Day 12

Day 12: Do I love Christ?

Read: John 13: 34-35

         John 14:5

         3 Nephi 13:20-21, 24, 33

Ponder: Do I love as Christ loves?

            Do I keep all of the commanments?

            Have I put another God before Christ?

     How then do we, as women of God, fill the full measure of our creation? The Lord rewards "them that diligently seek him". We seek him not only by studying and searching, by pleading and praying and watching always lest we enter into temptation, but by giving up wordly indulgences that straddle the line between God and mammon. Otherwise we risk being called but not chosen because our "hearts are set so much upon the things of this world."

     Consider the principle taught in the sequence of this scriptural injunction: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind and strength." What the Lord requires first is our hearts. Imagine how our choices would be affected if we loved the Savior above all else. How we would spend our time and money, or dress on a hot summer day, or respond to the call to visit teach and take care of one another, or react to media that offends the Spirit.

     It is by letting the world go and coming unto Christ that we increasingly live as women of God. We were born for eternal glory. Just as faithful men were foreordained to hold the pristhood, we were forordained to be women of God. We are working to become more pure. And we know that in the strength of the Lord we can do all righteous things because we have immersed ourselves in His gospel. I repeat, we cannot be wormen of the world, for we are latter-day women of God. As President Kimball taught, "No greater recognition can come to us in this world than to be known as women of God."

From "We are Women of God"

Sheri L. Dew

General Relief Society Meeting 25 September 1999

Day 11

Day 11: How can the Holy Ghost help me be more like Christ?

Read: 3 Nephi 27:20

         Doctrine and Covenants 11:12

         Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-26

         Doctrine and Covenants 121:45-46

         Moroni 10:4

         John 14:16-17

         John 14:26

Ponder: What are my gifts of the spirit?

             Why is it important to know the truth?

             Do I really desire the Holy Ghost to be my constant companion?

     In one of those difficult times that the faithful and dedicated young Nephi had with his rebellious brothers, he reminded them of the following guide to obtaining a testimony. The Lord declared, "If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with dilligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."

     First, don't harden your heart. In other words, have an intense, consuming desire to know. Give place for a seed to be planted in your heart. And if you do this, do you know what the promise is? Alma tells us, "He that will not harden his heart, to him is given. . .to know the mysteries of God."
     Second, ask in faith. In your study of the scriptures, have you noted how many times the phrase "believing that ye shall receive" accompanies the commandment of praying and asking? In the process of asking for knowledge, we have to exercise faith - believing before receiving. To illustrate this part of our conversation, Alma gives us a good example when he explained how he obtained his testimony:
     "Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."
     Third, keep the commandments. I think that the words of the Book of Mormon point out the blessings that we can obtain if we abound in good works. King Benjamin delared to his people, "If you believe all these things see that ye do them." And the great missionary Ammon said, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to know the mysteies of God."
     . . . We have analyzed the different steps we should follow in our search for a testimony. But there is yet the most important help available that can give us confirmation and absolute assurance, and it is your right when you live worthy to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Remember the promise in Moroni: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may kow the truth of all all things." Pay attention that I said to bring light and understanding to our lives, but we must pay the price to seek and win His companionship.
     Elder Marion G. Romney once wrote: "It is the mission of the Holy Ghost to reveal the truth of heaven to those who qualify to receive it. Every one of us, if we will, may so qualify. We must ever keep in mind, however, that he will not dwell in an unholy environment. He is used to the society of God for he is an associate of the Father and the Son. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are commanded to receive him; he is not commanded to come to us. But if, with all our hearts, we truly seeek him, he will come to us and guide us in the making of decisions at every crisis for lives."
     The Holy Ghost is given to us to witness of the Father and the Son; that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, that there is a prophet upon the earth who resides over the true church that carries the Savior's name, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and that all the works and promises of God will be fulfilled in His time and in His own way.

From "Your Own Personal Testimony"
Augei Abrea
Preisthood Session, 1 April 2000

Day 10

Day 10: How does the Lord want me to serve?

Read: Doctrine and Covenants 4

          Moroni 7:5-8

Ponder: Is the Lord first in my life?

            What am I doing to build the Lord's Kingdom?

            How do I really feel about the service that I give others?

            Does serving the Lord make me happy?

     Our highest priority as the Relief Society general presidency is to strengthen our sisters spiritually, both individually and collectively . . . [We] must pepare for our time because our time has come. We must possess the spiritual strength to overcome our challenges. Laying our faults on the altar and giving our lives to the Lord. We must focus our priorities on contributing, as we are able, to the building of the kindom of God through service in the Relief Society.

     As the Relief Society general presidency and board, we have established the guiding objectives for the Relief Society. They are:

1. Build faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and teach the doctrines of the kingdom of God.
2. Emphasize the divine worth of the individual.
3. Serve, support, and build every sister.
4. Strengthen and protect families, and honor our heritage.
5. Exercise charity, and nurture those in need
6. Become full participants in the blessings of the priesthood.

From "For Such a Time as This"

Mary Ellen Smoot

General Relief Society Meeting, 27 September 1997

     I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you. I do not ask that you rech beyond your capacity. I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure. I hope you will no try to set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve. I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass.

President Gordon. B. Hinckley

Day 8 and 9

Day 8: How do I guard against pride?

Read: Proverbs 6:16-17

          Proverbs 8:13

          Alma 5:14-28

          Doctrine and Covenants 38:39

Ponder: Am I being truly honest with others?

             Do I guard against pride?

             Do I do the right things for the right reasons?

     The proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not. Their self-esteem is determined by where they are judged to be on the ladders of worldly success. They feel worthwhile as individuals if the numbers beneath them in achievement, talent, beauty, or intellect are large enough. Pride is ugly. It says, "If you succeed, I am a failure." If we love God, do His will, and rear His judgement more than men's we will have self-esteem . . . .

     The antidote for pride is humility - meeknss, submissiveness. It is the broken heart and contrite spirit. God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, "Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble." Let us chose to be humble.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by recieving cousel and chastisement.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God.

     We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.

     Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.

From "Beware of Pride"

President Ezra Taft Benson

Saturday Morning Session 1 April, 1989

Day 9: Is the Lord my light?

Read: Helaman 5:12

          1 Peter 2:21

          Doctrine and Covenants 84:43-47

Ponder: In the past nine days, have I tried to make decisions based on the question "What would Jesus do if He were here?"

             What have I improved on?

             What is my specific role?

Read your patriarchal blessing

Day 7

Day 7: How do I guard my speech?

Read: Doctrine and Covenants 88:121

          3 Nephi 12:33-37

          Matthew 5:11

Ponder: Do I speak only kind, uplifting thoughts to everyone?

Gossip

     A peasant with a troubled conscience went to a monk for advice. He said he had circulated a vile sory about a friend, only to find that the story was not true.

     "If you would make peace with your conscience," said the monk, "you must first fill a bag with goose downs, go to every door in the village, and drop on each one of them a feather."

     The peasant did as he was told. Then he came back to the monk and said he had done penance for his folly.

     "Not yet," replied the monk. "Take a bag, go two rounds again, and gather up every down that you have dropped."

     "But the wind must have blown them all away," said the peasant.

     "Yes, my son" said the monk. "And so it is with your vile words. Words and goose downs are quickly dropped, but try as hard as you will, you can never get them back."

Day 6

Sorry, I'm behind a few days. It looks like we won't finish on Christmas Day. Dustin and I were out of town for the weekend. I'll keep posting though for those of you who are following along.

Day 6: How can I improve my thoughts?

Read: Doctrine and Covenants 6:16

          Alma 37:36-37

          Doctrine and Covenats 121:45-46

Ponder: Do I keep all idle, unclean, or negative thought out of my mind?

             What would Jesus think about?

             How can I improve my thoughts?

             Do my thoughts affect my attitude?

             What do I think about when I have nothing to think about?

Myself

I have to live with myself, and so -

I want to be fit for myelf to know.

I want to be able as the days go by

Always to look myself straight in the eye.

I dont want to stand with the setting sun

And hate myself for the things I've done.

I don't want to keep on a closet shelf

A lot of secrets about myself -

And fool myself as I come and go

Into thinking that nobody else will know,

The kind of man (or woman) I really am.

I don't want to dress myself in shame.

I want to go out with my head erect;

I want to deserve all men's respect.

And, here in the struggle for fame and pelf

I want to be able to like myself.

I don't want to think as I come and go

That I am bluster and bluff and empty show.

I can never hide myself from me

I see what others may never see;

I know what others may never know

I can never fool myself!

And so - whatever happens I want to be

Self respecting and conscience free!!

-EA Guest

Day 5

Day 5: Am I a light to the world?

Read: Matthew 5

Ponder: Am I setting a righteous example for others?

             How can I let my light shine?

             Do my actions glorify God?

     Have you ever stopped to think that you are the light sent by Heavenly Father to lead another safely home or to be a beacon from a distance to show the way back to the straight and narrrow path that leads to eternal life? Your light is a beacon and should never stop burning or leading those who are looking for a way home. Let the lower light keep burning - you may save a struggling seaman in the turbulent sea of life.

     It isn't just nice to be a light for others; it is essential for their exaltation as well as for our own. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven: (Matthew 5:16)

     We are children of light. As children of light, we walk in the light and choose the right and stand for the right.

     Choosing the right is a decision-making process. Choose to learn what is the right way to live your life, learning principles and keeping the commandments and covenants that guide and protect you as you exercise your agency in daily choices.

     Choose to do what is right because your greatest desire is to love the Lord and to be obedient to his laws, ordinances and commandments so that you can return back into his presence eternally. Choose to do what is right because you love yourself and because you honor those who love you.

     Help others to do what is right. Choose to be of service and be an example of what is right by lifting and strengthening others to do what is right because you care.

     Choose to turn around and repent immediately if you ever depart from the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. Repentance is a merciful result of our Savior's atoning sacrifice because of the love our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ have for each of us.

From "That Ye May Be the Children of Light"

Robert D Hales

Fireside address delivered on 3 Nov 1996