Finding the faith to press on

Press On (Selah)

Beginning last December (2013), I was troubled by Atrial Fibrillation, a condition where the atrium (top right chamber of the heart) doesn't beat effectively, instead it quivers. Rather that worrying about it, I came home from the doctor and got on Facebook and ask my family and friends to get a prayer chain going -- that I had a long, hard road ahead of me. Also, being a Latter-Day Saint, I knew I must try, as I have been taught, to endure to the end. Does that mean I prepared to die? Not at all, instead I "dug in" and prepared to battle the problem with Heavenly Father's help. I won't lie . . . it was the roughest three months of my life. The funny thing was that I was willing to accept it as the "thorn in my side" because friends were being strengthened - and acting on their own health problems - seeing how I was dealing with mine. That wasn't Heavenly Father's plan for me as he guided my Cardiologist to send me to an Electrophysiologist who performed surgery and implanted a pacemaker (pictured above right). Now, some two months and two weeks after the surgery, I am back in good health. All because I endured and pressed on!

In times of need

A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race. This has been your [the Twelve in England] feeling, and caused you to forego the pleasures of home, that you might be a blessing to others, who are candidates for [eternal life], but strangers to truth; and for so doing, I pray that heaven's choicest blessings may rest upon you. (See: History of the Church, 4:227)

As a whole, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are unique in our acts of unselfish service to others. Explains Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "Each year tens of thousands of Latter-Day Saints submit their papers for full-time missionary service," (Oaks, 2009). But it is not just that, often members of the LDS church are among the first on the ground following a hurricane or other major disaster. Why do we do it? The answer can be found in Matthew 16:24-25: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.; For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it," (Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV), 2013). You see, in serving others, we are also serving our Savior. 

 

Reference

Matthew 16:24-25 (new international version). (2013, August 27). Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 16:24-25&version=NIV Retrieved: August 27, 2013

Oaks, D. (2009, April 01). Unselfish service . Retrieved from http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/unselfish-service?lang=en Retrieved: August 27, 2013

In times of tragedy

I

I hadn't planned to blog today, but, given what happened in Newtown, CT early today, I felt I had an obligation to write something that would offer some degree of comfort. I too am hurting, as it hit close to home for my family and I. You see, in May 1968, my 18 month-old sister when her daycare center was destroyed by a natural gas explosion. Because of that I can truly say that I understand the disbelief, pain, and loss they are experiencing tonight. The good news is that there is someone who can relieve that pain . . . our loving Heavenly Father!

 

In a March 2009 address to the Church, First Counselor Henry B. Eyring stated "With all of the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common. We must all deal with adversity." He went on to explain that there may be periods - sometimes lengthy ones - when our lives seem to flow along with little or no difficulty. But, because we're all human, this comfort gives away to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortune arrives. When this distress arrives on the scene - especially if it involves the death of a loved one such as a spouse, child, or parent - it can cause fear or even anger.

 

The best answer I can give for those feeling that tonight is found in the Serenity Prayer:

 



God grant me the serenity

to accept the things that I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life;

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

 

Amen

 





 

 

Praying to our Heavenly Father (Part II)

How should we pray?

It doesn't matter where you are, whether your prefer to stand or kneel when you pray, or whether you prefer to vocalize your prayer or pray silently you should always pray with a sincere heart. Moroni 10:4 tells us also that we should pray with real intent meaning that were are serious in what we're asking Heavenly Father for and that we're willing to abide by His answer.

 

When we pray to our Heavenly Father, we need to tell Him what we really feel in our hearts, confide in Him, seek forgiveness for our transgressions, plead with Him, thank Him, and express our love for Him. We should not repeat meaningless words and phrases such as was done by the Pharisee's and the Sadducee's (See: Matthew 6:7-8). We should always ask that His will be done keeping in mind that what we desire might not be the best thing for us (See: 2 Nephi 18:20).

 

How are our prayers answered?

Our sincere prayers are always answered. Sometimes this answer is "no" because what we're asking for is not the best thing for us. Sometimes the answer is "yes" and we experience a warm, comfortable feeling about what we should do (See: D & C 9:8-9). Sometimes the answer is "wait a while" or "not right now". Heavenly Father answers our prayers at a time and in a way that He knows will help us most.

Sometimes Heavenly Father answers our prayers using other people. This can be a good friend, a spouse, a parent or other family member, or Church leader. Here's an example: a young mother whose baby was injured in an accident at their home. She had no way of getting her injured child to the doctor. Being new in the neighborhood, she really didn't know any of her neighbors yet. The young mother stopped and prayed for help. Within moments, one of her neighbors came to the door and said "I had a feeling I should come and see if you needed any help." The neighbor was able to help the young mother to get her baby to the doctor.

 In some instances, Heavenly Father will provide us with the power to answer our own prayers. As we pray, we should do all that we can to bring about those thing we desire.

 

 

. “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers”

Praying to our Heavenly Father (Part I)

Why do we pray

Have you ever stopped to contemplate the question "why do we pray"? Simply put, prayer has been an intergral part of the Gospel since the beginning of time. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, where commanded by an angel of the Lord to "repent and call upon God in the name of His son, Jesus Christ. (See: Moses 5:8) This Commandment has never been revoked and still applies today.

Pray for strength. If we go to the father in prayer with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (See: Ensign - A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit) and pray for protection from "the snares of the Evil One", God will hear your prayer and answer it (See: 3 Nephi 18:15, Doctrine & Covenants 10:5).

Prayer for the Lord's guidance and help in our daily lives. It is important for us to pray for our family and friends, our neighbors, our work, and other daily activities. We should be mindful to seek protection from our enemies -- including Satan. (See: Alma 34:17-27).

 

We should express love to our Heavenly Father. This helps us, as His children, to grow closer to Him. We should give thanks to Him for our welfare and comfort and His many blessings each day. (See: 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
 

When should we pray?

 

That is the nice thing about prayer, we don't have to wait for a certain time . . . we can do it anytime we want to commune with Heavenly Father. Sometimes you might be alone when your pray where you can pour your heart out to Him (See: Matthew 6:6); other times to pray include: during a church meeting, while we're walking, or preparing a meal. We can keep Heavenly Father in our thoughts at all times (See: Alma 34:27) 

 

There are times when we might not feel like praying. If we are angry, discouraged, or upset, these are the times we should make a special effort to pray. (See: 2 Nephi 32:8-9)

 

We should pray in private at least twice a day. The Scriptures tell us to pray morning, mid-day, and evening. (See:  Alma 34:2)

 

We should pray with our family.  In doing this, our families also receive Heavenly Father's blessing. (See: 3 Nephi 18:2)

 

To be continued . . .

 

I say these things in Jesus Christ' name, Amen!

 

 

 

The story of Joseph Smith -- Part II-B (Sacred Grove)

(Note: text in red are the words of Christ.)

As I stated in Part A of this blog, Joseph searched the Holy Scriptures for an answer on which church he should join. His answer was found in the book of James (See: The Book of James). So, forthwith, he retired to the grove near his home. Said he: "So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful , clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty (1820). It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties, I had never yet made the attempt to pray vocally."

Joseph, after finding that he was alone, knelt down and began his prayer. Soon, thereafter, he was overcome by a power that came over him. Explains he: "I was seized upon by some power which overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak." At the same time he felt this great alarm, he saw a pillar of light directly over his head that was brighter than the sun. The light continued to descend gradually until it fell upon him.

According to the Joseph Smith History (See: Joseph Smith History) no sooner had it (the pillar of light) appeared than Joseph found himself delivered from the power which, moments earlier, had taken control of him. As the settled upon him, he saw two Personages standing above him. One of them spake on to him, calling him by name, and said "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

Remembering his original purpose for coming to the grove, Joseph asked of the Personages which of all the sects was right and which he should join. He was answered that he should join none of them. Joseph explained: "the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt." Explained the Personage: "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." Joseph said the Personage again forbade him to align himself with any of them.

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen

The story of Joseph Smith -- Part II-A (The First Vision)

(Note: text in red are the words of Christ)

Recalling his early training, Joseph stated "I was born . . . of goodly parents who spared no pains to instruct me in the Christian religion." But, like many other Christians, his parents recognized that some of the gospel principles taught by Jesus and His Apostles was absent from contemporary churches of their day. In Joseph's hometown of Palmyra, New York, several different denominations were attempting to win over converts. During this same time, Joseph's mother, two of his brothers, and his oldest sister had joined the Presbyterian church. Joseph, along with his dad and brother Alvin, held back and did not join a church at that time. This was due to the fact that Joseph, although young, had a deep concern about his own standing before God and about the confusion among the various denominations.

According to the Joseph Smith History (See: Chapter 1:5; 7-13; See also: Who are Mormons?) "There was in the place where we lived an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of the country. Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying 'Lo here!' and others, 'Lo there!'. Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist . . ."  He continued: "While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 'If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally; and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him' (See: James 1:5)

Explains Brother Smith: "Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teacher of religions of the different sects understood the same passages of Scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible." He added: "At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to 'ask of God," concluding that if He gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not uphold, I might venture."

To be continued . . .

I say these things in Jesus Christ name, Amen