The Articles of Faith and Finding My Own Value Statements

 Yesterday in therapy we were talking about finding my own scripture-based value statements. My therapist recommended I revisit the articles of faith as they are a great guide for core beliefs. There are 13- so it I spend each day going over 4-5, I will finish this off on Friday. 

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. 

I won't be doing a personal value statement for each article of faith, but this one I almost feel like I could copy verbatim. Here is my personal core belief statement draft on my belief in God: 

I believe that God is my eternal Father, who knows and loves me throughout the ages. I chose Jesus Christ as my Savior and Redeemer and continue to trust in His grace in my life. I rely on the gift of the Holy Ghost to help ground me in my Savior and to turn my heart to God. (AoF 1:1)

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's Transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. 

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second; Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

These articles of faith have to do with using our agency to chose Christ and about the first principles and ordinances we chose. Here is the first draft of my core belief regarding my agency and what I want to do with this gift: 

I believe that my choices in this life matter. I believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I have been given the gift to choose for myself, as have all those around me. I honor this gift as I seek to be obedient to God's commands, come to know God through the scriptures, and participate in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Joshua 2:24, AoF 1:3)

One final core belief that comes from my childhood experiences and overcoming those that we started in therapy: 

I'm intentional about only keeping objects that support my family in building a home where the spirit of the Lord can dwell. I find peace flows more readily to my heart when our home is kept free of worldly distractions. (Moroni 7:47, 1 Nephi 2:15)

The Importance of Connection

 This morning I am thinking about the importance of connection- connecting to the people around me, and connecting to God. As I searched the church website for sources for this topic, I came across this interesting article: Assist Them throughout Their Journey.

It includes this quote: “Our life journeys are individual,” taught Elder Gerrit W. Gong, “but we can come again to God our Father and His Beloved Son through trust in God, each other, and ourselves.”

Then it shares 6 principles for supporting and encouraging others that I felt are extremely timely for me as I look to support myself and those around me. 

1. Be a safe source for discussion. Rather than trying to fix the problem, be sympathetic and willing to walk beside them on their own journey. 

2. Help them seek answers. Encourage them to make faithful perspectives on challenging questions. Listen to the promptings of the spirit to know when to remind them of helpful scriptures or to encourage them to continue praying. 

3. Be a Christlike example. Show Christlike love and live a life of goodness. Example is powerful!

4. Build on common ground. Keep the relationship strong by building on what you have in common. Enjoy the things you can do together!

5. Find ways to do good together. Ask them to serve with you, participate in uplifting activities, or strengthen your community together. 

6. Recognize that this may take time. There is not always a quick solution to spiritual concerns or questions. Give them time and space to grow. It is ok if the way they express their faith looks different to you than it did in the past!

Scriptures related to this: 

Isaiah 35:3–4 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Mosiah 18:9 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-

Doctrine and Covenants 11:21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

I love the spirit I feel as I read these scriptures. They testify to me that connection- both to God and to His children around me is spiritually important. God knows my love and concern for others- for my children, for my friends, for my family. He wants to increase the joy of our connection with each other. He does this best as I choose to be deeply connected to Him, to the living water of my savior, Jesus Christ. 

Dreaming.....

 At times, I find myself dreaming this time of year of warm beaches and ocean waves and escape. I have always been a world traveler at heart- I got to live out this dream in college as I majored in international business and spent every summer on study abroad trips that took me around the world. 

That is a big reason for going back to get my CS degree. I believe heart and soul that it is going to enable me to travel again and I'm so excited for that adventure!

What does this have to do with studying the scriptures? 

Well, I have another dream that at times feels just as far off or more than world travel. I want to return to live with God, I want to do what I need to in this life so that for all eternity I can continue to learn and grow, to be with my Savior and my family. 

In Hebrews 11: 1 & 6 it reads:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I work each day on a really difficult degree, trusting in faith that I'm going to have success in the end and that all my work will earn me the job I hope to obtain and the blessing of traveling more with my family. 

I want to work with that same diligence to have faith in good things to come, to have faith to study my scriptures, pray to God honestly, and write in my journal. I want to have faith to diligently seek God. 

Weak, and Still Capable of Study

This morning, narcolepsy has made my body weak. I'm thankful I still can study scriptures and write about what I learn on my phone from 2 Nephi chapter 7. 

-No matter what may happen to us, our worth is determined by God. He has sent His son that I might be saved.

-When I follow the Lord, I am willing to befriend my enemy. 

-The Lord will help me. 

Patiently Working While Waiting

 Today I am in 2 Nephi chapter 6. Jacob is recounting scriptures to his people that will bring their souls to Christ. One line that really hit me is in verse 7, "for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me".

Life at times feels like we go from one wait to another. We wait for our house to get built, for our house to sell. We wait for illness to become health. We wait for children to simmer down and be willing to talk. We wait for my second degree to be finished. 

But there is a lot of work that should be happening in all this waiting. Waiting isn't idle- it's a time for incredible growth, especially as we trust in God. 

Here are some other notes from this chapter:

• The Lord will be merciful to us in His own way. He often doesn't take away the very suffering that refines us, even though we pray that He will take it away. He instead strengthens us to bear it.
• There will come a day when all people will know God for who He is. Whether they believe in Him will be a choice, but all will know Him for who He is. 
• God is on my side, so nothing else on earth can prevent Him from delivering me!

Life Feels Too Busy.....But is That Accurate?

 This morning I am challenging the assumption that I am too busy for God. I feel like I do a really good job prioritizing working out for my health, making time to get together with friends, even dating my husband. 

So am I really too busy to take time to study God's word, or is that just a lie Satan hopes I'll believe?

Especially since this morning I spent a good 15-20 minutes reading random news feed articles....That's definitely time that would be better spent in God's company, getting to know Him. So today's list of things I need to get done, looks like this, after prioritizing God. 

1. Godly devotion- scripture study and prayer

2. Quick workout

3. CS 1440 Assignment

4. CS 2420 Assignment

Here are my notes from my devotion this morning: 

• As a parent, I have the opportunity to bless my children. 
• God wants to be merciful to us and to our posterity. They are His children.
• "For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." I want to delight in the scriptures. I have times when I find great joy in the scriptures, but too often scripture study is an item to check off a list of other (maybe even viewed as more important) things to do. 
• Even Nephi had a hard time not yielding to the temptations of the flesh. Our bodies, our mortal condition make sin and mistakes a part of life- that is the plan. 
• Don't trust in man- trust in God!

Superbowl "Hangovers"

Every year our family hosts a Superbowl party to celebrate Kelley's birthday. It's a lot of fun for him as a big football fan and this year it landed on his birthday. 

Problem is, everyone brought their own spread of goodies, the prizes for kids were all bags of candy, and basically our bodies are now full of sugar and cheese. 

This morning, my youngest is on the floor moaning. I'm weak and tired. It feels a bit like a food "hangover". 

But I'm still going to make time to study God's word. Perhaps because I need His word on hangover days. 

Here are my notes from studying in 2 Nephi:1 this morning: 

* When we obey God, He gives us promised blessings including being prospered and dwelling safely. 

* When we willingly reject the Messiah, their are also promised plagues that naturally come upon us for living in unbelief. 

* Worldly goods can be chains that keep me from coming to God - I wrote this note in 2017 and wanted to include it here because this is such an easy trap to fall into. I feel this morning that the poor food choices made last night are keeping me chained up this morning. 

* It is really cool how God can use the scriptures to inspire me to act. As I read Lehi's dying words, I felt compelled to let my siblings and adult niece and nephew know what is going on with my mom. This is the power of inviting God into my life.