Tag Archive for: scriptures

Bricks

Remember the story of the three little pigs…
These three little pigs, representing us, went off to seek their fortunes in the world.
Like us, they had different aspirations and different outlooks on life.
The first little pig built a house of straw.
And the second built a house of sticks.
The third, built a house of bricks.
It wasn’t long, before their natural enemy the wolf came along.

Huffs and Puffs

With some huffs and puffs, shortly thereafter the wolf blew down the houses of straw and sticks and ate up the little pigs who lived there.
The little pig who’d built his house of bricks however, had a much different experience.
He was saved by a stronger set of guiding principles.

Patterns

This story is patterned after a similar one told by Jesus Christ, between a foolish man who built his house upon the sand and the wise man who build his house upon the rock.
As long as good weather holds, the houses built on sand may be just as good as those built on the rock.
But the huffs and puffs of weather patterns come along frequently.
Jesus dedicated his life to encourage all of us to build our lives on strong, solid, enduring, permanent foundations that would weather the harshest, most perilous and turbulent of storms.
His building code was and is a divine one, designed to strengthen and protect us from the most difficult whirlwinds and perils of life.

The Bricks

When challenges in life come, and they will, it is through the guiding principles (the bricks) of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that safety is found.
“A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule you can adopt to guide you in making decisions.” – Boyd K. Packer.
Some strong principles (bricks) that are helpful…
– There is great power, and safety found in the word of God, through daily scripture study.
– Daily supplication in prayer morning and night and learning to listen for answers.
– Listen to and follow living Prophets for guidance, they keep us safe.
– Follow the Doctrine of Christ – see 2 Nephi chapter 31.
When the rains and storms come, the best place to build is with good bricks on a solid foundation and have your roof in place.
If you need help with a few bricks for your foundation and roof, then speak with a missionary today.

Running on Empty?

Our car doesn’t run at all when the fuel gauges show empty.
Yesterday, as I filled up the tank, I was reminded that it has two separate fuelling sources to power the engine and run more efficiently.
It’s a hybrid vehicle.
The engine combines unleaded fuel and electricity, to provide energy.

Soul Power

Similarly, we have two fuelling sources to power our souls.
Everything we do in life requires energy, and we too have a constant need for fuel.
Scriptures tell us that “The spirit and the body are the soul of man.” – Doctrine & Covenants 88:15
Your spirit and body don’t run at all well when their fuel gauges are on empty.
We fuel our physical body through the things we eat and drink.
Just as your body needs to be nourished with good food, your spirit needs fuel too.
Combing the two, you will run more efficiently.
The soul combines physical fuel and spiritual fuel, to provide energy.
We can fuel our spirits through prayer, studying the scriptures, partaking of the sacrament, making covenants at baptism and in the temple.
I’ve found that one of the best sources of refuelling our souls, is time alone with my Heavenly Father in quiet morning reflection, study, and meditation.

Examples

Whenever I’m in need of refuelling, instead of looking to the example of the world, I look to the example of Jesus Christ.
In John 6:35, we read that we must feed on Him; “…I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
C. S. Lewis expressed it this way: “God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.”
Our faith in Jesus Christ is the fuel that feeds and sustains our spiritual needs.

Spiritual Fuel

“What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings.” – L. Tom Perry.
My invitation today is to allow Jesus Christ to share your load and to fill up your spiritual fuel tank.
If you’re running on empty, speak with the missionaries, they can help refill your tank.

Companion Study

Yesterday, I met at the temple with two missionaries, Megan Carroll and Emily Hodder.
I was thrilled to join them for their companion study.
In over two years, this was the first time that I’d been with a companionship for their study.
I loved it!
And to sit in the shadow of the temple too, was really special.
We opened with prayer and then began by studying together in the “Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.”
I love the introduction to the booklet from the First Presidency of the church. It states in regard to the standards that they “will help protect you physically, spiritually and emotionally and help you be the disciple Jesus Christ needs you to become.”
We read, pondered, reflected and shared thoughts together.
Shortly thereafter we studied from “Adjusting to Missionary Life.”
This is a wonderful resource, that is filled with great ideas about adjusting to new situations including physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social demands during transfers, new companions, and new areas.
We enjoyed sharing a few insights with each other.
Subsequently, we then moved into preparing some ideas from the scriptures for a lesson that the missionaries were planning for a friend that evening.

Preach My Gospel – Second Edition

Afterwards, we then studied from Preach My Gospel – Second Edition, chapter 2, entitled “Search the Scriptures and Put on the Armour of God”.
We reviewed a section, shared a few quotes, and then asked each other some questions about our understanding of what it means to put on “the whole armour of God”.
Finally, we filmed a short video for the Come Follow Me App, on Ephesians 6:13 which will be shared on October 8th.
It was a very effective use of our one hour of study together.
We concluded that we learn day by day, “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30) during the time of our missionary service and throughout our life.
After our closing prayer, we even made time to capture a few pictures of our study time together.
Missionaries take an hour every day for personal study and then another hour for companion study.
I know that setting aside some time every day to search and study the scriptures will be a source of great enlightenment.
I loved it so much, I am joining another companionship this morning!
When have you been blessed in the past as you have used similar study skills?

Good, Better, Best.

This week, we joined with other European Mission Leaders at a 4-day Seminar in Den Haag, here in the Netherlands.
We counselled collectively together and received inspiring instruction from the Central Europe Area Presidency.
It was wonderful to share many experiences together, including the obligatory visit to Keukenhof!
Personally, it gave me the opportunity to reflect upon all that I have learned as Monic and I have served concertedly in Belgium and the Netherlands for nearly two years.
Through the course of the 4 days, many principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ were discussed.
For a few brief moments we spoke too about “The Chosen”.

The Chosen

For the uninitiated, it’s an enjoyable multi-season television series about Jesus Christ that has been watched by tens of millions, throughout the entire world.
Monic and I have watched all the series and are sure that many reading this post will have done likewise.
However, reflecting upon all that I continue to learn about Jesus Christ, from my perspective I have come to conclude this truism.

Connecting…

Connecting to Jesus Christ…
– Through the Chosen is 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅.
– Through the Missionaries is 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓.
– Through the Scriptures is 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕.
I love The Chosen and I love our missionaries too.
Both play their part in helping many to understand the three most powerful behavioural words spoken by Jesus Christ, namely “Come Follow Me” – see Luke 18:22.
I know that as you personally study the scriptures, you will come to know the Saviour and His teachings.
Few things you do will bring greater dividends, as you absorb his words by pondering them, then letting them sink deeply into your heart and applying them into your life.
Spencer W. Kimball emphasized the need to continually read and study the scriptures. He said: ” I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”
Enjoy The Chosen!
Invite the missionaries to speak with you!
They’ll guide you through the scriptures as you accept His personal admonition to “Come Follow Me.”
How have the missionaries helped you?