12-13-11 “He did deliver me from bondage” p.149

12-13-11    “He did deliver me from bondage” p.149

So how do we ‘show up for class (life)’ every morning? 

“You take the first three steps every morning of your life.  (1) I’m powerless to know the right things to do this day, but (2) God knows exactly what the right thing is for me and for everyone, so (3) I’ll turn m y will and my life over to Him and trust in Him in all things this day—including His power to direct my life.”

I am confused between the power to submit to do the will of the Lord in my personal sphere, and the steps necessary to become an instrument to influence others (in regards to leadership) in the third sphere.  I have a friend who lives this way (in following these steps as prescribed) and she lives only in her own sphere of example.  She says that she can only live her life and be an example, allowing others to be who they are, but she doesn’t try to influence them to become something more.  Christ said that after we do these things then teach them to others.  If a person applies the Atonement in their own life and does not then go out and share with others the light they have, are they really following the Savoir?  Maybe that’s not what she’s talking about here.  I don’t know.   Maybe I have an incorrect picture of influence and leadership.

                “I will pray only for a knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry that out.”

I understand the necessity of not seeking to control others.  When we share the light of Christ, we invite and do not push toward that light.  For me it seems like learning the same pattern like the Brother of Jared did in his mentorship with the Lord.  Ether 2:16-18 seems to be this first kind of submission she is talking about in the book here.  Then it goes forward to a new learning process.  When he was on the mountain praying what to do about the problems at first the Lord gave him the answer.  Just gave it to him. (v.20)  Because he had learned steps 1-3 as discussed here he was obedient and did exactly as he was commanded. (v.21) Then the Lord started asking questions to help him think through the problem solving process. (v.22-25)  He wanted Mohonri Moriancumer to learn to think for himself.  As first he felt completely incapable to even consider answers before the Lord.  Finally after going home and taking action on his idea, he presented the Lord with the idea of his solution and asked the Lord to touch the stones.  (Ether 3)  He was the reason they did not have to travel for (almost) a year in darkness, because the Brother of Jared learned to work in interdependence with the Lord.  It was not this idea of complete submission and willingness to do whatever the Lord wanted him to do.  Like a friend told me the other day, “I am not in the drivers seat, He is.”  Certainly it began that way, but after that it grew into a yoked relationship with both him and the Lord pulling an equal share of the weight.  Isn’t that what the Lord wants for us?  Isn’t that how we can reach our full potential?

It is interesting to note that Ether 4: 1-7 and in the chapter heading it says that the sealed part of that Moroni wrote about the Brother of Jared cannot be revealed until WE have faith just as he did.  To me is not IF, it is WHEN.  This is what we need to do to prepare for the Second Coming.  Who’s with me?