willing to bear one another’s burdens

Mosiah 18:8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

This scripture always seemed heavy to me, like a huge responsibility. Today in church we had our Branch Conference, the Stake President mentioned this scripture in relation to a story about forgiveness and a man who had been severely abused for much of his life... and I finally got it. Bearing one another's burdens doesn't mean you/we/I have to "fix" everyone else's problems (I mean seriously could I even; really) or get anyone else to repent of their mistakes (this doesn't excuse us from crying repentance where appropriate, but we can't make anyone repent [that was Satan's plan]); it simply means I must be willing to forgive them when their problems and/or mistakes affect me, that way their burden of repentance is not made heavier by my additional burden of not forgiving them.

windmills

For a windmill to use the power of the wind it must stand still and turn in the direction of the wind, if it turns out of the path it loses the power. So it is with us, if we would have God direct our lives, we must quiet our wills and turn as His will directs us.

John 11: 25

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

I was listening to conference talks over again and Elder Amado mentioned this scripture in his talk, I suddenly realized that it is talking about more than just being resurrected, because we are all going to be resurrected, so why would we need to believe in Christ to be resurrected. The scripture says He is the resurrection (free to all) and the life: If we want the life; Eternal life, with God we have to believe in Christ. Interesting how you can hear a scripture all your life thinking you know what it means and then all of a sudden you just get it.

What if

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Many people are familiar with this scripture. I had a thought yesterday when I was a little bit frustrated with someone, what if that person was Christ, how would I be treating them, then I thought of that scripture and I realized that I should treat everyone as if they where Christ, it was easier then not to be frustrated. But during the day as I continued to think about this concept of actually treating everyone as if they were Christ I also realized that even thought it is a good thing to strive for, it is not going to be easy, but what good thing is. Later in the day as I mentioned the concept to my husband he said "Yeah but Christ isn't going to do bad things to you or treat you wrong and on and on, blah blah blah" My response to that is that you are only responsible for your actions, not what the other person is doing, so it doesn't matter what so in so is doing wrong you can still treat them right.

Baby steps

Just a personal insight I thought I would share in case it would help out anyone else. We all make mistakes, no... that is not the insight; I'm sure you've all figured that one out already.

Let me start with a poem by Shel Silverstein

Melinda Mae

Have you heard of tiny Melinda Mae,
Who ate a monstrous whale?
She thought she could,
She said she would,
So she started in right at the tail.

And everyone said,"You're much too small,"
But that didn't bother Melinda at all,
She took little bites and she chewed very slow,
Just like a little girl should...

...and eighty-nine years later she ate that whale
Because she said she would!!!

So we all make mistakes, they may be little ones at first, but if we don't do anything about them, they can turn into big problems. On the other hand, and this is the really neat part, it only takes just a little effort every day to keep on the straight an narrow path once you are on it... consistent sincere prayer, real scripture study and true repentance when you notice each little slip-up, that way you're not "eating a whale" you're just taking one bite at a time... baby steps.

I love Paul, he is such an inspiration to me. Here is one of my favorite scriptures: Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Life can get us down if we let it. It can beat at us until we can barely stand. There was an incident in Paul's ministry when he was stoned near to death, in fact the people who had stoned him thought he was dead and threw him out of the city. His friends picked him up and took him in and ministered to him. The next day he got up and went back to work. Incredible man. So when he talks about tribulations, he knows about tribulations. That's the thing though, we can take the bad and let it make us good, or we can take it and let it make us twisted and evil. The choice is ours. That is the secret to life ... We Choose.

The plan of Restoration

This week I read an article in the Ensign which referenced a quote from Joseph Smith (I'll refer to it below citing it's original source) then while I was reading the Book of Mormon for my Sunday School reading assignment I was impressed by Alma's reference to restoration. I believe it to be a concept with more than one depth of meaning for example in Alma 41:13-15 we see "13... the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful. 14 Therefore,..., see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again. 15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all." When we die we are going to be exactly the same as we are there as we are here in our hearts. That its why it is so important to learn to control not just your actions, but your thoughts also, for as it says in Proverbs 12;7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:..." and in Alma 12:14 "...and our thoughts will also condemn us..." Another aspect of restoration is from that article I read in the Ensign (you should read it) Titled "Forgiveness and Making Up for Losses" the following is the quote that impressed me from its original source: "I am glad I have the privilege of communicating to you some things which, if grasped closely, will be a help to you when earthquakes bellow, the clouds gather, the lightnings flash, and the storms are ready to burst upon you like peals of thunder. Lay hold of these things and let not your knees or joints tremble, nor your hearts faint; and then what can earthquakes, wars and tornadoes do? Nothing. All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it." (History of the Church, 5:362; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Apr. 16, 1843, in Nauvoo, IL; reported by W. Richards and W. Woodruff) From my understanding it doesn't matter if we think we are missing out on something here in this life that we think we should be getting, a missed hope or dream. One (or more) of your family members died or didn't live up to your expectations (that never happens) Whatever it is, you can stop worrying about it. You can stop worrying about it, because "All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection," and here is the important part "provided you continue faithful." So your job is to continue faithful. Which puts into perspective these scriptures which also refer to restoration: Luke 6: 37-38 "37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:" "38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." In the end its all our own choice: Alma 42: 27 "Therefore, ..., whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds."