Zeek is now a Deacon

On Sunday Zeek was ordained a Deacon. He was given a lovely blessing by his Valiant teacher, a special experience for him as well. I am grateful for the Priesthood in my home, it is a great blessing to us all.

Agency

I was reading a talk last night by Elder Dallin H. Oaks titled Timing. I came across a concept that I have known before, but new light was shed on the idea.

Have you ever heard a Ward goal something like this: We want to get 5 new baptisms before the end of....

Or a Stake goal: We want 12 new Priesthood holders in the stake so that we can....

Or a Missionaries goal: We want to get 10 baptisms in this quarter. etc....

Or I want someone in my life to change their ways and return to the Light and Truth of the Gospel....

While setting goals is good, and in fact should be done, we need to take into account others agency. The goals above are extremely likely to disappoint. Are these men in the Stake ready to receive the Priesthood, are there 10 people in your area that are ready for baptism, is the person in my life ready to change?

I cannot answer these questions, so why am I setting my goals and heart upon others choices.

Now what I can set goals about and pray about and work towards are things that involve me and my agency. I should set goals and desires upon my personal agency, not the agency of others.

If I do all that I can to put the Lord first in my life, and keep His commandments, then the righteous desires of my heart will be answered. And I will remember that it needs to happen when the person is ready, and in the Lord's time.

Now that I have realized this, my prayers are going to take on a whole new angle. And I think become more meaningful.

He loves us all

These last few days I have prayed fervently for something. Never doubting Heavenly Father's care, I knew that He would either give me what I was asking for, or make another way so that I wouldn't need it.

Last night He gave it to me! It never ceases to amaze me how He just answers again and again, or provides another way. I am never left without, or alone.

Leave the Past in the Past

In the movie Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins says near the end:

"How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back. There are some things time cannot mend, some hurts that go too deep that have taken hold."

Some days it does feel like this.

And it is true, there is no going back. But then again there never is a going back for anything. For me the danger of looking back is wanting what is gone. This behaviour destroys the future.

Things are always easier said than done. We should learn from the lessons of the past, but not dwell on them or pine for what once was. Make today better than yesterday and if this behaviour continues then the future will be brighter.

I cannot change what has happened but I can shape and direct what will be. What a powerful concept this is to me. With the help of Heavenly Father, the gift of the Atonement and the strength and comfort of the Holy Ghost, I can do this.

Preston Temple

The temple was lovely, as always, but this time made all the more special because my mom, dad and aunt were there with me too. I will be grateful to be living nearer to the London temple soon.

I'm going to the temple!

Tomorrow I will be flying off to England, and in the evening I will be at the temple. I am so glad that it is not too far away and that I can go there without too much difficulty.

I love being at the temple. It is the Lord's house. I feel the Spirit so strongly there. I can't wait to get there.

And then to make it even better I get to attend with my mom and dad whom I haven't seen in 18 months and 2 1/2 years respectively.

I am glad that families can be sealed together for eternity, and I am glad that we will then have a perfect knowledge, and thus perfect relationships with each other.

I am looking forward to greater peace and an enlightened mind, things which I always experience in the Lord's house.

Seeing IS believing, Right?

How can you believe in something you can't see?
Show me the proof of it!
Did you see it for yourself?

We place a lot of trust in our faulty sight.


Are we going to climb up or down these stairs?
Is there really a sphere in this picture?
When you stare at the white blocks do small gray circles appear within the black lines? Do they really, because when you try to look directly at them, they aren't there!
Please could someone tell me how to build this model, seems impossible the more you look.
And what is it exactly you see in this picture?
Alma 30:53

53 "But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel..."


2 Corinthians 11:13-15

13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

So can we trust our eyes then? For the most part I think we can.
Then how can we tell when our eyes are being deceived

Doctrine and Covenants 8:2

2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

Moroni 10:4-6

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know he truth of all things.

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

Again:

How can you believe in something you can't see?
Show me the proof of it!
Did you see it for yourself?

There are things I cannot show you, things that have no physical proof, things that I have not seen. But I know them to be true, because I have been shown in my mind and my heart. So clearly and regularly that there is no room for doubt anymore.

You want proof, you want to know what is true and what is not, then I suggest that you do as James directed in chapter 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."