How Faithful Do You Feel Today?

[JLHPROF]

Lately I've really been feeling the need to connect better with the Lord than I have in times past.

I'd like to think I'm fully converted and I have a decent understanding of the gospel.

But here's the thing...I don't feel like the gospel is important enough in my life, like I allow myself to be too much of a "Sunday Mormon".  I go to meetings, read my scriptures, study, etc.  But then what do I do (other than hang out here).

 

When I read the history of the early members of the Church, their every day life from sunrise to sunset was SO focused on the gospel.  If they weren't working at their jobs they were doing something gospel related, and half the time their jobs were gospel related.  You read their journals and for many not a day goes by without a gospel entry.

 

So, how do we increase our gospel focus on a daily basis?  I know there are callings that can keep us very busy, but I am talking about making the gospel our #1 focus.  Just like the 12 Apostles, just like the early Church members, just like those in scripture.  The gospel was their everything.  How do we make it ours and quit worrying about the color of the paint in the dining room or whatever nonsense is on tap for the day?

 

What steps can we take to immerse our lives in the Lord?

Edited July 24, 2014 by JLHPROF

[Kenngo1969]

While I have no problem agreeing with you as a general principle, I also suspect that you (and many of us) do better than we might realize.  A couple of thoughts (and I doubt that these aren't things that haven't already occurred to you, or that you're not already doing):

 

1. More frequent (and more fervent) Temple attendance, along with an increased effort to turn our hearts to our fathers;
2. An increased recognition of our absolute dependence upon God, in an "are-we-not-all-beggars" and a "I-know-that-I-am-nothing/as-to-my-own-strength-I-am-weak" sense (I suspect that this would [further] fundamentally alter our prayers);
3. I've heard from people who are closely involved with LDS Twelve-Step Recovery that it's actually a course in "How To Repent"; while I doubt you're guilty of any "great or malignant sins" or that "the disposition to commit such was [ever] in [your] nature," perhaps you/we can find some of the answers we seek there.

And even if we're among the lucky number of souls (however few they may be! ) who have no major complaints and whose lives are going swimmingly, the reason we may feel "lost" (or at least "out of our element") is that we're not essentially mortal beings who've been put on the earth to have occasional spiritual experiences; we are essentially spiritual beings who've been put on this earth to have a mortal experience.  It's only natural that we should feel that we "have wandered from a more exalted sphere" and that we should feel a greater "longing for Home" (see Hymns nos. 292 and 131, respectively.

[mfbukowski]

Lately I've really been feeling the need to connect better with the Lord than I have in times past.

I'd like to think I'm fully converted and I have a decent understanding of the gospel.

But here's the thing...I don't feel like the gospel is important enough in my life, like I allow myself to be too much of a "Sunday Mormon".  I go to meetings, read my scriptures, study, etc.  But then what do I do (other than hang out here).

 

When I read the history of the early members of the Church, their every day life from sunrise to sunset was SO focused on the gospel.  If they weren't working at their jobs they were doing something gospel related, and half the time their jobs were gospel related.  You read their journals and for many not a day goes by without a gospel entry.

 

So, how do we increase our gospel focus on a daily basis?  I know there are callings that can keep us very busy, but I am talking about making the gospel our #1 focus.  Just like the 12 Apostles, just like the early Church members, just like those in scripture.  The gospel was their everything.  How do we make it ours and quit worrying about the color of the paint in the dining room or whatever nonsense is on tap for the day?

 

What steps can we take to immerse our lives in the Lord?

Stop posting and get doing. 

Home teaching

Family history

Temple

Indexing

Missionary work

Magnifying callings

Homeless shelters

Community service.

 

Don't get me wrong- I am posting this more for me than anybody else.

Edited July 24, 2014 by mfbukowski

[The Nehor]

I probably have faith to move anthills today.

[ERayR]

I probably have faith to move anthills today.

 

A good shovel helps too.  I suspect its not so much how we do it but just having the faith that we can.

[smac97]

While I have no problem agreeing with you as a general principle, I also suspect that you (and many of us) do better than we might realize.  A couple of thoughts (and I doubt that these aren't things that haven't already occurred to you, or that you're not already doing):

• More frequent (and more fervent) Temple attendance, along with an increased effort to turn our hearts to our fathers;
• An increased recognition of our absolute dependence upon God, in an "are-we-not-all-beggars" and a "I-know-that-I-am-nothing/as-to-my-own-strength-I-am-weak" sense (I suspect that this would [further] fundamentally alter our prayers);
• I've heard from people who are closely involved with LDS Twelve-Step Recovery that it's actually a course in "How To Repent"; while I doubt you're guilty of any "great or malignant sins" or that "the disposition to commit such was [ever] in [your] nature," perhaps you/we can find some of the answers we seek there.

And even if we're among the lucky number of souls (however few they may be! ) who have no major complaints and whose lives are going swimmingly, the reason we may feel "lost" (or at least "out of our element") is that we're not essentially mortal beings who've been put on the earth to have occasional spiritual experiences; we are essentially spiritual beings who've been put on this earth to have a mortal experience.  It's only natural that we should feel that we "have wandered from a more exalted sphere" and that we should feel a greater "longing for Home" (see Hymns nos. 292 and 131, respectively.

 

 

I very much appreciate Kenngo's comments and echo them.

 

To them I would add this:

 

4. Perform more service.  Serve family members by finding concrete ways to serve them and help them.  Serve ward members by in the same way, and also by magnifying your church calling.  And serve in the greater community.  Help in soup kitchens.  Volunteer with United Way or Habitat for Humanity.  Organize a clean-up of a park or the yard of a person in your neighborhood who could use and is willing to receive help.  Visit the elderly in nursing homes.  Volunteer at local schools.  The options are endless.  Serve others, and do so regularly.  Make it a part of the fabric of your daily life.

 

5. Share the Gospel: People are better off and happier when they behave in ways congruent with God's will.  The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best instruction for individualized improvement.  Share the Gospel regularly.  Don't be pushy or brassy about it.  Be earnest and sincere and humble, but clear in expressions of the value of the Gospel in your life, and of your altruistic desire to share it with others.  Altruism is the grease on the skids of missionary work.  When others see that we are sharing what we believe not because we get anything out of it for ourselves, and not because we believe we are better than others, and that we are instead acting out of altruism ("the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others"), then that motivation will become more apparent to others and will make them more likely to listen to the gospel message.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

Edited July 24, 2014 by smac97

[thatjimguy]

Dont beat yourself up too much. I dont see many other choices for people back then for things to do as we do today. I suspect they did a lot of churchy things to relieve the boredom.

Also, I know that I sometimes have to step back from too many activities or else get burnout. Its hard to learn or feel any spirit when that happens and just lose oneself in a sea of the mundane.

Edited July 24, 2014 by thatjimguy

[CV75]

What steps can we take to immerse our lives in the Lord?

The basics (pray, study, ponder, serve, etc.). Cultivate gratitude, patience, faith, hope, charity for yourself and others.

[Kenngo1969]

The basics (pray, study, ponder, serve, etc.). Cultivate gratitude, patience, faith, hope, charity for yourself and others.

I really, really like this, especially the second sentence.  (My only regret is that I could give it only one rep point.)  With respect to the first attribute listed in your second sentence, I offer this:

 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng

[Garden Girl]

I find that having what I call a "prayerful heart" helps me throughout the day... i.e., it's an attitude, or outlook, for me as much as anything... I just feel close to the Savior and Heavenly Father because prayer attends me throughout the day.  It's always just "there."  My main prayers come each morning, and end at bedtime each night.  In between, it feels like I walk with the Spirit.

 

Add to that items from other suggestions given here, such as scripture study, service to others, a calling... but I'm very careful not to become "burned out."  I leave time mentally and physcially for other activities, such as gardening, or a painting/drawing, etc.  Of course at my age, and being alone, it is easier for me to stay forcused or "in tune" so to speak... not the distractions others have.

 

GG

[VideoGameJunkie]

I'm feeling pretty good, but I can always do better. Past sinful thoughts creeped into my mind tonight, but thankfully I didn't give in.

[CV75]

I really, really like this, especially the second sentence.  (My only regret is that I could give it only one rep point.)  With respect to the first attribute listed in your second sentence, I offer this:

 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng

Thank you! I think it boils down to, if we are going to immerse ourselves in anything, it might as well be uplifting and enduring (the immersion that keeps on immersing!).

 

And that is a wonderful talk!

[VideoGameJunkie]

My mind keeps on jumping back and forth from righteous desires and unimportant desires. My mind is like a tug of war. Thankfully, my actions have been on the righteous side.

[Kind Debater]

I recommend Transforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson.  It talks about worshiping God in prayer, especially by using Scripture, and I've found that to be helpful in my prayer life and overall spiritual growth.

 

I am currently using Praying the Attributes of God by Rosemary Jensen in my prayer times, which makes it easy to put into practice the type of prayer talked about in the first book.