Grace, sin, and blessings for righteousness

[bluebell]

I was feeling pretty good about myself today because I've been very productive. 

Being productive is something that I often struggle with because cleaning/paying bills/running errands is boring and a lot of unproductive things (like reading or binge watching tv shows or even being on here isn't).  But I've been on a roll today.  I woke up early and went for a morning walk, saved a baby hummingbird, got my kids to swim lessons, took them out to eat after they passed to the next level, did an art project with my 7 year old, vacuumed 3/4 of my house (including stairs, and stairs suck), remembered to mail a letter my husband needed mailed, washed and put away a load of laundry, cleaned the master bathroom, swept my kitchen and dining room, dusted the living room, wiped down the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher, and even remembered to water my plants.  

So as I said, I was feeling really good about myself.  I feel like Heavenly Father likes it when I'm productive (not that every day has to look like today), and since I'm a stay-at-home mom to a husband that works really hard for us, I feel like i'm pulling my weight when I am.  But in the middle of all the patting on the back I realized that I had forgotten to say my morning prayers or read my scriptures.  It was saving the baby hummingbird that did it.  I had to drive that little guy 30 minutes away to get him to a wildlife rehabilitation center and then straight to swimming (we made it with one minute to spare) and that meant rushing out of the door an hour earlier than I had expected to.  Prayers and scripture study (along with a shower) were the things that fell through the cracks.

I was feeling pretty good about myself and then remembered that I had failed to do the two most important things in my day and I didn't feel good about myself anymore.  I felt lame.  Instantly I was reminded of grace and how we all need it and we don't have to be perfect, and all that stuff that I know theoretically is true, but it didn't help me feel any better because I don't exactly know how it actually works. 

So short story long, here's what I'm looking for thoughts on: 

We're told that when we do certain things like praying and reading our scriptures we are blessed.  Blessed for that day and blessed in general.  And we are told that the grace of Christ covers the gap between perfection and us.  It even covers the gap between us and "our best".  But what does that mean in real time?  How do those two converge?

• In this specific situation above, what does the Grace of Christ offer me? 
• Does it mean that I get the blessings for praying and reading scriptures anyway--even though I didn't do it--because I'm covered by His grace? 
• If it does, then at what point don't we get those blessings?  Like if I haven't prayed for a week then I still have access to His grace but not those specific blessings anymore?
• Does it mean I don't get those blessings (because I didn't obey those commandments) but I get something else? 
• What is the 'something else'?

[Kenngo1969]

I think you're being too hard on yourself.  As much as I appreciate the account of Mary, Martha, and the Savior, how Martha was anxious that the Savior be attended to well, while the Savior was more interested in Martha "choosing the better part," I think, in your case, the opposite of what we usually take from that account is the most important thing.  The Savior excoriated the Scribes and Pharisees for having the Scriptures memorized while failing to live what they taught (omitting "weightier matters").  It's one thing to read the Scriptures: The most important thing, though, is living them.  "Not everyone that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of My Father, but he that doeth the will of My Father."

[Rain]

I think you get blessings for all good things in your life. The scriptures say if we don't have love we have nothing. So many of the things you mentioned showed your love.  I don't think you were blessed less. Maybe blessed a little differently, but not in a lesser way.

That's not to say we should give up on prayer or scripture.  We need to eat a balanced diet.  If you don't get in your calcium or vitamin A you won't do well.  But if you miss a day here or there when you usually get them every day the other days are enough through Jesus to still get the blessings 

[let’s roll]

24 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I was feeling pretty good about myself today because I've been very productive. 

Being productive is something that I often struggle with because cleaning/paying bills/running errands is boring and a lot of unproductive things (like reading or binge watching tv shows or even being on here isn't).  But I've been on a roll today.  I woke up early and went for a morning walk, saved a baby hummingbird, got my kids to swim lessons, took them out to eat after they passed to the next level, did an art project with my 7 year old, vacuumed 3/4 of my house (including stairs, and stairs suck), remembered to mail a letter my husband needed mailed, washed and put away a load of laundry, cleaned the master bathroom, swept my kitchen and dining room, dusted the living room, wiped down the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher, and even remembered to water my plants.  

So as I said, I was feeling really good about myself.  I feel like Heavenly Father likes it when I'm productive (not that every day has to look like today), and since I'm a stay-at-home mom to a husband that works really hard for us, I feel like i'm pulling my weight when I am.  But in the middle of all the patting on the back I realized that I had forgotten to say my morning prayers or read my scriptures.  It was saving the baby hummingbird that did it.  I had to drive that little guy 30 minutes away to get him to a wildlife rehabilitation center and then straight to swimming (we made it with one minute to spare) and that meant rushing out of the door an hour earlier than I had expected to.  Prayers and scripture study (along with a shower) were the things that fell through the cracks.

I was feeling pretty good about myself and then remembered that I had failed to do the two most important things in my day and I didn't feel good about myself anymore.  I felt lame.  Instantly I was reminded of grace and how we all need it and we don't have to be perfect, and all that stuff that I know theoretically is true, but it didn't help me feel any better because I don't exactly know how it actually works. 

So short story long, here's what I'm looking for thoughts on: 

We're told that when we do certain things like praying and reading our scriptures we are blessed.  Blessed for that day and blessed in general.  And we are told that the grace of Christ covers the gap between perfection and us.  It even covers the gap between us and "our best".  But what does that mean in real time?  How do those two converge?

• In this specific situation above, what does the Grace of Christ offer me? 
• Does it mean that I get the blessings for praying and reading scriptures anyway--even though I didn't do it--because I'm covered by His grace? 
• If it does, then at what point don't we get those blessings?  Like if I haven't prayed for a week then I still have access to His grace but not those specific blessings anymore?
• Does it mean I don't get those blessings (because I didn't obey those commandments) but I get something else? 
• What is the 'something else'?

I invite you to consider that we read the scriptures and pray in order to have a heart willing to put aside our routine to drive 30 miles to save a hummingbird and to recognize the blessing and grace woven into that experience.

[manol]

39 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I was feeling pretty good about myself...

In my opinion, this inner voice was telling you the truth, and has your best interests at heart.

39 minutes ago, bluebell said:

... and then remembered that I had failed to do the two most important things in my day and I didn't feel good about myself anymore. 

And this inner voice was not telling you the truth, and does not have your best interest at heart.  It crushed your spirit.

We don't make ourselves a welcome host for the Holy Spirit by finding some dark mudhole of guilt to wallow in, and that may take deliberately re-programming our default thinking patterns.  There are plenty of such mudholes out there, and they are not where we find the light.  (I'm not accusing you of "wallowing" - I'm using that word for the sake of mental imagery.)

You might try remembering to pay attention to how your thoughts are making you feel, and CONSCIOUSLY choose the highest and most uplifting thoughts you reasonably can as often as you reasonably can.  And notice the effect on how you feel.  This is arguably how you can "walk with the Spirit", and you won't even be thinking about what the tally is on the "blessings" scorecard. 

(Imo one of the easiest ways to quickly move into uplifting thoughts is to consciously and deliberately fill yourself with GRATITUDE.  Going into gratitude doesn't "get" you anything, at least not on the surface, not at first glance, so it is totally unselfish.  But going fully into gratitude can align a person with the Spirit like tuning a radio to your favorite station on one of those old-fashioned tuning-dial sets, and you can fine-tune your thoughts by the way you FEEL.  And you can come back whenever you need to - it's just a thought away.)  

6 minutes ago, let’s roll said:

I invite you to consider that we read the scriptures and pray in order to have a heart willing to put aside our routine to drive 30 miles to save a hummingbird and to recognize the blessing and grace woven into that experience.

BEAUTIFUL!!

Edited July 14, 2022 by manol

[bluebell]

7 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

I think you're being too hard on yourself.  As much as I appreciate the account of Mary, Martha, and the Savior, how Martha was anxious that the Savior be attended to well, while the Savior was more interested in Martha "choosing the better part," I think, in your case, the opposite of what we usually take from that account is the most important thing.  The Savior excoriated the Scribes and Pharisees for having the Scriptures memorized while failing to live what they taught (omitting "weightier matters").  It's one thing to read the Scriptures: The most important thing, though, is living them.  "Not everyone that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of My Father, but he that doeth the will of My Father."

I didn't think of it that way so thank you for a new perspective.

[bluebell]

7 minutes ago, Rain said:

I think you get blessings for all good things in your life. The scriptures say if we don't have love we have nothing. So many of the things you mentioned showed your love.  I don't think you were blessed less. Maybe blessed a little differently, but not in a lesser way.

That's not to say we should give up on prayer or scripture.  We need to eat a balanced diet.  If you don't get in your calcium or vitamin A you won't do well.  But if you miss a day here or there when you usually get them every day the other days are enough through Jesus to still get the blessings 

That also a new way to think of it that I like.  I need to ponder on that more.

[teddyaware]

27 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I was feeling pretty good about myself today because I've been very productive. 

Being productive is something that I often struggle with because cleaning/paying bills/running errands is boring and a lot of unproductive things (like reading or binge watching tv shows or even being on here isn't).  But I've been on a roll today.  I woke up early and went for a morning walk, saved a baby hummingbird, got my kids to swim lessons, took them out to eat after they passed to the next level, did an art project with my 7 year old, vacuumed 3/4 of my house (including stairs, and stairs suck), remembered to mail a letter my husband needed mailed, washed and put away a load of laundry, cleaned the master bathroom, swept my kitchen and dining room, dusted the living room, wiped down the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher, and even remembered to water my plants.  

So as I said, I was feeling really good about myself.  I feel like Heavenly Father likes it when I'm productive (not that every day has to look like today), and since I'm a stay-at-home mom to a husband that works really hard for us, I feel like i'm pulling my weight when I am.  But in the middle of all the patting on the back I realized that I had forgotten to say my morning prayers or read my scriptures.  It was saving the baby hummingbird that did it.  I had to drive that little guy 30 minutes away to get him to a wildlife rehabilitation center and then straight to swimming (we made it with one minute to spare) and that meant rushing out of the door an hour earlier than I had expected to.  Prayers and scripture study (along with a shower) were the things that fell through the cracks.

I was feeling pretty good about myself and then remembered that I had failed to do the two most important things in my day and I didn't feel good about myself anymore.  I felt lame.  Instantly I was reminded of grace and how we all need it and we don't have to be perfect, and all that stuff that I know theoretically is true, but it didn't help me feel any better because I don't exactly know how it actually works. 

So short story long, here's what I'm looking for thoughts on: 

We're told that when we do certain things like praying and reading our scriptures we are blessed.  Blessed for that day and blessed in general.  And we are told that the grace of Christ covers the gap between perfection and us.  It even covers the gap between us and "our best".  But what does that mean in real time?  How do those two converge?

• In this specific situation above, what does the Grace of Christ offer me? 
• Does it mean that I get the blessings for praying and reading scriptures anyway--even though I didn't do it--because I'm covered by His grace? 
• If it does, then at what point don't we get those blessings?  Like if I haven't prayed for a week then I still have access to His grace but not those specific blessings anymore?
• Does it mean I don't get those blessings (because I didn't obey those commandments) but I get something else? 
• What is the 'something else'?

Your problem stated when you  to commend yourself for doing a good job, not giving God the glory. Then you greatly compounded the original error when you allowed yourself to imagine that God is an unmerciful and petty taskmaster 

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3)

[bluebell]

5 minutes ago, let’s roll said:

I invite you to consider that we read the scriptures and pray in order to have a heart willing to put aside our routine to drive 30 miles to save a hummingbird and to recognize the blessing and grace woven into that experience.

That's a good way to look at it, but I will probably always struggle to do so consistently.

My mind struggles with connecting that idea with all of the other things that I've been taught over the decades, like "I the Lord am bound when you do what I say but when you do not what I say, ye have no promise."  And the idea that every act of obedience has a blessing attached to it.  Etc.  I'm a rule follower by nature and I like my rules to make sense.  Cause and effect stuff.  

That's probably why I struggle with understanding the applications of grace, even though I have great faith in the theory of it.

(I married a man who is not at all a rule follower--in fact we tease him about how we are going to put "I'll do what I want" on his headstone someday.  It drives me crazy and gives me a lot of anxiety sometimes, but I know he's good for me.)

[CV75]

52 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I was feeling pretty good about myself today because I've been very productive. 

Being productive is something that I often struggle with because cleaning/paying bills/running errands is boring and a lot of unproductive things (like reading or binge watching tv shows or even being on here isn't).  But I've been on a roll today.  I woke up early and went for a morning walk, saved a baby hummingbird, got my kids to swim lessons, took them out to eat after they passed to the next level, did an art project with my 7 year old, vacuumed 3/4 of my house (including stairs, and stairs suck), remembered to mail a letter my husband needed mailed, washed and put away a load of laundry, cleaned the master bathroom, swept my kitchen and dining room, dusted the living room, wiped down the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher, and even remembered to water my plants.  

So as I said, I was feeling really good about myself.  I feel like Heavenly Father likes it when I'm productive (not that every day has to look like today), and since I'm a stay-at-home mom to a husband that works really hard for us, I feel like i'm pulling my weight when I am.  But in the middle of all the patting on the back I realized that I had forgotten to say my morning prayers or read my scriptures.  It was saving the baby hummingbird that did it.  I had to drive that little guy 30 minutes away to get him to a wildlife rehabilitation center and then straight to swimming (we made it with one minute to spare) and that meant rushing out of the door an hour earlier than I had expected to.  Prayers and scripture study (along with a shower) were the things that fell through the cracks.

I was feeling pretty good about myself and then remembered that I had failed to do the two most important things in my day and I didn't feel good about myself anymore.  I felt lame.  Instantly I was reminded of grace and how we all need it and we don't have to be perfect, and all that stuff that I know theoretically is true, but it didn't help me feel any better because I don't exactly know how it actually works. 

So short story long, here's what I'm looking for thoughts on: 

We're told that when we do certain things like praying and reading our scriptures we are blessed.  Blessed for that day and blessed in general.  And we are told that the grace of Christ covers the gap between perfection and us.  It even covers the gap between us and "our best".  But what does that mean in real time?  How do those two converge?

• In this specific situation above, what does the Grace of Christ offer me? 
• Does it mean that I get the blessings for praying and reading scriptures anyway--even though I didn't do it--because I'm covered by His grace? 
• If it does, then at what point don't we get those blessings?  Like if I haven't prayed for a week then I still have access to His grace but not those specific blessings anymore?
• Does it mean I don't get those blessings (because I didn't obey those commandments) but I get something else? 
• What is the 'something else'?

I would say, if you skip a day, just resume the “higher and holier” practices – willingness and repentance are a couple of the many manifestations of grace. We are blessed for these as well as for the fulfilled actions (in different ways and for different reasons, as covered in the sacrament prayer.) As far as “something else” goes, I would say D&C 130:20–21 applies (in a good, better and best way). But to the hummingbird specifically, I'm sure if you had to do it all over again, you would still figure out a way to save it and do everything else you think you should have. But for the willing who have a hope in Christ for eventual perfection, grace renders a prayer in the heart as blessed as the one on the knees (because you are emulating the Savior and the sparrow), and living the scriptures through selfless motherly service renders a scripture reading like no other! All of them count in their time, place and circumstance.

Edited July 14, 2022 by CV75

[bluebell]

6 minutes ago, manol said:

In my opinion, this inner voice was telling you the truth, and has your best interests at heart.

And this inner voice was not telling you the truth, and does not have your best interest at heart.  It crushed your spirit.

We don't make ourselves a welcome host for the Holy Spirit by finding some dark mudhole of guilt to wallow in, and that may take deliberately re-programming our default thinking patterns.  There are plenty of such mudholes out there, and they are not where we find the light.  (I'm not accusing you of "wallowing" - I'm using that word for the sake of mental imagery.)

You might try remembering to pay attention to how your thoughts are making you feel, and CONSCIOUSLY choose the highest and most uplifting thoughts you can as often as you reasonably can.  And notice the effect on how you feel.  This is arguably how you can "walk with the Spirit", and you won't even be thinking about what the tally is on the "blessings" scorecard. 

(Imo one of the easiest ways to quickly move into uplifting thoughts is to consciously and deliberately fill yourself with GRATITUDE.  Going into gratitude doesn't "get" you anything, at least not on the surface, not at first glance, so it is totally unselfish.  But going fully into gratitude can align a person with the Spirit like tuning a radio to your favorite station on one of those old-fashioned tuning-dial sets, and you can fine-tune your thoughts by the way you FEEL.  And you can come back whenever you need to - it's just a thought away.)  

The bold made me laugh.  And I think you are right.  I'm going to work on this thinking stuff.  I'm not one to struggle with anxiety or feelings of worthlessness.  I'm pretty ok with me most of the time.  But I do get stuck on the legalistic "blessing scoreboard" side of an issue often and I struggle with not feeling like God is disappointed in my most of the time.

So it's weird.  I'm weird.

[bluebell]

5 minutes ago, teddyaware said:

Your problem stated when you  to commend yourself for doing a good job, not giving God the glory. Then you greatly compounded the original error when you allowed yourself to imagine that God is an unmerciful and petty taskmaster 

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3)

So I just need to repent more?

[bluebell]

3 minutes ago, CV75 said:

I would say, if you skip a day, just resume the “higher and holier” practices – willingness and repentance are a couple of the many manifestations of grace. We are blessed for these as well as for the fulfilled actions (in different ways and for different reasons, as covered in the sacrament prayer. As far as “something else” goes, I would say D&C 130:20–21 applies.

I'll look that up, thanks!

[manol]

3 minutes ago, bluebell said:

The bold made me laugh.  And I think you are right.  I'm going to work on this thinking stuff.  I'm not one to struggle with anxiety or feelings of worthlessness.  I'm pretty ok with me most of the time.  But I do get stuck on the legalistic "blessing scoreboard" side of an issue often and I struggle with not feeling like God is disappointed in my most of the time.

So it's weird.  I'm weird.

And Jesus wasn't weird??

Not that I think you'd take the word of some random anonymous weirdo on an internet forum, but in my opinion, God is literally never disappointed in you.

[CV75]

7 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I'll look that up, thanks!

Please re-read my post (there's more!) -- a bad habit of mine is to edit, sometimes heavily, my posts after the fact.  That is why I'm so big on repentance, I guess!

[manol]

4 minutes ago, CV75 said:

Please re-read my post (there's more!) -- a bad habit of mine is to edit, sometimes heavily, my posts after the fact.  That is why I'm so big on repentance, I guess!

I think there may be a level (inaccessible to us telestials) at which time itself is sufficiently malleable that we can do something akin to "editing the past".  I dunno about you, but I could use some of that!!

[mbh26]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

I was feeling pretty good about myself today because I've been very productive. 

Being productive is something that I often struggle with because cleaning/paying bills/running errands is boring and a lot of unproductive things (like reading or binge watching tv shows or even being on here isn't).  But I've been on a roll today.  I woke up early and went for a morning walk, saved a baby hummingbird, got my kids to swim lessons, took them out to eat after they passed to the next level, did an art project with my 7 year old, vacuumed 3/4 of my house (including stairs, and stairs suck), remembered to mail a letter my husband needed mailed, washed and put away a load of laundry, cleaned the master bathroom, swept my kitchen and dining room, dusted the living room, wiped down the kitchen and turned on the dishwasher, and even remembered to water my plants.  

So as I said, I was feeling really good about myself.  I feel like Heavenly Father likes it when I'm productive (not that every day has to look like today), and since I'm a stay-at-home mom to a husband that works really hard for us, I feel like i'm pulling my weight when I am.  But in the middle of all the patting on the back I realized that I had forgotten to say my morning prayers or read my scriptures.  It was saving the baby hummingbird that did it.  I had to drive that little guy 30 minutes away to get him to a wildlife rehabilitation center and then straight to swimming (we made it with one minute to spare) and that meant rushing out of the door an hour earlier than I had expected to.  Prayers and scripture study (along with a shower) were the things that fell through the cracks.

I was feeling pretty good about myself and then remembered that I had failed to do the two most important things in my day and I didn't feel good about myself anymore.  I felt lame.  Instantly I was reminded of grace and how we all need it and we don't have to be perfect, and all that stuff that I know theoretically is true, but it didn't help me feel any better because I don't exactly know how it actually works. 

So short story long, here's what I'm looking for thoughts on: 

We're told that when we do certain things like praying and reading our scriptures we are blessed.  Blessed for that day and blessed in general.  And we are told that the grace of Christ covers the gap between perfection and us.  It even covers the gap between us and "our best".  But what does that mean in real time?  How do those two converge?

• In this specific situation above, what does the Grace of Christ offer me? 
• Does it mean that I get the blessings for praying and reading scriptures anyway--even though I didn't do it--because I'm covered by His grace? 
• If it does, then at what point don't we get those blessings?  Like if I haven't prayed for a week then I still have access to His grace but not those specific blessings anymore?
• Does it mean I don't get those blessings (because I didn't obey those commandments) but I get something else? 
• What is the 'something else'?

Thank you for posting this.  I've wondered the same since I was in primary.  I'm kind of skeptical that anyone knows or can know the exact answer to your question (which was also my question) except the Lord Himself. 

[Calm]

23 minutes ago, manol said:

I think there may be a level (inaccessible to us telestials) at which time itself is sufficiently malleable that we can do something akin to "editing the past".  I dunno about you, but I could use some of that!!

When mortality is over and done with for this world, will there be any necessity to know the ‘true history’?  I can see it as a real possibility that part of the healing and repentance process where God remembers our sins no more is that we rewrite our memories into what we want them to be and that becomes our history. Since we are our memories to a big extent, I see that as a pretty straightforward way to heal wounds and change our hearts and minds, something a lot quicker than repeating good acts a million times until they are engrained in our dna and overwrite and bad habits we picked up.  Because it will be ourselves choosing the rewrites, we aren’t being turned into puppets of God.  And for those who want to hold on to knowledge of their struggles, they can keep them as they want in order to form the person they want to be.  Perfection won’t allow arrogance or ego to be part of our motivation in rewriting them, to turn us into the person everyone else admires; rather our motivation will more likely be to show through our stories how to be good to others, God, and ourselves and to increase our ability to do just that.  The only reason I can see a need for remembering our pain is to be empathetic to others and if we can actually feel their pain because our more developed ability to communicate, perhaps we don’t need to keep a repository of pain in ourselves.  
 

Or maybe it will just be emotional memories that are rewritten and not the actual events, just our emotional responses to them.

Edited July 14, 2022 by Calm

[strappinglad]

There is the " ox in the mire " reasoning for missing some religious action. That is perfectly acceptable on occasion. If the ox is regularly getting in the mire one may want to look into fixing the fence. It's a whole other problem if one digs a hole and fills it with water and herds the ox towards it. 

Go easy on yourself bluebell, you did more in one day than I now do in a week. I did have a good chuckle at your ( perhaps inadvertent ) choice of language when you said that vacuuming stairs sucks !😉

[Vanguard]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

• 1. In this specific situation above, what does the Grace of Christ offer me? 
• 2. Does it mean that I get the blessings for praying and reading scriptures anyway--even though I didn't do it--because I'm covered by His grace? 
• 3. If it does, then at what point don't we get those blessings?  Like if I haven't prayed for a week then I still have access to His grace but not those specific blessings anymore?
• 4. Does it mean I don't get those blessings (because I didn't obey those commandments) but I get something else? 
• 5. What is the 'something else'?

1. A chance for your heart to rest easy regardless of how your morning played out. The important thing is that you still desire to be His the vagaries of your daily existence notwithstanding.

2. Yes, and possibly different/additional ones because of what you did do. But it's not ultimately about the blessings of your praying and reading but rather a result of your heart being His. And let's not forget everything else you were blessed with as you went through your day whether you were cognizant of or whether you 'deserved' the blessings or not - breathing, using your limbs and your senses, being free of debilitating pain/discomfort, not being physiologically/psychologically stressed due to war, financial hardship, disease, drug addiction, etc. You are blessed indeed.

3. Starts to sound too mechanistic for me. As LDS we must resist the tendency to quantify/correlate effort as it relates to perceived/deserved blessings.

4. See #2.

5. See #2.

Your heart is what's most important - not a litmus test of behaviors. He knows you value prayer & scripture reading both in your heart and generally in your behavior.

I did not read anyone else's responses before posting this as I believe it would color my most natural response. Does anyone else ever do this? ; )

[manol]

27 minutes ago, Calm said:

When mortality is over and done with for this world, will there be any necessity to know the ‘true history’?  I can see it as a real possibility that part of the healing and repentance process where God remembers our sins no more is that we rewrite our memories into what we want them to be and that becomes our history. Since we are our memories to a big extent, I see that as a pretty straightforward way to heal wounds and change our hearts and minds, something a lot quicker than repeating good acts a million times until they are engrained in our dna and overwrite and bad habits we picked up.  Because it will be ourselves choosing the rewrites, we aren’t being turned into puppets of God.  And for those who want to hold on to knowledge of their struggles, they can keep them as they want in order to form the person they want to be.  Perfection won’t allow arrogance or ego to be part of our motivation in rewriting them, to turn us into the person everyone else admires; rather our motivation will more likely be to show through our stories how to be good to others, God, and ourselves and to increase our ability to do just that.  The only reason I can see a need for remembering our pain is to be empathetic to others and if we can actually feel their pain because our more developed ability to communicate, perhaps we don’t need to keep a repository of pain in ourselves.  

Or maybe it will just be emotional memories that are rewritten and not the actual events, just our emotional responses to them.

 

Beautiful!

Even here I think we can sometimes re-write our memories, or at least the emotional part, but that's another topic for another day.  

I dunno how much into music you are, but I think sometimes God speaks to us through song.  Here is the second half of a song by a 70's alternative rock group named Renaissance.  These are the words that fit with the bolded sentence in what you wrote:  "Your sins you won't remember, and all you'll find there is love." 

Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning - YouTube

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by manol

[Calm]

1 minute ago, manol said:

Beautiful!

Even here I think we can sometimes re-write our memories, but that's another topic for another day.  

I dunno how much into music you are, but I think sometimes God speaks to us through song.  Here is the second half of a song by a 70's alternative rock group named Renaissance.  These are the words that fit with the bolded sentence in what you wrote:  "Your sins you won't remember, and all you'll find there is love." 

Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning - YouTube

 

I love Renaissance.  I was feeling sad the other day thinking no one much younger than me likely knew of them, but I really have no clue as I don’t follow the music community or culture.

Looks like they are still performing, with variations.  I need to check out newer albums.

[Rain]

1 hour ago, teddyaware said:

Your problem stated when you  to commend yourself for doing a good job, not giving God the glory. Then you greatly compounded the original error when you allowed yourself to imagine that God is an unmerciful and petty taskmaster 

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3)

I think that Bluebell fits what Elder Uchtdorf talks about here:

Quote

It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. “No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love.” When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.

Some suppose that humility is about beating ourselves up. Humility does not mean convincing ourselves that we are worthless, meaningless, or of little value. Nor does it mean denying or withholding the talents God has given us. We don’t discover humility by thinking less of ourselves; we discover humility by thinking less about ourselves. It comes as we go about our work with an attitude of serving God and our fellowman.

Humility directs our attention and love toward others and to Heavenly Father’s purposes. Pride does the opposite. Pride draws its energy and strength from the deep wells of selfishness. 

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by Rain

[manol]

24 minutes ago, Calm said:

I love Renaissance.  I was feeling sad the other day thinking no one much younger than me likely knew of them, but I really have no clue as I don’t follow the music community or culture.

Looks like they are still performing, with variations.  I need to check out newer albums.

Ha!  Small world.  I recently re-discovered "Thinking about things I don't understand", that song was boring to me forty-something years ago but now I think lyricist Betty Thatcher's message is incredible. Where did she get this stuff from?  Oh, yeah. THERE.

We don't need to know the answers
To hope and pray for peace
And each by what he can
To make us all complete

For anyone who's interested:  Things I Don't Understand [2020 Remaster] - YouTube

Edited July 15, 2022 by manol

[bluebell]

40 minutes ago, Rain said:

I think that Bluebell fits what Elder Uchtdorf talks about here:

 

Thank you for that quote.  ♥️