6-17-11 “He did deliver me from bondage”p. 14, Day 5

6-17-11 “He did deliver me from bondage”p. 14, Day 5

Alma 26:12 “Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do ALL things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.”

About three years ago in 2008 the Prophet counseled members of the church to avoid getting second mortgages and going into more debt. As the time I was studying Robert Kiyosaki’s (author of Rich Dad) financial success program. We even paid a large sum of money for a personal mentoring program. Looking back on it now, my heart was seeking for the approval of men and the riches of this world. My heart was not looking to God nor did I put Him first in my life. “Seeking first the kingdom of God” was the furthest thing from my mind. I was of the world. Not that I didn’t go to church or even the temple. I did all those things. I even am pretty sure I was studying my scriptures. The things that stands out to me is that I had not yet begun my Liber education. I did not know how to discern between truth and error. I did not know how to think for myself to find truth. I could not recognize the philosophies of men or the voice of the Lord.

Now we have lost both the investments houses we bought with the mortgage. We have been a part of causing the “market crash” because of the “credit bubble” because we did not heed the voice of the Prophet. Though we are not repenting, we may suffer the consequences of this choice for the rest of our lives, at least from the perspective of the world. Our goal is to become self-sufficient anyway. This just forces us into a position of having to live “money on the barrel” instead of getting a loan for live—which is the true and correct principle anyway. Now we are pressed into it, instead of obeying the first time.

The thing that I love about this chapter is the ‘marvelous light’ in v 3. I wrote about this yesterday. I think I have much of the same desires as Alma did before his mission. Now this is the fruit of his harvest.

I also have been thinking much of the power of God to snatch us out of our pit. V. 17 speaks of this power and mercy to do so. I think it was because of the prayer of Alma’s father that God “did not let the sword of justice fall upon us” v.19.

I also like v.21-22 that talks about the recognition of the path of discipleship.

There is no natural man that knows of the mercy of God, save he be penitent.

:22 “Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing – unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things that never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance….”

Part of my path has been in building my confidence in the gift of Revelation. It is a difficult thing to say I stand firmly on the rock of revelation. Because at any moment anyone with the power of the Holy Ghost can know the same thing I know by the same power I know it. It is a position of accountability, not one of exclusive privilege that sets us above anyone else. But this scripture confirms something I read in the Ensign. I think it was by Elder Scott (poss 2008 conf talk) in a talk on revelation. That we will reveal things as never has been revealed: Those who seek to solve problems in an innovative way through the Spirit. I think because of the philosophy of men regarding “Authoritarianism” that many people today lack confidence in this power. They think that it is up to the Prophet only to reveal new revelation. That is true when it applies to his stewardship, which is the whole world. The revelation I receive will apply to my stewardship, and can be just as this. “Unto such shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed.”

I am about to introduce my vision for the changes in my calling. Others I serve with have told me, “We do no have the authority to change things.” I say, let’s get it by permission through the one who does have the authority. The converse choice is that I ignore the promptings I have been receiving regarding my calling and dismiss the Spirit of revelation. I have been seeking to know, and the Lord has revealed to me His will. I do stand solidly on the rock of revelation and I am asking others to get a witness for themselves. I hope the other leaders will do the same.

My pillow is the only thing that gets watered that never grows. Instead my faith does as the Spirit swirls around my heart to cause me to believe the truth.

6-16-11 "He did deliver me from bondage" p. 14, Day 4

6-16-11 “He did deliver me from bondage” p. 14, Day 4

Mosiah 2:21 “I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from on e moment to another – I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.”

I am of the dust of the earth. He created the earth. He used the earth to create my body, and it belongs to him, for the debt is unpaid. He has placed in me my spirit, given me my mind to think, my body to do, my heart to feel. He has delivered me from the hands of my enemies and I sing to Him redeeming love. I know there is nothing I could do to repay Him, for He blesses me abundantly every time I keep a law. He is the giver of life, the bread and the water, the sunshine and the soil. My roots are sunk deep in His bedrock of truth because He hath loved me and brought me to see His marvelous light. All that I have is not my own. All that I do to serve Him I do not so to repay Him, but to Honor Him. I want to bring Him glory because I love Him, but He hath loved me first. My life was in torment because I knew not Him love because I would not believe. I was a victim in the prison I built for myself while licking my own wounds. He has turned my heart and brought me out of the pit of my self-pity. Where I once thought only of myself, I now seek to meet the needs of others. Where there once was despair and loneliness, there is now hope and gratitude. It is true, I am an unprofitable servant. But being in such a position allows me to feel the joy of being in His debt; to feel a deep sense of gratitude; to want to work all my days to repay Him and serve Him. It is my honor and privilege to serve Him, no matter how other men may receive my gift. I do it not for man, but for God. I care not to receive the Honors of men for in the end they will laugh and mock whom they once put in the lime light. I care not for riches for they are only needed to bring about the purposes of God as they are a means to an end. My life is to glorify God. My joy is to serve Him. My prayer is that I may be filled with His love that I may give it to others and draw them to the Savoir. I want them to feel the joy I feel in knowing the goodness of God. I want them to see the mysteries of heaven open for them that they may see the marvelous light. I want them to know God that they may know they way to happiness.

“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 13, Day 3

“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 13, Day 3

2N 31:19

“For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ and with faith unshaken in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.”

Yes, I have thought that my problem is in consequence of a low self-esteem, but this definition does not clearly discern the problem. I think a lack of self-esteem, as the world calls it, is a result of not knowing who you are, and not knowing who you are is a lack of knowing God and having the Holy Ghost. It is a line-upon-line journey of discovery. I have seen in my journey that the degree to which I know God, then my confidence waxes (grows gradually) before Him. It is a paradoxical idea to me that I have a “self-esteem” problem and that I do not esteem God highly enough. It would seem that in both cases there is a lack of belief. But how could there be a lack of belief if I have come “thus far with faith unshaken”?

I see the drift she is intending guide me in that I am nothing and God is everything. I think my life has been teaching me that quite articulately during the last couple years. I pray and wait for deliverance.

“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 13, Day 2

“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 13, Day 2

I have been pondering about this carnal problem solving. One thing that I have realized is that some blessings come as grace, some come through grit. In the past couple of years as I have learned to focus on Christ, solutions seem to be forthcoming; adjustments and changes seem to happen more fluidly. I disagree with the word “automatically”. The way I see it, there are things we need to hope for, things we need to work for, and things we need to wait for- and they’re not necessarily the same thing. One example might be if we hope for patience, we pray for charity, and receive grace and understanding. Christ is the seed of all divine attributes. I see her point of view that as we focus on Christ that some changes happen so slowly they are seemingly imperceptible and unnoticed. Sometimes I think I have lived my mission my whole life and not even known it. Like Elder Anderson once said, “We come to know what we already knew.” (talk called “You know enough”)

I used to think the path of discipleship would happen like the manufacturing of a car where one part is put in at a time all done until you have a fine working vehicle. As I walk this path it seems more like the formation of a baby in the womb where all things happen at once working together in perfect unison. As I see myself becoming an instrument in the hand of the Lord, it is not my patience that is finished then I work on Godliness. As Elder Uchtdorf said Faith, Hope, and Charity work inter-dependently in an upward spiral supporting and building on one another. This path is difficult to describe, but unmistakable if you have walked it. I know it is not me that is forming me to become who I am. It is obvious and plain that I am wholly and completely supported by a power higher than my own.

2 N 12:11 And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of men shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

What does it mean that the “Lord alone shall be exalted in that day”? I suppose in the day that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, they will do so because they realize the have no power and He has all power when the pestilence comes upon us is because of sin. The prophecies are as much a foreseeing of wickedness as much as they are a warning.

We as a people are called to prepare the earth for the Second Coming of the Savior. Pres Eyring said that “When He comes we will be prepared”. https://lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/our-hearts-knit-as-one?lang=eng&signmein

That means to me that Zion will already be established and the earth will already be cleansed and pure. Sometimes in my mind of foreseeing the future I think that things will happen in a “Poof” type of magic. But that is not how the Lord works. He can certainly bring to pass what He will how He will. But so far as I have observed in the scriptures and in my own life the Lord works through means that will increase our faith while He is bringing about His purposes. And that happens because we choose it to be. We are the ones that are His hands to work to prepare for that time. It was the little boy David who went to the King and said, “I will fight Goliath!” That wasn’t a “poof”. That was the choice and faith of a little boy who believed in the power of God to conquer regardless of what things may have appeared to be like.

But as for this reference, I think it will come to a point where man will realize they have no jurisdiction to legislate against the waves of the sea and men will stand as fools before God without power or self-importance.

"He Did Deliver Me from Bondage" p. 14, Day 4

2N 31:19

“For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ and with faith unshaken in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.”

“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 13, Day 3

I have been pondering about this carnal problem solving. One thing that I have realized is that some blessings come as grace, some come through grit. In the past couple of years as I have learned to focus on Christ, solutions seem to be forthcoming; adjustments and changes seem to happen more fluidly. I disagree with the author when she said “it will happen automatically”. The way I see it, there are things we need to hope for, things we need to work for, and things we need to wait for. Christ is the seed of all divine attributes. I see her point of view that as we focus on Christ that some changes happen so slowly they are seemingly imperceptible and unnoticed. Sometimes I think I have lived my mission my whole life and not even known it. Like Elder Anderson once said, “We come to know what we already knew.” (talk called “You know enough”)

2 N 12:11 And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of men shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

We as a people are called to prepare the earth for the Second Coming of the Savior. Pres Eyring said that “When He comes we will be prepared”. That means to me that Zion will already be established and the earth will already be cleansed and pure. Sometimes in my mind of foreseeing the future I think that things will happen in a “Poof” type of magic. But that is not how the Lord works. He can certainly bring to pass what He will how He will. But so far as I have observed in the scriptures and in my own life the Lord works through means that will increase our faith while He is bringing about His purposes. And that happens because we choose it to be. We are the ones that are His hands to work to prepare for that time. It was the little boy David who went to the King and said, “I will fight Goliath!” That wasn’t a “poof”. That was the choice and faith of a little boy who believed in the power of God to conquer regardless of what things may have appeared to be like.

6-13-11 “He did deliver me from bondage” p. 13, Day 1

2N 9:39: to be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life. This scripture also reminds us to remember the prison of pain. When we sin against the Holy Ghost, we are captured in the bonds of sin. This feeling of loss of light is spiritual darkness.

carnal a. (1828 online)

1. Pertaining to flesh; fleshly; sensual; opposed to spiritual; as carnal pleasure.

2. Being in the natural state; unregenerate.

The carnal mind is enmity against God.

Rom.

3. Pertaining to the ceremonial law; as carnal ordinances. Heb. 9:10.

4. Lecherous; lustful; libidinous; given to sensual indulgence.

Carnal-knowledge, sexual intercourse.

I get this definition in relation to knowledge. I know that there is knowledge of this world which does not include things of the world to come. And eternal knowledge that includes both things of this world and things of the world to come. (Orson F Whitney quote from Flinders book: Teach the Children)

I have learned in my study path that I have to trust that there is one right place that I can cast my net as directed by the Spirit that will give me the perfect thing I need to learn right now. But if I try to study by the arm of the flesh, I get overwhelmed and feel like there is SO much I have to do right now. I start to compare myself with everyone else thinking that they know so much more than I do, and that I will never get it all.

I know there is So much I don’t know, and SO much I have yet to learn. The things I need to learn both spiritual and temporal are part of my learning path. I am learning from the inside out; the slow way; the way only the Spirit of the Lord can direct. Change is slow but permanent. And it includes the right thing at the right time with all things considered. When I trust in that Spirit that leads me to learn, it is perfect and complete, and amazingly beautiful.

Now, regarding the instruction on page13, “Think of its definition as it applies to our own efforts to solve our problems. Write about an area in your life in which you are guilty of being “carnally minded” in regard to seeking solutions.”

This is an application of carnal I never would have considered. Hum, carnal problem solving… I think it has only been in the last few years that I have learned at all to find solutions. Before all I could see was problems. In the past, I did as this author and tried to do it all myself, then ask of God. But not in a way that I would ‘study it out’. In the way that I would try to find a solution, or find truth, “somewhere out there”, as the Lehi’s vision Living Scriptures version says. All my life I have been trying to find happiness, or the way to happiness. I have been through a myriad of searches -- all fruitless. I have learned for myself that truth is not ‘somewhere out there’ for I have found the source of truth through the Spirit which the Lord has put within my own heart.

As this applies to my situation today, we often in our home struggle with a contest of will’s. When we pull against each other it is carnal problem solving with each person trying to get their own way. Spiritual problem solving on the other hand requires seeking the will of the Lord. If each of us seek to do it God’s way, we will agree to communicate, compromise and find the best solution. I know that God wants us to be happy. I know as we seek the Lord’s will for our problems that He will lead each of us to the BEST solution for ALL of us. Therein is unity and peace. The trick is getting each person on the same team to desire to seek the will of the Lord.

There are times when I get all steamed up and I think I have to have things my way. I think everything has to be ‘just so’ because of this or that. I need to find a way to let go of what I think, and trust the Lord. There is something wrong on the basic foundational level of my thinking. I think I do not understand the principle of Agency, and how to allow others their own choice. I think I am trying to dictate my children’s choices and I HATE it when I see them do that to each other. “You are not the boss” is a common phrase currently in my home.