Avatar4321 Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 There is never a time when only one person sings and the rest of the world stays silent. The objective is not to be the center of attention, but to use the gifts, talents, God has given us. Some of us can be patient, some faithful, some disciplined, some strong...it takes all working together to become the body of Christ that functions properly. All are needed regardless of how many gifts they have or they gain. Serve each other valiantly and we serve our God.Who says only one person needs to sing. I find singing far more beautiful when done in unison with others.
Avatar4321 Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 May I recommend the counsel from a couple of passages in this past lesson:Several years after Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young. Hear his message:“Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.”If you want to get the spirit of your office and calling … try fasting for a period. I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.1It seems to me that you need the Spirit more. You need His influence. Seek the Lord. be humble. Do your best and use the Atonement. Seek to be converted to the Lord. And cast out the evil spirits around you.Fast and prayer to get the spirits conviction. You sounds like you are trying to do it all yourself. Stop. Trust Him to do His part. That is part of exercising faith.
Rain Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 I don't think the Spirit is chased away with every sin we commit. I get the impression that more often he nudges us to let us know we have done something wrong. 2
Avatar4321 Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 I don't think the Spirit is chased away with every sin we commit. I get the impression that more often he nudges us to let us know we have done something wrong.I agree with this. Often times I have sinned and the Spirit has come strongly to me telling me it's alright and I need to stop. I can probably count on my hands the times I've done something bad enough for Him to noticeably withdrawal
stemelbow Posted June 24, 2015 Author Posted June 24, 2015 Some obviously do have less responsibility than others. thats completely obvious. At various times. Some who are bishops were once ward greeters, or lacked callings altogether. Take the sum of responsibility put upon any one person, compare to the sum of another and I'm not so sure God sees much difference.
stemelbow Posted June 24, 2015 Author Posted June 24, 2015 If we don't know our standing with God, shouldn't we ask Him? At any given time it changes. We could ask, He could let us know, as He did Enos, that we are forgiven, but then we go and sin some more.
stemelbow Posted June 24, 2015 Author Posted June 24, 2015 May I recommend the counsel from a couple of passages in this past lesson: It seems to me that you need the Spirit more. You need His influence. Seek the Lord. be humble. Do your best and use the Atonement. Seek to be converted to the Lord. And cast out the evil spirits around you. Fast and prayer to get the spirits conviction. You sounds like you are trying to do it all yourself. Stop. Trust Him to do His part. That is part of exercising faith. I don't know if this was meant for me or not... I seek. Are you saying I need to seek more? If so, why are you telling me I need to stop trying to do it by myself? I'm not. I'm seeking help. In one way you seem to suggest I'm not doing enough. In another you seem to be suggesting I've tried to do too much. It's these types of messages I think we really struggle with in the Church. "you don't do enough, aren't spiritual enough, aren't good enough...but you are trying to do it too much by yourself...you need to let go and let Him take over." Well which is it?
stemelbow Posted June 24, 2015 Author Posted June 24, 2015 I don't think the Spirit is chased away with every sin we commit. I get the impression that more often he nudges us to let us know we have done something wrong. Possible. But that doesn't keep us from telling each other we need to strive to keep the Spirit with us always. that in order to have the Spirit we have to keep the commandments--when we sin we chase Him away. Is it the message that is the problem or the concept?
The Nehor Posted June 24, 2015 Posted June 24, 2015 I agree with this. Often times I have sinned and the Spirit has come strongly to me telling me it's alright and I need to stop. I can probably count on my hands the times I've done something bad enough for Him to noticeably withdrawalI would definitely need to take my shoes off and maybe count teeth and hair too.
janderich Posted June 25, 2015 Posted June 25, 2015 Just one thought on the the Parable of the Talents: This parable is often misunderstood because we do not understand the value of a talent. In Jesus' day a talent was the largest single sum of money. One talent represented 6000 days of labor. So the person given one talent is something akin to a millionaire. With this understanding we can see that the parable has very little if anything to do with lack. It is not about the poor person who has one measly talent. No, even he had enough and to spare. Now, with this abundance we can see the next point. The Lord's plans do not hinge on what we do with the money. The only way to disappoint the Lord is to not invest the money. Invest it in any way you feel. The Lord will turn it for your good. In other words, seize the day! Don't let fear arise in your heart and limit your action. 1
Duncan Posted June 27, 2015 Posted June 27, 2015 At various times. Some who are bishops were once ward greeters, or lacked callings altogether. Take the sum of responsibility put upon any one person, compare to the sum of another and I'm not so sure God sees much difference. I was reading recently a released member of the Seventy, Elder Augusto A. Lim, and he had been flipping everything in the Church and here he was serving as a counselor in a Bishopric and happy about it!
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