There are many lists in the scriptures. I have learned to pay attention to the lists and the order that things are mentioned. Our gospel is line upon line, precept upon precept. We can not skip steps. We have to do them in the order that God has required. There are no short cuts when getting to the celestial kingdom. We will never get to the temple if we are not baptized first. It is not how fast we go that matters it is that we are still on the path and headed in the right direction. Heavenly Father has a house of order. Grandpa Sparrow never went to college yet I think he was one of the wisest men I know. He had the ability to look at look at the big picture. I think he was like Heavenly Father in that aspect. He never got offended. He never gave up. He just kept plugging along. He knew that it wasn't how much money he had or if he had a high church calling. He was always loved and serving others and sharing good ideas about how to do things. No matter how much pain he was in he would always get up and go to work with a smile. He will always be one of my heroes. When I pass away I would like to be remembered for being diligent. I know have lots of faults but I keep trying to be better each day. I never liked to be in the limelight. I would rather be in the nursery, the kitchen or behind the stage and let others get the credit. This life is like a race. You start out slow, and keep a steady pace and at the end put all you have into it. Life is not a sprint. it is a marathon. I hope we can all be diligent and choose the things that matter most as we run the race of life and endure to the end. Love---Mom
I am often accused of doing too much- especially now that I have Seminary on my plate. I don't volunteer to do some of the things I've been put in charge of or that I'm responsible for, and sometimes people forget that about me. The way I look at it- I have been given these opportunities and responsibilities because somehow Heavenly Father thinks I can handle it and thinks I am the person he needs to do them. That happens to me at work too. Instead of complaining- I just have to turn it back over to Heavenly Father and have him help me figure out a way to make it all work and prioritize the things that are most important.
This quote was shared with us at our Seminary Teacher Inservice Meeting this past Thursday: "When we perceive a gap between who we are now and who we desire to become, many of us are tempted to choose to lose faith and hope. If we had to do this alone, none of us would make it. But we are not alone. In fact, we are never alone. We have heaven's help." "Your Next Step" Elder Randall Bennett Oct 2015
I also thought these other scriptures went well with this: Ether 12:27 (Emm's scripture- be humble) , Mark 9:24 (help thou mine unbelief), Alma 32:27 (Have the desire, act in faith)
Morning from Hawaii. I tried to enter my comment last Friday while in the LA terminal. It did not take for some reason. Here is attempt #2.
I think most of us have heard or used this scripture as a stand-alone. It has great virtues listed....wisdom, order, diligent....and we all need to work on those. It comes from one of the great General Conference talks of all time. King Benjamin has all the members gathered at the temple and gives them lots of good words including this verse.
However, as I pondered it this time I went back to the whole of where it falls in King Benjamin's address. He is talking about taking care of the poor and then he puts this verse followed by a reminder to return things we have borrowed from our neighbors. That may seem just a bit strange. But ponder this....should their not be wisdom and order in taking car of the poor and needy? For sure! In fact, God's plan for doing this is wise beyond measure. It aids the individual while building them towards self-reliance. And as noted in the scriptures the poor will always be among us...thus diligence. Add to all this the need to constantly be mindful of friends, neighbors, and family that "lend" us their time, service, and tools. We need to be giving back continually.
I know that as I was pondering this scripture this week I was thinking that we should put our strength in the Savior Jesus Christ and we should not run faster then our strength in our fellowmen. We need to give service to our fellowmen too . Those are my thoughts for the week. Have a great week.
My thoughts have drifted more towards the balance in our lives. I remember as a young teenager with this. Dad would often remind me that I was burning the candle at both ends. Then as I got older, I kinda learned this lesson a little better. My mission president often reminded us of our simple balance of life as a missionary and that the real test for us would be to balance our lives after we returned home.
It has been a constant struggle (I'm not sure if struggle is the right word) for Gary and I to find that balance of not running faster than we have strength when it comes to family time. I have gained some interesting insight as I have chatted with some family members and seasoned experienced church members about this balance. It always comes back to, you work it out with the Lord to find the right way for your family. When I think of being diligent not only in the basics of the gospel but also in the time we invest with our spouse, and our children. How well do we guard and balance this time?
When I think of the prize, it's not a destination but it's all about our experiences.
Sorry this is so late. Sick wife makes the everything more difficult. This scripture has meant different things to me at different times in my life. All of you had shared different aspects of this scripture. This past week it has left me with two impressions. First and foremost that there is a plan, a grand plan for everything but also an individual plan. We may not always know why we are given the trials, blessings, and experiences but Our heavenly father does. My second impression has been that we need to embrace and accept what we are given, Or other words be thankful. I I need to focus on what I can control what I can improve on them when I can make better. I think of the prayer of serenity to except the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. D&C 101:16 , Alam 29:1-9
There are many lists in the scriptures. I have learned to pay attention to the lists and the order that things are mentioned. Our gospel is line upon line, precept upon precept. We can not skip steps. We have to do them in the order that God has required. There are no short cuts when getting to the celestial kingdom. We will never get to the temple if we are not baptized first. It is not how fast we go that matters it is that we are still on the path and headed in the right direction. Heavenly Father has a house of order.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa Sparrow never went to college yet I think he was one of the wisest men I know. He had the ability to look at look at the big picture. I think he was like Heavenly Father in that aspect. He never got offended. He never gave up. He just kept plugging along. He knew that it wasn't how much money he had or if he had a high church calling. He was always loved and serving others and sharing good ideas about how to do things. No matter how much pain he was in he would always get up and go to work with a smile. He will always be one of my heroes.
When I pass away I would like to be remembered for being diligent. I know have lots of faults but I keep trying to be better each day. I never liked to be in the limelight. I would rather be in the nursery, the kitchen or behind the stage and let others get the credit. This life is like a race. You start out slow, and keep a steady pace and at the end put all you have into it. Life is not a sprint. it is a marathon. I hope we can all be diligent and choose the things that matter most as we run the race of life and endure to the end. Love---Mom
As I thought about this scripture I felt like getting to the temple regularly is an omitting part of not running to fast.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI am often accused of doing too much- especially now that I have Seminary on my plate. I don't volunteer to do some of the things I've been put in charge of or that I'm responsible for, and sometimes people forget that about me. The way I look at it- I have been given these opportunities and responsibilities because somehow Heavenly Father thinks I can handle it and thinks I am the person he needs to do them. That happens to me at work too. Instead of complaining- I just have to turn it back over to Heavenly Father and have him help me figure out a way to make it all work and prioritize the things that are most important.
ReplyDeleteThis quote was shared with us at our Seminary Teacher Inservice Meeting this past Thursday: "When we perceive a gap between who we are now and who we desire to become, many of us are tempted to choose to lose faith and hope. If we had to do this alone, none of us would make it. But we are not alone. In fact, we are never alone. We have heaven's help."
"Your Next Step" Elder Randall Bennett Oct 2015
I also thought these other scriptures went well with this: Ether 12:27 (Emm's scripture- be humble) , Mark 9:24 (help thou mine unbelief), Alma 32:27 (Have the desire, act in faith)
Morning from Hawaii. I tried to enter my comment last Friday while in the LA terminal. It did not take for some reason. Here is attempt #2.
ReplyDeleteI think most of us have heard or used this scripture as a stand-alone. It has great virtues listed....wisdom, order, diligent....and we all need to work on those. It comes from one of the great General Conference talks of all time. King Benjamin has all the members gathered at the temple and gives them lots of good words including this verse.
However, as I pondered it this time I went back to the whole of where it falls in King Benjamin's address. He is talking about taking care of the poor and then he puts this verse followed by a reminder to return things we have borrowed from our neighbors. That may seem just a bit strange. But ponder this....should their not be wisdom and order in taking car of the poor and needy? For sure! In fact, God's plan for doing this is wise beyond measure. It aids the individual while building them towards self-reliance. And as noted in the scriptures the poor will always be among us...thus diligence. Add to all this the need to constantly be mindful of friends, neighbors, and family that "lend" us their time, service, and tools. We need to be giving back continually.
Have a great day.
DAD
I know that as I was pondering this scripture this week I was thinking that we should put our strength in the Savior Jesus Christ and we should not run faster then our strength in our fellowmen. We need to give service to our fellowmen too . Those are my thoughts for the week. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts have drifted more towards the balance in our lives. I remember as a young teenager with this. Dad would often remind me that I was burning the candle at both ends. Then as I got older, I kinda learned this lesson a little better. My mission president often reminded us of our simple balance of life as a missionary and that the real test for us would be to balance our lives after we returned home.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a constant struggle (I'm not sure if struggle is the right word) for Gary and I to find that balance of not running faster than we have strength when it comes to family time. I have gained some interesting insight as I have chatted with some family members and seasoned experienced church members about this balance. It always comes back to, you work it out with the Lord to find the right way for your family. When I think of being diligent not only in the basics of the gospel but also in the time we invest with our spouse, and our children. How well do we guard and balance this time?
When I think of the prize, it's not a destination but it's all about our experiences.
Sorry this is so late. Sick wife makes the everything more difficult. This scripture has meant different things to me at different times in my life. All of you had shared different aspects of this scripture. This past week it has left me with two impressions. First and foremost that there is a plan, a grand plan for everything but also an individual plan. We may not always know why we are given the trials, blessings, and experiences but Our heavenly father does.
ReplyDeleteMy second impression has been that we need to embrace and accept what we are given, Or other words be thankful. I I need to focus on what I can control what I can improve on them when I can make better. I think of the prayer of serenity to except the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
D&C 101:16 , Alam 29:1-9