Girl Scouts

I have recently become the co-leader of a new Girl Scout troop (the things I do for my daughter). We started just in time for cookie season. I would have to say that these girls are doing great considering only three are selling. Thankfully, we are almost done with cookies and can move on to more fun and exciting things. I would have to say, the more I get involved with these cuties, the more I am liking it.  I wasn't aloud to be in Girl Scouts when I was a kid. Now is my chace!

Be a Light

https://www.lds.org

I have been studying about Jesus teaching the Nephites this week in 3 Nephi, and I have learned a lot!

The main thing that I found throughout the chapters that I read (3 Nephi 12 to 17) was that we do our part to gain faith and help others in the process. 

First, we have to know what we believe in. Elder Robert D. Hales give a good formula for gaining faith in his talk, "Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." He tells us that first we must hear the spoken and written word of God. Then, we need to let it sink into our hearts. Next, we need to "hunger in (our) soul for righteousness." Forth, we need to "obediently follow gospel laws, ordinances, and covenants." Finally, we are to "raise (our) voice in mighty prayer, asking in faith to know that Jesus Christ is our Savior." He then gives us the promise that if we find faith in Jesus, Heavenly father will strengthen this faith. 

It is important to understand, however, that faith is just the beginning. We need to take action. 3 Nephi 15:1 says, "...whoso remembereth these saying of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day." There are many things that the Savior asked us to do in these chapters. In chapter 12 He asks us to repent and come unto Him and keep His commandments. Chapter 13 tells us to give donations to the poor in secret, not expecting a reward, pray, forgive, and "lay up for yourselves treasures of heaven" (3 Nephi 13:20). In chapter 14 he says not to judge, pray for answers, and beware of false prophets. Chapter 15 tells us to do missionary work. These are all important steps to being more like and true disciples of Christ.

As we work towards discipleship, we will stick out for the world to see us. This is what the Lord wants. He says in 3 Nephi 12:14 to 16:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, i give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
"Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
"Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

These verses were talked about in my class a few days ago. More specifically, the words "let your light so shine" were talked about. A group talked about how they pictured a lighthouse shining as a beacon. As they talked about this a visioned a lighthouse in the dark, stormy night shining to anyone who may be looking for that light to bring them to safety.

http://www.singingwiththespirit.com

When I went back to read it again, I pictured more of a the light of a candle or lantern lighting up a dark room. In my head it is a calmer light showing the way.

https://www.colourbox.com

No matter if we are the bright beacon helping someone through the storms of their lives or the soft candle showing the way in a dark room, by following Christ, we can help others find faith in Christ as well as ourselves. 

I hope that as I continue to grow faith in Christ that I can be a light in someone's light. 

Pride Cycle

"And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
"Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their hears, and in gold, and in silver, and in all the manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their god, and do trample under their feet the Holy One-yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
"And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." (Helaman 12: 1-3)
The pride cycle is a bit interesting and definatley and a bit scary. I would have to admit that I fall into this trap. This is what it looks like:

In the Book of Mormon the pride took over the people  of Helamam quickly. Not only did it take of the people, but it took of them quickly. For example, Helaman 11:17 and 18 tell us that the people had been humbled and the Lord was now blessing them with rain so that they could finally grow. This was in the 76th year of the rein of the judges. As we continue to verse 36 in the same chapter, we see that by the 85th year of the reign of the judges the people "did wax stronger and stronger in in their pride, and their wickedness." This shows us that they had prosperity and here listing to the counsel of God, however in the 85th year of the reign of  judges, they were "ripening...for destruction." That is only about 9 years difference. This shows us how quickly Satan can come into our hears and minds and tamper with our relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

This cycle applies to us today as well. The countries with greater prosperity are the ones with greater evil and destruction. In his talk "The Lord Will Prosper the Righteous" in the October 1992 conference, Elder Dean L. Larsen told us "When the lives of the people are in harmony with the Lord's will, all of the essential factors that produce the blessings God designs to give to his children come into line...We have the Lord's assurance that he will bless and prosper his people if they will keep his commandments and remember to look to him as the source of their blessings." Elder Larsen continues on to tell us,"As the world continues to ripen in iniquity, our lives of necessity must become increasingly different from the world and its standard...As we succeed, we have the sure promise of the Lord that he will prosper us in every way necessary for our well-being...But this is a conditional promise."  

I love this gospel. I love that we can read scriptures written before Christ was even born and read conference talks that were given more than 20 years ago and look at today's world and see the similarities. I love that we can learn from the past and apply it to our present. The Lord knows us. The scriptures are for our time. The messages given at conference are to help us now and in the future!