Discipleship

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going" said Jim Ryun. 


Four daily acts that have blessed my life and continue to help me are one, scripture study, two prayer, three service, and four obedience.  Feasting on the scriptures every morning energizes me.  Talking with my father in heaven points me in the right direction.  Doing good deeds and performing acts of kindness sets the right tone.  Diligently accomplishing chores and work contributes to the greater good.  All four together help me to befittingly endure as a disciple of Christ.

Moments That Matter Most

Allegory of the Intense and the Gradual Light

Consider two experiences most of us have had with light.

The first experience occurred as we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch. Remember how in an instant a bright flood of illumination filled the room and caused the darkness to disappear. What previously had been unseen and uncertain became clear and recognizable. This experience was characterized by immediate and intense recognition of light.

The second experience took place as we watched night turn into morning. Do you recall the slow and almost imperceptible increase in light on the horizon? In contrast to turning on a light in a dark room, the light from the rising sun did not immediately burst forth. Rather, gradually and steadily the intensity of the light increased, and the darkness of night was replaced by the radiance of morning. Eventually, the sun did dawn over the skyline. But the visual evidence of the sun’s impending arrival was apparent hours before the sun actually appeared over the horizon. This experience was characterized by subtle and gradual discernment of light.

From these two ordinary experiences with light, we can learn much about ... the spirit of revelation and basic patterns whereby revelation is received...

Some revelations are received immediately and intensely; some are recognized gradually and subtly. The two experiences with light I described help us to better understand these two basic patterns of revelation.

A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message from God quickly, completely, and all at once. Many of us have experienced this pattern of revelation as we have been given answers to sincere prayers or been provided with needed direction or protection, according to God’s will and timing. Descriptions of such immediate and intense manifestations are found in the scriptures, recounted in Church history, and evidenced in our own lives. Indeed, these mighty miracles do occur. However, this pattern of revelation tends to be more rare than common.

The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God “line upon line, precept upon precept." Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation...

Another common experience with light helps us learn an additional truth about the “line upon line, precept upon precept” pattern of revelation. Sometimes the sun rises on a morning that is cloudy or foggy. Because of the overcast conditions, perceiving the light is more difficult, and identifying the precise moment when the sun rises over the horizon is not possible. But on such a morning we nonetheless have sufficient light to recognize a new day and to conduct our affairs.

In a similar way, we many times receive revelation without recognizing precisely how or when we are receiving revelation...

As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will “walk in the light of the Lord." Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding, and direct and protect you and your family.  -- David A. Bednar

Link to full talk: http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng

All Creatures of Our God and King

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     The history behind “All Creatures of Our God and King”—St. Francis of Assisi, the gentle preacher who loved the birds and animals of the forest and every manifestation of the natural world, could have left no more fitting legacy than this great hymn to nature. It is a joyous inventory of the blessings heaped upon us by a loving Creator, as each of His creations is urged to join in a chorus of praise. This remarkable hymn was put to the musical arrangement done by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Translation below is by William H. Draper. This program also features contemporary renditions of this hymn.

All creatures of our God and king 
Lift up your voice and with us sing 
Alleluia, Alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Oh praise Him, Alleluia.

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along
Alleluia, Alleluia
Thou rising morn in praise rejoice
Ye light of evening find a voice
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Oh praise Him, Alleluia.

Thou flowing water pure and clear 
Make music for thy Lord to hear 
Alleluia, Alleluia
Thou fire so masterful and bright
That gives to man both warmth and light
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Oh praise Him, Alleluia.

Dear Mother earth who day by day

Unfoldest blessings on our way

Alleluia, Alleluia

The flow’rs and fruit that in thee grow

Let them his glory also show

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Oh praise Him, Alleluia.

Consequences of Laziness and/or Rebelliousness

Thank You John Wycliffe

Born in 14th century England, John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English.

Gift of the Atonement

Brian T. Kershisnik, Cat Gift, 2000. Oil on paper mounted on wood panel. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by Lew and Gail Burnham

Kershisnik’s painting, Cat Gift, can be considered a modern day parable of man’s response to Christ’s atoning sacrifice. In the painting, a man on his hands and knees offers a morsel to the cat that completely ignores the kind gesture. Just as cats are notoriously aloof to well-intentioned offerings, so mankind is often dismissive of the supernal gift of the Atonement. The artist has included a cropped figure at the top of the painting. The figure’s bare feet signify that this is holy ground and that the domestic scene unfolding below has sacred implications.

Endurance

One never knows when he will be at the end of his rope.  Knowing that all is never lost, and that hope springs eternal, one can faithfully expect, look for and accept assistance when it reveals itself from its hiding place.  We are divine creatures having a mortal experience.  God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and light disperses darkness.

Finding Hope - 10th Anniversary of 9/11

Parable of the Two Prospectors

    
     Oftentimes we are like the young merchant from Boston, who in 1849, as the story goes, was caught up in the fervor of the California gold rush. He sold all of his possessions to seek his fortune in the California rivers, which he was told were filled with gold nuggets so big that one could hardly carry them.

     Day after endless day, the young man dipped his pan into the river and came up empty. His only reward was a growing pile of rocks. Discouraged and broke, he was ready to quit until one day an old, experienced prospector said to him, “That’s quite a pile of rocks you are getting there, my boy.”

     The young man replied, “There’s no gold here. I’m going back home.”

     Walking over to the pile of rocks, the old prospector said, “Oh, there is gold all right. You just have to know where to find it.” He picked two rocks up in his hands and crashed them together. One of the rocks split open, revealing several flecks of gold sparkling in the sunlight.

     Noticing a bulging leather pouch fastened to the prospector’s waist, the young man said, “I’m looking for nuggets like the ones in your pouch, not just tiny flecks.”

     The old prospector extended his pouch toward the young man, who looked inside, expecting to see several large nuggets. He was stunned to see that the pouch was filled with thousands of flecks of gold.

     The old prospector said, “Son, it seems to me you are so busy looking for large nuggets that you’re missing filling your pouch with these precious flecks of gold. The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth.”  -- M. Russell Ballard

Precept upon precept; line upon line... here a little, and there a little.  --Isaiah 28:10

On the Upward Trail

A very simple, but oh so meaningful, song I use to sing as a Boy Scout.  It expresses togetherness, direction, difficulty, and joy.  In Boy Scout's we would substitute the word "Scouting" for "Homeward."

We're on the upward trail

     We're on the upward trail

Singing, singing,

     Everybody singing

As we go.

We're on the upward trail

     We're on the upward trail

Singing, singing,

     Everybody singing

Homeward bound.

VLGP

Virtuous:  of commendable quality; morally excellent.

Lovely:  delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace.

Good report:  favorable reputation.

Praiseworthy:  laudable; commendable.

… whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. –Phillipians 4:8.

… anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy … seek after these things. –13^th Article of Faith