"If Any of You Lack Wisdom"

"Ask of God" (click here)

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Pte. Bednar an apostle of the Lord mentions the following, "Please notice the requirement to ask in faith, which I understand to mean the necessity to not only express but to do, the dual obligation to both plead and to perform, the requirement to communicate and to act.

Pondering this biblical text led Joseph to retire to a grove of trees near his home to pray and to seek spiritual knowledge. Note the questions that guided Joseph’s thinking and supplicating."

“In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? …

“My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join” (Joseph Smith—History 1:10, 18).

When I think about our dear and brave prophet Joseph Smith and about the time when he was young and trying to find truth in a confusing world, I have found myself in this situation constantly. I have prayed so many times to God to give me the wisdom to be a good mother, or wisdom to be a good member of the church or a good wife. I have received answers that have inspired me to become better and to know the needs of my family. I am so grateful that I have a testimony that the church is true! My testimony is one of the most precious gifts the Lord has given me.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear"

"Esther a courageous woman" (click here)

God has never wanted us to be cowards of faith but to be courageous and never be ashamed of our faith and testimony. I am so happy I belong to the church of Jesus Christ, the only true church on the face of the earth. I love the gospel and I love to share it with everyone. I am so very grateful for the testimony I have developed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the only true gospel. I testify that this is true.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Pte. Monson has said the following: "May you have the courage to be chaste and virtuous. My final plea tonight is that you have the courage to stand firm for truth and righteousness. Because the trend in society today is away from the values and principles the Lord has given us, you will almost certainly be called upon to defend that which you believe. Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith. When firmly planted, your testimony of the gospel, of the Savior, and of our Heavenly Father will influence all that you do throughout your life. The adversary would like nothing better than for you to allow derisive comments and criticism of the Church to cause you to question and doubt. Your testimony, when constantly nourished, will keep you safe."

"Courage" (click here)

"Love One Another"

"Love One Another" (click here)

Romans 13: 8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law".

Pte. Uchtdorf has said: "The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.

As always, Christ is our exemplar. In His teachings as in His life, He showed us the way. He forgave the wicked, the vulgar, and those who sought to hurt and to do Him harm.

Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us; even the wicked can do that. But Jesus Christ taught a higher law. His words echo through the centuries and are meant for us today. They are meant for all who desire to be His disciples. They are meant for you and me: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become “kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving [each other], even as God for Christ’s sake [forgave us].”

The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other."

As I ponder on this incredible quote, I think about the times I had to forgive and learn to love the ones who have hurt me the most. Overall, I have learned to ask Heavenly Father to forgive me for hurting those I love the most in my life. When my son was coming back from his mission I asked him his counsel about one particular person in my life that was constantly hurting me with his/her actions. His counsel was, "Have you ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness for being so prideful?" "Have you ever spoken to this individual and try to make amends?" I was a huge life changing experience for me. I was being taught by him a basic doctrine, "To love one another" just as the Savior has taught. I have begun a serious process and I have improved my relationship with this individual dramatically! I am so happy to have repented and learned to love this person and getting to know him/her more.

"Adversities, Longsuffering, and Trials"

"Trial of Adversity" (click here)  

I have learned so many amazing and important principles during my readings this week. I loved reading the letters to the Corinthians.

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well-known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

As Paul was speaking to the Corinthians, in second Corinthians, I could find myself in these verses. There are great principles and doctrines to be applied in many circumstances in my life. I particularly like in 2 Corinthians 6:4 “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” we can learn to so much patience through afflictions. So many times, we ask the Lord for patience in life, but I believe as Paul mentions in these verses, we can only learn patience through afflictions. On verse 10, “as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Eternal truths, unweaving principles, and doctrines that help us support and endure our afflictions with a happy attitude.

In my personal life, I have asked to improve my patience and the Lord has sent many afflictions and trials my way, because He knows that is the only way to develop this Christlike attribute.

Only through the armor of righteousness, we will receive the power of God to learn patience and succeed against evil and wickedness.

"Charity Never Faileth"

Charity Never Faileth (click here)

1 Corinthians: Chapter 13

Paul discusses the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Who am I without charity? Who do I want to become? Even if I had the power to prophecy, but I had no charity, I AM NOTHING! This is a concept in which LDS members try to improve. I personally have set important and personal goals to be more charitable, just like the Savior is. He loved with no distinction of color, race, social or economical status. He loves us greatly! He gave His most precious life for me and you! He is our Savior and our Redeemer, because He had charity and mercy for all of us. 

"The importance of Families in our society"

In 1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God".

Duality is Found in Marriage (click here)

"The home is where we are nurtured and where we prepare ourselves for living in mortality. It is also where we prepare ourselves for death and for immortality because of our belief and understanding that there is life after death, not only for the individual but also for the family. Some of the greatest lessons of gospel principles about the eternal nature of the family are learned as we observe how members of the Church, when faced with adversity, apply gospel principles in their lives and in their homes. In the past year I have witnessed the blessings of joy which come to those who honor and revere the gospel teaching of the eternal family during times of adversity in their lives".
Elder Robert D. Hales "The Eternal Family"