I am a rock, I am a iiisland (I mean vessel)

The other day I was reading in Ether 6 in a section I have read hundreds of times. I guess I saw these few verses in a way that I haven't before...

7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.
I see myself as the vessel. I may not be a perfect vessel right now, but my ultimate goal is to become "tight like unto a dish." I am surrounded by many things that can hurt me everyday, but I see myself becoming spiritually stronger and able to withstand temptation and sin.

9 And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.
In becoming tight like unto a vessel I see a few things from this verse that are essential. I need to acknowledge the hand of the Lord in everything in my life. Even more important, I need to have a grateful heart. I think if I do these two things and my faith is strong I can do all things in becoming like these ships.

10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.
In the process of not being able to be influenced by the buffetings of Satan we have to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost. The light on their ships did not come from outside the vessels. It is just as the Lord tells us...ye are the light of the world. If I want to have and give light to others I need to be seeking the Holy Ghost constantly and also be worthy of it.

Boy, I never get sick of the story of the Brother of Jared. I just wish I had the amount of faith he does. I do know that I do get better everyday!

To the Rescue

Back in November 2010 I wrote about Amazing Biographies. Yes, that was when I started President Monson's Bio and I finally finished it today. It's hard to finish when you are sharing the copy with family members, but very worth it. It is a book I would recommend to EVERYONE!

The chapter that spoke to me the strongest was "Reaching Out To The One." I love these words...

"There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."

"The five most important words in the English language are "I am proud of you." The four most important are "What is your opinion?" The three most important are "If you please." The two most important are "Thank You." The least important is "I.""

And when you think it is too hard to reach out to others...

"We all have certain talents, and the Lord knows what they are. We all have limitations and the Lord knows what they are. Whatever our limitations may be the Lord said this: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.' He would not give us a commandment we could not fulfill. We can become perfect in out love of God. We can become perfect in the love of our fellow men."

Wow, President Monson, you are one Christlike man that I want to be like after Christ!

Happy New Year

New Years resolutions have always bugged me, mostly because I think goals are a step by step long term process. However I think I will make an exception...This year President Monson has challenged us to undertake the ABC's to gain an abundant life. They are:

A- Have a positive attitude
B- Believe in yourself
C- Face challenges with courage

If we follow these ABC challenges he has given us I know we are promised an abundant life! For more details of this quest refer to the January 2012 Ensign.

What is it that ye desire of me?

This week I read 3 Nephi 28 which was very fitting for the things that I have been thinking about lately. Before I read this section I kept thinking that I wish I had no more disposition to do evil as the scriptures talk about. Don't worry I don't want to kill anybody, but I am talking about other things. Why do I think unkind things, say things before I think, have laziness about me when I should be serving, curse people on the road who may cut me off, just in general do things that I know I shouldn't?

I really do desire to have "no more disposition to do evil." When Christ asks the Nephite apostles what they desire 9 of them wanted to quote "speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom." Then Christ asked the other three apostles what they desired and this is what happened...

" 5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.

6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.

7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven."

Isn't that cool?!?! It would be great to never taste of death, but to also see all the doings of the Father. Essentially the only thing that they would suffer or sorrow for was the sins of others.

So I think my desire to do no more evil was trumped by the 3 Nephites! Serve until the second coming, have no disposition to do evil or think of themselves, and bring souls unto Christ. That would be the life!!!

On a secondary thought I need to go review the amazing talk by Elder Oaks...http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/desire?lang=eng&query=desire

It's just a clock:)

I have learned from Him that there are things more important than the clock. I've tried to be more like him when I am meeting with people. Even with my family. Don't be so overridingly concerned with what time it is; just make sure that you are blessing the people while you are there, that they go away from that interchange better then they would have been.
~Elder Nelson speaking of President Monson

O holy night

I loved this clip because Liz Lemon Swindle is my favorite LDS artist. Not to mention O holy night is my favorite Christmas song. I just bought of painting of her's too (the one showed at 1:35 in the video).

Best gift ever!