Category: Spiritual Thoughts

Scripture Stories now available online in downloadable text, audio, and video formats, these colorfully illustrated scripture stories are written on a basic reading level for children and are also a valuable resource for others who may not yet be familiar with the standard works. You can also purchase the video recordings as a new DVD set. SWEEET.

Lots of times we hear of goals like, I want to lose 30 pounds, I want to get a new computer, I want to get a degree… these are all great and wonderful, but have you ever made a set of goals that will develop over a lifetime? Such as I want to show patience to everyone around me, I don’t want to think a bad thought about anyone, even someone who insults me. These types of goals are much more rewarding when they are achieved, and they help us to lead happier lives. I challenge you to make a list of your goals, your behavior goals. Here’s mine:

• I will be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.
• I will visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.
• I will teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.
• I will seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.
• I will not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.
• I will live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.
• I will avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.
• I will not knowingly wound the feeling of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but will seek to do him good and make him my friend.
• I will overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.
• I will not be an enemy to any living soul.
• Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter I feel it not only a duty but a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.

Turning Trials and weaknesses into strengths.

If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever. –D&C 122

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. –Ether 12:27

This week I’m trying a new format, instead of typing out my lesson, which took a really long time… I’m going to point out some highlights for you to nibble on.
Success through reliance on the Lord.
Start by chewing on these: “With the help of the Lord I will do the best I can, and… with His help I have no fear at all but what I can get along” – Heber J. Grant
“Be thou humble; and the Lord they God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” – D&C 112:10
Also, D&C 30:1-3 and 3 Nephi 13:33.

“I remember as a young man I had $50.00 in my pocket on one occasion which I intended to deposit in the bank. When I went on Thursday morning to fast meeting—the fast meeting used to be held on Thursdays instead of Sundays—and the bishop made an appeal for a donation, I walked up and handed him the $50.00. He took five of it and put it in the drawer and gave the $45.00 back to me and said that was my full share.

I said, “Bishop Woolley, by what right do you rob me of putting the Lord in my debt? Didn’t you preach here today that the Lord rewards fourfold? My mother is a widow, and she needs $200.00.”

He said, “My boy, do you believe that if I take this other $45.00, you will get your $200.00 quicker?”

I said: “Certainly.”

Well, he took it.

While walking from fast meeting to the place where I worked, an idea popped into my head. I sent a telegram to a man asking him how many bonds of a certain kind he would buy at a specified price within forty-eight hours. … He wired back that he wanted as many as I could get. My profit on that transaction was $218.50.

The next day I walked down to the bishop and said: “Bishop, I made $218.50 after paying that $50.00 donation the other day and so I owe $21.85 in tithing. I will have to dig up the difference between $21.85 and $18.50. The Lord did not quite give me the tithing in addition to a four to one increase” (Presidents of the Church [Religion 345 student manual], pp. 176–77).

I have a new calling a church, I’m teaching the 12 + 13 year old Sunday School. I’m really excited b/c they talk a lot more than the elders quorum. To go along with this new calling, I’m going to post every Sunday the lesson. This will allow my class to look up the parts they weren’t paying attention to, and helps me figure out what I’m going to say. Also, it allows you to get a lil gospel during your internet surfing. Feel free to comment, or cry, or correct (with references). Enjoy:

Today we are talking about Peer Pressure and the positive and negative influences. Also, if anyone asks you why you go to church, this lesson applies to part of the answer. First, grab a pen and paper. Number 1 -10. List as many things that influence your life, with number one being the biggest influence, and ten being the weakest influence. Ok so what do we have on our lists? Parents, television, teachers, internet, movies, Gap, friends… Look at your list for a minute, put a lil plus sign by the people or things who care about your life. Now put a minus sign by the people or things that care about themselves more than you.

I’m not a fisherman, but I’ve heard this multiple times. Put one crab in a bucket and it will climb out with no problems. Put a couple of crabs in a bucket and they will all be there for good. The reason being that when one crab starts to make it higher than the others, the crabs on the bottom get angry and pull the higher crab back down. The crabs continue this cycle, making sure one crab never rises above the group.
In addition, Elder Robert D Hales tells a story his uncle relayed to him, “Mother and Father coyote would send their coyote pups to play near a flock of sheep. The little lambs would see the pups having a good time and wander off to play with the harmless coyote pups. Then the adult coyotes come down and kill them”
What type of friends are you choosing to be with?

What is a friend? “Friends are people who make it easier to live the gospel of Jesus Christ”, “A friend in the true sense is not a person who passively nods approval of our conduct or ignores improper behavior. A friend is a person who cares.” Go back to your list, which of your friends could be crabs or coyotes? Are you being one?
If you have crabs or coyotes around you, what can you do about it? Find new friends. Surround yourself with people who uplift and give respect. Mosiah 18:7-10 has a list of qualities you might want to look for in the people you hangout with.

I know from personal experience that who we let influence us can change our lives. I testify that Jesus Christ should be the person in the number one position on our lists. If we can get him there, we will find happiness and peace in life.