving to a place that you don’t want to go, or taking a career path that is the least desirable. However, the Savior went where the Spirit directed him, and likewise we must do the same. The Lord knows what is best for us and if we stay in tune with the Spirit, and follow his guiding path, we will eventually be stronger in our testimony and foundation in the gospel. It might not always be fun (the Savior had the privilege of being tempted by Satan) but in the end it is for our spiritual benefit, growth, and overall wellbeing. We must always listen to the Holy Ghost.

The Childhood of Jesus Christ

Hi everyone! 
This week I have started another religion class and this semester I am studying the First half of the New Testament (The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

This week we read mostly about Christ's birth as well as John the Baptist's birth and learned a little about his childhood. The Share and Report section of class requires (as before) that I share something I've learned or share what I am studying. I decided to focus on learning about Christ's childhood because it is so rarely talked about and I find the subject to be fascinating. Written below is what I've learned from my readings.


The Childhood of Jesus Christ

The focus we get on Jesus Christ is often of his birth and of his ministry, but so often we forget how he got from one place to another. By reading specifically about his childhood there are many things that I have been able to learn. 

First off, the most recognized phrase about Christ's childhood (for me) is in Luke chapter 2:

52." And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, 

and in favor with God and man." 

Something this tells me (along with other scriptures which I will share) is that Christ wasn't just born with all the knowledge needed for his ministry, he learned as he grew. In the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of Matthew 3:24-26 it says “…and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him.” In Doctrine and Covenants 93: 12-14 John the Baptist gives revalation to Joseph Smith saying:

12. “And I, John saw that he [Jesus] received not of the 

fullness at the first, but received grace for grace;

13. And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from 

grace to grace until he received a fullness:

14. And thus he was called the Son of God, because

 he received not of the fullness at the first.”

There was a reason his ministry was later in life. It was when he was ready. While the world did not teach Christ, his Heavenly Father did. Little by little, as Christ was ready, Heavenly Father would teach him what he needed to know.  That shows to me that it is important to take my challenges and my spiritual learning one step at a time. That it is okay to learn little by little and focus on what I’ve learned and perfect that before I bury myself in knowledge that I’m just not ready for. 

I also noticed that throughout each of the scriptures and insight read, that Christ shows small instances here and there where he followed certain commandments. While we know that he always followed the commandments it was just interesting insight to me. For example, in the JST of Matthew 3:25 it says “And he served under his father.” It is safe to assume that since father is not capitalized that it is referring to Joseph. To me this is interesting simply because even as a child, know as much as he did, Jesus still respected and honored his earthly father.  I think we can all learn from that seeing as we are not perfect. Even if we think we know more than our parent’s do (which being imperfect, sometimes we just don’t) it is important to honor them and respect them. 

      Likewise in the first scripture I shared above in Luke it says that he grew in stature with not only God but with man. This tells me that people liked him because he was kind and willing to help and was there for others. 

Christ learned little by little and kept the commandments of God. While we are not perfect we can learn from Christ and take from it how we ourselves can learn the gospel and remain close to our Heavenly Father. 

♥

Principles I Have Learned

     For our Final Assessment in Class we were required to write a short essay on the top three principles we learned while studying this semester and how they have affected us.
Below is what I wrote. I was originally not going to share it, but I want to now so ...here it is!

    Over the course of this semester there are many things that I have learned. Many different principles spoke to be as I read and taught me what I needed to hear at that point in my life. As I went back and reflected on the principles that I was learning I noticed that there were many that were repeated albeit in different forms. I recognized that these principles were not only the ones that stood out to me the most, but also were the ones that I needed to hear the most. Some of them even inspired me to challenge myself in good ways so that I could become better than I was.

     The principle that stood out to me the most was one that probably stood out to most people, and since we are reading the scriptures it makes sense that I would recognize it. However, I know it is also something that I constantly struggle to work with. This principle is to Love everyone, and show them kindness, charity, and patience. 

     Now I like to consider myself a pretty nice person. However, there is one part of me that tends to be unkind towards others and, dare I say, a little mean. This unfortunate part of me is my mind. I easily tend to get annoyed with people and although I do not like to be outwardly mean because I know it is unkind, I find that in my head I have no reservations. This is something that I actually noticed midway through the semester and I made a goal to change it. My goal was to let things go that didn’t matter when I was driving (I get terrible road rage) and to not complain to my husband over the smallest things that people did (because when something made me angry I would go home and vent to my husband forever about the subject.).

     At first it was really really difficult, and I noticed that Satan was really working on me. That first weekend I was so grumpy and mean to everyone, even to my husband even though he really did nothing wrong. I cannot even explain into words how angry I was at everyone and everything and my unkindness did not just remain in my mind but started to be more prevalent in my actions and conversation. As the emotions came to a close I felt awful and vowed to never get that angry again. Although it is still hard for me to push mean thoughts aside, I have found that I have been better at recognizing when I was being too grumpy in my head and for the most part I was able to push those thoughts away. I have found that I have more compassion on people and I am more willing to help and show love. I don’t nearly complain to my husband as often and I can’t remember the last time I got angry on the road. As I continued to read the scriptures for class I was constantly being reminded and uplifted that my goals were righteous and even though it was hard that I was doing a great job and needed to continue my efforts. I’m still working on it, but I have noticed a very positive change in myself.

     The second principle that stood out the most to me was that I needed to have faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and in the Gospel.  A lot of the scriptures that popped out at me were ones that taught me that I needed to trust in God more. My biggest struggle is being so frustrated with the world and at how many things that are going on that do not fall into sync with the gospel or God’s plan. I worry that when I have children I am going to lose them to the world around me because everything will look more fun or enticing to them. I fear for my friends who are struggling and I would just get so angry with people who were not living the gospel who I knew, knew better.

     As I read more and more in the New Testament, I had A LOT of scriptures that spoke to my heart. Many of them comforted me that things were going to be alright, but I needed to trust my Heavenly Father, and turn to him. That if I put my faith in him and stayed close to the Gospel that I would be okay. I have tried my best to remain close to him and through doing so I have also learned that it is okay if I don’t have all the answers, but that if I study hard and have faith that God knows the reasons why that I will not only be okay, but that one day I will have the answers to everything. I know that if I remain righteous that things will be okay in the end.

     The last principle that spoke to me probably ties a lot with the first. It was that I needed to not judge those around me. Even those who I think know better. The fact is, is that I just don’t know what is going on in their hearts. I don’t know what they are going through and I can’t possible begin to imagine. However, it is something I struggle with. I get so judgmental that I become angry and then I am not happy. I lose my ability to love and be kind. However, as I focused on my goals that I mentioned with the first principle, I noticed that I was less judgmental as well.

     All of these principles are continuing to help me as I strive to remain close to my Heavenly Father and to Jesus Christ. I know that as I work on these principles I will become a better person and I will be able to become the person my Heavenly Father wants me to become. 

Thursday I finished my classes for this semester. I have to say that throughout the semester I found a lot of joy in sharing what I was learning on my blog. I'm not sure how many people were reading but the truth is that regardless, I loved sharing.

      I am taking another class this next semester but this time I am studying the first half of the New Testament. I think I will continue this blog whether or not there is a requirement for it. I hope that I will provide understanding and insight to others who read this as I learn new principles for myself. For now though, I will be taking a break from my blog for the next week. 

General Conference

I am currently watching general conference. General conference is when we listen to the prophet and his apostles and disciples. They teach us what the Lord would have us know. They speak twice a year. Feel free to join me. Sorry this post is so late. You can view past talks and current talks here:
http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng

Come listen to a prophet's voice!

Multiply Your Love

Jude 1:2 

“Mercy unto you, and peace, and love be multiplied”

Principle: Take righteous acts, qualities and thoughts and act on them even more than you normally would.

       I do not know if this is a principle that is suppose to represent what the scripture means, but to me this is the principle that I got out of it. I feel that in order to grow and become more like our Savior, we need to take the qualities we have (or do not have) and make them greater! We need to cultivate our love and mercy, our peace and comfort, and make it greater and find more peace in Christ and in helping others. If we have a little patience, make it a lot of patience, and so forth. I think it is important and that our Heavenly Father wants to see our emotions and feelings towards others become better and kinder and more willing to love. This is what I want to be able to do in my life, take the emotions I have and turn them into something the Lord would be proud of. To take my talents and my good thoughts and feelings and make them grow until I am able to match it with his love and kindness.