Zion

Recently there has been so much talk about "socialism" in the political buzz in the media. I am so very much against socialism, and part of me was wondering if that was "unkind" of me. No. I do not think it is. Instead of "socialism", I believe in "generosity."

I studied this talk today:
Come to Zion
Elder D. Todd Christofferson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

In his message, Elder Christofferson says:

Each of us should prayerfully consider whether we are doing what we should
and all that we should in the Lord's eyes with respect to the poor and the
needy.

In much of the world, we are entering upon unsettled economic times. Let us
look after one another the very best we can. I remember the story of a
Vietnamese family that fled Saigon in 1975 and ended up living in a small mobile
home in Provo, Utah. A young man in the refugee family became the home teaching
companion to a Brother Johnson who lived nearby with his large family. The boy
related the following:
"One day Brother Johnson noticed that our family had
no kitchen table. He appeared the next day with an odd-looking but very
functional table that fit nicely against the trailer wall across from the
kitchen sink and counters. I say odd-looking because two of the table legs
matched the tabletop and two did not. Also, several small wooden pegs stuck out
along one edge of the worn surface.
"Soon we used this unique table daily for
food preparation and for eating some quick meals. We still ate our family meals
while we sat on the floor . . . in true Vietnamese
fashion.
"One evening I stood inside Brother Johnson's front door as I waited
for him before a home teaching appointment. There in the nearby kitchen—I was
surprised to see it—was a table practically identical to the one they had given
to my family. The only difference was that where our table had pegs, the Johnsons' table had holes!
I then realized that, seeing our need, this charitable man had cut his kitchen
table in half and had built two new legs for each half.
"It was obvious that
the Johnson family could not fit around this small piece of furniture—they
probably didn't fit comfortably around it when it was
whole. . . .
"Throughout my life this kind act has been
a powerful reminder of true giving" (Son Quang Le, as told to Beth Ellis Le, "Two-of-a-Kind Table," Ensign, July 2004, 63).

I think we should give, I think we should be kind and generous, and look after each other. How wonderful it would be to have a leader of this country that would inspire generosity . Giving in this way is what brings us closer to Christ. As we give of our own free will, we are blessed with the spirit, as a little "thank you" card from God. Imagine the joy in the country, with it's population filled with the spirit of God.

I really appreciated this talk, as a personal reminder to look inward and see if I am doing all I can to care for the poor. I know that when I am in the service of others, I am serving my God.

My lumped up scripture

Every month I get to choose a new topic for my Book of Mormon class. Last Thursday I taught Helaman 5:12. Sometimes it is chapter, sometimes a group of chapters, sometimes a topic, and sometimes a verse. Any requests for next month? I am coming upon 3 Nephi 11 in my personal study- so I am considering that chapter.

Today- I am studying another way. Sometimes I like to look up all of the scriptures used in a good talk. The scriptures below were quoted or referred to in President Uchtdorf's talk he gave in the recent General Relief Society meeting. He chose a hand full of scriptures, it interests me to know which ones, and study them.

Isaiah 55:9

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Nephi 11:17

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

Moses 1:39

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

2 Nephi 2:25

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men c, that they might have joy.

D&C 46:11-12

11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.

D&C 81:5

5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

Mosiah 18:9

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Matthew 23:11

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

D&C 90:24

24 Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.

D&C 6:20

20 Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.

I then make a lumped together scripture for myself:

The Lord has better perspective on my life than I do. I need to search out his will for me and trust him. He loves me. It is his goal for me to return to him. He wants me to be happy. The Lord has given me talents and gifts. He has given me these for me to serve others. I should look for those in my life who need a hand, and give it to them. Strengthen others, lift others up, and stand as a witness of God. ( I promise to do this every week as I partake of the sacrament.). Be service oriented in my thoughts and actions. I need to search the scriptures, pray always, have faith in Christ, and remember the covenants I have made. When I do this, all things will work together for my good. (I LOVE that promise.)

Helaman 5:12 It's the Service that Counts

I want to continue what I started two days ago about "foundations." (I tend to rotate my study between chronological reading, in an effort to keep up with the Sunday School class, and study for the classes that I teach- thus the lack of order :)

President Monson had mentioned three ways to strengthen the depth of our foundations in Christ. The first was prayer.

"My second guideline: Let us study the scriptures and “meditate therein day and night,” "

The basics, prayer, scripture study... they always seem to be the answer.

It makes me think of a favorite set of scriptures in Alma 37. Alma compares the words of Christ (study of the scriptures) to the Liahona. He tells us that they will point us on a direct course in our lives- and then he compares scripture study to the serpent that Moses put on a stick, to save the people that were bitten and dying, all they needed to do was look at it:


46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

So simple, yet so easy to not do. Just this morning, I was laying in bed, sleep deprived, I was up until 11:30 last night, and 5:00 came all too soon. Today I got up to study, but there have been many similar situations where I had convinced myself that I could never survive the day on such little sleep. It is so easy not to do. "Do not let me be slothful because of the easiness of the way."

Joshua 1: 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

President Monson did not just say to study, but also to meditate. What a great promise for the meditatiors found in Joshua, "then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

President Monson continues: "My third guideline for building a strong foundation of faith and testimony involves service.
While driving to the office one morning, I passed a dry-cleaning establishment which had a sign in the window. It read, “It’s the Service That Counts.” The sign’s message simply would not leave my mind. Suddenly I realized why. In actual fact it is the service that counts—the Lord’s service."

President Monson makes me want to pay more attention to signs. He gets some great analogies from signs in windows and on the road.

President Monson gives a terrific example:

Thirteen years ago it was my privilege to provide a blessing to a beautiful 12-year-old young lady, Jami Palmer. She had just been diagnosed with cancer and was frightened and bewildered. She subsequently underwent surgery and painful chemotherapy. Today she is cancer-free and is a bright, beautiful 26-year-old who has accomplished much in her life. Some time ago, I learned that in her darkest hour, when any future appeared somewhat grim, she learned that her leg where the cancer was situated would require multiple surgeries. A long-planned hike with her Young Women class up a rugged trail to Timpanogos Cave—located in the Wasatch Mountains about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah—was out of the question, she thought. Jami told her friends they would have to undertake the hike without her. I’m confident there was a catch in her voice and disappointment in her heart. But then the other young women responded emphatically, “No, Jami, you are going with us!”
“But I can’t walk,” came the anguished reply.
“Then, Jami, we’ll carry you to the top!” And they did.
Today, the hike is a memory, but in reality it is much more. James Barrie, the Scottish poet, declared, “God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives” (paraphrasing James Barrie, in Laurence J. Peter, comp., Peter’s Quotations: Ideas for Our Time [1977], 335). None of those precious young women will ever forget that memorable day when a loving Heavenly Father looked down with a smile of approval and was well pleased.
As He enlists us to His cause, He invites us to draw close to Him, and we feel His spirit in our lives."

D2 is crying, she had a bad dream- catch you tomorrow.