Avoiding Deception by Following the Voice of the Spirit

There is so much good in the world. There is so much...not so good, as well. But we have been promised that we can enjoy the good without being controlled by the "not so good".


"For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived - verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day." D&C 45:57

Let the Holy Spirit guide and we truly can be protected from worldy deceptions.

Voice of the Spirit

HE THAT LACK WISDOM

I wish I had all the answers. I wish I were wise beyond my abilities. But the fact of the matter is I just don't know most the time.
"...he that lacketh wisdom, let him ask of me..." D&C 42:68

How thankful I am for the one thing I do know...IF I ask, HE will guide, counsel, love, and direct me.

MERCY

We talked, in Gospel Essentials, yesterday about honesty.


Honesty...the idea behind it is so black and white. But the actual act of honesty seems sometimes grey. Are we honest with our fellow man? Are we honest with our children? Do we deal honestly with those we serve or offer service too? Do we justify our honesty?

The discussion was all over the board, from Santa Claus to government assistance to the workplace...you name it, it came up as a topic of honesty.

One of the questions the teacher asked was, "can you be completely honest?". In my heart and mind I know that I truly do strive to be an honest person, but I also know that I fall short on occassions....maybe by omitting the total truth from the kids, or...well, it's not confessional time, right... :)

But I came across this scripture in my reading and thought, how appropriate...

"...I will be merciful unto your weakness..." D&C 38:14

I know that as hard as I try, I'm still human. But how grateful I am to know that the Lord will be merciful to my weaknesses, whatever they may be.

Redefining Joy

I just read this book about a week ago. It's fantastic. Chris Stewart if a fantastic author. This particular book is a quick read - you can finish it in about an hour...or less. But it makes you feel good and helps re-direct your course maybe just a little.

It was a gift from my mom....Thanks MOM!!

Anyone in my area that wants to borrow it is more than welcome to it.

I AM WITH YOU

I AM WITH YOU.... Words read over and over in the scriptures. Words I never tire of.

"Be Patient in afflicions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast."

"Pray Always, lest you enter into temptation and lose your reward."

"Be Faithful unto the end, and lo, I am with you. "

Doctrine and Covenants 31:9,12,13

Our Heavenly Father is constant in our lives, but unless we take heed in his counsel it's hard to recognize.

Be Patient...Pray Always...Be Faithful

And our reward...."I AM WITH YOU"

PATIENCE....THEY ARE LEARNING

I've been having a "poor me" period of time. I keep complaining to Brent that "the kids just don't listen!", "they don't respect me!", "The deliberatly try to do things to make me mad!"......
I'm gonna be honest and say that I've been so frustrated I've even thought of taking a hiatus from motherhood for a weekend...

And then I read this...

"Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;"  D&C 29:47

I know this section is talking about the signs of the second coming, but this verse really struck me where it needed too.  My kids aren't deliberatly trying to make me mad, they aren't trying to be disrespectful. Yes, a lot of the time they DON'T listen, but it's not like it's their evil plan to get under my skin....

My kids are learning from me. I am their mother. If they have habits like the ones I mentioned, then there is a good chance that there could be something in my life that I need to change, fix, or improve upon. Maybe I ignore them sometimes...maybe I don't do exactly what they want me to do when they want me to and without explanation. Maybe, just maybe....

Kids will be kids, that is for sure. But my eyes were opened to the fact that I need to be as diligent as I possibly can in my teachings, my actions need to be positive, and the words that come out of my mouth...well, they need to be good. :)

ARMOR OF GOD

"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.

Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you; Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up that where I am ye shall be also. Amen" D&C 27:15-18

In reading this a picture of the armies of Helaman comes to my mind. The young men that were righteous and full of integrity willing to fight in battle for truth. And then my mind goes to the pioneers that were chased from their homes, and ridiculed and beaten for truth and righteousness. And then my mind turns to my children...and the "evil day" that they live in and I pray that I am and will continue to prepare them with the whole armor of God - like the Armies of Helaman, the pioneers of old, the thousands of missionaries out today proclaiming the gospel.

How grateful I am for our Sunday services, Primary, the scriptures, church publications, prayer, and of course FAITH in aiding my endeavors to keep not only myself but my children protected with the ARMOR OF GOD.