“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 75 - 78

“He did deliver me from bondage”  p. 75

Thoughts from p.75

I think before I was being honest, but at the same time not having forgiven myself.  The result was a feeling of guilt as I confessed my sins, thus communicating the feeling of my prison.  Now that I have forgiven myself and placed my ‘inventory’ on the alter, when I am open and honest now there is a feeling of liberation communicated because of forgiveness: thus hopefully giving them the desire and hope of liberation too. 

Epiphany while exercising today: 

p. 78  JS quote “I told them I was a man and they must not expect me to be perfect, … but if they would bear with my infirmities and the infirmities of my brethren, I would likewise bear with their infirmities…  I don’t want you to think I am very righteous, for I am not very righteous.”  (think of how this would effect the people’s attitudes if this were the attitude of political figures who are good and moral.)

Do I want others to see me as righteous?  I think in the past for sure, especially with my family, I wanted them to accept me and see the good in me- that I was righteous.  I think the result of that was that they perceived me as self-righteous.  The desire for others to see me as righteous is a bad seed.  Yesterday when I confessed my sins and asked for forgiveness of our ward, I wanted them to see me as ‘one in the struggle’ (Eyre’s) a ‘struggling mortal’ (this book) just like them.  I think that portrays a more honest and real feeling of equality.  The result was that they saw that I was striving and I had a desire for charity, which is worthy of note.  The scripture comes to mind: “He that exalted himself shall be abased, and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.”