Put off the Natural Man

We must learn how to control ourselves. Learning to shake off the natural man and controlling everything about us. That is the beauty of this life. We are trying to master our bodies. We must master these bodies to be allowed back into the presence of the Father. King Benjamin taught that the "Natural man is an enemy to God." Man, the greatest creation of our father, out of control is his enemy. Our task is to not limit ourselves or purposefully go without just because. We are to learn to control this human body.
We are to allow our Heavenly father to guide us. There is so much out there that is leading us astray. Everywhere you look someone or something is clammering for our attention. Our goal is to put up our blinders and plow forward. There are some really great things out there. But if we do not bridle our passions, if we allow ourselves to run amuck, that allows satan closer and little by little he wins.
It is so easy when met with trials to not plow forward and ignore what is around us. All of us fall short and have a need to repent. To realize that we have done something wrong and continue moving forward.
The father wants all of us to move closer to him. His work is that all of us may return home to him. However, there will be some that will not heed is voice. They will not bridle the natural man  and reign him in. these are they that will be met with terror and ultimate distruction.
Nephi taught "turn away from sin" The counsel form the father is constant, pray to combat sin. Pray with all your heart. Seek the promptings of the spirit and they will cut off the natural man and allow us to win the prize. Learn all you can. Once you have been converted teach others. Seek, that all around you know of your love and devotion to the Savior of the world. You, be that sounding alarm.
Yes, there will be those who will mock you. They will make light of things you hold dear. Satan uses others just as the father does. However, the servants of lucifer tear down not up. They seek that all are miserable like unto themselves. Know this, the Lord protects those he calls to the work. 
The Lord does not leave us alone. He gives us prophets. He calls leaders to guide us down the path. They are a light in a ever darkening world.
Be obedient! If needed, repent. Take the time to put your life in order. There still is enough time. Come Unto Christ, and be perfected in him!(Moroni 10:32)

Following the Spirit

I am grateful for the spirit. I believe that the spirit will guide us and use us as instruments in the lives of others as we are worthy to hear.
There is a great hymn that I have come to love. "Let the holy spirit guide." It reads:

1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven's view.

The spirit has our best interests at heart. He wants us to succeed. The only way we can is if we are willing to listen. Listen for that still small voice that teaches us all truth. Moroni taught that by the spirit we can know the truth of all things. Christ taught that he would send the "comforter. He would teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance....

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

Father's work and glory is to see that we make it home to him. He did not leave us alone. The spirit helps us to make choices to listen and then go and do. By following that still small voice, we are able to enter back into the presence of the father.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow'r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.
Text: Penelope Moody Allen, b. 1939.

Life allows us the opportunity to make choices. We succeed and we fail. It isn't so much what happens to us during this life. It is how we react to what happens to us. How we move forward measures the man. The Atonement makes it possible for us to make corrective action. We are able to repent and continue on that journey. The spirit takes our hand and leads us to a better life. If we allow him to work in our lives. He leads us to healing living waters.

Fight for them

Webster defines the word PROTECT as:

a : to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction : guard b : defend 1c <protect the goal>

My goal in writing here is to invite others to protect themselves. It is so important that we be ready at a moments notice to fight. What are we fighting? Elder Quintin Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve stated in the last general Conference,  "Our day has been described as “a time of plenty and an age of doubt.”⁸ Basic belief in the power and authority of God is not only questioned but also denigrated." We do have so much to be thankful for. We have at our fingertips the ability to do many mighty things. Yet we doubt ourselves. We doubt that we can change lives through our faith and actions. We doubt our affect on others. We must realize that people are watching. People care, that you might have something to say! The ideal opportunity does not just happen it comes when you are willing to create them. Fight for them!

Elder Cook went on to say, "My personal experience of living and interacting with people all over the world has caused me to be optimistic. I believe that light and truth will be preserved in our time. In all nations there are large numbers who worship God and feel accountable to Him for their conduct. Some observers believe there is actually a global revival of faith. As Church leaders, we have met with leaders of other faiths and have found that there is a common moral foundation that transcends theological differences and unites us in our aspirations for a better society."

Each day we are met with new challenges. Some will be easily conquered; others will have to have much time spent. No matter the task we must come off conquorer.  The only way that we will protect ourselves, our family, and those around us is if we focus. Focus on the positive. Focus on the things that matter most. To quote President Uchtdorf.

These things are Reading our scriptures and the words of living prophets. The word of God is the way our Heavenly Father speaks to us. Next time you are reading focus in not only on the words, but on the way you are feeling. The spirit has taught me many lessons as I have read. 

Prayer has great power. Through prayer we show our willingness to be obedient. We show our need for help. Prayer, allows us to call on him to protect us. It helps us when we need to be seen us through the very hard times. Prayer helps us identify our problems and then to seek for help and guidance.

Family Home Evening, this time that we set aside to bring our families together is so very important. We grow together. We learn together. Isn't it fun to see the light bulbs go on when a principle is being taught. How about when the children teach the adults. This time spent with family is priceless. No treasure in the world is worth more to me than my family.

Take the time. Protect those you Love by starting at home and start with the basics. Once you have got the basics down, never put them down. Make them apart of you. These talents are that whole Armor of God. They are what will defend and protect you and lead you back to the Father. 

 During church on Sunday one of the speakers talked about the little things. He shaped his talk around Pres. Uchtdorf's talk. He talked about how because of life he was missing out on the things that matter most. He talked of calling his father who helped him recognize that he needed to put back in his life the things that made him who he wanted to be.

So, many times in our lives we are just trying to make it through. We are trying to recognize the good and live in a hectic fast paced world. It is Hard! We have many things vying for our time and talents. Many of which are important.


We have to prioritize! We have to be willing to see things for what they are. The first and foremost must be our own spiritual welfare. Make sure that whatever you are doing it is building your own testimony. Second, One must look out for his family. Family is what this life is all about. We are to take care of one another. Make sure that as a immediate family we are moving forward. Then, we are to look out for those time busters. Seek to better yourself while serving your fellowman.

There is great joy that comes from service spent to our Heavenly Father. It is more important than any other activity spent outside of the home. We have callings, Priesthood assignments, and we have the things we like to do. Notice that comes last. Normally, when you choose rest or recreation something important gets put on the back burner.

It is my prayer that we as men will recognize what is important. Then  make those things, the things that we want to do!
 

Family

This week my  study became literally a part of my life. I was supposed to start this week to study the word Family. I thought alot about where I might take this weeks study. I had ideas that were good but boring . I just didn't feel it coming together for me.

Heavenly Father, knew exactly what I needed to be able to understand this topic.

The ride of a lifetime started last Saturday morning. We got a call from a very dear friend. Dedra took the call while I went back to sleep. Dedra was told about a little girl. Our friend told her that she was four years old, and that she needed a family to give her a home. Dedra told her that we would take her. Our friend told us that she would talk with this other family and get back to us.

All day long Dedra could not get the thought of this little one out of her mind. She kept telling me that the little girl had been on her mind. Not just a little bit!!! She was being consumed with the idea.

A few hours later she called me and said that our friend had called again. The friend told us that the family who had this little girl was willing to sign papers over to us relinguishing guardianship to us. They wanted to nullify their adoption and let us move toward that for ourselves over time.

Dedra was so excited. We got in the car and went to our friends home three hours away.

The next day we met with the adoptive Mother. She was really emotional but wanted the girl out of her home.  We met the father who was a stand up guy! He told us he just wanted what was best for Anna. I came home Sunday night and left my family there to work out the details. I had to be to work the next day.

I came back two days later. We met with both parents and they signed off on the guardianship papers. then we met with a soical worker who was helping us sort through this mess. She told us about a meeting they were having to decide if we needed to work through the courts or if we could just bring her home and work form here.

About 5:45 on Thursday they called us and said that Anna was ours and that we could bring her home.

There have been so many lessons of prayer, recognizing the spirit, watching the spirit work in our lives. Not only in ours but Anna's adoptive family, Our friends family and our family.

I truly have been well taught this week of the power of families. How it is in the family unit that we obtain exaltation. We recieve the most choice of heavenly blessings while cultivating these relationships.

How grateful I am for those who listen and follow the promting of the spirit.

Committment

What a big word. It means a lot. It means that we are willing to do something. We are willing to engage in whatever it is 100% while we are doing it. It means that we will do what we say we are going to do!

There are many that have taught the principle of committment. Nonone taught it like my dad. He did not say much. He let others dominate a conversation. He rarely had much to offer in the way of verbal communication. His actions however spoke volumes. When he was asked to do something he did it 110%.

He was the guy that people called because they knew he could get it done. He would give up his time talents and everything he had for someone in need. Not only would he preform the act of service he would do it with a smile.

I remember asking him how he felt about my mom. He told me that he loved her. That he would do anything for her. To this day that example is lived day in and day out.

Committment, is the backbone of each man. The scriptures teach to be anxiously engaged in good works of our own free will. I think it is ever important to stand up and be counted with a smile rather than a frown. Those who are there grudgingly will reap the rewards of selfishness, pride....etc.

DO Something!!

The time is now to stand up and be counted. No longer can we sit on the fence and be indecisive. Stand up for your family, Stand up for morality, Stand up for standards, stand up for light and knowledge, stand up for integrity, stand up for truth, Stand up for Love.

Too many are sitting on the fence and watch. It is time to get in the game. The Lord needs you! He needs you to help in this battle that he is waging against sin.

In today’s world there is no room for indifference, complacency, laziness, and whining.  In fact the preceding is the exactly the things that we are fighting. These are stopping us from swinging an ever damaging blow.

Our world is quite literally building up walls that force us to conform to the influences of darkness. All around us there are barriers that must come down. They will not come down all at once. The walls will however fall little by little stone by stone. We must take tiny steps. These actions will be steps that will lead us to the tearing down of the walls of sin.

It starts from a very young age. We see it in our schools and in our neighborhoods. We see it come into our homes through different streams of media.

One day I was eating lunch with my daughter at her school. We sat down and began to eat.  We were talking to other children at the tables.  One of the boys was talking of a movie that he and his mother had watched the night before. He told (in detail) of how a man’s face was ripped off. The boy repeated language that was vile. He continued to tell about his exciting evening and the rest of the students were also engaged in the story. I looked at my daughter and she was making gagging reflex noises as he talked.

What if we could change the thinking of others?  What if we could help others feel and recognize that the stories like the boy told at lunch were wrong? What if we took back our neighborhoods from all the violence? What if we could bring God back into the daily arena of public thought?

All of these are daunting to the any of us at a glance. I purpose that each one of these walls can be dismantled. Brick by brick layer by layer they will come down if we come together and work as one body. Acting as One in purpose.

The purpose that I speak of is taking back humanity. Our desire should ever be; to put into the minds and wills of the people, a desire to serve others. To know who their neighbors are and above that what needs might they have.

A few years ago, a school was having a food drive. The school had made a deal with the local pizza place to give a pizza party to the class that brought in the most canned goods. Two boys who really loved pizza  set a goal for their class to get a pizza party before the end of the day.

They went home they raided their families pantry. One of the boys mothers asked the young men what they were doing. The boys told the parent that they needed canned goods to win the pizza party. They came in the next day with 65 cans of food each. The teacher aghast at the amounts the young men had brought in asked them where they had gotten that much food they simply replied mom’s cupboard. They then asked for their classmates to do the same thing. They came back the next morning again with much food to be donated.

The class won their pizza party.

It is simple acts of people stepping forward to show the way that cause a community to work together. Little acts, go along way. They bring people together. They show people that they can do something great if they are willing to work together.

The great prophet and leader Moses, stood up and lead by example. The Lord gave him a mouthpiece to help others to understand the will of the Lord. Aaron, was just that person to stand up and be that strength for Moses. Aaron was able through the use of his talents to gather and rally the Jewish people.

Each of us has been given talents. Talents, that when developed influence others for good. We are to use those talents to help and build others. Just think for a moment what we could do if we were to act as one and stand up.

There will always be pain and suffering during this life. Our challenge is to be there for those whose heads hang low and build up the walls of righteousness around them. These people will thank us and be prepared to help when others are in need.