For the next two weeks we have been asked to study the scriptures daily for at least 20 minutes and create a plan for how we will achieve this goal. I have decided that I will read daily after I drop Juli off at school. I usually get home around 12:40. I will spend the first 10 minutes reading from the Doctrine & Covenants. I will then spend 5-10 minutes reading 1-2 articles from the April 2014 General Conference in preparation for the upcoming October General Conference. I will conclude by spending at least 5 minutes updating my personal journal/blog with my thoughts and feelings from the day's reading. On Tuesdays I attend the temple in the afternoon, so I will do my reading in the morning after I get the boys off to school, around 8:30 am.
**Amended to just reading in the Doctrine and Covenants and write in journal. It was difficult to read from both sources.
Day 1
D&C 1:38 "What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."
Latter-day Commandments from the Lord's servants
*Ezra Taft Benson - Read the Book of Mormon
*David O McKay - Every Member a Missionary
*Howard W Hunter - Every Worthy Member a Temple Recommend
*Gordon B Hinckley - No Multiple Piercings
*Spencer W Kimball - Keep a Garden
The Cost - and Blessings - of Discipleship
by Jeffrey R Holland
"Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world".
There may be times in our life when we are asked to defend the gospel. There are other times we will need to be the bigger person and just walk away from those who seek to harms us. This has been true through all generations of time.
"Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don't live it at all."
Day2
D&C 3:7-8 "For, behold, you should not have feared mean more than God...Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary. and he would have been with you in every time of trouble."
Martin Harris was many years Joseph Smith's senior. This may have been part of the reason Joseph was willing to inquire of the Lord three times on Martin's behalf. The Lord upset that Joseph would continue to ask after receiving an answer finally gave in and gave very explicit instructions, all the while knowing what the outcome would be. How often do we miss out on blessings because we are focused on the answer we want instead of the answer we are given? As a result of losing the pages, Joseph lost his gift to translate for a time. This must have been a difficult time for him.
The Joyful Burden of Discipleship
by Ronald A Rasband
"First, tell them I love them.
Second, tell them I am praying for them
Third, please thank all those who are helping."
Is this how we approach difficult situations in which we are asking to be a part of?
"I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88)
Do we recognize the hand of the Lord and the angles round about that are guiding us to safety? Do we act as the hand of the Lord in the lives of those whom we have stewardship over? We are placed in situations to bless the lives of others we are an instrument in His hands, we must be willing to act.
Day 3
D&C 5:22 "And that you be firm in keeping the commandments, wherewith I have commanded you; and if you do this, behold I grant unto you eternal life, even if you should be slain."
This makes it pretty clear that even if something terrible happens to us, like being killed, as long as we have kept the commandments we will be granted eternal life. We can't wait until the last moment to repent and keep the commandments.
Christ the Redeemer
by Carlos H Amado
"and gave then the commandment to love one another through sincere service."
We are often willing to provide service to those around us, but are we sincere in our service? When the Savior was on the earth He took the time to listen to those that came and asked forgiveness. When He raised Lazarus from the dead He did so because He loved Lazarus and his family. Each of His actions were deliberate to show His sincerity to those He was there to serve.
Day 4
D&C 6:14 "...for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit..."
How often do we take the time to reach out and use our lifeline? Do we take the time time to inquire of the Lord? He has promised that if we will do so in righteousness he will instruct us through the Spirit. Sometimes we get discouraged because we don't learn the lesson we want to learn or receive the answer we want to receive. The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and He is constantly preparing us for bigger and better things. We need to realize His wisdom as He instructs in all things.
D&C 6:37 "be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."
Day 5
D&C 7:3,8 "And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people."
"Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired."
John and Peter desired to stay a little longer and bring more souls unto the Lord. Yet Peter also wanted to be with the Lord. Because of their righteousness both were granted their desires. If the Lord asked me today what I desired, how would I respond?
Day 6
What is the "Gift of Aaron?"
D&C 8:6–9. What Was the Gift of Aaron?
“There was another gift bestowed upon Oliver Cowdery, and that was the gift of Aaron. Like Aaron with his rod in his hand going before Moses as a spokesman, so Oliver Cowdery was to go before Joseph Smith. Whatever he should ask the Lord by power of this gift should be granted if asked in faith and in wisdom. Oliver was blessed with the great honor of holding the keys of this dispensation with Joseph Smith, and, like Aaron, did become a spokesman on numerous occasions. It was Oliver who delivered the first public discourse in this dispensation.” (Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:52.)
“Oliver Cowdery also had the ‘gift of Aaron.’ Aaron was the elder brother of Moses. Being prompted by the Spirit of the Lord, he met his younger brother in the wilderness and accompanied him to Egypt. He introduced him to the children of Israel in the land of Goshen. He was his spokesman before Pharaoh, and he assisted him in opening up the dispensation which Moses was commissioned to proclaim (Exodus 4:27–31). This was the gift of Aaron. In some respects Oliver Cowdery was the Aaron of the new and last dispensation.” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, p. 44.)
(https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-1-9/section-8-the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng)
Will Heavenly Father bless us with any gifts we desire?
Day 7
D&C 9:7-8 "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to as me.
But, behold I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right."
We need to make a selection on our own after we have studied it out and give it our best effort then we can do to the Lord. If is is right you will have no reason to doubt. Doubt is the Spirit telling us that it is not the right choice.
We should only ask when we are at peace. God will not be constrained by our constraints.
Day 8
D&C 10:43 "I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil."
The Lord knew that the 116 pages would be lost. Nephi was told to write a second account, his own account, of his history. He didn't know why, but he willingly wrote. This passage shows how the Lord is all knowing and that He will show unto those who follow Satan that there is more light and knowledge to be had. I think it is interesting that the story of the lost pages stops here. What happened to those paged? Did the people destroy them when they weren't re-translated? Has a family passed them down from generation to generation?
Day 9
Section 6 & 11, 12, 14 start out the same way, "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men..."
D&C 11:7 "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich."
Physical wealth cannot compare to eternal life.
D&C 11:20 "Behold this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea with all your might, mind and strength."
Day 10
D&C 15:6 "And now, behold, I say unto you, that the things which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father."
Day 11
D&C 17:6 "And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true."
This was Jesus Christ's witness of the Book of Mormon.
Day 12
D&C 18:19 "And if you have not faith hope, and charity you can do nothing."
If we do not possess these traits we will not be as effective as if we had had them.
D&C 18:44 "And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father."
The Father works miracles through His children that we may be blessed and prepared in this life.
Day 13
Day 14
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