After reading The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A. J. Jacobs,who took on the daunting task of reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z. I took on a challenge of my own: to read all of the Ensigns available online. And thus, this blog began.
For more info about this challenge and for a review of the above book see my first post.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Was This Really Written 37 Years Ago?
In “Gospel Forum” Elder Marion G. Romney clarified topics very relevant for today?
What about war? As Latter-day Saints we should “renounce war and proclaim peace. …”(D&C 98:16.) He stated,”If all people were faithful Latter-day Saints, there would be no wars.” Wouldn’t that be wonderful!! However, we are not just members of the Church we are also a subject or citizen of the state in which we live. And “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”
What about poverty? We should abhor it and do all in our power to alleviate it! I agree! I wonder if more of us shouldn’t ponder more often on this verse from the Doctrine and Covenants. “Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.” (D&C 104:14–18.) Am I imparting all I can to avoid being in torment? Perhaps I could do better!
What about education? I wish I would have paid more attention to obtaining an education when I had the opportunity! I should however wake up and learn from my mistake and use the available time and means I do have to gain knowledge. After all I know now that “whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” (D&C 130:18–19.) I don’t want to be wishing in the world to come that I had been more diligent and obedient in this life!
What about pollution? As Latter-day Saints we detest pollution of all types: ecological, physical, moral, spiritual and every other type for we know the Holy Ghost, which we seek, will not associate with any unclean thing or person. Note to self: If I want our home to be like a temple I should work a little harder in keeping it clean so the Spirit can dwell with us in our home!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
What Can I Do?!
I read in an article entitled “The Church and Its Magazines” that “it is the hope of Church leaders that every English-speaking family in the Church will subscribe to the Ensign and read it regularly.” In my own small way I am fulfilling that hope! The Magazines: the Ensign, the New Era, and the Friend have a mission to: “strengthen the faith of Church members, promulgate the truths of the gospel, and keep members abreast of vital and current Church policies and happenings.” I am especially looking forward to having my faith strengthened!
Until I read this article I had never stopped to think about how indispensable the printed word has been to the restoration and growth of the Church. Now I am aware that the "Holy Bible led Joseph Smith into the Sacred Grove that spring day in 1820. The engraven word from the golden plates, transformed into the printed word of the Book of Mormon, testified of the truthfulness of the Bible and revealed many precious gospel truths to man. Added to these, the revelations that became the Doctrine and Covenants and the printed history and instructions in the Pearl of Great Price make up the standard works of the Church."
Also vital to the restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the Church have been the amazingly large number of newspapers and magazines published by the Church. I was going to list them here but it would have made this post too lengthy.
Something I really thought was interesting and important is that Joseph Smith, on April 19, 1843, said to John Taylor, “I believe you can do more good in the editorial department than preaching. You can write for thousands to read; while you can preach to but a few at a time.”
Now there is the internet as well that the Church, its leaders and members, can use to help spread the gospel message. Keeping in mind the Prophet Joseph Smith’s instructions to Elder John Taylor I ask myself, “What can I do to spread the glorious news of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ?!
Until I read this article I had never stopped to think about how indispensable the printed word has been to the restoration and growth of the Church. Now I am aware that the "Holy Bible led Joseph Smith into the Sacred Grove that spring day in 1820. The engraven word from the golden plates, transformed into the printed word of the Book of Mormon, testified of the truthfulness of the Bible and revealed many precious gospel truths to man. Added to these, the revelations that became the Doctrine and Covenants and the printed history and instructions in the Pearl of Great Price make up the standard works of the Church."
Also vital to the restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the Church have been the amazingly large number of newspapers and magazines published by the Church. I was going to list them here but it would have made this post too lengthy.
Something I really thought was interesting and important is that Joseph Smith, on April 19, 1843, said to John Taylor, “I believe you can do more good in the editorial department than preaching. You can write for thousands to read; while you can preach to but a few at a time.”
Now there is the internet as well that the Church, its leaders and members, can use to help spread the gospel message. Keeping in mind the Prophet Joseph Smith’s instructions to Elder John Taylor I ask myself, “What can I do to spread the glorious news of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ?!
Monday, May 5, 2008
A Great Morsel
In my reading today, President Harold B. Lee quoted a bishop in California who said, "...as the many problems of my people come to my attention, I have made an interesting discovery. Every problem my people bring to me can be solved by talking to Jesus Christ. Every problem!" President Lee then adds,"That is an interesting discovery for all of us to make. Every problem that afflicts humankind can be solved if we can only talk to the Lord and then, equally important, listen when the Lord answers."
I find this to be very profound. Isn't it wonderful to know that we have a loving God who will help us through the hardships of life! Nothing is too hard for Him! We just have to turn to Him and listen to Him. How very comforting!
I find this to be very profound. Isn't it wonderful to know that we have a loving God who will help us through the hardships of life! Nothing is too hard for Him! We just have to turn to Him and listen to Him. How very comforting!
Saturday, May 3, 2008
My First Bite
I went online to Lds.org today to access my first conference address. I found that the actual conference talks were only available without extra digging from 1997 . That wasn’t far enough! I had been thinking of going back at least to that ancient date of April of 1967 which would have been the first conference for which I was alive.
So then I decided to try looking in the Ensigns and found I could go back further-to 1971. Not quite as far as I had hoped but a sufficient beginning. After all, in April of 1971 I would have only been 4. I clicked on the May issue but it didn’t appear to be a summary of conference. Hmmm…. I decided to tackle all of the Ensigns instead and I have already benefited.
The first article entitled: “Message from the First Presidency” (then President Joseph Fielding Smith, his First Counselor President, Harold B. Lee, and his Second Counselor, President N. Eldon Tanner) informed me that this was actually the very first issue of the Ensign! Wow! I didn’t know that. President Smith was excited about this new and “rare opportunity to reach members of the Church.” He estimated that it would be received by nearly 350,000 families. I wonder how many families now access lds.org?
President Smith reminded us of “just how important the family unit is in the overall plan of our Father in heaven. …the Church…exists to assist the family and its members in reaching exaltation.”
Surprisingly enough his message sounded very familiar. He said, “…the adversary has turned much of his attention to the destruction of families in our society.” And so it has become “critical for Latter-day Saint parents to maintain and strengthen the family.”
“He asked if we spend as much time making our families and home successful as we do in pursuing social and professional success. “Are you devoting your best creative energy to the most important unit in society- the family? Or is your relationship with your family merely a routine, unrewarding part of life? Parent and child must be willing to put family responsibilities first in order to achieve family exaltation.”
This is a wakeup call! I often find myself just going through the motions of being a mom with very little creative energy being devoted.
He warned that parents who ignore Family Home Evening are “gambling with the future of their children.” I know not to gamble!
He told me that I will benefit greatly from my quest to read all of the Ensigns!! Cool I have the endorsement of a prophet! Not exactly in those words but this is what he did say: “The Ensign… is another effort on the part of the Church to help individuals and families stay closer to the Lord. This magazine can be a great influence for good IF YOU WILL READ IT.” ( I added the emphasis.) And that is what I am setting out to do! No more mere gathering of and displaying the Ensign! I am going to feast upon it!
In the same message President Harold B. Lee told us to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesisans 6:11-12)
Hey I’ve heard this before! How relevant!
I know this is a long post, but there is the message of one more member of the First Presidency to consider. And after all, it is the Word of God! So we really shouldn’t complain about more.
President N. Eldon Tanner said, “The most important thing that Jesus Christ taught when he was on earth is that we must love one another. He told us that “love is of God” and commanded us to love one another.” (1 John 4:7)
Thus I make a mental note, since I easily forget things these days. If I forget all else, don’t forget to Love! Love is the most important thing to remember!
However I have observed and experienced personally that loving is not always easy. But we should just keep trying to love. President Tanner said," we learn to love by loving. We need to express our love to those around us by telling them everyday that we do love them.... it is even more important to show people that we love them than it is just to say "I love you." Where else is a better place to practice love than in the home with our families? President Tanner taught that if we are "kind and thoughtful and courteous, then ...our home can become a little piece of heaven." Who wouldn't want that?
And so I see I have a lot I can work on in this little message given 37 years ago. Now I am going to apply a little of what I have learned and show Cami I love her by playing catch with her.
So then I decided to try looking in the Ensigns and found I could go back further-to 1971. Not quite as far as I had hoped but a sufficient beginning. After all, in April of 1971 I would have only been 4. I clicked on the May issue but it didn’t appear to be a summary of conference. Hmmm…. I decided to tackle all of the Ensigns instead and I have already benefited.
The first article entitled: “Message from the First Presidency” (then President Joseph Fielding Smith, his First Counselor President, Harold B. Lee, and his Second Counselor, President N. Eldon Tanner) informed me that this was actually the very first issue of the Ensign! Wow! I didn’t know that. President Smith was excited about this new and “rare opportunity to reach members of the Church.” He estimated that it would be received by nearly 350,000 families. I wonder how many families now access lds.org?
President Smith reminded us of “just how important the family unit is in the overall plan of our Father in heaven. …the Church…exists to assist the family and its members in reaching exaltation.”
Surprisingly enough his message sounded very familiar. He said, “…the adversary has turned much of his attention to the destruction of families in our society.” And so it has become “critical for Latter-day Saint parents to maintain and strengthen the family.”
“He asked if we spend as much time making our families and home successful as we do in pursuing social and professional success. “Are you devoting your best creative energy to the most important unit in society- the family? Or is your relationship with your family merely a routine, unrewarding part of life? Parent and child must be willing to put family responsibilities first in order to achieve family exaltation.”
This is a wakeup call! I often find myself just going through the motions of being a mom with very little creative energy being devoted.
He warned that parents who ignore Family Home Evening are “gambling with the future of their children.” I know not to gamble!
He told me that I will benefit greatly from my quest to read all of the Ensigns!! Cool I have the endorsement of a prophet! Not exactly in those words but this is what he did say: “The Ensign… is another effort on the part of the Church to help individuals and families stay closer to the Lord. This magazine can be a great influence for good IF YOU WILL READ IT.” ( I added the emphasis.) And that is what I am setting out to do! No more mere gathering of and displaying the Ensign! I am going to feast upon it!
In the same message President Harold B. Lee told us to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesisans 6:11-12)
Hey I’ve heard this before! How relevant!
I know this is a long post, but there is the message of one more member of the First Presidency to consider. And after all, it is the Word of God! So we really shouldn’t complain about more.
President N. Eldon Tanner said, “The most important thing that Jesus Christ taught when he was on earth is that we must love one another. He told us that “love is of God” and commanded us to love one another.” (1 John 4:7)
Thus I make a mental note, since I easily forget things these days. If I forget all else, don’t forget to Love! Love is the most important thing to remember!
However I have observed and experienced personally that loving is not always easy. But we should just keep trying to love. President Tanner said," we learn to love by loving. We need to express our love to those around us by telling them everyday that we do love them.... it is even more important to show people that we love them than it is just to say "I love you." Where else is a better place to practice love than in the home with our families? President Tanner taught that if we are "kind and thoughtful and courteous, then ...our home can become a little piece of heaven." Who wouldn't want that?
And so I see I have a lot I can work on in this little message given 37 years ago. Now I am going to apply a little of what I have learned and show Cami I love her by playing catch with her.
Friday, May 2, 2008
My Feasting Challenge! How It All Began?
I've been reading The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World.
The author, A. J. Jacobs, took on the daunting task of reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z. I have actually always wanted to attempt such a feat so I at first was fascinated by this book not to mention a little envious that he, not I, got the bright idea to write about this pursuit of knowledge. Unfortunately I have been disappointed. While the book is at times very funny, touching, and full of strange, interesting, and relevant facts, Jacobs' unnecessarily inappropriate and offensive language has ruined it for me. I can't recommend the book.
However it did get me thinking....and I came to the conclusion that, yes, it would be a great challenge to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica! Alas! Considering my situation in life as a busy mom, I am not sure such a quest would be the best use of my precious and limited time. But, I ask myself, "What about a challenge to read all of the available conference addresses?" And thus, this blog began.
The author, A. J. Jacobs, took on the daunting task of reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z. I have actually always wanted to attempt such a feat so I at first was fascinated by this book not to mention a little envious that he, not I, got the bright idea to write about this pursuit of knowledge. Unfortunately I have been disappointed. While the book is at times very funny, touching, and full of strange, interesting, and relevant facts, Jacobs' unnecessarily inappropriate and offensive language has ruined it for me. I can't recommend the book.
However it did get me thinking....and I came to the conclusion that, yes, it would be a great challenge to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica! Alas! Considering my situation in life as a busy mom, I am not sure such a quest would be the best use of my precious and limited time. But, I ask myself, "What about a challenge to read all of the available conference addresses?" And thus, this blog began.
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