We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
In college I took BYU's american heritage course. I loved it (I know that I am in the minority on that one). We talked about morality and how we need laws. Laws exist because there are things that are morally right and wrong. We need to support the law, because without them we can lose some of our sense of moral justice.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Article of Faith #11
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
I think this one is pretty straightforward, but I think that it is a good reminder that there are people and points in history where this wasn't so straightforward. I love that it says privilege. It is a privilege to worship God the way we feel is right. I am grateful for that blessing and gift I have to live in a time and in a country where the only thing the prevents me from worshipping the way I should/want to is myself. It really makes me want to take advantage of the gift more and make sure I don't take my scriptures or church attendance for granted.
I think this one is pretty straightforward, but I think that it is a good reminder that there are people and points in history where this wasn't so straightforward. I love that it says privilege. It is a privilege to worship God the way we feel is right. I am grateful for that blessing and gift I have to live in a time and in a country where the only thing the prevents me from worshipping the way I should/want to is myself. It really makes me want to take advantage of the gift more and make sure I don't take my scriptures or church attendance for granted.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Paradox
I went to an enrichment meeting yesterday where a we had an interesting speaker talk about paradoxes in our church. One that I thought was really interesting is that we believe that we are the only true church on the earth, but we also believe that we have a lot in common with other religions and we want people to know that we are just like them in many of our beliefs.
I think both of these things are correct. There are pieces of truth in all religions. When the church was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith it pulled the pieces of truth back in to one whole package that included the priesthood authority. This is why you can feel the Spirit when talking about Jesus Christ or our Heavenly Father, no matter who you are speaking with. I remember once visiting a friend of mine. We went to her church and I was sitting in the congregation and had an experience where the still small voice of the Spirit gave me an answer to my prayer. I knew that what the preacher was talking about was true. While I knew that there was truth in his sermon, I also knew that some things were missing and it wasn't complete. I know that with the priesthood authority and the restoration of all things in the gospel (including ongoing prophetic revelation) I am a member of the true church on the earth today and yet many of the things I believe are taught everyday from pulpits of other religions.
I think both of these things are correct. There are pieces of truth in all religions. When the church was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith it pulled the pieces of truth back in to one whole package that included the priesthood authority. This is why you can feel the Spirit when talking about Jesus Christ or our Heavenly Father, no matter who you are speaking with. I remember once visiting a friend of mine. We went to her church and I was sitting in the congregation and had an experience where the still small voice of the Spirit gave me an answer to my prayer. I knew that what the preacher was talking about was true. While I knew that there was truth in his sermon, I also knew that some things were missing and it wasn't complete. I know that with the priesthood authority and the restoration of all things in the gospel (including ongoing prophetic revelation) I am a member of the true church on the earth today and yet many of the things I believe are taught everyday from pulpits of other religions.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Article of Faith #10
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaical glory.
To be able to write on this one I had to do more research about the 10 tribes. I didn't know why the 10 tribes were important. What I learned that applies to me is this:
1)Heavenly Father made a covenant with Abraham that his descendants would be given the gospel and the chance to be exalted. When Heavenly Father makes a covenant, he will fulfil it.
2)I was really struck by the love that Heavenly Father has for his children. That is why he wants to gather us. To me, when the scriptures talked about the gathering of Israel, it means the gathering of all His children. We all have the opportunity to be part of Israel and to be gathered if we accept the gospel. Accepting the gospel is not just being baptised either. It is accepting it everyday in the way we choose to live.
3)In order to help people realize their place in the Kingdom of Heaven, I need to share the gospel with them.
To be able to write on this one I had to do more research about the 10 tribes. I didn't know why the 10 tribes were important. What I learned that applies to me is this:
1)Heavenly Father made a covenant with Abraham that his descendants would be given the gospel and the chance to be exalted. When Heavenly Father makes a covenant, he will fulfil it.
2)I was really struck by the love that Heavenly Father has for his children. That is why he wants to gather us. To me, when the scriptures talked about the gathering of Israel, it means the gathering of all His children. We all have the opportunity to be part of Israel and to be gathered if we accept the gospel. Accepting the gospel is not just being baptised either. It is accepting it everyday in the way we choose to live.
3)In order to help people realize their place in the Kingdom of Heaven, I need to share the gospel with them.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
My Role as Woman
As I mentioned in the last post, one of the ways revelation can help us it to understand doctrine. My understanding and testimony about my role as a woman has developed over many years. And I am still learning and gaining more of a testimony. Being a mother and a wife was not always on the top of my priority list and it has been a testimony builder to begin to see what an important calling it is. When I was 16 and struggling to know what I wanted to study and what I wanted to be. I had always thought I wanted to go to medical school and that was it. BUT at that time I realized that I actually DID want to have a family and I appreciated that my mom was home with us and raised us. At a young women's conference President Hinckley said this: "Find purpose in your life. Choose the things you would like to do, and educate yourselves to be effective in their pursuit... Study your options. Pray to the Lord earnestly for direction. Then pursue your course with resolution." I studied my options and found that being PA was a good match for me. During school I would often have classmates tell me that I wasn't supposed to go to graduate school or tell me that I should change my aims because I was getting married. I was very conflicted I knew that in the Proclamation to the World on the Family we are told what Heavenly Father desires for women. "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." But I also knew that Heavenly Father wanted us to be educated. In the Six B's talk by the Prophet we are told, "The Lord wants you to educate your minds and hands, whatever your chosen field." I prayed and knew that I was supposed to go to PA school AND be a mother. I could do both. I knew that was the direction that Heavenly Father had given me. Then one day in the middle of the application process I ran into a friend on campus. I was updating him on my application to school and he told me a story about his mom. She was in her 2nd year of law school and decided to quit to have a family. 5 years later she passed away. He said, "I wouldn't be here, if my mom had finished law school and put off having a family." I started freaking out and was panicking that I had made the wrong decision. I decided to go for a drive and I pulled out my scriptures. I questioned why I was opening the scriptures. They are, after all, accounts of people who lived over 2000 years ago. How could I gain insight on whether I should go to graduate school from the scriptures. BUT that is where personal revelation comes in. I read this scripture from 1 Nephi 17 "And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings." I thought about how strength was how men would provide for their families; similar to the way education can be the means for men providing for their families today. The mothers also gave their children their food or nurtured them. As we are supposed to do today. I realized the I could be strong (or educated) like unto the man, yet the role that would be more important is my role as a mother, as a nurturer. I have had it reaffirmed to me many times since then. Getting some education is necessary, but being a nurturing mother is paramount to who I am.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Article of Faith #9
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
I believe that Heavenly Father gives revelation to the whole earth through the prophets on the earth. When I hear the words and the spiritual wisdom that comes from our current prophet Thomas S. Monson, I KNOW that he is speaking from on high and revealing important things about the Kingdom of God.
I know that revelation exists on this earth today. The most important way that I know this is that I have received personal revelation. As I was reading about revelation today I realized that when we have questions in our life the most important thing that we can do is ask Heavenly Father to reveal the answers to us. These questions can be anything from doctrine, to confirming that something is true, to guidance in the paths of everyday life. BUT when we ask for revelation we need to be "focusing on things of God." To me this means that if we have a question about a path to take in our lives we need to look at the decision according to Heavenly Father's perspective. For example, when I was deciding on a job to take, I didn't pray to ask if they were offering me enough money or vacation time. I prayed if this would be a place that I could do the things that Heavenly Father wanted me to do like serve in the church, have a family and be a good wife.
I wish I could say that I constantly have experiences of personal revelation where the great mysteries of God are unfolded to me, but in reality what I have is on a much smaller scale and far less earth-shattering, yet so important to my testimony. Throughout the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants we are encouraged to ASK of God whether things are true. Personal revelation is not something you can be brainwashed to feel. It is something that is in your heart that is confirmed when you pray and the spirit speaks to you. (One important thing about that is the Spirit and fear do not exist together. If you are still experiencing fear when you pray about something that IS NOT letting the spirit truly speak to you.) I do know that when I read my scriptures I regularly find myself reading verse and getting a little flutter inside telling me that what I am reading is true and it is right. I also have had experiences of personal revelation guiding me on what to do, like marrying Richard and deciding where to go to school. Also, personal revelation is a way that I have learned about difficult doctrine and confirmed their truthfulness. One experience was when it was confirmed to me that women have divine role as mothers (I'll have to blog that entire story separately). I am grateful for personal revelation that is still given and teaches me about the Kingdom of God and my place in the Kingdom of God.
I believe that Heavenly Father gives revelation to the whole earth through the prophets on the earth. When I hear the words and the spiritual wisdom that comes from our current prophet Thomas S. Monson, I KNOW that he is speaking from on high and revealing important things about the Kingdom of God.
I know that revelation exists on this earth today. The most important way that I know this is that I have received personal revelation. As I was reading about revelation today I realized that when we have questions in our life the most important thing that we can do is ask Heavenly Father to reveal the answers to us. These questions can be anything from doctrine, to confirming that something is true, to guidance in the paths of everyday life. BUT when we ask for revelation we need to be "focusing on things of God." To me this means that if we have a question about a path to take in our lives we need to look at the decision according to Heavenly Father's perspective. For example, when I was deciding on a job to take, I didn't pray to ask if they were offering me enough money or vacation time. I prayed if this would be a place that I could do the things that Heavenly Father wanted me to do like serve in the church, have a family and be a good wife.
I wish I could say that I constantly have experiences of personal revelation where the great mysteries of God are unfolded to me, but in reality what I have is on a much smaller scale and far less earth-shattering, yet so important to my testimony. Throughout the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants we are encouraged to ASK of God whether things are true. Personal revelation is not something you can be brainwashed to feel. It is something that is in your heart that is confirmed when you pray and the spirit speaks to you. (One important thing about that is the Spirit and fear do not exist together. If you are still experiencing fear when you pray about something that IS NOT letting the spirit truly speak to you.) I do know that when I read my scriptures I regularly find myself reading verse and getting a little flutter inside telling me that what I am reading is true and it is right. I also have had experiences of personal revelation guiding me on what to do, like marrying Richard and deciding where to go to school. Also, personal revelation is a way that I have learned about difficult doctrine and confirmed their truthfulness. One experience was when it was confirmed to me that women have divine role as mothers (I'll have to blog that entire story separately). I am grateful for personal revelation that is still given and teaches me about the Kingdom of God and my place in the Kingdom of God.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Article of Faith #8
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
I was thinking about this when I listened to this talk by Elder Bednar. Toward the end of the talk he explains we have to UNDERSTAND the doctrine to do the behavior for the right reason. I thought about the question "why do I read the scriptures." Which doctrine drives me to take time out of my day to read the scriptures? I realized that much of the reason I read is because I learn about the nature of God and about Jesus Christ from the scriptures. From those words I learn how I can come closer to my Father in Heaven and what he requires of me. I read to learn about Jesus Christ and see how the atonement does and will work for me. I read it because while I am reading I often exerience the wisperings of the Holy Ghost. Occasionally I will have an enlightment when reading books for book club, school or pleasure, but when I am reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible I always feel that this is a message that Heavenly Father wants me to have. He wants to me to learn from the teachings and experiences of these prophets and disciples of Christ. And in some parts from Christ himself. That is why I read. I read because it is the word of God and I can come closer to him by reading His words.
I was thinking about this when I listened to this talk by Elder Bednar. Toward the end of the talk he explains we have to UNDERSTAND the doctrine to do the behavior for the right reason. I thought about the question "why do I read the scriptures." Which doctrine drives me to take time out of my day to read the scriptures? I realized that much of the reason I read is because I learn about the nature of God and about Jesus Christ from the scriptures. From those words I learn how I can come closer to my Father in Heaven and what he requires of me. I read to learn about Jesus Christ and see how the atonement does and will work for me. I read it because while I am reading I often exerience the wisperings of the Holy Ghost. Occasionally I will have an enlightment when reading books for book club, school or pleasure, but when I am reading the Book of Mormon and the Bible I always feel that this is a message that Heavenly Father wants me to have. He wants to me to learn from the teachings and experiences of these prophets and disciples of Christ. And in some parts from Christ himself. That is why I read. I read because it is the word of God and I can come closer to him by reading His words.
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