Virtue Value Experience #3

Prepare to be worthy to enter the temple and to participate in temple ordinances. Read Alma chapter 5. Make a list of the questions Alma asks. Answer the questions for yourself, and make a list of the things you can and will do to prepare yourself to be pure and worthy to enter the temple and receive all the blessings our Heavenly Father has promised His beloved daughters.

Alma 5:6-The Book of Mormon is filled with examples of the Lord's mercy for His children. When I first read this verse, I quickly think of times in my life when I haven't been as faithful as I should have been and I am reminded of the sweetness of the gospel. How, when I am obedient and live the life of a disciple, the comfort and peacefulness of our loving Father is right there. I feel exactly as is described in verse 7, "Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. . ."
Alma 5:8-9-Of course they were loosed-and what's more, as verse 9 states "and their souls did expand." What a beautiful way to describe what happens to us when we choose to follow Christ. It is also important to note the end of verse 9, "And I say unto you that they are saved." Are. Not were.
Alma 5:10-Alma believed God's word as spoken through Abinadi the prophet. He believed and a mighty change was wrought in his heart. This too can happen to each of us. We just need to put our trust in God.
And now to the real meat of it :)
Alma 5:14-Rarely, has any scripture been so ingrained in my heart and mind. Of any other scriptures reminiscent of my seminary years, this one holds special memories for me.
As a ninth grader, I was fortunate enough to have made a dear friend. One for life, who is as dear to me as my sisters.
We found ourselves one day after school visiting our favorite teacher, from our favorite class.
I don't remember if there was anything specific that prompted him to give us this little lesson. Perhaps it was to teach us that friendships made when two people love the Lord can last forever.
We had ventured down to his office because we were concerned that our strong friendship would not remain if we didn't have seminary together any longer. It seems so silly now, a hundred years and ten thousand worries later :)
He proceeded to pull out a magazine and show us a picture of a very troubled soul. He asked us a few questions about the person in the picture. Details I don't remember. What I do remember is my impression that it was not a happy person, or one who even kept commandments.
It seems very harsh to me now, explaining that. To not even know a person and judge them by what you see, but for the purpose of the lesson at hand, it was necessary and effective.
He then pulled out a recent copy of the New Era. He opened to a page with a picture of someone very familiar to me, one I knew of her character well. He again asked our impression of the ones in the pictures. The two were polar opposites. The New Era picture was of someone who was happy-not that she was laughing or even smiling much in the picture-but you could tell it was someone who kept the commandments. What was more, I knew this girl was virtuous. I knew that because I knew her. It was a picture of that dear, sweet friend standing next to me.
I don't remember much more about that occasion. We left feeling more secure in our friendship-one that has lasted far beyond any other. Since high school, we've rarely even lived in the same state, we only talk once or twice a year, but remain as close as sisters.
Sometime later, months-if not years-I came across Alma 5:14 and it hit me like a bolt of lightning. "Have you received His image in your countenance?" I picked up the phone and called her right away. This was the very lesson our wonderful seminary teacher had been teaching us. He may have even referenced this scripture at that time, it would make a lot of sense. I don't remember.
Something about that lesson, and me discovering that scripture left an indelible mark on me. I know what it is like to look at someone and see His image in their countenance. Moreover, I know that is someone I can count on and trust. It is something that I've always hoped people could see in me.
I realize that this friend is not a perfect person and that she has had times in her life when she has struggled, but I also know of her great goodness and love for those around her. She reminds me that it is possible to have hope when all seems lost, to put faith to the test and not let fear and anxiety take over and above all, that each of us truly has inside of us a great connection, one that when we strive to have his Spirit to be with us, reminds us that we are not just strangers aimlessly wandering this earth, but brothers and sisters in an eternal family and when we treat each other as such, it brings great richness and joy to this earthly existence.
Considering that question "Have your received His image in your countenance?" is of utmost importance as we strive to be worthy to enter the temple. For me, it is a clear and concise way to consider if I am living as He would have me live.

Faith Value Experience 1

The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn about faith from the scriptures and living prophets. Read Hebrews 11; Alma 32:17-43; Ether 12:6-22; and Joseph Smith-History 1:11-20. Read two general conference talks on faith. Exercise your own faith by establishing a habit of prayer in your life. Begin by regularly saying your morning and evening prayers. After three weeks of following this pattern, discuss with a parent or leader what you have learned about faith and how daily personal prayer has strengthened your faith. In your journal express your feelings about faith and prayer.

The talks from general conference I chose are: President Thomas S. Monson, Come Unto Him in Prayer and Faith (not actually from general conference, but it is from the Prophet, so I counted it); and Elder David A. Bednar, Ask in Faith.

As we make personal prayer a habit - a priority, we turn to our Heavenly Father throughout the day. Our thoughts turn to him more easily. Then He is able to strengthn our faith, in confirmations that cannot be denied come from Him. I tried to take my prayers to a different level, and to listen more during my prayers. I found myself praying more specifically about blessings and about particular needs - of mine and family members. Specifics I had not considered before.

I also found, that while I have kept a brisk pace at reading the Book of Mormon this time around, I had not focused a lot on likening the scriptures to myself. I found that as I have kept this little prayer in my heart, I have been blessed with greater inspiration in those pages. Things I need to learn, things I need to remember.

Many friends, mostly from work, marveled at my attitude and excitement in moving our family away to further David's education. A couple of them even went so far as to suggest I stay in Utah with the kids for 27 months while he finished school. This thought was so foreign to me I couldn't even wrap my mind around it. When I said to my friend that surely, if she were in the same situation she would not separate her family. She assured me that she most certainly would.

My cheerfulness about his stage in our lives brought about so many comments that I've thought a bit about it. Should I be feeling like I've been gypped and am going through a terrible sacrifice? I don't think so. On the contrary, I feel very blessed.

So what is it exactly? Is it just some gift, some added blessing? Well certainly it is an added blessing, but my point is this: it is not just something that was already a part of me, waiting to bloom at the right time. My key to finding joy in the journey is this: pray about the decisions you make in your life. When you have a confirmation that you are doing what the Lord would have you to, it is easy. Not that life is suddenly a breeze, but you have the strength to do what is needed because you not only know you aren't alone - you know you won't be left alone. And if you make prayer and scriptures a priority in your life, your day can be filled with moments of comfort, joy, strength, and faith. What you need when you need it.

For the Strength of Youth Standard 1: Agency and Accountability

You can read about this standard here. Agency is a gift from Heavenly Father. I particularly love the line, "You are a child of God with great strength." That applies to every single one of us!

I know choosing right brings happiness. I have experienced this. The results bring me confidence in making choices in this confusing world.

I would love to work on the computer each day. Scrapbooking, designing. . .it makes it hard to want to clean and figure out dinner. However, when I get my work done early and have time later to play I feel so much better, and it causes less stress for me and everyone else. It is also easy for me to step away from the computer when the kids need me. It is hard to turn it off when all I'm looking at is icky work!

I love Alma 41:11. ". . .and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness."

Some people say feeling guilty about sinning is just a product of being brainwashed. That if we hadn't been trained to feel like we were sinning, we would feel no guilt. This simply isn't true.

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they knew good from evil. There is a difference and we know it because evil is contrary to the nature of God whose children we are. Why would anyone choose to live contrary to the nature of happiness? With this scripture, this is so plain and obvious to me.