Tag Archive for: study

Study Time

On Friday evening, we started our online winter devotionals.
Our first guest this year, was Brad Wilcox, counsellor in the Young Men General Presidency.
His theme: “๐‘บ๐’•๐’–๐’…๐’š ๐‘ป๐’Š๐’Ž๐’†”
One of his opening remarks was โ€œWhy do you keep a journal?โ€
Quickly he retorted โ€œIts cheaper than a counsellor!โ€
I laughed.
Since the age of 12, Iโ€™ve been an ardent advocate of writing journals daily and have used that remark several times myself!
It is a truism!
โ€œUse your journal as a tool to help make your lifeโ€ Brad said.
Oftentimes journals can read like โ€œthe diary of a fishโ€ going round and round again, as you repetitively record daily events, meals, travel, incidents etc.
He encouraged us all to go deeper, to record personal stories, share your testimony, insert uplifting quotes, pictures and take your journal everywhere as if it was your personal scripture.

Inspiring

Journals are a source of inspiration.
Quoting from memory Mosiah 3:19 in the Book of Mormon (the most oft referenced verse in General Conference), in an interactive way he encouraged us to โ€œwrite about the lines, write between the lines and write beyond the lines.โ€
He passionately inspired us to write about this verse in our own words, our personal understanding, that will โ€œwake you up during study time.โ€
โ€œWriting is thinking made visibleโ€ he said.
Randomly, many on the call were invited to share parts of the verse in their own words.
The result?
We understood what the verse really meant, in a much more powerful and personal way.
His words: โ€œFor the prideful and unrepentant man makes himself an enemy to God, but God is not his enemy, God is his best friend.โ€
We slowed down and learned together.
A feeling of love permeated our virtual room, sinking deeply into our souls.
The whole evening was like manna from heaven.
This was real joy and real love in action, manifesting itself before our privileged eyes.
Please, consider your journals, your study time and Mosiah 3:19.
In your own words, what does that verse mean to you?

Connections

You are not Alone.
Despite having a companion, sometimes I am confronted by the fact that missionaries can feel alone.
Serving in a foreign land, far from home, with a different language and culture can create feelings of homesickness.
It is not easy for some as they wrestle with loneliness and discouragement.
Being homesick isnโ€™t at all bad.
It is natural after all to miss those you love most.
Similarly, it is natural to miss the familiar places you know best, where you feel safe and secure.
Being disconnected can and does bring feelings of loneliness.

Connections

And in my experience, connection is something we all strive for in our lives.
Missionaries, however, always have many people for them to connect with.
Knowing that people love and care, is so important.
Parents, siblings, other family and friends are only a call away via technology or regular mail.
More especially, mission leaders, companions and many other missionaries are always on hand to connect with.
And most of all, there are two people always willing to connect with us, at all times and in all places, no matter what we may be going through, namely Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Each of us, can always turn to Them.
They know us, personally.
Jesus Christ has said, โ€œI will not leave you comfortless: I will come to youโ€ (John 14:18).

Overcoming Loneliness

Gordon B. Hinckley said, โ€œI believe that for most of us the best medicine for loneliness is work, service in behalf of othersโ€.
We read in Proverbs, โ€œWisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understandingโ€ (Proverbs 4:7).
Listening ears and an understanding heart comes for missionaries and for you and me), as they take time, to serve, to slow down, to study, to talk and to pray together.
Recently, I have enjoyed doing just that with many missionaries.
Making time for those special connections, really does make a difference.
Who can you connect with today?

Looking for answers?

Missionaries receive lots of questions โ€“ daily!
Iโ€™ve also found that missionaries have many questions of their own.
Serving as a mission leader, I receive questions all the time!
In life, difficulties can be encountered everywhere.
Christians and those who follow other religious traditions can sometimes have doubts and fears, but it’s been my experience that those of no faith have more doubts and greater fears.
Life has taught me that almost everyone has questions or experiences concerns at one time or another about life or even the gospel.
โ€œSome might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they neednโ€™t feel that way. Asking questions isnโ€™t a sign of weakness; itโ€™s a precursor of growth.โ€ Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Searching for answers in the scriptures is a powerful way to study.
It also helps when you choose to study with someone else.
Thatโ€™s why missionary companion study is such a powerful way to learn.
I enjoyed discovering that again recently.
Finding answers together is really fun.
โ€œWe may know some of the answers; we may think we know many more; but there is still so much that no man knows, so much that all of — us together do not know so much for which we must venture forth in faith.โ€ โ€“ Henry D. Moyle.
Life has also taught me that the Lord will answer our questions as we exercise our faith through studying the scriptures, we just need to take the time to look and see.
โ€œAsk, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:โ€ โ€“ Matthew 7:7
So, the next time you find yourself struggling with a personal question and not finding any answers or any peace, remember to bring the question into your scripture study.
โ€œAs we read and ponder the scriptures, we will experience the sweet whisperings of the Spirit to our souls. We can find answers to our questions.โ€ โ€“ Thomas S. Monson.
Whatever problem youโ€™re struggling with, the scriptures have the answer!
โ€œWhen we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures. ” – Robert D. Hales.
Open your scriptures and start reading.
Answers will come.

Walk and Talk

Never before have we lived so close to a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In Scotland, it is a 4 ยฝ hour drive to the temple in Chorley, Lancashire.

Today, we live only a short distance away in Leidschendam, a 20-minute drive from the temple in Zoetermeer.

Temples are different from the thousands of Church meetinghouses located around the world.

Meetinghouses are where Sunday worship services, youth gatherings, service projects, and other community events take place.

Temples have a more specific purpose.

They are places specially set apart for sacred service and ceremonies.

They are the House of The Lord.

The House of the Lord is the most sacred place of worship in the world โ€” a place where heaven touches the earth, a place where marvellous blessings are bestowed, and a place where we can feel closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as we strive to become more like Them.

Temple Grounds

In recent weeks the temple grounds have become a favourite place to walk and talk.

The grounds are a place of beauty, serenity, and reverence.

The grounds attract many local visitors.

They have become a sanctuary to rest, to contemplate and to consider the deeper purpose and meaning of life.

The grounds have also become for me, a place to listen to, meet with, talk with, read with, laugh with, study with, walk with, pray with, reflect with, ponder with and counsel with our missionaries.

Learning

As we walk and talk, we learn together as our thoughts are elevated heavenward.

In my professional coaching career, I have also found that breakthroughs occur in our thinking more easily when surrounded by nature, open space, and a tranquil environment.

Walking and talking just make good sense!

My wife and I take time to walk and talk every day.

We take in the surroundings and breathe in fresh air. By so doing, we are using all our senses to be in the present and soak up the natural world.

โ€œThe sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy. The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a purpose.โ€- Charles Dickens

Imagine for a moment your favourite walking spot.

How does it make you feel when you walk there?

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 Iโ€™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 โ€œMissionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.โ€
I love the introduction to the booklet from the First Presidency of the church. It states in regard to the standards that they โ€œwill help protect you physically, spiritually and emotionally and help you be the disciple Jesus Christ needs you to become.โ€
We read, pondered, reflected and shared thoughts together.
Shortly thereafter we studied from โ€œAdjusting to Missionary Life.โ€
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 โ€“ Second Edition, chapter 2, entitled โ€œSearch the Scriptures and Put on the Armour of Godโ€.
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 โ€œthe whole armour of Godโ€.
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, โ€œline upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a littleโ€ (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 โ€œThe Chosenโ€.

The Chosen

For the uninitiated, itโ€™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 Christโ€ฆ
– Through the Chosen is ๐‘ฎ๐’๐’๐’….
– Through the Missionaries is ๐‘ฉ๐’†๐’•๐’•๐’†๐’“.
– Through the Scriptures is ๐‘ฉ๐’†๐’”๐’•.
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 โ€œCome Follow Meโ€ โ€“ 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!
Theyโ€™ll guide you through the scriptures as you accept His personal admonition to โ€œCome Follow Me.โ€
How have the missionaries helped you?

Side by Side

I enjoy my early morning studies.
Sleep is very important, but for me my desire to learn the gospel and to come to know my Saviour Jesus Christ has always been more important than lying in my bed for too long each morning.
Russell M. Nelson has said โ€œTo those who feel defeated and downtrodden, look to the early hours of the day for your rescue.โ€
In the wee small hours every morning, when all is quiet and peaceful, there is nothing I enjoy more than to sit on the living room sofa, wrap myself in a blanket and snuggle up with a good book to help me come to know my Saviour Jesus Christ, a little more.

Scriptures

The scriptures have always been a good friend and in them there are many examples of those who arose early in the morning:
โ€ข Genesis 19:27 โ€œAbraham gat up ๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’๐’š ๐’Š๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ to the place where he stood before the Lordโ€
โ€ข Exodus 34:4 โ€œMoses rose up ๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’๐’š ๐’Š๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stoneโ€
โ€ข Joshua 6:12 โ€œAnd Joshua rose ๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’๐’š ๐’Š๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ, and the priests took up the ark of the Lordโ€
โ€ข In Mark 1:35 we read that the Saviour himself arose ๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’๐’š โ€œ…๐’Š๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayedโ€.
I know that more flashes of inspiration and insight come in those early morning hours, than at any other time of the day.
In the early mornings of the last two weeks, my thoughts have turned to Palm Sunday and General Conference weekend of Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April.
Why not join us online?
Iโ€™ve enjoyed the General Conference talks from six months ago.

Side by Side

Each morning, I pick up two copies of the Liahona and study them ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ž ๐›๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ž.
One in Dutch and one in English.
Firstly, I study a talk in Dutch and try to understand as much of the talk as I can.
Secondly, I study the same talk, but this time in English to gain further clarity.
Interestingly, the two-language approach, brings additional inspiration, insight and understanding.
In a letter of 2nd March, the First Presidency said, โ€œGeneral conference provides an opportunity to receive personal revelation as general Church leaders give counsel and directionโ€
I know personally, that one of the best ways to come to Christ is to listen and study the words of His special witnesses.
The best time for me to that, is ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ž ๐›๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ž in the early hours of the morning.
Our missionaries can help you learn of Jesus Christ.
They also like the early mornings too!
What is your favourite time to study?

Are you hungry?

โ€œThatโ€™s it then, sadly we wonโ€™t be goingโ€ฆโ€
Monic and I had been so looking forward to our trip to Rome this week for our six-monthly Mission Leaders Seminar, but sadly on Sunday evening, I came down with a terrible stomach flu. Itโ€™s not been very pleasant. ๐Ÿ™
We hummed and hawed about it for 24 hours, delaying flights and changing schedules, but eventually, we sadly came to the conclusion on Tuesday morning that we wouldnโ€™t be travelling and cancelled our travel plans.
Weโ€™ll be joining everyone else in Rome via a zoom link later today.
However, it meant that Iโ€™ve been in bed for the last couple of days, feeling sorry for myself.
Iโ€™ve lost a few kilos in such a short time โ€“ thatโ€™s an indication of how rotten a bug it was.
At the same time, my tummy has been making lots of weird and whacky noises.
Iโ€™ve hardly eaten a thing but drank lots of water instead.
For the first time in a while, I felt hungry.
On the plus side Iโ€™ve done lots of reading and reflection.
Unable to feed my physical body, I focussed on feeding my spirit and nourishing my soul.
Doctrine & Covenants 88:15 reads; โ€œAnd the spirit and the body are the soul of man.โ€
Just as there is food for the body, there is food for the spirit.
Daily, as I watch the unfolding turbulent global complexities, forced to pause, ponder, and reflect longer than normal, I concluded that there is a great hunger in the world, namely, it is starved of spiritual nourishment.
I asked myself โ€œWhat would Jesus do?โ€
A question came to mind.
Are you feeding your spirit and nourishing your soul – or are you hungry?
Job 32:8 โ€œBut there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.โ€
For instance, we may all experience physical hunger, but perhaps you have starved yourself of spiritual food for far too long?
It is a labour that takes more than an afternoon or a day or two in bed.
Why is it sometimes difficult to focus on spiritual things?
The Saviour said, โ€œI am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirstโ€ โ€“ John 6:35
Not only do our physical bodies need essential nourishment, but our spirits do too.
I know it is not only important to study secular things and educate our minds, but it is also essential to nourish ourselves spiritually.
In what ways do you experience conflict between your physical and spiritual nature?

Why not religion?

Why not Religion?
As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks taught: โ€œ[Religion] remains the most powerful community builder the world has known. โ€ฆ Religion is the best antidote to the individualism of the consumer age. The idea that society can do without it flies in the face of history.โ€
Nearly 2 years ago, we received an unexpected call from church headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Subsequently, we were asked to preside over one of the 411 missions of the church.
In time we were assigned to the Belgium Netherlands Mission, serving here June 2021 โ€“ July 2024.
Our lifeโ€™s have changed.
It is a voluntary assignment.
So โ€“ why did we accept the call?
It was a moment that really mattered โ€“ it was a day of determination.
Simply stated, Jesus Christ is the reason.
Itโ€™s also because of a strong conviction of the truth of this work and I choose to let my faith show.
That said, the subject of religion can be touchy, especially where we live now!
Religious views are a deeply personal and even sacred thing.

Religion should be three things:

Firstly, it should provide answers to basic questions that the sincerest human beings ultimately come around to, namely what is our purpose in life…?
โ€ข Where did we come from?
โ€ข Why are we here?
โ€ข Where are we going after this life is over.
True religion should offer answers to our minds that our hearts can respond to.
Secondly, it should provide a way for us to live and find happiness not only here on earth but also in the life to come.
Thirdly, it must provide a way to provide a confirming witness that the religion is true, which in turn motivates and encourages you to live that way.
Like millions of others, Iโ€™ve found that through the Book of Mormon.
As Neal A. Maxwell once said, โ€œDo not dare to read the Book of Mormon seriously, or you may suddenly realize that it is inlaid with incredibly important insights from a millennium of sacred history.โ€
Answering those three things and choosing to live my religion, motivates me every day.
If you are serious – it will answer all your questions too.
How can faith & religion help you in your life?

The Enos Challenge

๐–๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ?
โ€œStudying โ€“ the act of texting, eating and watching Netflix with an open textbook nearbyโ€ โ€“ thatโ€™s one definition at least!
Growing older, Iโ€™ve discovered that I love to study, i.e., โ€œdevoting time and attention to gain knowledgeโ€ โ€“ perhaps that is a more traditional definition!
In Doctrine & Covenants 88:118, the Lords describes how to learn the gospel โ€œโ€ฆyea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
Reading and studying are both part of the learning process.
So โ€“ is there a difference between the two?
Another definition I found suggests that – Studying means to concentrate and devote time in completing or researching any task; while reading means to understand and grasp the meaning of any content without devoting much time to it.
In simple terms, โ€œyouโ€™re only going to get out of this what you put into it.โ€ โ€“ Boyd K. Packer.
Whilst listening to a podcast in our pre-mission training, we were encouraged to take the Enos challenge.
The invitation was to study the one chapter of Enos in the Book of Mormon for 30 days.
My immediate thought was โ€œHow can I study Enos for 30 days, there are only 27 verses!โ€
However, I accepted the challenge and learned many wonderful lessons, as I slowed down and studied those verses, one by one.
The book of Enos is like a pure journal entry and is a very personal chapter of scripture.
There was indeed much to learn.

The Process of Studying…

The process of studying the scriptures has three important parts:
1 – Understanding the background and setting of the scriptures.
2 – Identifying the principles and doctrines being taught.
3 – Applying those truths to our own lives.
I learned that studying is better when you take your time, by looking out for key words, youโ€™ll discover that truths about Jesus Christ are everywhere.
Recently I invited all of the missionaries to complete the Enos challenge.
I love this piece of street art graffiti in Friesland.
It was a timely serendipitous find by Tess Flake upon her completion of the challenge!
Have you ever taken time to study the scriptures?
Enos may be a good place to start!