Walter F. Gonzalez (70) Followers of Christ
“Two characteristics can help us recognize to what extent we follow Him. First, followers of Christ are loving people. Second, followers of Christ make and keep covenants.”
“Truly loving Christ provides the required strength to follow Him. … Love is a powerful influence in our hearts in our effort to be obedient.”
Joseph Smith taught, “covenants were made in heaven” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church, JS, 42). Also (in endnote) Spencer W. Kimball taught, ‘We made vows, solemn vows, in the heavens before we came to this mortal life. … We have made covenants. We made them before we accepted our position here on the earth.’
“Making covenants is an expression of love. … All things will work together for our good if we remember our covenants. … Love for the Savior and remembering our covenants will help us keep them. Partaking of the sacrament is one way to remember them … The power of our covenants is greater than any challenge we face or we may face.”
This reminded me of two quotes from President Eyring’s teachings.
“The covenant God offers us in marriage contains the crowning promise, the one that most touches our hearts. To be sealed in the temple of God by the sealing power that God has restored to the earth allows God to promise us that we may have all He has, may live the life that He lives, and may be with Him, the Savior, and our faithful family members forever In perfect love and harmony. Our promise is complete too. We promise to give Him all that we have and are and all that we may ever have or ever achieve. So the promise is that we may have all He has by giving all we have. The almost unimaginable imbalance of that exchange, all we have for all He has, is a measure of His love for us" (Elder Henry B. Eyring in Because He First Loved Us, p. 44).
(From my notes of one of his talks at the dedication of the Columbia River Temple -- paraphrased, not a direct quote): Elder Eyring said that when he came to the temple for the first time, he was only a few minutes into the endowment session when he realized he had waited all his life to make these covenants with his Heavenly Father so he could be eligible to receive these promises.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Refrigerator Hangers (4/11 #1)
My new friend and fellow Coordinator in Queens, Stan Kauffman, said that when he taught the class, Teachings of the Living Prophets, he invited his students to look for short inspirational statements in the Conference talks that they might want to hang on their refrigerator. I think that's a good idea. Here are a few of mine from this last Conference (April 2011).
L. Tom Perry The Sabbath and the Sacrament
“The pattern of Sabbath day observance must always include worship.”
"Partaking of the sacrament is the center of our Sabbath day observance”
“Brothers and sisters, in the latter days the adversary succeeds when we relax our commitment to the Savior. … I bear my special witness that the greatest joy we receive in this life is in following the Savior.”
Jean A. Stevens (1st C. Primary) Become as a Little Child
A member of the 70 taught a Bishop the importance of tithing to help the members of his ward with their challenges. The Bishop taught the children of the ward the principle of tithing and asked them to live it. Six months later, when they had, he asked the members of the ward if they would be willing to follow the example of their children. They did and the windows of heaven were opened for them.
Elder M. Russell Ballard has taught us the importance of the Savior’s admonition to “behold your little ones” when he said: “Notice that He didn’t say ‘glance at them’ or ‘casually observe them’ or ‘occasionally take a look in their general direction.’ He said to behold them. To me that means that we should embrace them with our eyes and with our hearts; we should see and appreciate them for who they really are: spirit children of our Heavenly Father, with divine attributes” (“Behold Your Little Ones,” Tambuli, Oct. 1994, 40; emphasis added; “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 59).
L. Tom Perry The Sabbath and the Sacrament
“The pattern of Sabbath day observance must always include worship.”
"Partaking of the sacrament is the center of our Sabbath day observance”
“Brothers and sisters, in the latter days the adversary succeeds when we relax our commitment to the Savior. … I bear my special witness that the greatest joy we receive in this life is in following the Savior.”
Jean A. Stevens (1st C. Primary) Become as a Little Child
A member of the 70 taught a Bishop the importance of tithing to help the members of his ward with their challenges. The Bishop taught the children of the ward the principle of tithing and asked them to live it. Six months later, when they had, he asked the members of the ward if they would be willing to follow the example of their children. They did and the windows of heaven were opened for them.
Elder M. Russell Ballard has taught us the importance of the Savior’s admonition to “behold your little ones” when he said: “Notice that He didn’t say ‘glance at them’ or ‘casually observe them’ or ‘occasionally take a look in their general direction.’ He said to behold them. To me that means that we should embrace them with our eyes and with our hearts; we should see and appreciate them for who they really are: spirit children of our Heavenly Father, with divine attributes” (“Behold Your Little Ones,” Tambuli, Oct. 1994, 40; emphasis added; “Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1994, 59).
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Something you should know #1
Something you should know.(1)
I remember hearing about a Branch President who told his congregation that he knew the gospel was true and that if he didn’t he would be someplace else having “fun.” And I remember another time being taught that it was the Spirit that gave life to our church experience. The more we felt the Spirit, the more vibrant, uplifting, and “fun” our Church experience was. That’s true. Two individuals can be in the same meeting and one love it and the other may not like it very much. It’s the Spirit that makes the difference. And the Spirit comes and goes according to the things we do to cause it to come or go.
I’ve found that I have the Spirit when I try to do those common ordinary things that we’ve been taught we should do every day. When I start and end my day with prayer, when I read from the scriptures every day, and when I try to find ways to help others the Spirit comes into my life (of course obeying the commandments is important too).
I was with Joey when he received his patriarchal blessing. He was told that he would find that days he read from the Book of Mormon would be better days than when he didn’t. And a little while ago Jackie told me she was feeling kind of despondent and then decided to become more committed to reading from the scriptures every day and the gloomy feeling went away. I believe it. That’s been my experience too.
I remember hearing about a Branch President who told his congregation that he knew the gospel was true and that if he didn’t he would be someplace else having “fun.” And I remember another time being taught that it was the Spirit that gave life to our church experience. The more we felt the Spirit, the more vibrant, uplifting, and “fun” our Church experience was. That’s true. Two individuals can be in the same meeting and one love it and the other may not like it very much. It’s the Spirit that makes the difference. And the Spirit comes and goes according to the things we do to cause it to come or go.
I’ve found that I have the Spirit when I try to do those common ordinary things that we’ve been taught we should do every day. When I start and end my day with prayer, when I read from the scriptures every day, and when I try to find ways to help others the Spirit comes into my life (of course obeying the commandments is important too).
I was with Joey when he received his patriarchal blessing. He was told that he would find that days he read from the Book of Mormon would be better days than when he didn’t. And a little while ago Jackie told me she was feeling kind of despondent and then decided to become more committed to reading from the scriptures every day and the gloomy feeling went away. I believe it. That’s been my experience too.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
To him that overcometh
I will be teaching an Institute class this summer called "The Writings of John." We will study the Book of Revelation, John's Epistles, and the Gospel of John. I have been doing some reading to prepare and yesterday I read an article concerning John's teachings about the Atonement that helped me see some verses in Revelation in a new light (see previous post about commentaries).
The book of Revelation is a revelation of Christ through John to the seven churches in Asia (in other words, 7 Branches of the Church in Asia). Revelation 2-3 has particular counsel to the members of those churches. He commends them for their righteousness, chastises them for their sins then gives them tremendous promises if they will be faithful and true. Each of these promises are prefaced with the words "To him that overcometh." I have long associated this phrase with the similar phrase in D&C 76:53 that promises the Celestial kingdom to those "who overcome by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds upon all those who are just and true."
Life sends us temptations and challenges of all kinds--gut wrenching experiences and other bumps in the road. It takes faith to overcome these. Great blessings await us if we do.
But yesterday the curtain parted and I saw something else in these verses. The author connected them with the principle of grace. The Bible Dictionary defines "grace" as "divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ." All the blessings of the Atonement of Christ come to us through the grace of Christ. Through the grace of His Atonement we are resurrected, forgiven, comforted, strengthened, and empowered. Grace is an "enabling power" that gives us strength to overcome the temptations and challenges of life. It is the power by which we overcome the natural man and become new creatures. It is the power by which we are able to do and become far beyond what we could do or become by our own devices.
The Fall provided us with the wonderful gift of mortality--a school unlike any other where we can learn and have vital life changing experiences. But we could never go home at the end of our school if it weren't for the matchless Atonement of Christ. We have much to overcome--death, sickness, weakness, challenges, and sin. Only through the grace of Christ can we overcome these things.
Thus we "overcome" by coming unto Christ. We overcome by deepening our prayers. We overcome by drinking from the scriptures. We overcome by thoughtfully and purposefully renewing our covenants. We overcome by letting our will be swallowed up in His. It's the purpose of our life--to fully drink of the Atonement and "overcome by faith."
And then we will receive those marvelous promises found in Revelation 2-3.
We will "eat of the tree of life" (Rev 2:7).
We will not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11).
We will "eat of the hidden manna" and be given "a white stone" when we are exalted (Rev 2:17, see also D&C 130:10-11).
We will be given power to rule with a rod of iron and be given the morning star (Rev 2:26-28). (Jesus is "the bright and morning star" Rev 22:16.)
We will be "clothed in white raiment" and not have our name blotted out of "the book of life," but Christ will "confess [our] name before [the] Father and before his angels (Rev 3:5, see also D&C 45:3-5 where Christ, our advocate, pleads our cause before the Father).
We will become "a pillar in the temple of [our] God" to "go no more out" and will have written upon us "the name of God." (Rev 3:12). What a cool promise this is!
And finally we will sit with Christ on His throne because He also overcame (Rev 3:21).
These are marvelous promises. These and countless other blessings will be ours if we will completely and fully come unto Christ and receive the power of the Atonement in our lives and overcome by faith every challenge of mortality.
I pray we will.
The book of Revelation is a revelation of Christ through John to the seven churches in Asia (in other words, 7 Branches of the Church in Asia). Revelation 2-3 has particular counsel to the members of those churches. He commends them for their righteousness, chastises them for their sins then gives them tremendous promises if they will be faithful and true. Each of these promises are prefaced with the words "To him that overcometh." I have long associated this phrase with the similar phrase in D&C 76:53 that promises the Celestial kingdom to those "who overcome by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds upon all those who are just and true."
Life sends us temptations and challenges of all kinds--gut wrenching experiences and other bumps in the road. It takes faith to overcome these. Great blessings await us if we do.
But yesterday the curtain parted and I saw something else in these verses. The author connected them with the principle of grace. The Bible Dictionary defines "grace" as "divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ." All the blessings of the Atonement of Christ come to us through the grace of Christ. Through the grace of His Atonement we are resurrected, forgiven, comforted, strengthened, and empowered. Grace is an "enabling power" that gives us strength to overcome the temptations and challenges of life. It is the power by which we overcome the natural man and become new creatures. It is the power by which we are able to do and become far beyond what we could do or become by our own devices.
The Fall provided us with the wonderful gift of mortality--a school unlike any other where we can learn and have vital life changing experiences. But we could never go home at the end of our school if it weren't for the matchless Atonement of Christ. We have much to overcome--death, sickness, weakness, challenges, and sin. Only through the grace of Christ can we overcome these things.
Thus we "overcome" by coming unto Christ. We overcome by deepening our prayers. We overcome by drinking from the scriptures. We overcome by thoughtfully and purposefully renewing our covenants. We overcome by letting our will be swallowed up in His. It's the purpose of our life--to fully drink of the Atonement and "overcome by faith."
And then we will receive those marvelous promises found in Revelation 2-3.
We will "eat of the tree of life" (Rev 2:7).
We will not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11).
We will "eat of the hidden manna" and be given "a white stone" when we are exalted (Rev 2:17, see also D&C 130:10-11).
We will be given power to rule with a rod of iron and be given the morning star (Rev 2:26-28). (Jesus is "the bright and morning star" Rev 22:16.)
We will be "clothed in white raiment" and not have our name blotted out of "the book of life," but Christ will "confess [our] name before [the] Father and before his angels (Rev 3:5, see also D&C 45:3-5 where Christ, our advocate, pleads our cause before the Father).
We will become "a pillar in the temple of [our] God" to "go no more out" and will have written upon us "the name of God." (Rev 3:12). What a cool promise this is!
And finally we will sit with Christ on His throne because He also overcame (Rev 3:21).
These are marvelous promises. These and countless other blessings will be ours if we will completely and fully come unto Christ and receive the power of the Atonement in our lives and overcome by faith every challenge of mortality.
I pray we will.
One benefit from scriptural commentaries
President Marion G. Romney used a rancher's metaphor to explain that reading the scriptures themselves has more value than reading what others have written about them. He said, “I don’t know much about the gospel other than what I’ve learned from the standard works. (the scriptures) When I drink from a spring I like to get the water where it comes out of the ground, not down the stream after the cattle have waded in it. . . . I appreciate other people’s interpretation, but when it comes to the gospel we ought to be acquainted with what the Lord says”(Marion G. Romney, Ensign, Nov. 1982, 15 ).
This reminds me of someting President Packer has written: “It is important to know the gospel, for instance, according to the leaders of the Church. But an even better starting place is to know the gospel according to one's own self; that is, to take a subject such as the Word of Wisdom and really search our own minds as to how we feel about it. We should read what we can find in the scriptures about the subject and then write down our feelings. Then we may compare those feelings against what leaders of the Church have written or said.
“If we are sincere, we will find our conclusions being sustained by their conclusions. If we are searching inside ourselves in the right way, and we have included prayer as part of that search, we are tapping the same source of intelligence that the leaders of the Church are tuned-in upon.
“Then we may become independent witnesses of that principle from our own inquiry. Then our obedience is not blind obedience. Then our agency is protected and we are on the right course. Then we will do things because we know they are right and are the truth. We will know this from our own inquiry, not simply because someone else knows it. (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, p.119)
I have learned much from reading what others have written about the scriptures. One particularly sweet experience was when I carefully read the Gospels with Elder McConkie's Mortal Messiah series as a guide. I learned a lot and began to feel that I was having a little private scripture study session with Elder McConkie each morning as I read.
But President Romney is right. The scriptures have a quality of their own; a life of their own. They are different than anything else we can read. They are the bread of life and the waters of life. The power is in the word.
Having said that, one benefit for me of commentaries (or from being taught by someone else from the scriptures) is that sometimes it helps me see things in a new light. Sometimes when we read the scriptures it's like seeing a "re-run." We know the plot. We know what the characters are going to say. We may remember what the spirit taught us last time we read it and we may not see what the Spirit would teach us this time. Sometimes a commentary can point us in a new direction so the Spirit can teach us something brand new and fresh.
This reminds me of someting President Packer has written: “It is important to know the gospel, for instance, according to the leaders of the Church. But an even better starting place is to know the gospel according to one's own self; that is, to take a subject such as the Word of Wisdom and really search our own minds as to how we feel about it. We should read what we can find in the scriptures about the subject and then write down our feelings. Then we may compare those feelings against what leaders of the Church have written or said.
“If we are sincere, we will find our conclusions being sustained by their conclusions. If we are searching inside ourselves in the right way, and we have included prayer as part of that search, we are tapping the same source of intelligence that the leaders of the Church are tuned-in upon.
“Then we may become independent witnesses of that principle from our own inquiry. Then our obedience is not blind obedience. Then our agency is protected and we are on the right course. Then we will do things because we know they are right and are the truth. We will know this from our own inquiry, not simply because someone else knows it. (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, p.119)
I have learned much from reading what others have written about the scriptures. One particularly sweet experience was when I carefully read the Gospels with Elder McConkie's Mortal Messiah series as a guide. I learned a lot and began to feel that I was having a little private scripture study session with Elder McConkie each morning as I read.
But President Romney is right. The scriptures have a quality of their own; a life of their own. They are different than anything else we can read. They are the bread of life and the waters of life. The power is in the word.
Having said that, one benefit for me of commentaries (or from being taught by someone else from the scriptures) is that sometimes it helps me see things in a new light. Sometimes when we read the scriptures it's like seeing a "re-run." We know the plot. We know what the characters are going to say. We may remember what the spirit taught us last time we read it and we may not see what the Spirit would teach us this time. Sometimes a commentary can point us in a new direction so the Spirit can teach us something brand new and fresh.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
"These are my days." (Helaman 7:9)
In many ways today is more complex than the days of Joseph Smith, or even of our grandparents. This complexity is related to modes of transportation, communication, shifting values, role re-definition, the internet, and many other things. These things have made our society more complex than the family oriented, farm-based economy of “yesteryear.” A similar thing happens in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon starts out with one family, then two opposing families as the Nephites and Lamanites split up. This is the basis of their civilization from 1 Nephi through Alma. Then as we get into Helaman, many of the familiar things change and elements are introduced into their lives and into the story that make it more complex. For example in Helaman 3:3-16 we read how transportation, communication, knowledge, free interaction, and other things changed their society from what it was. Verse 23 reminds us that the Gadianton robbers, though currently unseen, are lurking nearby. In Hel 3:24-26 thousands join the Church, but by Hel 4:1 many have dissented from the Church, and in the heading of Helaman 6 we have a complete switch and the Lamanites are sending missionaries to the Nephites. Nephi turns his attention to missionary work but has no success among the hardened discenters of his day and laments, "Oh, that I could have had my days" in the days of Nephi (Helaman 7:7), but then says with resolve, "But ... these are my days" (Helaman 7:9).
Ferris Naef, former President of the Pasco Stake, told us once that he wondered why there had to be such great wickedness in the last days and was taught by the Spirit that there needed to be great wickedness and opposition in the last days so that those who were trying to be good could develop the faith and righteousness they needed to prepare themselves and their families for the Savior’s Second Coming. President Eyring said at this last conference that we were prepared for eternal life by our challenges. He said, "It is clear that for us to have that gift [eternal life] and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do." He said we need to gain an essential education that "can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him" (May 2009 Ensign).
This morning I was impressed by some verses from these chapters in Helaman that show how one righteous father prepared his sons to serve God in this challenging time (that parallels our own). Helaman 3:21 relates that Helaman had two sons whom he named Nephi and Lehi, then explains, "And they began to grow up unto the Lord." What did Helaman teach his sons that would help them grow up unto the Lord? Helaman chapter 5 recounts some of his teachings to them. He taught them to remember their names, to do good works, to lay up treasures in heaven, and about the atoning power of the Savior. He taught them with testimony and with conviction when he said, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind ... it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
There isn't anything we can do for our children that is more important than this--to help them begin to grow up unto the Lord; to help them build their foundation on Christ who is the Rock of their Redeemer.
Love, Dad
Ferris Naef, former President of the Pasco Stake, told us once that he wondered why there had to be such great wickedness in the last days and was taught by the Spirit that there needed to be great wickedness and opposition in the last days so that those who were trying to be good could develop the faith and righteousness they needed to prepare themselves and their families for the Savior’s Second Coming. President Eyring said at this last conference that we were prepared for eternal life by our challenges. He said, "It is clear that for us to have that gift [eternal life] and to be given that trust, we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do." He said we need to gain an essential education that "can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him" (May 2009 Ensign).
This morning I was impressed by some verses from these chapters in Helaman that show how one righteous father prepared his sons to serve God in this challenging time (that parallels our own). Helaman 3:21 relates that Helaman had two sons whom he named Nephi and Lehi, then explains, "And they began to grow up unto the Lord." What did Helaman teach his sons that would help them grow up unto the Lord? Helaman chapter 5 recounts some of his teachings to them. He taught them to remember their names, to do good works, to lay up treasures in heaven, and about the atoning power of the Savior. He taught them with testimony and with conviction when he said, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind ... it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
There isn't anything we can do for our children that is more important than this--to help them begin to grow up unto the Lord; to help them build their foundation on Christ who is the Rock of their Redeemer.
Love, Dad
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Conversations with our Father
Many years ago, while serving as a missionary, I developed a deep love for the scriptures and learned the value of starting my day by reading the scriptures every day. It was pretty easy to read every day because it was part of our daily routine as missionaries. When I came home from my mission I found that it was harder to read every day when my day was full of other non-missionary experiences. I'm afraid I was pretty sporadic in my reading and my resolve to read every day for the rest of my life seemed to be falling by the wayside. I'd been home about a month when I rode to General Conference with my Dad. It was the Conference when Harold B. Lee was sustained as the President of the Church. I was sitting in the tabernacle when President Lee said something that had a great influence on me. He shared some things that he was taught by the Spirit early one morning when he was studying the scriptures and pondering. I remember the way the Spirit touched me and told me that I was hearing the answer to my dilemma. So when I got home I resolutely set my alarm a half an hour earlier than I had ever gotten up so I could study the scriptures every day. I'd do some situps and take a shower to wake up then carefully read the Book of Mormon and made notes of what I learned, following some counsel my mission president had given us about studying the scriptures.
That was a long time ago and the Lord has blessed me greatly when I have lived up to this resolve to study the scriptures every day. Recently I have felt more strongly the truth of the axiom that Elder Robert D. Hales shared in a recent Conference address. He said that when we want to talk to Heavenly Father we should pray and when we wanted Him to talk to us we should read the scriptures. Recently I have felt again as I have read the scriptures that Heavenly Father was talking to me personally. What a blessing to have our Father, the great Almighty, speak directly with us as we read His words and to have the Spirit help us to see how they apply in our lives and to strengthen us by reading them.
I talked to all of the temple holders in our ward recently when we issued new temple recommends to them. Because this was simply a re-issuing of a recommend they already held I didn't need to ask all of the Temple Recommend questions so I simply asked if they were still worthy to have this recommend. All of them said they were. During this time a woman asked if she could meet with me privately after our brief interview. She said she felt concerned after our interview that maybe she had not been completely truthful with me. She said she yelled a lot in their home and was not as loving of a wife and mother as she felt she should be. I asked her about her daily prayers and if she read the scriptures daily. She said her prayers weren't as consistant as they could be and that she never read the scriptures. I asked her if she was willing to take counsel and if she would do what I was going to ask her to do. She said she would follow my counsel. I challenged her to pray every day, to read the scriptures every day, and to start a scripture journal where she would write down what the Spirit taught her as she read. She said she would do it. I asked her to come back in a month and to bring her scriptures and her scripture journal and to share with me what she had been taught. A month passed and we met again. She was amazed at what had happened to her. In addition she had found a paper her seminary teacher had given to them when she challenged them to read the scriptures the rest of her life. This woman wondered why she had ever stopped and was very grateful that I had helped her start once again. Oh things weren't perfect at home but she acknowledged that a great change had taken place in herself because she was reading from the scriptures every day.
I hope all of us can have this blessing in our lives. I know this doesn't mean a half an hour early for everyone. When I was so busy when I went to WSU the best I could do was to read a verse or two just before I went to bed each night. I think all of us could read at least a verse of scripture every day.
Love Dad
That was a long time ago and the Lord has blessed me greatly when I have lived up to this resolve to study the scriptures every day. Recently I have felt more strongly the truth of the axiom that Elder Robert D. Hales shared in a recent Conference address. He said that when we want to talk to Heavenly Father we should pray and when we wanted Him to talk to us we should read the scriptures. Recently I have felt again as I have read the scriptures that Heavenly Father was talking to me personally. What a blessing to have our Father, the great Almighty, speak directly with us as we read His words and to have the Spirit help us to see how they apply in our lives and to strengthen us by reading them.
I talked to all of the temple holders in our ward recently when we issued new temple recommends to them. Because this was simply a re-issuing of a recommend they already held I didn't need to ask all of the Temple Recommend questions so I simply asked if they were still worthy to have this recommend. All of them said they were. During this time a woman asked if she could meet with me privately after our brief interview. She said she felt concerned after our interview that maybe she had not been completely truthful with me. She said she yelled a lot in their home and was not as loving of a wife and mother as she felt she should be. I asked her about her daily prayers and if she read the scriptures daily. She said her prayers weren't as consistant as they could be and that she never read the scriptures. I asked her if she was willing to take counsel and if she would do what I was going to ask her to do. She said she would follow my counsel. I challenged her to pray every day, to read the scriptures every day, and to start a scripture journal where she would write down what the Spirit taught her as she read. She said she would do it. I asked her to come back in a month and to bring her scriptures and her scripture journal and to share with me what she had been taught. A month passed and we met again. She was amazed at what had happened to her. In addition she had found a paper her seminary teacher had given to them when she challenged them to read the scriptures the rest of her life. This woman wondered why she had ever stopped and was very grateful that I had helped her start once again. Oh things weren't perfect at home but she acknowledged that a great change had taken place in herself because she was reading from the scriptures every day.
I hope all of us can have this blessing in our lives. I know this doesn't mean a half an hour early for everyone. When I was so busy when I went to WSU the best I could do was to read a verse or two just before I went to bed each night. I think all of us could read at least a verse of scripture every day.
Love Dad
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