Barnacle Repentance Story

 An inspiring lesson is learned from a “Viewpoint” article which appeared some time ago in the Church News. May I quote:

“To some it may seem strange to see ships of many nations loading and unloading cargo along the docks at Portland, Ore. That city is 100 miles from the ocean. Getting there involves a difficult, often turbulent passage over the bar guarding the Columbia River and a long trip up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.

“But ship captains like to tie up at Portland. They know that as their ships travel the seas, a curious saltwater shellfish called a barnacle fastens itself to the hull and stays there for the rest of its life, surrounding itself with a rocklike shell. As more and more [of these] barnacles attach themselves, they increase the ship’s drag, slow its progress, decrease its efficiency.

“Periodically, the ship must go into dry dock, where with great effort the barnacles are chiseled or scraped off. It’s a difficult, expensive process that ties up the ship for days.

“But not if the captain can get his ship to Portland. Barnacles can’t live in fresh water. There, in the sweet, fresh waters of the Willamette or Columbia, the barnacles [die and some] fall away, [while those that remain are easily removed. Thus,] the ship returns to its task lightened and renewed.

“Sins are like those barnacles. Hardly anyone goes through life without picking up some. They increase the drag, slow our progress, decrease our efficiency. Unrepented, building up one on another, they can eventually sink us.

“In His infinite love and mercy, our Lord has provided a harbor where, through repentance, our barnacles fall away and are forgotten. With our souls lightened and renewed, we can go efficiently about our work and His.”

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2000/04/your-eternal-voyage?lang=eng

Elder Perry's mom's counsel

 Elder Perry's mom counseled her children to clean the corners when cleaning a room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H38Ci2zC2j4

Cleansed by Repentance

 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/51oaks?lang=eng

We need to partake of the sacrament each Sabbath day. In that ordinance we make covenants and receive blessings that help us overcome all acts and desires that block us from the perfection our Savior invites us to achieve (see Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48). As we “deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness, and love God with all [our] might, mind and strength,” then we may “be perfect in Christ” and be “sanctified” through the shedding of His blood, to “become holy, without spot” (Moroni 10:32–33). What a promise! What a miracle! What a blessing!

 Controlling our appetites is not always easy. Not one of us manages them perfectly. Mistakes happen. Errors are made. Sins are committed. What can we do then? We can learn from them. and we can truly repent. - Russell M. Nelson

Change, Repentance

 Elder Holland shared the beautiful message that Jesus Christ lets things go. This message was shared on x on 9/18/24. Despite the disciples having forsook him, he saw them and said, "All hail" and he doesn't say a word about their fleeing or their betrayals or the crock crowing, he just says all hail. I'm glad you're here. Where going to be happy and head for the Galilee and we got missions to talk about. I love that willingness to say I forgive and forget and you forget and let's be happy and keep going.

This same idea was part of the boat building talk I really liked at BYU:

 Change is always possible. And the change that comes from repentance is complete—so complete that God “remember[s our sins] no more.”23 This was true for the brother of Jared, and it is true for us. Later in the brother of Jared’s life—well after the three hours of chastisement—the Lord praised the brother of Jared—as if he had always been faithful in praying—when He said, “Never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast.”24

Quotes

Your particular valiancy is measured more by your acceptance of today's messengers of the Lord than by your reaction to those whose lives are not part of the past.

-Student Manual of Religion 121-122

The adversary has a better chance of to persuade us that what we believe is foolish if we worry about looking foolish in from of our fellowmen. - Neal A. Maxwell

"A little prosperity and peace, or even a turn slightly for the better, can bring us feelings self-sufficiency. We can feel quickly that we are in control of our lives, that the change for the better is our own doing, not that of a God who communicates to us through the still, small voice of the Spirit. Pride creates a noise within us which makes the quiet voice of the Spirit hard to hear. And soon, in our vanity, we no longer even listen for it. We can come quickly to think we don't need it." -President Henry B. Eyring

Does everyone need to repent? The answers yes. Too many people consider repentance as a punishment - something to be avoided, except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Sarah. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify and sanctify us...Thus when Jesus asks you and me to repent, He is asking us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit, even the way we breath. He is asking us to change the Wayne love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our spouse, teach our children, and even care for our bodies. Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event. It is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind...When we choose to depend, we choose to change. 

President Russell M. Nelson

When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through the shows that there is safety, peace, prosperity and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel. -Russell M. Ballard

Keep Right, Swimmer Story, Virtue, Sin

 President Monson gave a dictionary definition of virtue as "conformity to a standard of right, a particular moral excellence, the beneficial qualities of courage, strength - even valor." He referred to a series of posters and wallet-size cards the Church developed years ago under the heading "Be Honest With Yourself." One message in the series was: "Virtue is its own reward."

"Temptation is part of life and will be experienced in one way or another by every traveler through mortality," President Monson said. "However, the Apostle Paul, acknowledging this truth, gave us this assurance: `There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' (1 Cor. 10:13.)

President Monson spoke of the work of a psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger, who stated that mental health and moral health are identical, and the only way today's suffering, struggling, anxious society can hope to prevent ills is by recognizing the reality of sin. President Monson spoke of Dr. Menninger's publication, Whatever Became of Sin? The publication, President Monson said, is "a plea for mankind to stop and look at what we are doing to ourselves, to each other and to our universe."

After relating a story from his boyhood in which he told of how one of his friends tested and increased his physical strength by swimming against the current in the Provo River, President Monson said: "I'm certain our duty and responsibility is frequently to swim upstream and against the tide of temptation and sin. As we do so, our spiritual strength will increase, and we shall be equal to our God-given responsibilities."

President Monson related how President N. Eldon Tanner, when he was a branch president in Alberta, called students who had gone to Edmonton to attend college into his office and talked about the purposes of education and the goals of the Church. President Tanner said to the students: "If you will work hard on your studies during the week, live the principles of the gospel, and attend to your Church duties on Sunday, I will promise you that you will graduate from the university. And what is more important, I will promise you that you will be a better and a happier person than if you don't attend Church." Many students, President Monson observed, bear humble and grateful testimony that President Tanner's promise was fulfilled.

Repentance

 The comedy As You Like It, written by the English playwright William Shakespeare, depicts a dramatic change in a character’s life. An older brother attempts to have his younger brother killed. Even knowing this, the younger brother saves his wicked brother from certain death. When the older brother learns of this undeserved compassion, he is totally and forever changed and has what he calls a “conversion.” Later several women approach the older brother and ask, “Was’t you that did so oft contrive to kill [your brother]?”

The older brother answers, “’Twas I; but ’tis not I: I do not shame to tell you what I was, since my conversion so sweetly tastes, being the thing I am.”⁵

For us, because of God’s mercy and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, such a change is not just literary fiction. Through Ezekiel, the Lord declared:

“As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness. …

“… If he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

“… Restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live. …

“None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right.”

In His mercy, God promises forgiveness when we repent and turn from wickedness—so much so that our sins will not even be mentioned to us. For us, because of the Atonement of Christ and our repentance, we can look at our past deeds and say, “’Twas I; but ’tis not I.” No matter how wicked, we can say, “That’s who I was. But that past wicked self is no longer who I am.” 

President Thomas S. Monson has taught, “One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.”⁸ Even if we’ve been a conscious, deliberate sinner or have repeatedly faced failure and disappointment, the moment we decide to try again, the Atonement of Christ can help us. And we need to remember that it is not the Holy Ghost that tells us we’re so far gone that we might as well give up.

Repentance

 Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Oct. 1991

Sin, on the other hand, brings sameness; it shrinks us to addictive appetites and insubordinate impulses. For a brief surging, selfish moment, sin may create the illusion of individuality, but only as in the grunting, galloping Gadarene swine! (See Matt. 8:28–32.)

Repentance is a rescuing, not a dour doctrine. It is available to the gross sinner as well as to the already-good individual striving for incremental improvement.

Repentance requires both turning away from evil and turning to God. (See Deut. 4:30; see also Bible Dictionary, s.v. “Repentance.”) When “a mighty change” is required, full repentance involves a 180-degree turn, and without looking back! (Alma 5:12–13.) Initially, this turning reflects progress from telestial to terrestrial behavior, and later on to celestial behavior. As the sins of the telestial world are left behind, the focus falls ever more steadily upon the sins of omission, which often keep us from full consecration.

Later in talk:

Giving away all our sins is the only way we can come to know God.

As we do repent, however, special assurances await: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18.)

“All his transgressions … shall not be mentioned unto him.” (Ezek. 18:22.)

“I, the Lord, remember [their sins] no more”! (D&C 58:42.)

Along with all the foregoing reasons for our individual repentance, Church members have a special rendezvous to keep, brothers and sisters. Nephi saw it. One future day, he said, Jesus’ covenant people, “scattered upon all the face of the earth,” will be “armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” (1 Ne. 14:14.) This will happen, but only after more members become more saintly and more consecrated in conduct.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/10/repentance?lang=eng

Notes

Notes:

The Lord showed Moses what to do in exact details. 

Priest and a holy nation -temple blessings

Doctrine and Covenants 124:37-44

If I labor with all my heart, Heavenly Father will consecrate even the location make it holy.

We live in the promised day with keys of the Kingdom on earth.

What a daunting task, yet the Lord showed the very details. He can help me in the details of doin His work.

"Thy will oh Lord be done." He gave His all, with all his might.

Someone else's all may not necessarily be your all.

How do we determine where your treasure is? Evaluate the amount of time, money and thought you devote to something. Is that where your treasure is? What treasure has the Savior promised us? President Monson said, "The Promised reward is not a measure of ivory, gold or silver. Neither did it consist of acres of land or portfolio of stocks and bonds. The master spoke of riches within the grasp of all-even joy unspeakable here and eternal happiness hereafter. (New Testament Study Guide)

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: "To be effective church leaders, we must learn this critical lesson: Leadership in the church is not so much about directing others as it is about our willingness to be directed by God."

"Christlike attributes are gifts from God. They cannot be developed without His help. The one help we all need is given to us freely through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Having faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement means relying completely on Him-trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. Christlike attributes come into our lives as we exercise our agency righteously. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to action. When we have faith in Christ, we trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments even when we do not completely understand the reasons for them. In seeking to become more like the Savior, we need to reevaluate our lives regularly and rely, through the part of true repentance, upon the merits of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His atonement."

President Eyring: “In just two chapters, even my youngest students knew that the husband was a metaphor for Jehovah, Jesus Christ. And they knew that the wife represented his covenant people, Israel, who had gone after strange gods. They understood that the Lord was teaching them, through this metaphor, an important principle. Even though those with whom he has covenanted may be horribly unfaithful to him, he would not divorce them if they would only turn back to him with full purpose of heart.

“I knew that too, but even more than that, I felt something. I had a new feeling about what it means to make a covenant with the Lord. All my life I had heard explanations of covenants as being like a contract, an agreement where one person agrees to do something and the other agrees to do something else in return.

“For more reasons than I can explain, during those days teaching Hosea, I felt something new, something more powerful. This was not a story about a business deal between partners. … This was a love story. This was a story of a marriage covenant bound by love, by steadfast love. What I felt then, and it has increased over the years, was that the Lord, with whom I am blessed to have made covenants, loves me, and you … with a steadfastness about which I continually marvel and which I want with all my heart to emulate” (“Covenants and Sacrifice” [address given at a Church Educational System symposium on the Old Testament, Aug. 15, 1995], 2; si.lds.org). 

Elder Maxwell: Be of Good Cheer

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1982/10/be-of-good-cheer?lang=eng

Isaiah 25:12 describes Jesus Christ as a warrior, mighty to save. 

Old Testament Study Guide 1018 -Those gathered will be sanctified

As a disciple, I want to emulate His power and boldness in doing what's right.

Reminder-Feelings from those in the Spirit World asking me to work with them in God's great work of redemption. Saving souls

Isaiah 25:8 Death -Victory over though this loving Savior

Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 Look unto me in every thought

Isaiah 26:2 Righteous nation opens gates to saving gospel ordinances for those on both sides of the veil.

27:3 Care, protector, nourishment

John 3:30 He must increase. I must decrease. It's all about Him.

Yoke- unity brings power

Holy Ghost shares the mind of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father

Matthew 3:17 JST Hear ye Him

A member of the godhead can be with us. Wait but keep covenants while waiting.

This is how we can know the nature of God. Elder Holland:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2003/10/the-grandeur-of-god?lang=eng

Tithing: Rachel's comment, "It's about your heart. He just wants to know you'd be willing to give it all."

Doctrine is core eternal law.

"with assured certainty will God grand what is persistently asked in faith with righteous intent." Talmadge, Jesus the Christ

Why is numbers important? "Because they are all numbered unto me."

"Obedience bring blessings. Exact obedience brings miracles"

Agency- Relearn how to consecrate and follow the Lord.

"Others saw the giants. Caleb saw the Lord."

The promised land was ready for Israel but Israel wasn't ready for the promised lands.

Inexhaustible hope

"I am your advocate with the Father"

Own it.

Ezekial 18:22

Ezekiel 2:6 Be not afraid. Take courage

How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

James' Talk 1/29/23

 In his talk, "A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells.", President Eyring emphasizes the importance of creating a spiritual environment in our homes so we can protect and increase feelings of love. He said, “You will find some of your greatest joys in your efforts to make your home a place of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a place that is permeated with love, the pure love of Christ.”

 

President Eyring warns of tactics that the adversary will use to keep the Spirit from being in our homes. He tells us to watch out for patterns of contention, pride and sin. He points us to the fall of the righteous people of 4 Nephi: 

 

Pride crept in. 

The people stopped sharing what they had with each other.

They began to see themselves in classes above or below each other.

They began to diminish in their faith in Jesus Christ.

They began to hate.

They began to commit all kinds of sin.

 

President Eyring counsels that building faith in Jesus Christ is the key to reversing spiritual decline in our homes. Helaman 5:12 says, 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

 

I once heard an analogy comparing plants to our relationship with the Savior. Heliotropism is where some plants and flowers turn toward the sun. As the sun moves across the sky, the plants gradually turn so that they are always facing it. 

 

There are various ways that President Eyring suggests that we, like these plants can always face the Savior, inviting Him into our homes. 

 

1.   Gospel Learning: We can use the inspired church curriculum, Come Follow Me. We can follow President Nelson’s counsel and look for references to the Jesus Christ in the scriptures, especially in The Book of Mormon. 

 

2.   President Eyring counsels that kneeling together in family prayer can play a crucial part in making homes a sacred place and promises that, “Prayer in the family can reach across the world.” In Alma 19:23 the Lord promises Mosiah that he will be with Ammon according to his father’s faith. We learn that faithful prayer can bless those we love. 

 

3.   We may be surprised at how quickly the Spirit will return when we sincerely repent. The Washington D.C. temple was recently renovated and rededicated. The baptistry had to be completely gutted and rebuilt. Like the baptistry, some areas of our lives may need to be changed but with the Savior we can do that and rededicate our lives to God’s work. “Because none of us is perfect and feelings are easily hurt, families can become sacred sanctuaries only as we repent early and sincerely. Parents can set an example. Harsh words or unkind thoughts can be repented of quickly and sincerely. A simple “I am sorry” can heal wounds and invite both forgiveness and love. The Prophet Joseph Smith was a model for us as he dealt with vicious attacks, with traitors, and even with disagreements in his family. He forgave quickly, even though he knew the attacker might attack again. He asked for forgiveness, and he gave it freely.”

 

4.   President Eyring notes that “the temple is the best opportunity to gain a feeling for and a love of heavenly places.” I remember a meaningful experience when my family was visiting temple grounds on a Sunday afternoon a few years ago. When we stood by the doors of the temple, I felt the Spirit in a strong and discernable way. Temples help us feel the love and peace of Jesus Christ that we want in our homes.

 

President Eyring acknowledged that, “Some have tried with full heart for that blessing of the loving Christ-centered home, yet it has not been granted. He once told an apostle “because of choices some in our extended family had made, I doubted that we could be together in the world to come. The apostle replied, “You are worrying about the wrong problem. You just live worthy of the celestial kingdom, and the family arrangements will be more wonderful than you can imagine.”

 Elder Kim B. Clark suggested we ask ourselves two questions. 

1. What am I doing that I should stop doing?

2. What am I not doing that I should start doing?

The Lord can lovingly help us establish the kind of lives and homes where we can feel the comfort and peace of the Spirit, a place where we can do His great work. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Twas I But Tis Not I

Spiritual Thoughts: Repent, Book of Mormon, God is Aware of Us, Quotes

 Weekly Spiritual Thoughts

Neil A. Maxwell: "The same God that placed that star in prices orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the babe has given at least equal attention to the placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well."

Sister Okazaki: "Abide, to stay, to continue, to endure without complaint, to be where you're supposed to be. I hope we can all feel the strength of abiding in our fields, keeping watch over our flocks. Let's be where we're supposed to be so that angels will know where to find us." 

Sister Holland: Faith is the conviction that there is a God. Hope is trusting that He will help us and charity is His love working through us.

Hugh Nibley: "Why read The Book of Mormon? Because angels don't come on trivial errands."

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”- Theodore Roosevelt

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”— Sheryl Sandberg

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”

— Dalai Lama XIV

Elder and Sister Holland -LIfe is difficult enough without carrying a pack of mistakes on your back.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults/2023/01/14holland?lang=eng

Thoughts from Institute/Podcasts January 2023

 Sin destroys

"I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance."

No tolerance for evil.

Inevitabel sorrow

John Bytheway: We've got tougher enemies. Sin and death.

A group of people who are holy are called Saints.

Sometimes we let wanting others to like us become more important than pleasing God.

Much of the gospel is simply remembering. Remembering things we've learned before this earth life and remembering the times the Spirit has taught us in the past.

Covenants increase access to His higher power.

Goldfish Elder Maxwell quote - Sometimes we forget how much we need God.

Words and experiences must be written down.

Don't attribute success to self rather than to God.

"I thirst" Fast Sunday

If I were in that situation, I'd do it differently.

Trust God and Let Him Prevail

 I found two very powerful phrases in the teachings of Elder Renlund, Trust God and Let Him Prevail.

“All sin causes suffering, but not all suffering is caused by sin.” Because all sinful actions do not have immediate negative consequences for the wrongdoer (see Malachi 3:13–18), we may be fooled and mistakenly believe that we can willfully sin and that the consequences can be avoided. They cannot.

While repentance is joyful for us and it brings joy to the Savior and our Heavenly Father, our sins did cause the Savior to innocently suffer. He paid the price so that we do not have to endure the requisite suffering as punishment if we repent. But make no mistake: all sin causes suffering.

Eventually, God spoke to Job from a whirlwind. God did not defend Himself, explain Job’s suffering, or respond to Job’s claims of innocence. Rather, God criticized the lengthy discussions of Job and his friends, saying, “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2). To highlight their ignorance, God posed at least 66 questions, demanding that Job answer them. Job could not. (See Job 38–42.)

It was as if God had patiently and kindly said to Job, “If you cannot answer even one of my questions about the earth that I have created, is it possible that eternal laws exist that you do not understand? Are there assumptions you have made that are invalid? Do you understand my motives and how my plan of salvation and exaltation works? And can you foresee your future destiny?”

 My sister Rachel attended the D.C. temple rededication. The baptistry had to be gutted and rebuilt due to mold in the humid environment. She felt the need to do a spiritual rededication or reconsecration of her life. I like the analogy.

Her son's Primary President was helping them prepare white handkerchiefs for the rededication. She explained the dirt and stains show up easily on white. White symbolically shows the need to the Savior's atonement which we need so very much.

First Repent, Then Consecrate

Kerry Muhlestein

The first step the Lord asks Gideon to take as He begins to deliver Israel is to cast down the alter of Baal and then build up an alter to Jehovah. This has a parallel to what we must do in our lives as we try to draw closer to God. We must first get rid of that which leads us away from Him and then replace it with things that draw us close to Him.

Woman Taken in Adultry

How beautiful to picture the Savior writing in the dirt when the woman accused of adultery was brought to him. "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." He would have bene the only one justified to cast stones at her, instead He chose mercy and redemption. It is important to note, He was Jehovah of The Old Testament, who wrote the 10 commandments with His finger. Once again He wrote, but this time with power by being both the law giver and the advocate on her behalf.

 We treat people like things and things like people. - John Bytheway

In the Lord's Hands

In the Lord's Hands