Kingdom of God

This was written for a stake conference by Haily and is a great reminder - especially at this busy time of year. We would love to post any others from our readers (you can email submissions to particlesoffaith@gmail.com). Thank you Haily!

When Jesus Christ visited the Nephites in the America’s after his resurrection, he called twelve disciples to direct the work of the kingdom in that part of the world. After calling those twelve, Jesus began toteach the multitude. He hadn’t gone very far, however, when he again, “looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen” and gave them this advice in 3 Nephi 13:31-33. I have been thinking a little bit about these disciples and what thoughts must have been going through their minds as they were given these new responsibilities and what comfort this bit of advice must have given them. This scripture has also brought me comfort and perspective many times as I have sought balance with the different demands oflife, while striving to become a disciple of Christ.

We live in a very busy world. There are constantly many different things vying for our attention. How do we, then, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness while having faith that all these other things shall be added unto us? A few years ago when my oldest 2 sons were ages 1 and 3 and my husband had a busy calling, I often felt like I was the only one who was too busy to cope. I wondered how I could accomplish all that I felt I needed to, especially when it seemed like my husband was never home. Then, one day, in a conversation with a friend, she casually started talking about her husband’sbusy schedule. He worked late hours at his job and was attending school. My friend wasn’t complaining, she seemed to understand that everyone was busy and that we all did the best that we could. In talkingwith this friend I realized that I had been so caught up in my schedule that I had neglected my commitment to bear one another’s burden’s. My lack of focus had caused me to lose power in organizing my time and in searching for the peace and joy that I craved. When we are weighed down with responsibilities we tend to turn inward, focusing only on ourselves and forgetting the needs ofthose around us. We develop a condition that Elder Dallin H. Oaks refers to as an “excessive pre-occupation with self”. The cure for this condition is simple service, not in deed only, but also in attitude. As we come to understand that others struggle with busy lives as well, we learn to RSVP a no-thank-you to our self appointed pity parties and, putting our shoulder to the wheel, we begin to look for ways that we can organize our efforts and make the most of our time. We learn that serving others and striving to seek first the kingdom of God is about what the Lord wants for us, and not following our list of to-do’sbut the Lord’s list for us. Then we can truly feel the joy that is associated with becoming a disciple of Christ.

So we’ve discovered that we’re not alone in our busy state and that new thought gives uscourage and hope that we can balance our schedule successfully as others have before us. What’s the first step? What’s the key to feeling satisfaction that we’ve organized our lives in such a way that ourHeavenly Father knows that we seek first his righteousness? I’ve determined that the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit is the key. I remember, a few years ago, taking a walk in my neighborhood and walking by the home of one of my friends and thinking about her and wondering how things were going for her. This friend of mine is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and I found myself thinking that I was failing in my responsibilities as her friend and an example to her of a memberof our church. Almost immediately, upon thinking about her, I had new thoughts like: “How can I fulfill my duty toward her, when I have sisters that I visit teach that could use more care and love than I am giving them?” I started to think of not only my duties as a visiting teacher but my responsibilities in my other callings and responsibilities toward family and other friends, my home and my community! As you can see, I quickly became overwhelmed! It’s amazing how your mind can take one simple thought ofdoing more and run away with it! In our regional conference just three months ago, Sister Julie B. Beck taught us that “The ability to qualify for, receive and act on personal revelation is the single mostimportant ability that can be acquired in this life.” When we have the spirit as our daily companion these overwhelming thoughts that sometimes come can quickly be put into perspective as we re-examine our lives and do a quick mental check to see if we are following the Lord’s plan for us. When wefollow the Lords plan things that are most important seem to fall into place more easily. We feel peaceat the end of each day, knowing that, although we may not have accomplished everything on our list, wehave done our best with the Holy Spirit as our guide, and are therefore entitled to the love and approval of our Heavenly Father.

In order to have the Spirit with us constantly, Sis Beck suggests prioritizing our tasks into threecategories: essential’s, necessary’s and nice-to-do’s. She explained that she is amazed when she put’s the essentials first, how many necessary’s and nice to do’s she is able to accomplish. Remember thepromise? “…all these things shall be added unto you.” Sis. Beck also explained that when our priorities are out of order we lose power!

Since our goal is to know the mind and will of our Heavenly Father through the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, than our list of essential’s would include: prayer, scripture study, and temple attendance. If we live in families, especially with children at home than our goal as parents should include sharing that constant companionship of the Holy Ghost with our children and teachingthem to recognize the influence of God’s spirit. So our list would grow and include FHE, family prayer and family scripture study. Given the state of our world I’m sure you have all had experiences in whichyou felt the influence of Satan in your home and family. A few years ago my husband and I had an experience like this and I felt that our goal of an eternal family and life with God and our Savior was being threatened. No longer was family scripture study and family prayer considered simply, a good idea; it became essential. Without doing all in our power to seek first the kingdom of God how can we and those for whom we have stewardship have “hope for a better world, even a place at the right handof God”? (Ether 12:4)
While preparing for this talk, an article in this month’s Ensign caught my eye. It’s titled “All things in wisdom and order” by Elder John C. Taggart of the Seventy. He says: “To persist or persevere means to remain on the path. Those who do so find, to their delight, that the journey brings moments of surprising joy and great blessings, even as the way grows rocky or steep.” Brothers and Sisters, I testify that this is true because as we seek first the kingdom of God our natures change. We are able to eliminate the non-essentials not because we have to, but because we want to. Suddenly who’s getting kicked off our favorite reality show isn’t quite as important as spending a few more minutes in the scriptures or taking one more trip to the temple. I testify that God lives and that he loves us. His is the great plan of happiness. He knows of the joy that awaits us, but also of the joy and peace available today, in this life, if we choose to follow him in all things. This is made possible through the Atonementof our Savior Jesus Christ. I know he lives. I know that he stands at the head of this church and that he will come again. I pray that we may prepare ourselves for that day, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Stop and listen, especially when it's important

On Sunday in Relief Society we were discussing the story of Mary and Martha.  You know, the one when Martha is busy working and Mary is listening to Jesus and Martha gets kind of mad at Mary for not helping, then Jesus reprimands Martha?  Poor Martha always gets a bad reputation because of that story. 

In RS, it was pointed out that when Lazarus died, Martha was actually very faithful and believing. She'd probably just been caught at a bad moment when Jesus reprimanded her.  We talked about how we can't judge others without knowing the full story, just like if we forget how faithful Martha was at Lazarus' death.

It also made me think, though, how when we have the opportunities for something special like General Conference, or listening to Jesus in Martha's case, we should take them.  I know Conference is over, but we can still apply the principle to choose the better part in all areas of our lives.

We Are Sowing

Lately, I have been trying to recognize my impact on others and the words of the hymn We Are Sowing made me think about this even more:

We are sowing, daily sowing countless seeds of good and ill,
Scattered on the level lowland, cast upon the windy hill;
Seeds that sink in rich, brown furrows, soft with heaven's gracious rain;
Seeds that rest upon the surface of the dry unyielding plain.

Seeds that lie unchanged, unquickened, lifeless on the teeming mold;
Seeds that live and grow and flourish when the sower's hand is cold.
By a whisper sow we blessings; by a breath we scatter strife.
In our words and thoughts and actions lie the seeds of death and life.

Thou who knowest all our weakness, leave us not to sow alone!
Bid thine angels guard the furrows where the precious grain is sown,
Till the fields are crown'd with glory, filled with mellow, ripened ears,
Filled with fruit of life eternal from the seed we sowed in tears.

I am simultaneously thrilled and terrified that even little things that I do can make such an impact on others. We really never know when something that we say, write, or do will make a difference for someone. I love that this hymn not only reminds me of how important the seeds I sow are, but that I am not alone in what I need to accomplish. Heavenly Father wants to help us and rejoices when we do good in this world. No matter how small or seemingly insignificant at the time, our acts of goodness can grow into something wonderful.

D&C 6:33-36 ~ "Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are build upon my rock, they cannot prevail...Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

Picture Source

Too Much Noise

Yesterday and old friend called me as she was trying to prepare a few last-minute quotes on a lesson.  She was in a hurry before church, and I was in the chaos of finishing up breakfast.  Between one child watching a home movie and another one talking to me, I just couldn't hear my friend!  I switched rooms, I was followed.  My husband came to the rescue, and I went outside.  It was quiet and peaceful, and I could hear.

Isn't that how it is with our Heavenly Father?  He's trying so hard to talk to us, but we are surrounded by noise and distractions, and we just can't hear him.

I'm sure someone else has posted a similar experience on here, but it's always a nice reminder to stop and listen!

He Knows My Needs

Recently I've been struggling with "fitting in."  Now I know that sounds completely stupid as I'm married 11 years and have 3 kids.  For some reason I was feeling like I was having issues that I'd last faced 16 years ago in high school! 

I really wanted to feel better about my situation and began fasting and praying about it.  The day I fasted, I opened up the August 2010 Ensign magazine and found several articles that applied to my problem!

A week or so later an older woman who I'd seen previously at a meeting came by with cookies!  I've never had a real personal relationship with her, but something prompted her to reach out to me!  The kids and I later took her a thank you card and ended up having a lovely visit.

Then, I shared some of my concerns with another friend.  The next day, that friend called and said she was concerned about me.  Her compassion brought me peace and reminded me of what a wonderful friend she is.

A day or two later, I was on the phone with another friend.  We've had some miscommunications in the past and she felt she was supposed to call to make sure all was resolved.  Wow.  What a good example of courage.  I did not harbor ill feelings for our miscommunications, but felt her call really validated our friendship.

All of a sudden, I realized that her calling me, as well as the other examples above, were witnesses that Heavenly Father loves me and knows me by name.  He is concerned about my troubles, sorrows, and insecurities and wants me to work them out.  He prompts people to step into my life right when I need it.

I was so grateful for that witness.

My Book

"My life feels like a book left out on the porch, and the wind blows the pages faster and faster, turning always toward a new chapter faster than I can stop and read it."

These is My Words, Nancy E. Turner

I have to admit that lately I have been feeling this way about a few things: When did my little girl get old enough to go to kindergartern? When did my baby decide she should try to walk? Did we really live in our last home two years? Looking back makes me realize just how fast my life moves by. During difficult times I sometimes feel like time stands still, but then in retrospect even the trials often appear like small blinks in my timeline (not that they're insignificant, it's just amazing how quickly they appear to go by in my memories). This is something I need to remember - that hard times do not last forever and that in the story of my life they will hopefully be only small moments.

Elder Perry had a beautiful talk a few conferences ago and he began it by saying, "Those of us who have been around a while...have recognized certain patterns in life’s test. There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be” (“Rabbi Ben Ezra,” in Charles W. Eliot, ed., The Harvard Classics, 50 vols. [1909–10], 42:1103). We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come."

Image Source

I am a Mormon!

Recently The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints updated their website www.mormon.org. Along with learning the principles and teachings of the Church you can now also read profiles from Mormons. It is a wonderful opportunity to read why they are Mormon and what they believe in. I hope you'll take a few moments to read some of their experiences!