As of the time of writing I am in my junior year of electrical engineering-which means I am busy. It also meas my classes are really hard right now. As a result I have often questioned if I am going to pass my classes and become an engineer at all. I have learned that whether or not I do isn't really all that important. If I am unsuccessful in this endeavor then I will find another way to provide for myself and the family I will someday have. One way or another I will be able to meet my financial obligations and provide the necessities of life. So then what does matter?
What really matters is that I am still a son of God and a bearer of his priesthood. This also is one thing that no one can take away from me. I can lose almost everything in this life, my job, mobility, even my mind can be lost, but I will ALWAYS be a son of God. As long as I am living my life the way I know that I should, which is solely dependent upon my own actions and not on any outside force, I will hold the priesthood of my Heavenly Father, and be able to use it to bless others.
I will keep on working toward my degree, and I believe I will accomplish my desire and become an electrical engineer. No matter what happens I am glad that I have come to such a clear understanding of what really matters in life. Even if I don't earn my bachelor's degree as planned, I have grown in ways I never thought I would as a result of my educational pursuits.
I am eternally grateful for the perspective that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has given me. I know it is God's true church and nothing will bring us greater happiness than following by the principles taught by God's servants, both living and those of ancient time.
Showing posts with label thoughts of a spiritual nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts of a spiritual nature. Show all posts
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Make the Covenant, Enter Into it, and Have it Sealed by the Spirit of Promise
This is a follow up to another article about marriage as a stepping stone. If you haven't read it click here
In the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints section 132 vs 7 we read "And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead."
The three words I want to focus on are: make, enter, and seal.
When we enter the temple we make a covenant with God and with our spouse. It is a simple event that only takes a few minutes to do.
Once we have made the covenant we have to enter into it. By this I mean that we continually work to improve our relationship with our spouse and grow and become one.
After we have worked and grown in marriage, then the Spirit of Promise can come and seal our marriage covenant. It is then that we are sealed and promised that we will be united forever.
In the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints section 132 vs 7 we read "And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead."
The three words I want to focus on are: make, enter, and seal.
When we enter the temple we make a covenant with God and with our spouse. It is a simple event that only takes a few minutes to do.
Once we have made the covenant we have to enter into it. By this I mean that we continually work to improve our relationship with our spouse and grow and become one.
After we have worked and grown in marriage, then the Spirit of Promise can come and seal our marriage covenant. It is then that we are sealed and promised that we will be united forever.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Myths, Legends and Truth
Why do we make stories about extraordinary people? People who have abilities that could never happen or people with ordinary abilities that do extraordinary things?
I began to think about these questions after watching a movie about wizards and magic. People all around the world from the beginning of time have created legends and stories about incredible people and incredible deeds. From stories about gods and titans to fairy tales to stories about completely average kids who have an unbelievable adventure playing baseball and facing a nemesis known as "The Beast".
I believe it is because we are searching for something. Two things actually. We are trying to find something greater than ourselves, and we are trying to find out who we are.
A quote from a movie says "I had a professor once who liked to tell his students there were only ten different plots in all of fiction. Well I am here to tell you he was wrong. There is only one. . . 'Who am I?'" Every story we tell is simply us trying to find out who we are. We make up stories to explore ourselves and the world, values and morals in order to find what resonates with us; what feels right; what will give us a clue as to who we are.
Our stories give us a chance to escape. For a time we are free. In the world of our imagination we can be whoever or whatever we want to be. There are no rules. It is the perfect place for us to explore life. If we try one set of ideas and things don't work then we know that that is not who we are and nothing is lost.
Inside each of us there is a yearning to make sense of life. We long to understand, not only who we are, but why are things the way they are. Is there any rhyme or reason? Is there a plan? Is there anything beyond what at times seems to be a dreary and tiresome journey?
We all hope that there is, and though we can't explain why, we all feel that there must be something out there if we could only find it. The Greeks made stories of gods who ruled the world and created man. Other cultures made stories of powerful beings full of wisdom that were able to give guidance to those who sought it. In our day there is an infinite variety of ways to imagine something that is better than what is around us.
The bottom line of both questions, "Who am I?" and "Is there something out there that is in control?" comes from the same feelings that make us create all forms of art, to make something better than it was before, and to try to do good things for others. We know instinctively that we must have come from somewhere, and wherever that somewhere is there must be a something, whether it be some great unknowable power or a being much like ourselves, but all powerful, that guides the universe.
My goal here is not say what is out there ruling the universe or to tell you how to find the answer to any questions. I only say that there must be something out there and there must be answers to all of our questions.
I recommend the reader read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. I also recommend the reader investigate The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That is the church to which I belong, and which I believe to be true and able to answer all of life's questions.
I began to think about these questions after watching a movie about wizards and magic. People all around the world from the beginning of time have created legends and stories about incredible people and incredible deeds. From stories about gods and titans to fairy tales to stories about completely average kids who have an unbelievable adventure playing baseball and facing a nemesis known as "The Beast".
I believe it is because we are searching for something. Two things actually. We are trying to find something greater than ourselves, and we are trying to find out who we are.
A quote from a movie says "I had a professor once who liked to tell his students there were only ten different plots in all of fiction. Well I am here to tell you he was wrong. There is only one. . . 'Who am I?'" Every story we tell is simply us trying to find out who we are. We make up stories to explore ourselves and the world, values and morals in order to find what resonates with us; what feels right; what will give us a clue as to who we are.
Our stories give us a chance to escape. For a time we are free. In the world of our imagination we can be whoever or whatever we want to be. There are no rules. It is the perfect place for us to explore life. If we try one set of ideas and things don't work then we know that that is not who we are and nothing is lost.
Inside each of us there is a yearning to make sense of life. We long to understand, not only who we are, but why are things the way they are. Is there any rhyme or reason? Is there a plan? Is there anything beyond what at times seems to be a dreary and tiresome journey?
We all hope that there is, and though we can't explain why, we all feel that there must be something out there if we could only find it. The Greeks made stories of gods who ruled the world and created man. Other cultures made stories of powerful beings full of wisdom that were able to give guidance to those who sought it. In our day there is an infinite variety of ways to imagine something that is better than what is around us.
The bottom line of both questions, "Who am I?" and "Is there something out there that is in control?" comes from the same feelings that make us create all forms of art, to make something better than it was before, and to try to do good things for others. We know instinctively that we must have come from somewhere, and wherever that somewhere is there must be a something, whether it be some great unknowable power or a being much like ourselves, but all powerful, that guides the universe.
My goal here is not say what is out there ruling the universe or to tell you how to find the answer to any questions. I only say that there must be something out there and there must be answers to all of our questions.
I recommend the reader read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis. I also recommend the reader investigate The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That is the church to which I belong, and which I believe to be true and able to answer all of life's questions.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Repentance and Moving Onward
After going through some tough times and making a few mistakes in my life I found myself wanting to go back to the way things were. I was continually frustrated because, although I didn't see it initially, you simply can't go back to how things used to be. As Frodo says near the end of The Lord of The Rings "How do pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on? But in your heart you begin to realize that there is no going back." The only way we move is forward; that doesn't mean its always in a good direction or the way we want to go, just that we only go forward, never back.
Finally I realized one day that repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ doesn't change the past. The Lord tells us that when we repent we are forgiven and he doesn't remember our sins anymore (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42). In his wisdom he allows us to remember our sins; He wants us to continue to learn from them and to not repeat them so he doesn't take away the memory of them, only the pain and guilt. As the prophet Alma the younger said of his conversion "I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more." (The Book of Mormon, Alma 36:19) Clearly he remembered the things he had done but wasn't weighed down with guilt and pain anymore. The atonement allows us to move forward in spite of our mistakes.
It amazes me how much the Lord loves us. He allows us the chance to grow and improve, and eventually to return to him, even though we make mistakes.
Finally I realized one day that repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ doesn't change the past. The Lord tells us that when we repent we are forgiven and he doesn't remember our sins anymore (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42). In his wisdom he allows us to remember our sins; He wants us to continue to learn from them and to not repeat them so he doesn't take away the memory of them, only the pain and guilt. As the prophet Alma the younger said of his conversion "I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more." (The Book of Mormon, Alma 36:19) Clearly he remembered the things he had done but wasn't weighed down with guilt and pain anymore. The atonement allows us to move forward in spite of our mistakes.
It amazes me how much the Lord loves us. He allows us the chance to grow and improve, and eventually to return to him, even though we make mistakes.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Belief in God
Today I was given a chance to reflect on my relationship with God. I realized that I haven't had the best relationship with Him recently, and that it is affecting all aspects of my life. I know that at times when my relationship is better with him that life just seems to go smoother. My mind is clearer and I feel less stress.
A belief in God is an essential trait in any good person, whether they consider themselves to be thinkers or not. All good things come from God and the sooner we get that through our heads and just do what He asks us the better off we will be. Nikola Tesla said "The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power." If we align our lives with God then knowledge, happiness, peace and every other good thing will flow into our lives more fully. Life will not be easy but it will be better.
A belief in God is an essential trait in any good person, whether they consider themselves to be thinkers or not. All good things come from God and the sooner we get that through our heads and just do what He asks us the better off we will be. Nikola Tesla said "The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power." If we align our lives with God then knowledge, happiness, peace and every other good thing will flow into our lives more fully. Life will not be easy but it will be better.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Following the Spirit
Recently I had an experience that taught me a very important lesson. I was weeks away from being married, taking 18 credits at college and was under a lot of stress. It caused me a lot of problems and I wasn't very happy like I should have been. During a particularly difficult weekend I went home to visit family, and my mom took some time to talk to me about what I was going through. She helped me realize something I had known for a long time but chosen not to admit-that I was not in a very good relationship and needed to change it.
My fiance had come to visit at Thanksgiving and at that time I had a feeling that maybe I should break up with her, but convinced myself that everything was ok and kept dating her. Just before I went to visit her for Christmas (I proposed to her when I visited) I had another feeling that maybe this wasn't a good idea, but again convinced myself that everything was ok.
As time went on things got worse until I came to the weekend during which my mom talked to me about my situation. I finally admitted what I had felt and known for a long time and decided to break up with her. It was hard, but we both knew it was the right thing to do. Since that time I have felt like myself again, a feeling I hadn't had in while, and I felt peace.
You can call those feelings that I had a gut feeling, conscience, shoulder angel or whatever you want. I call it the spirit and I firmly believe it is sent from God and that through that spirit He will direct us to paths that will make us most happy in life. Whatever you call it I know that life works a lot better when we follow the spirit.
My fiance had come to visit at Thanksgiving and at that time I had a feeling that maybe I should break up with her, but convinced myself that everything was ok and kept dating her. Just before I went to visit her for Christmas (I proposed to her when I visited) I had another feeling that maybe this wasn't a good idea, but again convinced myself that everything was ok.
As time went on things got worse until I came to the weekend during which my mom talked to me about my situation. I finally admitted what I had felt and known for a long time and decided to break up with her. It was hard, but we both knew it was the right thing to do. Since that time I have felt like myself again, a feeling I hadn't had in while, and I felt peace.
You can call those feelings that I had a gut feeling, conscience, shoulder angel or whatever you want. I call it the spirit and I firmly believe it is sent from God and that through that spirit He will direct us to paths that will make us most happy in life. Whatever you call it I know that life works a lot better when we follow the spirit.
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