Spiritual Experience
I don't do this a lot. Mostly because I don't like to share something quite so deeply personal to the world wide web in general. But today I'm feeling like sharing. I am aware that I share my love life and emotions far to freely so this may seem like quite an odd comment for me to make BUT when it comes to my religious beliefs and experiences that happen, I find them to be even more deeply personal than what's going on with me and some guy. SO, deep breath and here we go....
I have been what most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would term "Less Active" but I like to call it Inactive. I did not attend any meetings or live my life exactly in a way that would be appropriate for someone belonging to the LDS Church. It's not the first time but I am certain, now more than ever, that it will be the last time. This is actually my second round at this rodeo. I have always known the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be true, I have never doubted it in the least I have just struggled with some personal things. I wont go into detail because, I mean, who really wants to discuss their major sins with the world at large? Right?! Me either!
I have been working on bettering myself as of late, however, and returned to church at the request of the Wilmington YSA Branch Missionaries. Go figure. After merely 4 weeks of attendance with an interruption or two inbetween (business trips and holidays) I was asked if I would be willing to be the Activities coordinator for the Relief Society. Well, I must say this is a first, I'm usually in church for a few months before being asked to participate in something so in-depth. But I accepted and decided this time around I just need to suck it up and dive right in, it's not like I am new to all this. And so began my journey back to standing in Holy places.
Now we get to the reason for this blog post of spirituality today. Last night I decided it was high time I start reading my scriptures again as well as praying more often and actually striving to be a better me all around. So, I picked up my quad and couldn't decide where I needed to start reading...there's a lot of ground to cover. So I decided that I would begin by reading up on the Sunday School Lesson that we would be going over next week. If you are reading this and you are not LDS, you may not understand any of what I'm talking about so there's a few links here and there to explain things. The lesson manual we are working out of right now is focusing on the Doctrine and Covenants and next week's lesson begins with Section 6. I grabbed a pen, a colored pencil and a notebook so that I could read, hi-light, make notes in the margins and write separately in a journal/notebook. As I read I realized that even though this particular scripture was directed towards Oliver Cowdry as he helped Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon it was amazing how much of it actually applied to me and my personal experience.
So, here it is, the big build up that I wanted to share. Section 6: verses 35-36
"Behold, I do not condemn you, go your ways and sin no more, perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."
I love the pure evidence of love the Lord has for his children. To know that even though I have messed up time and again that I am still loved and still forgiven for my mistakes, it touches my heart down to the deepest crevice. I can go on about my way and as long as I try my hardest to do my best I will be okay. How lovely is that? How wonderful is it to know that even though you mess up you are still loved and given the opportunity to change?!? I am taking this stance this go round....3 strikes and you're out. This time I plan to be where I hope to be for all of eternity. I can't keep going backwards if I ever expect to move forward in my life.
I have been what most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would term "Less Active" but I like to call it Inactive. I did not attend any meetings or live my life exactly in a way that would be appropriate for someone belonging to the LDS Church. It's not the first time but I am certain, now more than ever, that it will be the last time. This is actually my second round at this rodeo. I have always known the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be true, I have never doubted it in the least I have just struggled with some personal things. I wont go into detail because, I mean, who really wants to discuss their major sins with the world at large? Right?! Me either!
I have been working on bettering myself as of late, however, and returned to church at the request of the Wilmington YSA Branch Missionaries. Go figure. After merely 4 weeks of attendance with an interruption or two inbetween (business trips and holidays) I was asked if I would be willing to be the Activities coordinator for the Relief Society. Well, I must say this is a first, I'm usually in church for a few months before being asked to participate in something so in-depth. But I accepted and decided this time around I just need to suck it up and dive right in, it's not like I am new to all this. And so began my journey back to standing in Holy places.
Now we get to the reason for this blog post of spirituality today. Last night I decided it was high time I start reading my scriptures again as well as praying more often and actually striving to be a better me all around. So, I picked up my quad and couldn't decide where I needed to start reading...there's a lot of ground to cover. So I decided that I would begin by reading up on the Sunday School Lesson that we would be going over next week. If you are reading this and you are not LDS, you may not understand any of what I'm talking about so there's a few links here and there to explain things. The lesson manual we are working out of right now is focusing on the Doctrine and Covenants and next week's lesson begins with Section 6. I grabbed a pen, a colored pencil and a notebook so that I could read, hi-light, make notes in the margins and write separately in a journal/notebook. As I read I realized that even though this particular scripture was directed towards Oliver Cowdry as he helped Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon it was amazing how much of it actually applied to me and my personal experience.
So, here it is, the big build up that I wanted to share. Section 6: verses 35-36
"Behold, I do not condemn you, go your ways and sin no more, perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."
I love the pure evidence of love the Lord has for his children. To know that even though I have messed up time and again that I am still loved and still forgiven for my mistakes, it touches my heart down to the deepest crevice. I can go on about my way and as long as I try my hardest to do my best I will be okay. How lovely is that? How wonderful is it to know that even though you mess up you are still loved and given the opportunity to change?!? I am taking this stance this go round....3 strikes and you're out. This time I plan to be where I hope to be for all of eternity. I can't keep going backwards if I ever expect to move forward in my life.
2 Share The Love:
I have been there before, too, on more than one occasion. I have been a fully active and temple-worthy member of the church for nearly four years now, and it has been absolutely amazing to see the healing power of the the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. I just taught a YW lesson on Sunday in which we discussed a talk titled "Guardians of Virtue" by Elaine S. Dalton. She talks about making a list as a YW of things she would always do and things she would never do. I wish I had done this as a youth but it is not too late now! Temptation doesn't disappear just because you are righteous and married in the temple. (I used to think it would - ha!) But, being strong definitely makes it easier to ignore Satan. Something I want to do is complete the Personal Progress program. You can track it online now and it seems like a wonderful resource for everyone, not just YW!
Thank you my anonymous commenter! It is interesting to know that holding to your values is even difficult for Temple Recommend carrying members as well! I feel like Satan grabs harder at you the more faithful you are but you are right in saying that being strong makes it easier to ignore the adversary.
Also, I think that is a BRILLIANT idea! I received my Personal Progress medallions back when I was young but it would be such a great challenge and a spiritual building experience to repeat the process as an adult. You may have just given me a great idea for what to do for Enrichment :) Thank you!
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