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I woke up and found that my wife was sick and that she wasn’t going to make it to Church. I wanted to roll over and not go to Church either after being up late the night before. Despite my better judgment, I almost did just that – until my youngest son walked in the room and I looked at him in his sweet, big, round eyes.
At that moment I realized how important Church was and even if I didn’t want to go that moment, that it would benefit my children if I took them and if I tagged along. I felt humbled and shameful for even thinking that I should just sleep in. My priorities were jumbled. Then the verse “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3) came to my mind.
As President Gordon B. Hinckley read in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, he says:
“Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
I have that duty to:
- Rear my children in righteousness.
- Provide for their Spiritual Needs
- Teach them to observe the commandments of God
In this case, I should observe the Sabbath day and take my children to church. I should teach my children by living a life as an example and going to Church every Sunday. These children, are not only mine, but of the Lord. And I have been given stewardship over them.
I can remember taking my children to church by myself at least one other time back in December. It is these times I appreciate my wife herding the children in the chapel and lobby. I feel lucky that both times the kids generally behaved and didn’t give me too much of a hard time.
Picking up my boys after class had its own rewards. The happiness and smiles from their faces after being in Sunday School made it more than worth it.
Shortly after being baptized, a brother in the bishopric told me to begin a journal and write down my feelings and events that happened so I can read and reflect what I felt at the time. Also, it would be useful for my children and future generations to see what I was feeling as a modern day pioneer.
I would soon find out where this sage advise originated from.
Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stated:
Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives.
Just as Nephi kept records for the people who would come in the latter days, we should so the same.
I’ve searched the internet for the perfect way to keep a journal electronically and recently came across a website whose purpose is for Latter Saints to Journal online – LDSJournal.com. This is convenient and keeps your entries safe. Entries can be made via a regular web browser on a computer or done mobile via text messaging. It also promotes consistent journaling through the reminder tools it provides. Best of all, it’s FREE!
I’ve been trying it for a few days and it seems to be the ultimate solution.
Here’s a video that was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ action in June 1978 to extend its lay priesthood to men of all races.
More information: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/e…
Besides President Monson’s talks from 178th Annual General Conference weekend, Elder Dallin H. Oaks who is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is the one that has stuck with me the most.
One of the first things he said that has been ringing in my head ever since was what he said on bearing testimony, which was actually quoted from Spencer W. Kimball:
The minute we begin preaching to others, our testimony has ended.
That took me a few moments of pondering, but it makes absolute sense! Preaching is not bearing our testimonies.
The Truth
During a testimony, what do we mean when we testify and say that we know the gospel is true? When we say “I know this church is true,” what does that mean?
Elder Oaks compares it by two examples:
- Scientific- “I know it is cold outside.”
- Personal and Subjective – “I know I love my wife.”
Scientific knowledge is based on actual facts. We know it is cold because we can measure the temperature and our bodies react the freezing cold. We can prove this to others easily.
Personal and Subjective knowledge is something that others must trust you on. Knowing you love your wife is only something you could really know. While not capable of scientific proof, it is still important. You can’t say that all important knowledge is based on scientific evidence.
Scientific methods will not yield spiritual truths. To gain knowledge – you must desire it, then you ask for it.
- If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal (D&C 42:61)
- Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit (Alma 5:46)
Testimonies
- Testimonies are gained bearing them rather than on your knees asking for it.
- We need to partake of the Sacrament every week to qualify to have his spirit to always be with us. That spirit gives us testimonies.
- Children should hear us bear our testimonies frequently. Let them define themselves by bearing their own testimonies and building.
- When we have a testimony of the restored gospel we also have a duty to share it. We have a duty to clarify doctrine for others, rather than let others misrepresent. We should speak in mildness and meekness, never be overbearing, shrill or reviling. We should speak the truth in love.
- Anyone can disagree with our personal testimony but no one can refute it.
Obedience and Knowledge
- Members who have a testimony and act upon it under direction of church leaders are accused of blind obedience. Our obedience is not blind but comes from the knowledge we gain through our testimonies.
- When it comes to learning and knowing the truth of the gospel, our personal testimonies, we all have a personal witness of the Jesus Christ and God through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- We can be united in following our leaders and independent for knowing for ourselves.
Two Channels to God
- Through our Leaders and Prophets. This channel has to deal with doctrine, ordinances and commandments. This results in obedience.
- Personal Testimony. The existence of God, our relationship to him and the truth of the restored gospel.
- These two channels are mutually reinforcing.
- Knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge,
- Obedience is not blind when done in knowledge.
- Choice to follow teachings is not blind obedience.
I began writing this post write after this session but never got around to finishing it until now. Since then, the actual transcript of Elder Oaks’ talk can now be found on lds.org by clicking here.
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